I have been out leafleting this afternoon about the controversial planning application for 63 houses, Sidmouth Road, Ottery St Mary. It is recommended for *approval* at Tuesday’s Eddc planning committee despite nearly 500 letters of objection from residents. I hope as many people as possible will attend the meeting at Eddc’s offices in Honiton at 10am to convey the strength of opposition!
There are so many reasons this application should be turned down, including the further pressure on our already stretched GP practice.
What particularly concerns me as the County Councillor for Ottery is the danger this proposal represents for pedestrians. Behind me in the photo, a substandard pavement is proposed to lead to the new development. The pavement is going to be below the recommended minimum width – the road is just too narrow.
This is a really busy road with lots of fast moving traffic and I kept having to hop out the way just to take this photo.
Highways officers opposed this application (and previous versions) for years – only to to then suddenly drop their objection in May this year. I wrote to the head of highways at DCC and called for senior officers to attend a site visit – as I was so concerned. They attended a site meeting but declined to reinstate their objection.
The Gerway Action Group have been doing a great job in keeping the momentum up in opposing this application. Ottery Town Council are opposing it as are district Cllrs Vicky Johns, Bethany Collins and Peter Faithfull.
In my experience developers go on and on hoping the opposition eventually gives up!
Let’s show them on Tuesday that’s just not happening! 💪 💥
Jess Bailey 