RIVER YEALM & DISTRICT ASSOCIATION
Registered Charity No 262929.
Held on, Tuesday 19th June 2007.
At Anchor House, Noss Mayo.
Present: Robin Hogg Chairman (RH)
Alan Lomax Treasurer (AL)
Rod Carter (RC)
Eric Rodmell (ER)
Janet Martin (JM)
1. Apologies: Bill Taylor and Christopher Bradley.
2. Minutes of the Meeting 15th February 2007 were approved.
3. Chairman’s Report.
a. Minutes of the Annual General Meeting. There being no suggested amendments to these minutes, it was agreed that they should be put forward unchanged for approval at next year’s AGM.
b. Village Benches for Noss Green. The RYDA had been allocated £520.00 by the Revelstoke Community Trust and had allocated £780.00 from its own resources towards the purchase of 5 oak benches for use around Noss Green and in Newton Ferrers. The Revelstoke Trust had made the proviso that “one of these benches should be installed facing the tennis courts on the car park side”.
In subsequent discussions with the SHDC it has been agreed that final costs for purchase & installation would be sought by the council and a date for installation agreed. It was expected that this would be completed sometime during the summer months. Each bench would have a plaque acknowledging the contributions of the Revelstoke Trust, the RYDA and the SHDC who would undertake the installation.
In further discussion it was suggested that, since the Association’s funds were in a healthy condition following the generosity of Marchand Petit to production of the Village Directory, it might be sensible to purchase some more benches for Newton Ferrers. The Chairman undertook to consult with the NNPC and some others to test reaction to this proposal. Suggestions as to where such benches might be sited would be welcome.
c. Proposed Cycle Track from Brixton to Yealmpton. It is understood that SUSTRANS is seeking to extend the cycle track, presently laid from Elburton to Otter Nurseries at Brixton, further on to Yealmpton, using the old railway track along Cofflete Creek and across the northern shore of the Yealm Estuary.
The committee looked at pictures of the possible route and of the present cycle track. In discussion, whilst it was understood that the Landowners would have the final say, they saw no reason to oppose such a scheme provided that the current rules, whereby this track could only be used by cyclist and walkers, was rigidly enforced.
d. The Yealm Estuary Environmental Management Plan (YEEMP), The Shoreline Management Plan for South Devon & Dorset (SMPSD&D) and the current Examination in Public (EIP) of the Regional Spatial Survey (RSS) for the South West.
The Chairman, also Chairman of the South Hams CPRE, had been involved in all three of these activities. In briefing the Committee it was pointed out that there was a massive overlap between the various authorities all covering our area. The YEEMP was being conducted by the South Devon AONB Manager at Follaton House, the SMPSD&D by Teignbridge District Council and the EIP of the RSS by a panel on behalf of Central Government. The Chairman made the point that, though the volume of paperwork was enormous, it was worth the RYDA keeping an eye on proceedings. The SMPSD&D is looking to find ways of managing our coastline and would have access to funds that could be used to our benefit. There were four possible DEFRA Policies that could be followed depending on the current coastal survey:
* “Hold the existing Defence Line” by maintaining or upgrading current defences .
· “Advance the existing Defence Line” by building new defences seaward of the existing line.
· “Managed Realignment” by allowing retreat of the shoreline, with management control or limiting movement.
· “No active intervention”.
Clearly, it was in our interest to ensure that, were there to be a requirement for any of the first three categories of investment, we should ensure that the Yealm Estuary featured in the final report and that central funds were allocated for our protection.
The EIP of the RSS is important on many counts. The RSS is looking forward 20 years and the final form, once accepted by Ministers, will guide policy that will affect all of us whether it be the number of Affordable Houses to be built, the location of Employment Land, the development of road, rail and air transport and the “policies for future planning” that emerge.
The Chairman had attended the two day examination in Exeter of the “Plymouth Housing Market Area”. This area covers Caradon, the South Hams, part of the Dartmoor National Park and West Devon and Plymouth itself. In a nutshell: The “Mackay Vision for Plymouth” is widely accepted, cross boundary cooperation between authorities is working well, Sherford in whatever form finally emerges will go ahead and Plymouth will attempt to build five Sherfords in terms of new dwellings within the city boundary. It is accepted that we should build on Brownfield Sites before we build on Greenfield sites, that we should put in the infrastructure (particularly roads) before we start to build and that most of the Employment Land should also be concentrated within the City.
The Examiners will produce a new version of the RSS by the end of the summer and we will then have a final opportunity to comment before it goes to Ministers for approval and implementation.
4. The Treasurer and Membership Secretary’s Report. AL reported vigorous sales of the New Village Directory raising £200.00 already through the various outlets in the Parish. Overall the Association was in a comfortable position with £1,700.00 in the current Account, and £1,400.00 on deposit. These figures did not comprehend the imminent outlay to purchase and install the Benches for Noss Green and Newton Ferrers.
The RYDA acknowledged the generosity once again of the RYHA and the NNPC who had both donated £55.00 towards the costs of the Annual Harbour Clean-Up.
In view of the healthy state of the RYDA finances it was decided to place an item on the agenda for the next meeting as to how we might deploy some of these reserves for the general benefit of the Parish. Ideas from the membership and others would be very welcome.
5. The Planning Representative’s Report. RC briefed the Committee on a number of Planning Applications currently up for decision.
The Chairman reported that he had received a letter from a member of the RYDA raising the issue of “Time Limits” on Planning Applications. In granting Planning Permission the SHDC might impose conditions of one sort or another but never, so far as we know, on a time limit for construction. We are all familiar with new building and modification work that can continue for a period that can run into years, a permanent blight on the lives of those affected. In discussion, it was generally agreed that the Chairman should write to the SHDC suggesting that there should be some reasonable imposition of a time limit on a Planning Application where there were near neighbours likely to be affected.
* Friends of Bishop’s Court. ER suggested that this new organisation, aimed at providing a link with the village for those residents at Bishop’s Court, should be given some publicity by including mention of it in these minutes. In addition, it might make sense for this new group to feature on the Newton & Noss Amenities Website, run by Marchand Petit. This would be investigated.
7. Date of Next Meeting. The summer is almost upon us and it was decided that the next meeting should be at some mutually convenient date in September. RC very kindly volunteered to host this next session. The Chairman would be negotiating a suitable date nearer the time.
The meeting closed at 2045 with thanks to RH for his hospitality..
Approved. Robin Hogg. Chairman.