Tiverton car parking extension is"shameful"

Plans begin before given permission

Plans to increase the size of a car park for a property company owned by Mid-Devon District Council (MDDC) have been described as “shameful” after it was revealed work began before permission had been given. 

3Rivers Developments Ltd., a firm wholly owned by (MDDC), applied to the local authority to develop about 455 square metres of land to serve 39 homes at St George’s Square in Tiverton.

The plan was to provide eight new parking spaces after a neighbouring development led to the loss of some parking areas.  

Liberal Democrat councillor for Lawrence ward, Frank Letch is angry that a company linked to the council would ask for planning permission after work had already started.

“Is it not shameful that 3Rivers Development, the long arm of Mid-Devon District Council, is crawling up to this planning committee with a retrospective application?” he asked. 

Speaking at the MDDC planning committee meeting on Wednesday [27 July], Tiverton Town councillor and fierce objector to the plans Paul Elstone also criticised how the application had been processed.

He said: “Why is a lack of respect being shown to the requirements of the MDDC’s own planning system, this committee and the objectors; including Tiverton Town Council, that a rubber stamp approach seems to be taken by the parties involved.”

On Friday [29 July], Cllr Elstone issued a further statement including photographs of the work underway at the site which he said demonstrated “the biodiversity impacts in relation to the original and precious riverside and town centre green space.” 

Wednesday’s planning meeting also heard concerns about the loss of green space. Conservative councillor for Cranmore, Chris Daw, questioned the need for more parking in the town at all.  

“If it’s a town development, why have we got car parking? Because we have our own car parks,” she said.

“People in St Andrew Street have got cars, but they’ve got to park in the multi-storey. So why couldn’t that have come into play here and save some of the ground?”

And Lib Dem councillor for Cranmore, Les Cruwys, argued the car park development would destroy people’s last hope of viewing the river. 

“Although this development fills up most of the site, this was a little chink, a little crack where we could actually see the river,” said Cllr Cruwys.

“And therefore, by doing this, you’re effectively cutting off the one little piece that we can enjoy the river.”

The planning application was refused by a majority of seven-to-two, pending an implications report.  The motion stated that it is detrimental to the visual enjoyment of the river, it is overdevelopment on an overcrowded site and expressed concerns about car fumes on neighbouring properties.