Our Next Meeting
Please note that, because of a major Planning Appeal in Tiverton Town Hall, our next meeting in the Mayoralty Room has been postponed from Tuesday, June 14th until Tuesday, June 28th at 7.30 p.m. Alan Roseveare will give a presentation on ‘Travel in Devon Before the Railways.’
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill
This bill was announced in the Queen’s speech and, as far as planning is concerned, it includes the following major policies, which, if adopted by Parliament, will be implemented in 2022-2023:
‘Right homes in the right places’
The Bill will also deliver new reforms to the planning system, ensuring new development is more beautiful, produces more local Infrastructure, is shaped by local people’s democratic wishes, improves environmental outcomes, and occurs with neighbourhoods very much in mind.
Measures include:
- Local plans – the way in which councils set the vision for future development in their area and decide whether to give planning permission – will gain stronger legal weight and be made simpler to produce. Communities will have a major say in these plans giving them more opportunity to shape what happens in their areas. Currently 61% of councils do not have an up to date local plan, which leaves communities exposed to development on which they haven’t had a meaningful say.
- A digitised planning system making plans and planning applications fully available on your smartphone.
- Stronger protections for the environment in local plans, empowering councils to make better use of brownfield land and protect precious greenbelt land.
- Local design codes will be made mandatory so that developers have to respect styles drawn up and favoured locally – from the layout or materials used, to how it provides green space.
The much greater involvement of communities in planning decisions will be much welcomed, as will be the strengthening of local design codes, which should curb the power of housebuilders, and greater protection of the environment. The role of Civic Societies in the planning process will obviously be considerably enhanced.
Letter from Neil Parish and Mel Stride to George Eustice Concerning Anaerobic Digesters.
Neil Parish MP has written to George Eustice, Secretary of State for Food, Farmimg and Rural Affairs, concerning the problems created by Anaerobic Digesters. The letter was also signed by Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon. See also the information on this topic lower on this Page Devon.Neil_Parish_MP_and_Mel_Stride_MP_to_George_Eustice_MP_Industrial_Scale_Anaerobic_Digestors_Letter_20.04.22
John Hart, The leader of Devon County Council, has also written to George Eustice about this issue 04-22-2022_DEFRA_anaerobic digestion (1)
The Former Police Station in The Avenue, Tiverton
.
Save Our Leat – Encouraging Progress!
At a meeting of Tiverton Town Council on Monday, 28th March it was resolved that a Charitable Trust should be set up to manage the acquisition of funding and ongoing management to ensure the repair and preservation of the Town Leat, and Tiverton Town Council agreed to become a partner and to set aside £10,000.
Much of the work to achieve this progress has been carried out by Philip and Irene Hill, and their letter below includes further details,
We have had some success, notably to secure the water supply, by getting the weir at Chettiscombe rebuilt. Also we had the syphon under the Link Road cleared (it needs doing again!!)
But we have identified a number of other issues. Work is needed on the stretch behind the Cemetery, there are problems in Water Lane, Castle Street needs renovating and then there is the Market and Coggans Well.
All these need money, perhaps 10s of thousands of pounds and most involve multiple agencies – Mid Devon District Council, Devon County and South West Water to name a few, plus land owners. All of which brings us to the central issue – no one wants to pay for it all. We have investigated grant funding but working from within Tiverton Town Council, this expressly prevents many donors from contributing.
Our solution to this is to set up an independent trust to manage the acquisition of funds and subsequently the implementation of the renovation and remedial work. This will be a CIO or Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It will be a corporate body which can operate like a company and enter into contracts in its own name rather the trustees. CIOs must register with the Charities Commission. For comparison and an example of what we are attempting visit the Dulverton Weir & Leat Conservation Trust website https://dulvertonweir.org.uk/
At a meeting of the Tiverton Town Council on Monday evening, 28th March, the following motion was passed:-
“That This Council agrees that a Charitable Trust be set up to manage the acquisition of funding and ongoing management to ensure the repair and preservation of the Town Leat. That this Council provides foundational support to this Charitable Trust and sets aside an initial sum of £10,000 from its reserves to facilitate the charitable trust project, and becomes a partner, along with other organisations, in its running.”
