Tiverton expansion plans back in the spotlight

4:50pm Saturday 10th January 2009

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CONTROVERSIAL plans for industrial development on land between Tiverton and Halberton are set to be discussed at a public meeting next Thursday.

Proposals for the Hartnoll2 development, which would see a major expansion of business units on the Mid Devon Show site at Hartnoll Farm, were thrown out by district councillors in December, 2007, but they have been amended and resubmitted to Mid Devon Council.

A residents’ action group, formed in 2007 to fight the original plans, has been reformed.

One of the objectors, Kath Bewsey, of Post Hill, said this week: “Around 600 residents objected to the first scheme.

“Any development has to be wellplanned and industrial sites should be where there’s good road access, which means close to the link road.

“We don’t want lorries roaring through residential areas.”

Janine Banks, the agent for the developer, John Clapp, said: “The concerns that have been expressed are quite legitimate and we completely understand that there are issues to be addressed.

“This was a re-submission after a lot of work had been done.

“There are significant changes.

The concerns of Blundell’s School and residents of Halberton have been the source of much consideration, and we believe we’ve gone a long way to resolve those concerns.”

She said there was a clear need for more employment in the town and the lack of land was forcing businesses to look much further afield.

The meeting is being held at the Hartnoll Hotel, Bolham, at 2pm, and Janine Banks has promised to attend along with highways consultants.