People's Republic of South Devon » development

When The Wind Blows – Development of Hollicombe Gas Works is back on the agenda

PRSD — Tue, 11 May 2010 09:13:12 +0000

We carried a story about the toxins at Hollicombe last weeek, and because you’ve only got until Friday, May 14 to have your say on the development that could release poisons into the air, we got our hands on a press release to explain more about the project which rallied 450 written objections and a massed protest

Many residents of the Preston and Livermead areas of Torbay and parents of children who attend Preston Primary School are deeply worried by the revival of plans to develop contaminated land on the old gas works site at Hollicombe.

Reports have shown the land to contain potentially severely health damaging chemicals such as cyanide, arsenic, naphthalene, zinc and mercury. In similar redevelopment projects, dust containing these substances has been strongly linked to birth defects, cancers and respiratory illnesses suffered by the population who live and work in the surrounding area.

In 2008, despite approximately 450 written objections, and massed public protest, the Special Development Control Committee of Torbay Council granted conditional approval to Midas Homes for a plan to build 185 flats at the former gas works site in Hollicombe.

These conditions required the developers to provide further information on the extent of the contamination of the land and on processes to safely decontaminate the site. The committee also required further proposals to solve traffic issues and access to the site.

Midas Homes have now returned to Torbay Council with more information in an attempt to satisfy the conditions so that development work can commence.

Dr Andrew Robinson, a former Environmental Health Officer, speaking on behalf of the Preston Residents and Parents Against Toxic Dust Group told the PRSD: “I am extremely concerned about this proposed development and the way in which the developers intend to clean the contaminated site. I live with my family quite close to Hollicombe and my son is due to start at Preston Primary School in September. The site directly adjoins the school.

“We know that the ground of the gas works is badly contaminated with a number of dangerous substances. However, the clean up strategy provided by Midas Homes states that they still need to do more research to determine the full extent of the problem.

“The strategy they have produced contains no details on how they will control dust emissions from the site during clearance, reclamation and building work. Survey work carried out so far shows that contaminated soil containing cyanide will need to be excavated right next to the school’s boundaries. The Remediation Strategy provided by Midas Homes states they don’t know the actual volumes of soil requiring treatment.

“The land will not even be completely cleaned when works are finished. Contaminated soils will be covered by a layer of hardcore and top soil. There will be no private gardens on the site and residents will not be allowed to plant or grow vegetables. There will be ‘biopiles’ of contaminated soil distributed around the site.

“It’s the young, the old and the pregnant who are particularly likely to have their health damaged by poorly controlled reclamation of such badly contaminated land. Corby Council were recently found negligent by the High Court for failing to control the reclamation of an old steel works site in their area. They are paying millions in compensation to young people suffering birth defects as a result. The same contaminants are present at the Hollicombe site. Torbay Councillors must consider whether they are really prepared to risk similar problems here.

“The Governors of Preston Primary School are deeply concerned about the possible risks to the health of children attending their school. There are a growing number of parents who will consider withdrawing their children from the school if work starts on site.

“If you are worried by this development then your concerns must be expressed in writing to the council by Friday, May 14. You can contact the Preston Residents and Parents Against Toxic Dust through our Facebook group or email us on pre...@yahoo.co.uk. We will be staging public protests in the run up to the council’s decision on planning approval. Please get involved.”

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Toxin issue still unresolved at proposed Hollicombe development

PRSD — Thu, 06 May 2010 09:44:36 +0000

Preston residents and parents fear an incident similar to Corby with the proposal of the redevelopment of a gas works that could release toxins from a site which is adjacent to Preston Primary School.

There are major health concerns linked with the development of the Hollicombe Gas Works, which have yet to be addressed, says the Hollicombe Action Group.

When conditional planning approval was granted for 185 flats at the Hollicombe site, it was subject to the council receiving satisfactory information in three key areas including the decontamination of the site.

These fears have yet to be address says the group, as it points to the remediation strategy, which still leaves question marks over the safety of the site, with toxins such as arsenic and cyanide linked to birth defects, cancers and respiratory illnesses knocking about.

The remediation strategy says ‘extensive areas of the site have not been investigated’. And ‘it is possible during site clearance works that additional contamination may be identified or mobilised’.

If the extent of the contamination is not fully known, then how can it be safe to start digging? Asks the group.

Objections need to be expressed in writing to Torbay’s planning department by Friday, May 14.

