Bude

GOOD NEWS

TA have been informed (20th August) that the proposed mass build detailed below has been in itially rejected by local planners. Congratulations to the objectors who have obviously campaigned against this project and stated their case with success.
TA have also been informed that the organisers are gathering and compiling additional information in the event that the planning decision is appealed by the developer.

ADDITIONAL BUILDING AT BUDE
Protesters claim this will make traffic conditions worse and put children at risk

Extracted from local newspaper at:
http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/northcornwall/Protesters-claim-new-village-harm-Bude/article-706996-detail/article.html

Protesters claim new village will harm Bude
Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Dozens of protesters turned up at a site meeting to discuss plans for a new village on the outskirts of Bude.
The session lasted for more than two hours and was attended by around 60 objectors.

Bude town councillors are keen to ensure they receive as much information as possible about the proposals on land at Binhamy Farm, Stratton Road. They fear the area doesn’t have the resources to support the plans which include housing, employment space and a public open space.

Many in the area feel the development will have an adverse affect upon trade and traffic conditions. They are also concerned that it will put a further burden on an infrastructure which they believe is already failing as a result of development in Bude and which poses a flood risk

John Acres, director of planning for Catesby Property, said: “It is not our intention to put Bude at risk in any way at all.”

If the application is approved residents feel the development of the 23.3 hectare (57.5 acres) site would effectively create a new village with between 400 to 450 homes and 70 to 80 units in a retirement village.
David Groves of county highways said calming measures such as pinch points would be created on the main road to cater for the extra traffic.
But Cllr Val Newman warned: “The pinch points will cause more of a build-up of traffic. What you are going to create is mayhem and deny access into Bude.”
Ray Shaddick said: “It takes me eight minutes to get out of my gate now and then I am still in a queue to get into town.”
Pat Knight, of Stratton Road, commented: “We already go out and spend our time helping people and children to cross the road because they could stand for hours and no one will stop.”

Former head of Budehaven School John Ward told the meeting: “The situation at the end of this road is appalling and also questioned the developers’ view that there was sufficient space in the schools to cater for new children.

Birgit Dell expressed concerns over wildlife and said the development would frighten much of this away: “People forget there is a lot of wildlife here including horseshoe bats and dormice.”

Bude mayor Peter La Broy and his council questioned the need for developing a greenfield site when brownfield sites remain unused in the town. Speaking later Mr La Broy said the town council had raised a number of points but wanted them answered satisfactorily and did not want “flim-flam from the developers”.
He added: “I am actually quite astounded at the magnitude of this site. Looking at the map does not give you any insight into how big it is.”

The application is expected to come before NCDC’s planning committee on March 3.

Email sent in by one of our readers.  Extracted from the Cornish & Devon Post and voicing the same concerns as we have.

Dear Sir

I must take issue with the comments made by John Acres, Director of Planning for the Catesby Property Group regarding their plans for the development of Binamy Farm. Mr Acres claims that the proposed massive development of the Binhamy Farm site represents a ‘potential multi-million pound investment in Bude’. His attitude suggests that Catesby has singled-out Bude for some wonderful act of benevolence, with the development being delivered as a social benefit to the people of the area.

What utter nonsense! Catesby, like all property developers, are motivated by nothing other than greed – the same greed which saw banks overstretch themselves precipitating the current recession. A recession, I might add, which sadly saw the demise of the last multi-million pound investment in Bude – Tripos Receptor Research.

Mr Acres then tells us that any development, if approved, will be phased over 10 – 15 years. Think about that for a moment – 10 – 15 years of disruption on Stratton Road. 10 – 15 years of large lorries carrying building materials , scaffolding and other freight through Stratton, rounding the corner at the A39/ A3027. 10 – 15 years of dust blowing into the gardens of Minster Avenue and Treleven Road. 10 – 15 years of mud, noise, congestion and in all likelihood, flooding.

Mr Acres then states that “if Bude is to thrive, development must occur”. Perhaps, but not on the scale proposed by Catesby, which would take, in one fell swoop, all of the remaining land earmarked for development in this area. What happens if this development is approved, the economy starts to improve and further land is needed for new businesses? Where then? Which will be the next patch of green concreted over? The golf course? The downs?

No Mr Acres – if Bude is to thrive it must do what it has done best for over 100 years, retain the things which bring thousands! of visitors (and new residents) here year on year. Ask the German and Dutch visitors why they come to Bude. Ask the folks from London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester – they will tell you they come because Bude is unspoiled – Bude is not the urban sprawl from which they are escaping for a week in the summer. If the Catesby development proceeds, Bude will lose much of what makes it different from other parts of the country, and indeed other Cornish resorts.

The development proposed by Catesby is simply too big and does not give consideration to the infrastructure that is needed to cater for such a large amount of new dwellings – doctors, school places, parking, dentists, sewage. I urge all those who feel the same to write to North Cornwall District Council stating your views. Address your letters to Development Control, 3/5 Barn Lane, Bodmin Cornwall PL31 1LZ, or email: development.control@ncdc.gov.uk quoting reference 2008/02281.

As a final point, it would pay Mr Acres to research the land which Catesby now wishes to develop. Binhamy was once owned by the Blanchminster family, which built the castle on the site. For over 500 years, the people of Stratton and Bude have benefited from the generosity of the Blanchminsters through the Blanchminster Trust – one of Britain’s oldest charities, endowed with a large legacy from that family. That, Mr Acres, is true benevolence, not the profit-driven destruction you seek to disguise as ‘investment’.

Yours etc


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