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The North Devon Councils
proposed Core Strategy would be the end of North Devon as we know it.
It would destroyed the very
characteristics that make North Devon a special place to live.
It is sometimes forgotten that the population of Barnstaple area alone has
increased by 71% since 1981.
The impact of another three thousand plus houses to the South of the Taw
would create total traffic gridlock.
Already traffic is almost at a standstill during the morning run in the
Roundswell/Bickington area despite the impact of the Downstream Bridge.
Rodney stood alone in refusing to endorse the proposed Core Strategy even
for consultation when the proposals were adopted by the Council.
The proposals are lacking in imagination ,the process is concentrating
more on selling the North Devon Councils story rather than as consultation
exercise.
There are no real alternative options presented to the public.
We would end up with wall development between Barnstaple and Instow.
It is obvious that the full impact of the Core Strategy proposal are only
now being recognised by the vast majority of local people.
There has been a very angry reaction to the proposals from local residents
who would be affected by the proposed massive development at Larkbear and
an action group set up to oppose the development.
The Leader of the NDC himself has obviously recognised the unpopularity of
Larkbear by withdrawn his support for what is a key site in their Core
Strategy.
There have been furious objections to the proposed wholesale development
in the Yelland area. The impact of 600 houses and a proposed Industrial
site at Yelland would be have a significant impact the Estuary. The
Estuary is of International importance, and development on this scale is
bound to have a damaging effect on the very sensitive ecology of the
Estuary.
The realisation of the full impact of development proposals for the
Roundswell / Bickington area are only now being realised by local
residents, who are voicing significant objections to development proposals
in their area.
The Core Strategy Proposals are no longer credible to the public and
should be withdrawn to enable the NDC to rethink and produce a more
imaginative and less damaging scheme to for North Devon.
At the same time we must a firmer stand against planning policies being
inflicted on us by a Government more geared up for the requirements inner
cities than protecting and providing for the needs of rural areas such as
ours.
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