This is the first step and it will take some years and a lot of money to get the leat running again. But we now have the independence and freedom to advance. And we now have the seed-corn!
So what are the subsequent steps?
First is the forthcoming Annual Parish Meeting on 25th April (7:15pm at the Town Hall) which is the opportunity for members of the public to participate. More details will be presented at this time, and it is the chance for local people to be heard.
We have identified many enthusiasts across Tiverton, and we would also encourage you to attend. We are sure there will be lots of ways to contribute. We need this to be a community lead endeavour.
The grant funding bodies often require that we show how the community generally is being involved. Education is a big part. Not only is the leat part of the heritage of the town but its presence could provide the stimulus for many exciting learning opportunities. It will be essential that we involve local schools moving forward.
Its early days yet and we don’t have all the solutions, but as the project progresses, it will need a team to lead the creation of the Trust and its future work.
A patron and additional partners will be useful too.
Please contact us if you have any questions or need more information.
Regards
Phil and Irene
Philip & Irene Hill
Land line 01884 562800 or mobile 07774 766429
Lung Toll and Air Pollution (Please see the Side Bar and the Archives Page).
A summary of the report by Asthma + Lung UK, which highlights the problems encountered by the over 65s, can be read at:
This Society have often campaigned on this issue, BUT are we doing enough in Tiverton and Mid Devon to mitigate this often devastating problem? A new Mid Devon District Council Draft Air Quality Action Plan was published in November 2021, and will be discussed by the MDDC Cabinet in April : https://www.middevon.gov.uk/media/353399/aqap-final-action-plan-nov2021.pdf.
IPCC Report. {Please see the Sidebar).
The full IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change) report
‘Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability’
can be read at: https://reliefweb.int/report/world/climate-change-2022-impacts-adaptation-and-vulnerability
‘Five Key Take Aways’ from the IPCC Report can be accessed at https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2022/2022-ipcc-report/737976
A further IPCC report was issued on April 4th 2022, which reemphasised the extreme seriousness of the situation, the latest IPCC report (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) is a “final warning” for governments about the threat of the climate emergency, stating that it’s ‘”now or never” for world leaders to make immediate changes to cut carbon emissions. This report provides crucial insight into how we can mitigate the worst effects of climate change, and keep within 1.5 degrees of global warming. As always, the IPCC report is an important reminder that all and every action to reduce our carbon footprints is essential, no matter how seemingly small or inconsequential.
The report states that it’s not too late to remain within 1.5 degrees and avert the worst effects of climate change, but achieving this requires a combination of strong leadership and policy, as well as a cultural shift towards sustainable lifestyles. For further details, see UN News
Climate Emergency – Net Zero Visions
Net-Zero Visions brings together communities across Devon with the creative industries and transition experts to produce positive ‘Visions’ of six locations as carbon net-zero in 2050. These locations will have their Vision realised by acclaimed professionals in different media, including animation, illustration, interactive games, and public murals. Community delegates will be asked to feed perspectives from their organisation and community into the creative process. The aim is for these compelling, original Visions to raise awareness of the Devon Carbon Plan and engage people in the process and possibilities of change. All residents of Devon are invited to submit their own net-zero visions of their town, village or locale to be showcased in the project galery.
Tiverton is one of the six locations selected, and our Chairman participated as part of the Tiverton Group, in the Net Zero Visions online workshop hosted by the University of Plymouth on February 21st, the second of three free workshops. As well as Tiverton Civic Society, the group also included representatives from the Tiverton Neighbourhood Plan, Sustainable Tiverton, Mid Devon District Council, Exe Valley Rotary, and Uffculme School, and there were further groups from all areas of Devon.
The workshop was very well attended, with very useful guidance from a range of expert advisors, and many excellent ideas and ‘Visions’were proposed and discussed. All were agreed about the extreme urgency of the situation. and all agreed that there is much we can all be doing in our own communities to mitigate the causes and effects of climate change.
