North Devon Green Party

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11th May '08

On May 20th the Post Office will publish its list of offices to be closed and there has of course been a furore about this. Torridge councillors touched on this at their last meeting when a motion to fight the closures was put by the council’s Leader James Morrish. Generally such parochial issues generate localised arguments but this one took on a national, not to say international aspect. Councillor Des Shadrick reckoned we should copy the French and Swiss who seem to be keeping their small post offices open somehow – although he did go on to warn that the current worldwide banking crisis could see the closure of many small bank branches in addition to post offices. Councillor Brian Lacey thought the council was adopting double standards over this issue because at the very time we were talking of safeguarding small rural shops and post offices we were also in discussion with Tesco about a new store in Bideford – and given the record of supermarkets closing small businesses was this sensible? Councillor Chris Leather said that we needed to find something he rather oddly termed ‘a golden nugget’ to keep post offices open – though even if we won a reprieve for one business then the Post Office would close another instead. As he remarked ‘the whole system is unfair’. Councillor Miranda Cox suggested that Torridge should extend a helping hand to any shop run directly by the community; there are currently a few of these in North Devon so this could be a possible way ahead. In all of this it was constantly stressed that it wasn’t just rural offices that were under threat but small urban ones could also get the chop. Bideford has 5 post offices but I understand the main one will definitely continue in being – as to the others we will have to wait until May 20th.

The 6 weekly Full Torridge District Council meeting passed off relatively quietly this month apart from one or two oddities. Following my story about the Leader James Morrish musing whether the Rock Pool at Westward Ho! should be sold to Northam Town council for £1 councillor Roger Tisdale asked whether this was a serious idea? Councillor Morrish actually repeated his offer whereupon councillor Andrew Eastman thundered across the council chamber ‘Give him a pound now Roger’ – to general hilarity. I suspect, however, that this isn’t the last we hear of this amazing bargain. In addition to this we re-appointed all the Chairs of Committees and as usual all went smoothly until Bob Hicks suddenly and rather unexpectedly nominated Chris Leather to be Chair of the Planning Committee. The current incumbent Hugo Barton looked rather startled but as both were duly nominated we went to a vote – and it was nice to see that, for the most part, it didn’t turn into a political division. In the event councillor Leather lost so the new make up of all the committee chairs is exactly the same as it was last year. Councillor Morrish was re-elected Leader by 33 votes with 1 abstention – with councillor Brian Lacey loudly noting ‘That was close!’ Whether this is a good example of continuity or ossification of the council has yet to be seen. I suppose I should add that councillor Bob Hicks leads the Independent Group on Torridge – which this week saw 3 members defect to other groups – make of it what you will.

Further news of the disused landfill site on Northam Burrows reaches me via the Taw Torridge Estuary Forum. The Senior Waste management Officer of Devon County Council Adrian Middlewick is working with Parsons Brinckerhoff a specialist firm of consultants on research into the historic and environmental information about the landfill site. Some trial pits are to be dug in the area in August and September of this year. These months have been chosen as (hopefully) the site will be dry thus minimising damage to the grassed areas by the team’s vehicles. This will of course coincide with the height of the tourist season but the survey is to progress one pit at a time so excavation will not unduly impinge on use of the Burrows by tourists. This still doesn’t address the problem of what to do with the mass of toxic material entombed on the site – but at least we will know just where it is! As a poisoned chalice for any new council next year it will take some beating.

You may recall me writing about a planned new development of flats at the old Kirkham’s site in Torrington Street, East-the-Water and the problems the developers may face in meeting stringent new planning measures regarding flood risks. When Torridge last met councillor Brian Lacey put in two written questions about this topic – and got a 3 page reply which must be some sort of record! His first query was what had happened to ‘the promised Flood Prevention Scheme for Ethelwynne Brown Close’? The answer was simple, some 20 years ago the scheme had first been mooted but since then no plans had been drawn up – which strikes me as more of an apology than an explanation. Councillor Lacey’s second question concerned the apparent restrictions on developing sites along the east side of the river Torridge and any effects these would have on the value of Brunswick Wharf – which Torridge are, of course, currently attempting to sell. The 3 page answer boiled down to basics says that no new houses can be built in flood risk areas if there is any other building land available. The anonymous officer who wrote the answer noted ‘As you will be aware there is plenty of housing land in Bideford that is capable of development for housing’ – and isn’t at risk from flooding – so basically Brunswick Wharf only has ‘hope value’ i.e. it would only sell to a person who has a deep pocket and lots of patience who can wait for the rules or the supply of land to change. The officer did note, however, that the Wharf ‘would be ideal for a community use such as a multi-function facility for East-the-Water’ – but given that Torridge has no money this seems extremely unlikely to materialise. Where this leaves the council is unclear but it would appear to drive the figurative ‘coach and horses’ through Torridge’s spending plans – or those of any new ‘Unitary’ council come to that. These new rules only came in on 1 October 2006 so leaving me and other councillors wondering why no attempt has been made to sell Brunswick Wharf for the last ten years? The property crash must be wiping a considerable sum off the value of the site – which now would appear to be almost unsaleable. Perhaps Torridge will institute a review into how this sorry state of affairs came about? One thing I do know, the wharf at the moment is looking absolutely disgraceful – having a virtual ‘scrap yard’ in the centre of town where it is visible to all our visitors doesn’t do anything for the image of the place.

The Bradworthy Wind Turbines

Councillor Christie's Weblog

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11th May '08