Dawlish Discussion

An interesting notice on the door.

The Council intend to accept a surrender of this building from the Trustees of Dawlish Youth Centre and will be securing it within the next five working days.

Users of this building are required to return any keys immediately to the Council's offices at Forde House, Brunel Road, Newton Abbot TQ12 4XX.

Any queries please contact Economy and Assets on 01626 215469

Maybe it will be demolished and the playpark extended.

It's been looking a bit dangerous for a few years.  Shame it was never done up for continued use as a community centre.

I remember when it had a DIY SOS style makeover

At last. Wonder what will go in it's  place?

A decent play park wouldn't go a miss.

I wonder what constitutes a decent play park these days?  A slide, seesaw, roundabout and hopscotch wouldn't pass muster now.   What would it take to see swarms of children using one?  Or is it just that parents won't let their kids out on their own any more? 

Lots of potential kids to use a new playground though from all the new houses being built literally up the road from the Blackdown site

Sold off to a developer as a building plot is more realistic. How many times council's sell off/contract out assets/services to shed their responsibility/cost? Time will tell.

Wonder what will replace it?

I'm sure they'll manage to fit a housing estate on there ...

Seriously, with all the costs associated with a playpark I can't imagine that's what will replace it, there's one right next to it which just needs a tidy up and plenty of kids use it. 

I wonder what will happen to the cricket pavillon too, it seems to be being boarded up more and more with smashed glass.  It's a shame more can't be made of the top of the golf course playing fields with some trees planted and benches put up there, have the cricket pavillion as a small cafe in the summer with some seating outside.  It just feels like it's being run down to justify building on it at some point.

Totally agree with you Flo about the top of the playing fields having some benches and trees planted at the top. Lovely views from up there. And also agree with regard to how the cricket pavilion might be used.  I have a feeling that the cricket pavilion is a listed building which might create issues as to what can be done to it and how it can be used. 

With regard to building on Sandy Lane Playing fields. Two things: Firstly as I understand it SLP fields have been designated part of the Dawlish green infrastructure in the Teignbridge Local Plan 2013-2033. Which means that there are planning policies in place protecting SLPFs from development.  Secondly, the more houses that get built in the near(ish) vicinity the stronger the argument becomes that SLPFs should not be built on because those houses = people and those people and their dogs and kids need somewhere close (ish) to hand for their green recreation/leisure area.

But now the provisos: the Local Plan can be revised every 5 years. Sandy Lane Playing Fields are in the ownership of TDC. Now, should TDC ever be really strapped for cash in the future and given that the Local Plan can be amended should it be so deemed necessary then perhaps ................  

So, as I see it. Sandy Lane Playing Fields protected from development for the near future but beady eyes need to be kept on them as to their long term future.       

Re the cricket pavilion. Just found this on another website which was posted by someone called Lynne(!) back in 2009.

thanks @Lynne

Probably using the cricket pavillion would cut down on 'vandalism'.  There are quite a few ball sports in the vicinity so I do wonder if some sort of cover would be appropriate, like at the back of the building?

I haven't been inside for many many years but I'm sure there's a small kitchen at the back.  A lot of catering equipment is portable, I'm sure something could be set up.  It could be used in conjunction with the Leisure Centre for parties as there is now no cafe there.  I sat there the other day watching some poor woman pay about £20 in vending machine charges getting coffees for her child's party - ridiculous!

I don't think the answer is always to build something new, the answer can be to look at what is already there and how it can be used/maximised.  I originally thought the Hole in the Wall was a great idea, I'm not sure what has happened but that is now looking particularly run down - is it still open?

Te dah! A thought from me........why not suggest to our new Dawlish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group #2 that the pavilion at Sandy Lane Playing Fields be made use of in some way. Perhaps some of that CIL money due to come Dawlish's way could be usefully spent on the pavilion?  

Hole in the Wall? Dunno if it is still operating or not. Do agree though that it is looking run down. Thought that very thought the other day when I walked past it.

And as to the Red Rock Centre. What will become of that? I see from the Gazette that the community college will not be using it after July of this year and that Exeter College is not interested and that South Devon College have already ceased using it.

Totally agree that we need to prioritise what we already have rather than build more new stuff.

Is there not a covenant on SLP fields that says it must be used for education and recreation.

Ah yes, the missing covenant re the fields. A document much heard about with claims of it having been sighted in past times, but in the recent past and present its existence cannot be proven. It seems it has disappeared. Although from what I can remember from the 'keep a supermarket off Sandy Lane Playing fields battle of 2007-2008' (remember that?) such covenants can be undone anyway via legal means. (Which does make me wonder is there any point in landowners creating covenants in the first place).

Believe the Red Rock Centre has to be used for young people for something like the first 25 years of its life due to how it was funded and the clauses attached to that funding.   

I was assured by Teignbridge Council estates department last October that housing development on the site of the former Blackdown Centre has been completely ruled out.  It will either be returned to open space or made available for an alternative community use.

The Sandy Lane playing fields are also protected by planning policies against development.   I remember there being discussion of a rumoured covenant during the Tesco saga years ago, but to the best of my knowledge no-one ever came forward with proof that such a covenant exists. 

The cricket pavilion is a listed building, principally because of one elevation that is regarded as a good example of design style.  The owners (TDC) are obliged to retain it and keep it in good order.   Suggestions for future uses should be sent to the District Council rather than the NP team.  The best person to write to is Cllr George Gribble.   I find he is very responsive to suggestions.

The town council will be voting on a proposal next week to apply for funding to put some benches at the top of the playing fields.  Also an orientation board to explain some of the fine views that you get from that location.  Both these ideas came from the general public after we asked for ideas about possible parish improvements in 2013.  We've gradually been working through these and the benches at Sandy Lane have now reached the top of the list.

The charity providing youth services at the Hole in the Wall withdrew over a year ago.  The building now has planning permission for conversion into flats and a bistro, but no current signs that the owners are moving forward on this.

Dawlish Action for Youth are working very hard to find new partners to work with them at Red Rock.  Devon County have guaranteed funding until next July.  The Town Council Finance Committee will be discussing our draft budget for the coming year next week, and further support for Red Rock beyond July features heavily in this.

Thanks for that update Michael. Great that benches and the orientation board will be up on the fields soon.

One question though. Surely we should be approaching our Dawlish councillors to take up Dawlish issues rather than one whom I believe represents Bovey Tracey? 

By all means approach your local district councillors

Cllr Gribble is the portfolioholder for Leisure Services, and so is in the immediate chain of command.  It's just removing one link in the chain of communication to go to him directly.   It would be a courtesy to copy the local members into any emails you send to him.

Thanks for the clarification.  

So, by the same process of thought, but on a different Dawlish issue, perhaps I (and others) should have been writing to Cllr John Goodey, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning at TDC about the Warren Farm/Coastal Park issue rather than our Dawlish district councillors?   

I don't see why you shouldn't write to any portfoliohder at Teignbridge if you have a concern about an issue within their area of responsibility.

Okay, if I ping an e-mail off to Cllr Goodey re Warren Farm perhaps someone could send one to Cllr Gribble about the future use of the sports pavilion on the playing fields? Flo?

I think Cllr Gribble may already be sick of me re the Leisure Centre but happy to email him re the Cricket Pavilion!

(ps) Nice to see the roof work underway at the Leisure Centre, thanks for your help on this Michael.