Please see the Devon Carbon Plan
https://www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk/devon-carbon-plan/
Please also see Devon Climate Emergency
https://www.devonclimateemergency.org.uk/
Gotham House
As Peter Maunder says:
Civic Societies and the Planning Process
Dr Christopher Maidment and Professor Angelique Chettiparamb from the Department of Real Estate and Planning have produced a report exploring the role of local civic societies in the English planning system. This was completed after completed questionnaires were submitted by many Civic Societies. The full report can be read here. Both the authors have recently engaged with Tiverton Civic Society on planning issues.
Civic-Societies-the-Planning-Process-Final-Report-8th-February-2022
Ewan Woodley’s Presentation on ‘Climate Change, Environmental Risks and our Everyday Lives’
Ewan Woodley’s presentation on Tuesday, November 16th was very successful and extremely popular with those who attended.
He has forwarded Crediton Flood A5 Leaflet v3 for which the full title is ‘Understanding and Promoting Resilience to Flooding in Crediton.’
_______________________
1.8 million people in the United Kingdom are at significant risk of flooding, a figure that it is feared will double by the 2050s, and the risks are particularly high in the River Exe catchment, both Tiverton and Exeter being placed among the five towns in Devon’s highest flood risk category, despite the presence of flood defences.
Anyone who watched ‘It Takes a Flood’ (ITV 2.11.21) or BBC Panorama on 3.11.21 will have been appalled by the urgency of the problem of flooding.
‘Building resilience to protect lives and livelihoods is an increasing priority.‘ (BBC Panorama
)Housing White Paper to be Abandoned?
On September 11th The Times reported that ‘the biggest shake-up of planning laws for 70 years is set to be abandoned after a backlash from voters and Tory MPs.’
In an extraordinary volte-face against the Planning White Paper proposals Boris Johnson said in his speech to the Conservative Party Conference on October 7th that “You can also see how much room there is to build the homes that young families need in this country not on green fields, not just jammed in the South East, but beautiful homes on brownfield sites in places where homes make sense.” If carried out, these proposals would, at the very least, prevent housing being developed on greenfield land which has not been allocated, for instance at Hartnoll Farm and Tidcombe Hall.
Hartnoll Farm Again!
PCL Planning on behalf of Waddeton Park Ltd, has submitted an application to MDDC for a new development at Hartnoll Farm:
Outline planning application for the extension to the existing business park for up to 3.9ha of employment land and up to 150 residential dwellings with associated open space and infrastructure (with means of access to be determined only).
Local residents and councillors have previously successfully opposed further development at this site, providing many cogent reasons for doing so.
Full details are posted on the Applications, Consultations and Responses Page.
Tiverton’s Crisis in 1723/1724
The political problems faced by Tiverton, as well as other West Country Towns, in the early 18th century, are described by Jon Rosebank in this new book ‘Partisan Politics Looking for Consensus in 18th Century Towns’ (University of Exeter Press, 2021, £75, or 45% off for those joining Jon’s podcast http://www.historycafe.org). See Lewis Clarke’s article in Devon Live.
Jon is very willing to talk at one of our meetings, and we hope that a suitable date can be arranged.
APPG. (All Party Parliamentary Group for Civic Societies).
Civic Voice have requested all their members to write to their local Members of Parliament requesting them to join this important parliamentary pressure and advisory group.. This is our letter to Neil Parish, based on a Civic Voice template. MPinviteAPPG_1 Neil Parish MP,
. Fly-Tipping Near Knightshayes, April 2021The fly-tipping ‘epidemic’ has become far worse during the recent lockdowns, and it can create an unattractive and unhealthy problem in our rural environment. To report the problem in Mid Devon, please see: https://www.middevon.gov.uk/residents/environment/street-care/fly-tipping/
Also, please see The Guardian; and CPRE’s campaign report on this issue.
The Anaerobic Digester Problem.
