Traffic and ugly satellite dishes targeted in Cullompton – Devon Live

Plans to control traffic, new development, and unsightly satellite dishes are being proposed for Cullompton.

Mid Devon District Councils cabinet, which met on Tuesday, January 4, has approved its draft version of the Cullompton Conservation Area Assessment and Management Plan (CAMP) following public consultation.

The consultation took place between June 28 and August 13 2021, with a public meeting being held on July 27, as well as face-to-face consultations.

Key areas identified for improvement in the CAMP include:

Volume and Nature of traffic, and Highway Management

The report states: Given the nodal connection to the motorway, there is high volume of traffic in the main streets of Cullompton which is passing through on its way to and from the motorway.

This includes heavy good vehicles passing through the historic core. The volume of traffic results in queuing at the principal junctions, and when deliveries are made along Fore Street.

Along with the narrow pavement widths, this makes the experience of the historic core quite unpleasant, with the noise, fumes and dirt from the traffic, and at times a feeling of danger for those on foot and bicycle.

Traffic Management

The report states: There is clutter from signage, road markings and traffic islands, some of which relates to highways for direction or for restrictions such as parking.

Public Realm

The report states: A number of negative impacts in the public realm have been identified within the conservation area appraisal. Some are site specific whilst others have an impact throughout the conservation area.

The report lists poor quality paving and surface materials which fail to enhance or re-inforce the historic identity of the conservation area , and that the public accessible pathways to the leat, Forge Way car park, and to Shortlands Road are not legible or welcoming.

It adds: The street furniture, as distinct from traffic control, has grown organically. This has led to a cluttered and uncoordinated appearance

The Higher Bullring is dominated by car parking, the volume and nature of traffic passing through it and associated traffic control measures, and street furniture which has been provided organically over time. The listed War Memorial is a key landmark building here. It is compromised by car parking, and uncoordinated street furniture.

Loss of original architectural details and inappropriate building materials

The report adds: Many of the unlisted, and some of the listed, buildings in the conservation area have been adversely affected by the replacement of original timber sash windows, casement windows and doors with uPVC or aluminium, the replacement of natural roof slates with man-made slate or natural slate being turnerised.

In the case of shopfronts there are a number of cases where the replacement or alteration of historic shop fronts and advertisements has spoiled the external appearance of a building and the local streetscape.

Lack of routine building maintenance and repair

The report states: Buildings in the conservation area are generally in good condition but there are instances of the neglect through lack of routine maintenance and repair which results in unsightly buildings.

Unsightly satellite dishes

The report states: Satellite dishes are a feature of modern living. Unfortunately, when located on the front of a historic building, a satellite dish can spoil the appearance of the building and the street scene.

They have a particularly noticeable adverse effect when a black dish is sited on a light background, especially render. In certain circumstances, satellites dishes may have been installed without the need for planning permission and/or listed building consent.

Sub-division of properties into flats

The report states: Sub-division of properties into flats or let for multiple occupancy can tend to erode external character through poorly maintained buildings, gardens and shared areas by absentee landlords. There can be a lack of external storage for bins etc. and multiple external wires for services.

Overhead power lines and telephone lines

The report states: A number of streets retain above ground servicing by telephone and power cables radiating out from and between telegraph poles which adds clutter to the street scene. In many cases the telegraph poles are metal and have been poorly maintained.

Negative sites and buildings

The report states: This appraisal has identified negative buildings and areas i.e. buildings and areas which clearly detract from the character or appearance of the conservation area and could suitably be redeveloped or improved.

In addition, there are is are vacant sites where some form of built development has the potential to improve the town-scape.

At the meeting Councillor Richard Chesterton (Lower Culm, Conservative), cabinet member for planning and economic regeneration explained: Overall, there were 67 submissions from individuals, 61 using the proforma, and were either online by post at the drop off point and six were letters.

Each of the comments made is responded to with an officer comment.

Overall, comments on the CAMP and its contents are positive and proposed changes to the CAMP are listed in detail with the draft CAMP, which has been updated to include all the changes.

The next stage is that the CAMP is taken to full council in accordance with Mid Devon's constitution and the recommendation which reflects this.

The recommendation is cabinet recommends to council that the Draft CAMP including proposed alterations to the extent of the Cullompton Conservation Area of the planning listed building and Conservation Areas Act 1990 is amended, be approved.

Councillor Nikki Woollatt (Cullompton North, Independent) added: What I really like about this is the management plan principles. I'm very keen to see those move forward into an action plan so this is a document that that does bring about improvements rather than just a policy document that gets referred to occasionally.

This could be used to really drive forward improvements in certain areas.

However, Councillor Graeme Barnell said that while it was a great document it did not address the issue of the motor car and the impact it is having on Cullompton.

The issue is the same across all of our towns, he said.

It's not just the road safety issues, it's the noise, air pollution, the continuing dividing of our communities by ever-increasing streams of traffic.

The issue in Cullompton and most of our towns is a debate between retailers who believe that through traffic brings custom and the rest of the population who have to put up with it.

I think we are continuing to duck the issues in many ways here.

I have great respect for Cullompton Town Council and for Nikki and all the other people involved in these issues, but we need to be taking a more robust approach to the need for through traffic and how we might deal with it in our towns.

He said that the Cullompton relief road plan would not make it all go away

He added: We're going to have to really think carefully about how we deal with through traffic through our towns and mitigate the impact it's having on our communities.

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Traffic and ugly satellite dishes targeted in Cullompton - Devon Live