Find out more about the Hollicombe Action Group and join their Facebook Group.

(image: flooding at the proprosed Hollicombe site)

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Get your voice heard on Babbacombe Downs! Public meeting called (plus there’s a handy video to explain the issue)

PRSD — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:08:53 +0000

Babbacombe Downs development debate continues, despite everyone’s favourite mayor Nick Bye (who loves the Bay so much he wanted to be the Totnes MP) pushing ahead with the plan. There’s a public meeting at Babbcombe Theatre Saturday, March 6 at 3pm about the issue, and everyone’s invited to attended!!

The problem, say the organisers, is that Nasty Nick is planning to give away a plot of public land on Babbacombe Downs to a private developer in an Urban Landscape Protection Zone, which also has a covenant to prevent any commercial development and to top it all the local community has not been properly consulted about the proposal.

Maybe this handy video will explain more:

“This does not only affect the residents of Babbacombe and St Marychurch,” says the Torquay Times site. “The mayor is pursuing similar policies in other locations around Torbay.”

The motion which the public meeting will vote on, is: “We, members of the community, do not support the mayor in his decision to give away public land on Babbacombe Downs.”

If you have some issues to raise, pop along to the Torquay Times site, which has the full story plus details on how to get your points across.

• Anyone got time to pile through the minutes of Torquay Council on the Babbacombe Downs issue? Comments below, please

(Image: What the mayor referred to as the building in situ on the Babbacome Downs – maybe he’s planning a flat-fish restaurant?)

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Inevitable expansion of the Dartington Trust? Maybe a Dartington Watch should scrutinse the developments?

Gadfly — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:10:11 +0000

New contributor Gadfly suggests a Dartington Watch to scrutinise developments at the estate

Let me make a prediction for the coming year, in fact, to be even more ambitious, the new decade as well. Sadly, no great revelations here about upcoming X Factor winners, or next techno gadget, just the gloomy realisation that we are now due for an inevitable expansion of Dartington Trust.

Recently, I’ve searched the internet to find out what has happened to the organisations that protested about the removal of the Dartington College of Arts to Falmouth. That removal was astonishingly quick, given the level of support to prevent it that was allegedly pledged by many art, music and educational luminaries.

Naively perhaps, I imagined that bigwigs in the arts world had good access to tame barristers to delay the process for years. Anyway all clearly a done deal now, so no use going back over tired old ground an’ all. No surprise then, that the protest blogs and sites concerned with the direction Dartington is taking, either don’t seem to have had any traffic for a while, or have been shut down.

Of course, I can’t claim my searches were exhaustive, or even very good, so I look forward to being corrected. In the meantime, the question remains, where is all the critical appraisal of the potentially even bigger changes that are likely to take place at Dartington?

Surely there is a danger that now all the hissy fits over the move are safely confined to the noughties, the real job of ‘re-configuring’ the estate can begin in earnest and without troublesome killjoys bleating on about the original aims of the Elmhirsts whose dosh set the place up. Moving the college attracted a large amount of hot air and tutting that turned out to be totally useless, so does the ‘protest fatigue’ from this failed campaign, mean that the trust calculates it has a free hand in divvying up the estate?

With the year barely off and running, my predictive powers are quite uncanny. Already there is an announcement of plans for 120 retirement apartments at the Foxhole site. A Marriott Golf and Country Club on a soon to be razed Higher Close can’t be far behind.

Ah, hold on you say, each new ‘re-configuring’ will have to go through a lengthy public/community consultation phase. Yeah right.

The college of arts was lost, but subverting the ethos of the Dartington estate would be an even greater disgrace. I suggest a Dartington Watch to scrutinise each move the trust makes. Anyone out there agree?

• Comments below, please.

(Image: In the Cider Press Centre The Cider Press Centre is a complex of shops housed in a number of old buildings. Profits go to support the Dartington Hall Trust charity © Copyright Tony Atkin and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.)

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People-Centred Economic Development puts the human element into profit

PRSD — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:49:18 +0000

The People-Centred Economic Development, based in Gloucestershire, has been redefining profit for in human terms. Jeff Mowatt from the company spoke about the social business

Explain your business.
We’re called People-Centered Economic Development, in essence a business with a primary social objective, a social ROI. We began in 1996 with a founding paper describing a new more inclusive economic model for the information age, with the same name as our business.