Lewis Clarke’s excellent interview with Tiverton’s MP, Neil Parish, for In Your Area, has highlighted a problem of real concern for many people. Neil feels that “the whole thing seems to be getting out of control now. We desperately need a policy on ADs; otherwise, it will get totally out of control.” Very large, and often very wide, tractors towing heavily trailers and tankers loaded with feedstock and digestate to and from Anaerobic Digesters are moving in increasingly large numbers along local roads, and the problem is likely to become much worse. The two local AD plants are the Red Linhay, at Halberton, and that at Willand, both of which draw feedstock from a very wide area, leading to concerns about road safety, enhanced pollution levels, increased congestion, and damage to local highways.
Green Bullet, February 2021
The Latest Green Bullet, published by CPRE North-West, is now available. As usual, it contains a wealth of useful information and links on environmental issues.
Historic England.
The February 2021 Newsletter is now available. Historic England have also made available ten films which imagine the future of the high street. The March 2021 Newsletter , and the April 2021 Newsletter are now also available.
Pollution in Towns and Cities
The latest research by the charity ‘Centre for Cities’ suggests that 1 in 16 deaths in the south of England is directly linked to pollution and urges the government to bring in much stricter guidelines. This has been widely reported in the media recently, including The Independent,
In Tiverton and Mid Devon air pollution is carefully monitored, particular roads which are a potential concern in Tiverton being Leat Street and Blundell’s Road between Tidcombe Lane and the Horsdon Roundabout, although national pollution limits are not exceeded at either location. It is essential that further major development, which would feed more traffic along these roads, should not proceed until alternative routes are opened, and that the Eastern Urban Extension should not proceed further until the link between Blundell’s Road and the full junction with the A361 North Devon Link Road is completed. Also, please refer to the Archives Page.
‘Anyone can enter a postcode and house number at addresspollution.org and get a report on levels of three pollutants: fine particles known as PM2.5, larger particles called PM10, and NO2, a gas that in urban areas is emitted largely by diesel vehicles. The website gives each property one of five pollution ratings from low — meaning all three pollutants are at least 80 per cent below WHO limits — to very high for those where all exceed it and one is at least 20 per cent above the limit’. (The Times 17.3.21)
Trail Tale app
The TrailTale app entry for Tiverton has been developed in collaboration with this society. It is based upon The Merchants’ Trail and includes photographs and other information we have provided. Full details of the app, which can be downloaded onto Smart Phones free of charge, can be found at: http://www.trailtale.co.uk/
Details for Tiverton, and many other towns (but few in the South West) can be found under ‘Guided Walks.The history of many of our finest buildings is outlined and illustrated.
Green Bullet (CPRE North West)
This includes a large amount of useful information and links on green issues including climate change. Both the September 2020 issue and the November 2020 issue are now available online.
Planning for the Future’ and The Threat of Deregulation of the Planning System
‘Planning for the Future’, outlining reforms to the planning system, was published by the Government on August 4th, 2020, and its contents have already been widely publicised. Reforms include:
- All land in local authority areas will be designated as ‘renewal’, ‘development’ or ‘protection’. (Local authorities will be given two to three years to make these designations)
- Developers wishing to build on land designated for ‘renewal’ or ‘development’ will no longer have to go through full planning procedures.
- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Green Belt will be designated for ‘Protection’.
- There will be standards to ensure properties match the style of existing homes.
- There will be a new system of developer contributions to local infrastructure.
Eighteen charities, including the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Friends of the Earth, Woodland Trust and RSPB, have written to the prime minister to call for “locally accountable and democratic” planning rather than further deregulation.
The letter says: “Further deregulation of the planning system would erode the foundations of any green and just recovery long before the first brick is laid. Nowhere else in the world is such a deregulatory race to the bottom being considered.”
“It would be completely out of touch with the public mood, when two thirds of people reported wanting to see greater protection and investment in local green spaces after lockdown. This surge of appreciation for quality local green spaces is just one indicator of the increased appetite for action to tackle the housing, climate and nature crises head on.”.
