Thursday 7th December 2017
RoSAG has written a letter to SCC Highways highlighting the need for lighting along Corkscrew Lane should the drop down road go ahead.
We await their reply.
Dear Ms Vittery,
You will recall our email exchange at the beginning of October in which I raised concerns regarding roads and access to the proposed development in Staplegrove.
Prior to the planning meeting of the 24th October, when the outline application was approved for both Staplegrove east and west, a local group had a meeting with Craig Neilson(Ptarmigan Land) James Darrell (itransport) and James Turner (PM Asset Management). This was to address concerns that Taunton Area Cycle Campaign had with regard to access and cycle ways.
When the subject of Corkscrew Lane and the drop down road at Village World came up James Darrell confirmed that although some thought had gone into the design of the junction there were no plans to provide street lights along that stretch of road. He clearly had never visited the site at night and could not appreciate the need for lighting to be considered.
By waving this application through your department is now clearly under the spotlight. Local residents will be relying on you to ensure that if the access road is built at Village World it will be "fit for purpose" and safe.
The idea that it will not be lit is unacceptable and I would very much appreciate if you could address this with the applicants.
Thank you in anticipation.
Chris Rix
pp RoSAG
Wednesday 25th October 2017
The TDBC planning Committee voted to approve both Staplegrove West and East outline applications at a meeting last night. There were 14 members of the planning committee present with 7 voting for approval, 6 voting against and 1 abstention.
Those members who voted to approve the planning applications were as follows.
Councillor Robert Bowrah (Wellington West & Rockwell Green)
Councillor John Gage (Pyrland & Rowbarton)
Councillor Christopher Hill (Monument)
Councillor Andrew Sully (Norton Fitzwarren)
Councillor Janet Reed (Wellington West & Rockwell Green)
Councillor William Brown (Wellington North)
Councillor Peter Watson (Bishops Lydeard)
Those who abstained.
Councillor Nicolas Townsend (Staplegrove)
Those who were against approving the applications.
Councillor Marcia Hill (Pyrland & Rowbarton)
Councillor Michael Adkins (Lyngford)
Councillor Jean Adkins (Norton Fitzwarren)
Councillor Simon Coles (Eastgate)
Councillor Jefferson Horsley (Fairwater)
Councilor Ian Morrell (Bishops Hull)
It should be noted that earlier in the meeting Councillors Bowrah, Gage, Christopher Hill, Sully, Reed, Brown, Watson and Townsend rejected a motion to refuse and also to defer the application for Staplegrove East. Both these motions were supported by Councillors Marcia Hill, Michael Adkins, Jean Adkins, Coles, Horsley and Morrell.
TDBC planning officers will now come to agreement with the applicants with regards to the various legal conditions that need to be met before moving on to considering a detail application next year.
Tuesday 17th October 2017
The TDBC planning committee intend to hear the outline planning application for Staplegrove East (34/16/0014) and Staplegrove West (34/16/0007) at the Somerset Cricket Club (Somerset Room) on Tuesday 24th October at 6:15pm. This follows on from the meeting last month on the 20th when the committee chose to defer both applications. The Committee Report has also been published and can be viewed by clicking here
Thursday 21st September 2017
The planning committee chose to defer both Staplegrove West and East applications last night at a meeting held in the Castle School Taunton. The key issues they asked for more information on were access and highways plus affordable housing. We understand that the land promotors have asked to meet TDBC planning officers to discuss this.
Tuesday 12th September 2017
The agenda and the officers report for both Staplegrove West (34/16/0007) and Staplegrove East (34/16/0014) have been published by TDBC
Click on this link to have a look.
Sunday 3rd September 2017
We understand that the TDBC planning committee intend to hear the outline planning application for both the West (34/16/0007) and the East (34/16/0014) at the Castle School, Taunton on Wednesday 20th September at 6.15pm
The TDBC Planning Officers report will be published a few days before the meeting and will include a list of key issues that they have indentified together with their recommendation as to whether the planning committee should vote for, against or defer the application.
We will update this news page when that report is available.
RoSAG has sent the following letter to all 56 councillors (not just those on the planning commitee) outlining some our concerns.
Dear Cllr
" North Taunton Development applications bear little resemblance to a Garden Town"
On behalf of the Residents of Staplegrove Action Group I write to seek your serious consideration of our main concerns regarding the proposed North Taunton [ Staplegrove] Development.
The applicants provided the 'Masterplan' on behalf of TDBC, in advance of any planning application. At the time there were concerns but when the actual proposals were submitted there were substantial 'erosions' The applicants originally, openly acknowledged, constraints which they are now citing as reason for the need of a viability appraisal.
- Affordable housing must not be reduced. Anything less than 25% would be both contrary to TDBC policy and local need..
- The completion, prior to the start of house building, of a spine road with construction from the west is part of the strategic policy to reduce the current over use of Manor Road. It was a promise made. A contrary decision conflicts with policy TAU2. The fact that the applicants are not prepared to forward fund and build the spine road first, shows a lack of commitment to the long term viability of the development.
- There is no excuse whatsoever, in our opinion, for TDBC councillors to accept a“ temporary” drop down road onto Corkscrew Lane / Manor Road [designated a rural lane]. It’s dangerous bends are well renowned. In addition the proposed access point will not fully comply with Section 174 of the Highways Act 1980
- Garden Town status requires sufficient green spaces to link the eastern and western parts of the proposed development, enabling their separate identities to be maintained The applicants’ proposal has eroded the originally agreed amount of green space.
- The proposed spine road lacks coherent cycle and pedestrian paths which conflict with good practice and contradict The Council’s policy of sustainability.
Thank you for taking time to consider the concerns we raise
Saturday 21st January 2017
The Government's announcement of Taunton as one of it's Garden Towns includes the proposed Staplegrove Development.
Follow the link to read all about it.
Taunton Garden Town Expression of Interest
We are still awaiting TDBC to announce a date for consideration of the North Taunton Development planning application.
Planning Admin at TDBC received comments from Highways England on 13th January which recommends deferring a meeting to grant planning permission for another two months, or until the applicant can come up with a mitigation scheme for M5 J25. This is to satisfy concerns that there would be increased demand on the junction which is already running over capacity.