[Back to Residents Association page]

Minutes of General Meeting June 2007

1.Welcome

The Chairman welcomed 48 members to the meeting.

 2.Apologies

 Brenda Bruce. Chris and Lynn Lavis, Martin and Rosemary Walden, Marie and John Coulthard, Barbara Raines.

3.Minutes of the Meeting held Friday 9^th February 2007 .

The minutes were approved and signed as a true and correct record.

           4. Matters Arising.

These had been dealt with at the AGM on 11^th May.

5. Report on recent Association activities.

5.1 Officers and responsibilities of committee. 3 members have been coopted to the committee: John Bromley, Gwyn Crossland and Bryan Weston.

5.2 Forthcoming events.

 Summer Fayre. Lists were circulated for contributions of food and help.

Chairman Roger, trustee of the Dawlish Community Trust, said that the Strategic Plan will be prepared for comment by the Autumn.

5.3 Planning applications.

24 Windward Lane . Outline planning granted previously and dependant on developers improving the junction of Holcombe Drive with A379. Now detailed planning for 4 dwellings to which the Association planning committee will submit objection on grounds of over development, not in keeping with the area, strain on infrastructure especially drainage. The proposed improvement to the junction includes no consideration for pedestrians. Holcombe Drive is a private road so access to the site is not a planning issue.

Holcombe Hall Nursing Home. 17 pages of documents on the website. Briefly applying to increase 9 beds to 81. John W has pulled out 9 points for consideration plus 2 non planning issues. The Association planning committee is to meet to discuss further. Joy Johnson, a resident of The Close addressed the meeting putting a strong case against the proposal. The plan is for a 2 storey extension to the south and a 3 storey to the east. The roof height is a main concern, the style not sympathetic to the original building and drainage could be a major problem. David Partridge of Sunnylands was concerned about the alteration to the main road, there is confusion over the bus stop locations and he suggested that if the lay by was to be done away with the space could be used to provide a pavement on the opposite side to improve pedestrian safety. Sam King from The Close said that the gas supply pipe was resleeved last year narrowing the pipe thus reducing the pressure when the demands are to be increased by the improvements to Edencliffe Manor and now by this new proposal. The drains are already overloaded and have never been modernised. The gutter heights are shown incorrectly. The site is to be cleared right up to the boundary with H Drive, including the trees.

Charles Williams of Windward Lane suggested that Holcombe Hall being one of the original villas might qualify as a listed building. He is concerned at the steepness of the site requiring a great deal of excavation, excessive run off, problems with drainage and visually sensitive. The road alterations are vital to the S W Coastal Path. Gerry Chambers is concerned that the change of use box is ticked on the application with no explanation. To sum up Chairman Roger stressed that whilst the committee will be writing this is only one letter and it is vital that as many individuals as possible add their letters as well.

5.4 Concerns over the speed camera.

Andy Watson reported that a hood has been placed over the camera at Holcombe and the one on the other side of Dawlish. Devon and Cornwall Safety Partnership and these 2 have reduced accidents and speeding so could be moved to more appropriate sites. There has been a black box checking speeds at Fordens Lane , the results are being analysed and when this has been done Devon County Councillor John Clatworthy and the Residents Association will be consulted. This seems strange timing as the double white lines have only just been reinstated. John Clatworthy said that this is the first camera position to be thus considered and the cost of removing it may keep it where it is.

5.5 “Holcombe Jottings.”

Thanks to Bryan for an excellent production. Following on from his article about the railway members might be interested in the Brunel Trail running from Lea Mount to Dawlish Warren, this has been produced by the Dawlish Community Trust with money from the Heritage Trust.

5.6 Association Priorities for the year ahead.

Among suggestions from the membership were that we remain vigilant over the future of Leigh House and the restriction of the village envelope.

6.AOB

Trevor Lucas suggested that the planning committee could issue a press release where suitable.

7. The date of the next meeting.

Friday 7^th September at 7.15 pm . The speaker will be on Climate Change

The meeting closed at 8.05 pm .

There was a brief talk by Sue Hill of the Open Daw Dawlish Community Information Centre.

The coffee break was followed by a talk on The Birds of the Exe Estuary by Dennis Martin, RSPB.

Signed  …………………………………………………

 Date ………………

[Back to Residents Association page]