_____________________________________
‘We fear that the rush to remove appropriate checks and balances on how planning decisions are made could have a disastrous effect on our countryside, our communities and local democracy, without providing the affordable, sustainable homes that Devon badly needs.’ (Penny Mills, CPRE Devon)
Please also see Policy Exchange’s influential publication ‘Rethinking the Planning System for the 21st Century’.
Tiverton Neighbourhood Plan Website
The website for the emerging Tiverton Neighbourhood Plan has now been launched. It can be accessed at: tivertonneighbourhoodplan.org.uk/
The Newte Library at St Peter’s Church
Nothing has been finally arranged, but the Newte Library is possibly going to move to a new home because of the need to find extra space for the reordering of the church.
The Library was founded from part of the private library of Rev. John Newte, rector of the Tidcombe and Pitt portions of Tiverton on his death in 1716. He had inherited the library of his father, Richard, in 1678. The books bequeathed are consistent with what would be expected of an Anglican clergyman of the later 17C and early 18C. There are also some later books and a 15th century ‘Book of Hours’.
A survey, published in 1959, and research carried out since then shows that the Newte Library is one of only 4 of the 13 parish libraries known to have been founded in Devon before 1800 for which the bulk of the collection still survives. Of these it is the only parish library to be housed in the original parochial church, and it is not only an important survival, but also a key part of Tiverton’s history which must be preserved intact.
Anna-Lujz Gilbert, a PhD student working in the field of early modern book history, who has written a paper on the Library, and Emma Down, a professional archivist,
are at present both working on cataloguing the Newte Library and carrying out a condition report.
The latest good news is that it has been decided that the Newte Library will remain in its present location. (July, 2021)
Living with Beauty – The Final Report of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission was published on January 30th 2020.
The full report is now available online
This report, which has important implications for housing design, was led by the late Sir Roger Scruton and Nicholas Boys Smith (Create Streets) and contains dozens of recommendations to support the creation of ‘more beautiful’ communities, including:
• Speeding up the planning process for ‘beautiful buildings’ through a new ‘Fast Track for Beauty’ rule for councils
• Recognising that some developers can abuse permitted developments rights to produce accommodation of the lowest quality. They call for all new homes to meet minimum standards for space, amenity and comfort
• Increasing democracy and involving communities in local plans and planning applications, including using digital technology like virtual reality and 3D modelling to help local people shape their own areas
• Recognises that a lack of resources and expertise in local authority planning departments was contributing to wider design-evaluation problems and suggests a new planning “fast stream” could be a solution
|
The importance of the engagement of local communities and people at all stages of the design process is stressed! ‘Our job is to create communities where people want to live and work together, and to empower local people to shape what happens in their area’.
Also, please see PCT_3619_High_Street_Pamphlet_FINAL_LR This pamphlet on ‘Take Back the High Street’ puts forward ideas for the revival of town centres and again stresses the importance of the involvement of local communities.
Podcast on TCR Radio
There is a 27 minute podcast on Tiverton Community Radio in which the excellently prepared Caro Bushnell talks to the TCS Chairman about the society’s 50th anniversary and Tiverton’s heritage.
Caro Bushnell also talked to the TCS Chairman about the Town Leat on June 14th, and this can be listened to online.
Tiverton Town Leat
The Town Leat was temporarily repaired and flowed again in early summer 2018, but since then it has been largely dry. Although a major meeting is planned between interested parties, probably on June 18th, the local concern about the lack of progress is very considerable and a protest meeting in Castle Street, followed by a march through the town to Coggans Well, was held on Saturday, June 1st. This was fully supported by Tiverton Civic Society, many of our members taking part.
The protest and march was set up by Caro Bushnell (TCR) and Jo Mortimer. Our Chairman made a short speech at the meeting TOWN LEAT
Both local and national media have shown a considerable interest and, as well as the online petition (see the Sidebar), a Facebook page has been set up https://www.facebook.com/groups/2723616954322233/?ref=share.
Please also see item above (TCR Radio) for a discussion between Caro Bushnell and Jeremy Salter.
