Devon CPRE backs Westleigh residents organising to gather evidence to oppose new homes
Residents in the historic rural settlement of Westleigh, near Instow in North Devon, are holding their own traffic survey this week to gather evidence with which to oppose an outline planning application for nine new houses on a site they believe is highly unsuitable for numerous reasons.
The application for outline planning permission for a small estate of nine houses just outside Westleigh’s conservation area has been submitted by the Christie Estate. Residents say the construction phase alone will ‘cause havoc’ in the settlement of just 69 homes, threatening the precarious existence of the community’s WWI village hall, as well as the Grade-II-listed thatched dwelling known as Rock Cottage and resulting in the destruction of an established Devon Bank hedge, a habitat frequented by ten species of bat, four of them endangered.
This week Westleigh residents are organising a rota to carry out their own traffic survey of the narrow lane leading to the proposed development site because traffic details were not submitted with the initial outline planning proposal. They will monitor traffic on Saturday 2nd and Thursday 7th August.
Devon CPRE, the conservation charity that campaigns to protect the countryside from inappropriate development, has submitted its own objection to the local planning authority, citing the removal of an ancient hedgerow, which contributes to the “rural character and historic field patterns of Westleigh”, and the impacts on Rock Cottage among the reasons why the scheme should be refused. Several other well-argued objections from local residents have already been submitted to North Devon District Council.
The parish council called an extraordinary meeting for the whole village with the sole purpose of discussing the application. Since then, residents have held their own well-attended meeting. As a result, residents decided to conduct a traffic survey and individuals have undertaken to investigate other areas of concern, including site access and drainage and the impact of demolishing an ancient hedgerow, particularly on the bat population. The Parish Council plans to submit a separate letter of objection.
Resident Chris MacMenigall, a member of Devon CPRE, “ The proposed houses would be very densely arranged, which is out of keeping with the rest of the village. Nine new houses might not sound much, but it could increase the population of Westleigh by 37% because it’s such a small settlement with a population of just 100 people. Traffic and parking are already difficult here.”
Resident Brian Lees, who’s also concerned about the level of traffic that will pass through the village if the development goes ahead, says, “We only received the applicant’s traffic figures last week and we believe they aren’t right. They seem on the low side to us. So, we’ve decided to do our own survey because we are very concerned about both the volume of traffic and the awkward access to the proposed site. The fundamental problem is that Westleigh has an archaic road system, typified by narrow lanes with blind junctions, bends with little or no visibility and no footpaths. Traffic generation from the proposed development will make the situation even worse.”
Nicki Bennington, who owns Grade-II-listed Rock Cottage, says, “Our home will be at significant risk from anything turning into or out of the new estate. Our thatch has been hit several times by high-sided vehicles over the years and with a housing estate opposite there will be more deliveries and more cars. The building phase alone would be a real problem for everybody too because the road is so narrow.”
She adds, “Building new houses in the gap between the village hall and Oxman’s Cottages is also going to be overbearing. When they rip the hedge out to create a new junction, it will destroy the current setting on the boundary of the conservation area. I’m also concerned about the future of our village hall, a historic WWI hut which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. It will almost certainly lose bookings and we struggle to raise the funds to maintain it as it is.”
Devon CPRE Director Penny Mills says, “Westleigh is a very attractive little settlement, much of it designated a conservation area. Public meetings have been held and residents have clearly said they think this development is inappropriate because of the location and the road layout. We agree with them. Let's hope North Devon District Council listens to them, acts on their wishes and rejects the application. Otherwise what's the point of consulting them? It's called democracy.”
www.cpredevon.org.uk