What’s your background?
P-CED started in the US in 1997 following the founding paper and and by 1999 was working in Russia to source a development initiative and microfinance bank which created 10,000 small enterprises in the city of Tomsk.

We launched in the UK in 2004, deriving revenue from an ongoing software development business.

Why do your ethics play such a strong role in your business, and how does it apply to what you do?
Our revenue is deployed in activism and advocacy for human rights and poverty eradication. We believe that any economic model which includes disposability of humans either by genocide or starvation. Hence we are working in Eastern Europe to leverage investment in sustainable development.

What have you achieved with what you do?
Aside from the Tomsk initiative, since incorporation in the UK we’ve researched and submitted a ‘Marshall Plan‘ strategy paper to the US Senate which has begun to have inpact on government policy

What was harder to implement than you thought it would be?
Certainly. At first we tried a UK community broadband proposal but were unable to attract funding for a model based on a guarantee company. This was a year before the introduction of CICs which are based on similar principles, and we would have been difficult to understand. Then our founder, was excluded from the UK as a visitor. Exclusion has been an ongoing problem of many dimensions.

And yet, founder Terry Hallman resident in Ukraine for the last five years where he continues to advocate for the disenfranchised, particularly disabled children, was commended as an example of excellence in BT’s Seen and Heard awards last year.

What has been the unexpected benefit, if any, to you, your business or the community?
What we hadn’t expected was the influence on mainstream economics which came about because of the credit crisis. Now influential business leaders and politicians talk of more inclusive capitalism under various new labels which brings us a long way from publishing an idea on the web 12 years ago. Otherwise influence on the policies of two governments is something I’d not have dreamt of five years ago.

What have you learnt and what advice would you give to others thinking of starting a social enterprise?
I was reminded recently of part of the script of an old film, Inn of the Sixth Happiness.

In the film, Chinese tradition has five “happiness” wishes: wealth, longevity, good health, virtue, and a peaceful old age and death. “Each person must decide in their heart what the sixth happiness is.”

So, my answer would be to pursue that Sixth Happiness whatever is tossed in the way to divert your path.

How do you view the future?
We started off with a ideal, to replicate localised people-centered economics on a global basis. That view remains steadfast and now seems more achievable.

• If you are or know a social or ethical business, get in touch to be featured on the PRSD, email info@peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk

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Find the funding opportunties you need for your next new project

PRSD — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 06:45:48 +0000

You know how it is when all the cupboards are bare, and you’ve got so many projects you want to pursue but for a little lolly (that’s money to you). We know that feeling only too well. Well, here’s some funding opportunities that have come across our desk

Funding Stuff
Global Music Company supporting music education and encouragement
The aim of this foundation, set up by EMI records, is to support projects that encourage education, in particular for young people, in all aspects of music. Bursary (£5000) and general awards up to £2,500. www.musicsoundfoundation.com

Heritage Lottery funds: Young Roots; Townscape Heritage initiative; Your Heritage. www.hlf.org.uk

Arts Council – Grants for Arts. Activities that benefit people or that help artists and art organisations to carry out their own work. Minimum grant is likely to be £200 and the largest in the region £200,000. www.artscouncil.org.uk

Funding for skate park projects
Gravity Engineering Ltd, a manufacturer of concrete and steel skate parks, is looking to sponsor new skate park projects with donations towards funding of up to £5,000 per project: http://www.gravityparks.co.uk/

Free Website Offer for Your Partnership or Community Group
The Devon Towns Forum is offering all of Devon’s Community Partnerships and Community Groups the chance to apply for a free Website and Training Package worth over £600: info@devontownsforum.org.uk

The Co-operative Community Fund
Community groups, voluntary groups, self-help groups, community charities or local branches of national charities are eligible to apply for grants of between £100 and £2,000. www.co-operative.coop/membership/Community-Fund/

South West Loans Fund
The South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) has announced the launch of a new £10m South West Loans Fund which is now available to help growth-oriented business with viable business plans, as part of the drive for economic recovery. www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest

Greater Dartmoor LEAF
Greater Dartmoor LEAF is a new publicly funded organisation which has been set up to identify and fund environmental and innovative projects and businesses which will increase the future prosperity of the wider community, within the Greater Dartmoor area of Devon. www.greaterdartmoorLEAF.org.uk

The Future Jobs Fund
The Future Jobs Fund is a new initiative, which will help to generate jobs for those in greatest need, particularly young people, and also in areas of high unemployment. This aims to create 150,000 jobs providing real help for young people and who face significant disadvantages in the labour market. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/futurejobsfund

The Big Lottery Fund and Channel 4s’ The Secret Millionaire have teamed up to give viewers a chance to access funding worth £1 million in grants of between £300 and £10,000. http://secretmillionaire.channel4.com/fund_info.shtml

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More greenhouse gases and fewer affordable homes at Sherford development says South Hams FoE

PRSD — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:34:11 +0000

Any changes in energy efficiency and affordable housing levels at a development at Sherford, the planned new community between Plymouth and Brixton, has been condemned by South Hams Friends of the Earth.