Exeleigh House
Many people have expressed concern about Exeleigh House, very significant because of its links with John Heathcoat, because it is a fine building and because it is in the Tiverton Conservation Area. Jo Mortimer has, at our request, produced this excellent, but depressing, picture of the front of the house in its recent condition. She has also kindly presented the original picture to the Society. The picture, entitled ‘Agent of Change’, reached the long list for the John Ruskin Prize, 2019. The jury said:
“On this occasion your work has not been shortlisted. However, your submitted work did reach the penultimate stages of the judging process, reaching the long list of just 150 artists. Given the strength of this years applicants you should be encouraged by this news.”
For further information please see further information on the Listed Buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments Page.
The condition of this listed house was one of the reasons for Historic England’s classification of the Tiverton Conservation Area as ‘Heritage at Risk’, ‘Very Bad’ and ‘Deteriorating’.
The good news is that work is now in progress to restore the exterior of the house.
‘Tiverton Conservation Area was 8th in Civic Voice’s Competition to find England’s Favourite Conservation Area!
Civic Voice asked their members to nominate their choice as their Favourite Conservation Area in England and, out of the 249 nominations, Tiverton Conservation Area was included in a shortlist of 18, the nomination being made by this society. The first conservation area was established at Stamford fifty years ago, there are now more than 10,000. (However, many, including Civic Voice, are concerned about their future).
Following a nationwide vote the result was declared on October 20th 2018. The final vote placed Swindon GWR Railway Village Conservation Area first. The Tiverton Conservation Area did very well to achieve 8th place, and together with the 2017 nomination of this as one of six ‘Amazing Conservation Areas’ in England, confirms that the town has one of the finest of this country’s conservation areas. However, it is classified as ‘Heritage at Risk’, ‘Very Bad’ and ‘Deteriorating’ by Historic England, and everyone needs to do more to enhance it!
Joan Humble, Chair of Civic Voice said: “When we decided to launch England’s Favourite Conservation Area, we wanted to use it to test the enthusiasm people have for the place where they live. To get people talking about why conservation areas matter. What it has turned out to be is something truly amazing. It has surpassed all our expectations at Civic Voice. We received 249 entries from across the country and from announcing the shortlist to announcing the winner, we received just under 16,000 votes in 14 days. People do care about where they live. I look forward to visiting each of the winners at some point soon with Civic Voice.”
General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
All organisations were required to comply with the new GDPR regulations by May 25th 2018, and we have made every effort to do so. We have written a new Privacy Statement which can be read here: Tiverton Civic Society Privacy Statement
We have also contacted all members to request their permission to continue to use the contact details they have provided, including postal and e mail addresses as well as telephone numbers.
Conservation Areas
Historic England have mounted a campaign to celebrate 50 years of Conservation Areas in England. They have highlighted six examples of ‘amazing conservation areas’, including the Tiverton Conservation Area, after a submission by this Society! Nevertheless this area remains classified as ‘Heritage at Risk’.
See the latest Historic England findings about ‘Heritage at Risk’.
‘Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the Beauth of Tiverton’ – see the Archives Page.
Canonsleigh Abbey – see the Archives Page.
Launch of ‘Tiverton Cloth’ by Pater Maunder -see the Archives Page.
The Fountain in the People’s Park – see the Archives Page.
Local Plan Review Examination – see the Archives Page.
Links Provided by Tristan Peat (MDDC) following his presentation on October 30th 2018 – see the Archives Page.
Tiverton Floods in 1960 – see the Archives Page.
Unveiling of Plaque to Private Thomas Sage VC on October 4th 2017 – see the Archives Page.
Planning Committee on 29th March 2017 – see the Archives Page
Pictures accompanying the article on John Heathcoat in the November 2016 Newsletter – see the Archives Page
Oil Paintings in Tiverton Town Hall – see the Archives Page
Flood Risk – see the Archives Page.
Diesel Emissions – see the Archives Page.
J.D.Salinger in Tiverton – see the Archives Page
Tiverton Floods in 1960 – see the Archives Page.
Tiverton Civic Society 