Crediton ‘catalyst of ideas’ town plan broadly welcomed

A blueprint for the future of Crediton town centre has been broadly welcomed, with those who harboured minor concerns reassured by more opportunities to hone it further.

Input has been sought from the community since the Crediton masterplan kicked off in March last year, and suggestions and concerns from consultations, meetings and online questionnaires has led to a proposal being drawn up.
Initial ideas in the Crediton masterplan were discussed by Mid Devon District Council’s cabinet, which met at the town’s Boniface Centre.
Concerns included whether more trees would be planted on the high street, whether the masterplan would be in line with other existing documents, including the Crediton neighbourhood plan, and fears about whether a possible cafe in Newcombes Meadow could be financially viable.
But as Cllr Steve Keable (Liberal Democrat, Taw Vale), cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration, stressed several times, the masterplan  “ruled nothing in and ruled nothing out. This is a catalyst for sparking off ideas.”
He continued: “The points in this document are just ideas and we don’t want to waste time, money or resources on developing ideas that people don’t want.”
Giles Fawssett, a Crediton town councillor, said the masterplan had some “wonderful CGI images including trees” and that he hoped that those pictures could become reality.
“I see urban greening as an opportunity,” he said. “Crediton Town Council supports trees on the high street and I campaigned on this issue.”
He said the Woodland Trust offers to pay for trees in urban areas, and therefore asked whether the district council would support a greener high street in Crediton.
Cllr Keable said the authority “does support schemes that seek to incorporate tree planting”, but Devon County Council, which is responsibile for highways, would need to play a leading role.
However, he said the masterplan identified other areas away from roads for planting “which we are keen to see delivered in the near-term”.
Another town councillor, Liz Brookes-Hocking, said: “This report mentions the impossibility of providing trees and more crossing places without reducing parking, but that was not the conclusion of our urban study and we are worried that it is being ignored in favour of the masterplan.”
Cllr Brookes-Hocking said there appeared to be some “conflict” between certain documents, and it would be desirable to know that “all made and adopted plans stand alongside each other”.
Cllr Keable added that all points of view would be taken forward but expressed mild frustration at the town council.
He said: “There has been some criticism by Crediton Town Council, and I’m not sure it has been warranted as there has been extensive consultation, including a return [of the document] to the town council, which has resulted in a delay to the plan being brought to cabinet.”
Cllr Keable said meetings had been held with key stakeholders, drop-in events, a permanent exhibition, direct approaches to more than 400 organisations, and an online questionnaire as part of efforts to seek the community’s view.
The district council’s planning policy advisory group (PPAG) had also conducted a walk-around in Crediton so councillors could picture the proposals, and another event is to be held at Phoenix House, Mid Devon’s headquarters, in September.
Cllr Jane Lock (Liberal Democrat, Canonsleigh) called the masterplan a “marvellous document”, adding that she hoped “Crediton embraces this.”
Councillor Martin Binks (Conservative, Yeo), who had been a member of the PPAG group that had provided input into the masterplan welcomed comments that it would be fully sympathetic to Crediton’s neighbourhood plan, was concerned about a cafe in Newcombes Meadow.
“While I think on a sunny day like today, the idea of a cafe and play area would be fantastically well used, I cannot see it working 365 days a year,” he said.
The lack of parking at Newcombes Meadow was also discussed. A possible solution of using the nearby Methodist church car park had been investigated, the meeting heard, but the church didn’t like the idea.
Crediton’s mayor, Cllr Guy Cochrane, echoed concerns about Newcombes Meadow, saying it needed to be a “potential destination where people are able to stop. And without additional car parking, I can’t see people wanting to walk half a mile to get there.”
However, officers stated that while some options had been tentatively explored for parking on the edge of the park, there had been heritage concerns.
“We’re not saying that idea is dead, but I think there is a substantial challenge to incorporate substantial parking without beginning to destroy the thing that makes the area special,” said Andy Robbins, the district council’s town planner.
“But we can consult further on the idea so it won’t go away.”
The masterplan will now go to Mid Devon’s full council meeting in September.