Local Development Framework
East Devon District Council has the responsibility to plan for the future. This is very difficult as there are many local interest groups, Government guidelines, Devon County Council, NHS etc. At this time we do not know if the Government will get confirmation of the change of Local Authority Boundaries that creates a single unitary council for Exeter within its existing boundary with the rest of Devon as two tier authorities.
My personal opinion is that this should be discussed as Exmouth plus Budleigh Salterton, Lympstone, Woodbury, Colaton Raleigh, Otterton, East Budleigh which is identified as the local 'Learning Community'. We need to work together to provide what our residents, visitors etc need for the next 20 years.
Personnally I am not going to tell the 2600 students currently in Exmouth Community College they cannot live within their home area. This means we will need at least 3000 homes, many of which will have to be 'affordable'- rented or owned. This is without the number that will be built on 'windfall sites'- many of which are not affordable for young people starting out on independent living. We will also need 'extra care housing' which means housing that is capable of providing for a person in a wheelchair, needing personal care etc. with the support of personal care 'on site'. The criteria being a person needing at least 10 hours per week of support up to 24 hours a day.
We need to provide employment land to create local jobs to support the existing businesses and those for the future. It has to be recognised that many people choose to live in Exmouth but choose to work elsewhere. The A376 needs improving but at the moment does not meet the criteria to be upgraded by Government but by the County Council. Do we need to consider a new road on a line near to Exe View road through to Clyst St George bearing in mind the success of the A30 through a National park ? We need the Dinan Way completed to the A376 to prevent the 'rat runs' currently running through Halsdon Ward but this will have to be built by development under current guidelines. The number of passengers using the rail line is increasing but the frequency needs to be every 15 mins which will mean extra passing places. This only goes direct to Exeter City Centre via Sowton. If people choose to work on Exeter Marsh Barton the route through Countess Wear needs improving and so does public transport as it now takes at least 2 buses from Exmouth. If people wish to access the Exeter Business park, Exeter Airport Business Park the proposed Science Park or Sky Park employment developments many will be using Sandy Gate roundabout unless there are improvements on the Aylesbeare Route. It would be helpful if the services at Sandy Gate were directly off the Motorway so reducing the amount of traffic circling the roundabout. It is a very busy Services due to it being located at the end of the M5 before going to Plymouth/Cornwall. The A303 needs improving as many people use the M5 and M4 to London due to the lack of services or dualling of the A303.
I believe that in the next 20 years we will need a new Exmouth Community Hospital with a Health Centre. Where do we locate a new hospital ? North of Dinan Way or the Danby House site ? This will allow the current site to be used for affordable housing. The existing other surgeries will need to expand and perhaps a new one created.
These are my personal thoughts and I am sure many people will have different opinions. Please take part in the public consultation that will take place later this year. We need to create communities not just housing estates.