South Hams Friends of the Earth (SHFoE) cites a letter from developers Redtree, which says: “It is inevitable that the affordable housing delivery at Sherford, like many other aspects of the planning agreement, will be reduced from the level presented to the committee in April 2008.”

(SHFoE) says the level of affordable housing has not yet been agreed between the developers and the council, but both are agreed that it will be cut from the 36 per cent approved in 2008 (itself a reduction on the 50 per cent contained within the council’s own policy: the Area Action Plan for Sherford)

And the energy efficiency programme has been moved back in time.

Spokesman for SHFoE Steve Melia told the PRSD: “We believe the council should stand firm. A delay would be better than environmentally damaging concessions.

“Any public subsidy for building during the recession should be concentrated on brownfield sites within the cities. Big greenfield developments like Sherford should be shelved until the market improves.”

The deadline for comments on the revised application to South Hams District Council is June 25.
posted by Cptn

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Review of Monoprinting Workshop, Plymouth Museum, June 6, 2009

PRSD — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:39:27 +0000

Picasso, Matisse, Emin… and now, after a Saturday workshop at Plymouth Museum, add Smith to the list of people who have produced monoprints, (although unlike the list of artists before me, income from my efforts wouldn’t even cover the bus fare home).

Monoprinting is a printmaking technique which creates a one-off image.

Basically, paint is applied to a smooth surface and is then transferred to another (paper, material etc), either by hand or by press. It’s a simple technique, but one that can be used to produce a wide variety of unique images.

The monoprinting workshop is just one of the adult art activity days, ranging from papermaking to rag rugging, currently being offered by the recently revamped museum. Helen Round, who helps to develop the organisation’s programme of activities, was keen to reintroduce the days after having her enthusiasm for art encouraged by a workshop ‘many years ago’.

Helen, who is a textile artist and member of the Drawn to the Valley group of artists, led the workshop. After a quick introduction it was down to business with a sentence guaranteed to make the collective stomachs of the participants drop: ‘I’d like you to make a few sketches from the museum exhibits.’

It soon became apparent, however, that fine art drawing skills are not a prerequisite for printmaking.

After covering a sheet of plexiglass with acrylic paint we placed our sketches onto the painted sheet and traced our drawings. As well as the traditional pencil, Helen encouraged us to use our ‘other’ hand, fingers and erasers to transfer our images and achieve ‘interesting’ effects. Removing our drawings revealed a positive image on the back of paper and an inverse in the remaining paint. This was transferred, using a roller, onto a piece of paper to create another print. The variations on this technique are many – layering paint, smearing colours, adding cut-outs to the painted plexiglass for example.

After a couple of hours of experimenting with this technique we moved on to a press and printing inks. Plastic covered cardboard rollered with ink was passed thro ugh the press together with a piece of paper pre-soaked in water. The effect of the press was to spread the inks very thinly into the wet paper, allowing for multiple layering of colours and the addition of different shapes to the print through the use of stencils for example..

The final monoprint can also be used in other projects. Stitching, colouring and collaging are just a few techniques that can be added. And of course the wipes used to clean the plexiglass (which, worryingly, are primarily used to clean babies’ bottoms) can also provide inspiration for mixed-media creations as well as an interesting visual record of the day

So much of the success of a workshop is down to the facilitator. Helen was excellent – showing us the basics and encouraging us to experiment. Materials were plentiful, so it was with straining carrier bags that we left the workshop at 3:30pm.

So I guess you want to see my efforts? Miro, eat your heart out…

For further information on adult art workshops visit the Plymouth Museum site.

posted by Heather Smith

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Plymouth home to new graduate dance programme from Attik Dance

PRSD — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:22:14 +0000

Graduate dancers who’ve been kicking up their heels, rather than high kicking, and are looking to work with dance in education and community settings could join the new Fast Forward project in Plymouth.

Fast Forward, the Graduate Dance Company part of Attik Dance, will work for 10 weeks between October and December to create a performance piece and education package.

Dancers will be paid a weekly bursary of £150 while they develop their teaching skills and find out what it’s like to work with a professional dance company.

To take part you need to have graduated between 2007 and 2009 and have a good contemporary technique.

Auditions will take place in Plymouth on Friday, July 24. To receive an application pack send a request to info@attik.org.uk or write to Attik Dance at Mount Wise House, Cumberland Road, Devonport, PL1 4GL

Closing date for applications in July 17.

posted by Cptn

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Latest People’s Republic of South Devon newsletter out now

PRSD — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:41:47 +0000

With all the inside gen on what’s been going down at PRSD towers, plus a little heads-up on one of our (not too secret) secret additions of offers and giveaways on the site, the latest newsletter has a unique insight into the current PRSD developments

Exciting much!?

Well, we think so, so we’ve decided that if you sign up for the newsletter and email info@peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk, we’ll send you the link to the newsletter you missed. Now, you can’t say fairer than that.

All that and you can still follow us on Twitter; Facebook; MySpace; Friendfeed and via RSS

And remember, sign up to the newsletter

posted by Cptn

(image: an old email newsletter)

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Have your say on coastal defences for the next 100 years

PRSD — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:30:35 +0000

If you want to take part in protecting the coastline, you can have your say at consultation events about how to manage parts of the South Coast.

The first of these consultations in the South Devon takes place at the Teign Corinthian Yacht Club, Teignmouth, on June 4, followed by one in Harbour House, Kingsbridge, on Friday, June 5. With the final Devon consultation taking place at the Roland Levinsky Building, Plymouth University on Monday, June 8.

They all take place between 2pm and 6pm and function on a drop-in basis.

A group of statutory agencies have got together to work out how to manage a 400km section of South Devon and Dorset. They call themselves the Coastal Group and they have to produce a Shoreline Management Plan, which they can’t resist calling the SMP because it sounds so much cooler.

Graeme Smith, Chair of the South Devon and Dorset Coastal Authorities Group told the PRSD: “This consultation is the principal way for individuals, organisations and businesses to contribute their views on how and where we should defend the South Devon and Dorset coastline.

“People will have a say in how the local coastline is managed and defended for the next 100 years.

“There are many complex areas within the region where local residents’ views are crucial in the development of appropriate policies which will result in coastal defence schemes on the ground and the creation of a strong Coastal Strategy.”

posted by Cptn

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Is the #devonelection tainted with national politicians’ shenanigans?

PRSD — Sat, 30 May 2009 08:38:36 +0000

There’s a fear of low turn outs at the June 4 election, and that local politics are getting tainted with that anger at shenanigans of national politicians.

Cllr Mike Walters (Conservative), who’s been knocking on doors in the Kingsteignton area, told the PRSD: “There’s a lack of trust in politicians at the moment. All that goes when I say I’m concerned with representing people at a local level.”

He cites development, traffic, roads and highways, and travel to and from surgeries as the doorstep issues he’s been facing.

Jim Knight, Seaton Conservative Coastal Candidate, told the PRSD: “On the doorstep there are many different issues, especially since the MP expenses came to light. Roads, education, vandalism, police and lack of youth facilities.”

Both county council candidates believe their role, if elected is to fight for their area at at county council level, to claim resources that say have been missing from their prospective areas.

“We cannot continue as we have in the past – it is time for change, for fresh ideas,” said Jim.

But will their local argument get people out to vote?

In terms of turn out, Mike said: “We had 26 per cent turn out last time, I don’t think we’ll get as much as that this time.”

The reason? An angry public.

posted by Cptn

• The PRSD has emailed all the main parties (Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, Greens and UKIP) for comments on the June 4 elections. And we have emailed all the district councillors in Exeter, Teignbridge, and the South Hams twice, and East Devon once. We also asked that the messages be passed on that the People’s Republic of South Devon is keen to stimulate debate and involvement in Devon politics. We have only had two direct responses from councillors: Jim Knight (Seaton) and Gordon Hook (Teignbrige).

The Conservatives 4 Devon email bounced back

Are local politicians out of touch? Comment below

• Luke Pollard and Labour will be out again in Ivybridge today, for yet another round of leafleting. Find out just how much has been going on in that stomping ground of South Devon. And he’s calling for volunteers.

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