Dawlish News
Teignbridge is set to celebrate the opening of the new Dawlish Countryside Park on 3 September with a free event where families and canine friends are welcome.
The event, which will feature fun for dogs, trick displays, canine first aid demonstrations, and information for dog lovers, will signify the Teignbridge launch of a new, free membership scheme for dog owners and dog walkers, called Devon Loves Dogs.
Call me cynical if you wish, but I get the distinct smell of something else in this REGISTRATION of you and your dogs on to a Teignbridge council data base with stickers for your car and i.d. tags for yours dogs so soon after the survey on teignbridge dog issues.
I've had the privelege of having canine companions for over 50 years and see no reason to be REGISTERED on a council database. In my opinion it smacks more of an identification database for the local council to aid them in identifying dogs and their owners and their home locations and cars.
As I understand it, the reason we had to have this new country park is due to environmental legislation that orginated from the EU.
When we leave the EU what bits of EU legislation gets kept as UK legislation and which does not, will be up for grabs.
So.........if it were to be decided that the environmental legislation that meant that park had to be created in the first place was to no longer be effective then there would be no legal need for that park to exist.
And if that were to be the case then would it continue to be a countryside park or would a fair chunk of it be turned over for more housing?
Well, as there are already houses on that side of Shutterton Lane the precedent has already been set for development and as the Redrow site development goes right up to the other side of Shutterton Lane I can see an argument being put forward that to build on the countrypark side would just be a logical urban extension.
On top of that, the Countryside Park land, although paid for by developers, is now in the ownership of TDC.
So.........a cash strapped local council owning land that could be developed for housing sometime in the not too distant future? Nice little (or should that be quite a substantial) windfall for them I'd say.
The rumour that I had heard about these country parks is that, since they constitute "green space", councils are saying that the town's green space is all out there in that country park and therefore we no longer have to provide it in the middle, where of course it happens to be much more attractive (= expensive) real estate which builders are only too happy to snap up.
As you say jc, rumour.
The Lawn, Sandy Land playing fields, and other bits of green land in Dawlish are designated as part of the Green infrastructure of Dawlish in the Local Plan.
As long as they remain designated as such they cannot be built on.
The new countryside park is also in the Local Plan (it was originally going to be on the the sea side of Warren Road -remember the fuss about the possible compulsory purchase of Warren Farm?). However, the point I am making above is that this country park has been built because of environmental legislation that originated from the EU. When the UK leaves the EU all EU law will be looked at by the UK government. Some will be kept, some amended and some discarded. If the environmental law concerning the building of SANGs (suitable alternative natural green space which is what this country park is) gets altered or discarded then at that point the country park is no longer protected and I am suggesting that it (or part of it) would be extremely vulnerable for housing development.
Oh and.............as the legislation stands at the moment these Sangs not only have to be provided when new house building takes place near to such places as the Warren Nature Reserve but they also have to be in addition to open green spaces already in situ.
As things stand at the moment therefore, the new country park does not, and cannot, constitute a threat to such places as the Lawn and Sandy Lane playing fields.
Opening of Dawlish Countryside Park.
The park is set to open on Sunday 3 September, 11am - 3pm, with an official ribbon cutting ceremony.
A fun day including.
- dog agility show
- canine first aid demonstration
- mask making
- exploring the park through a series of walking routes - 2.3km to 5km walks
- panoramic views from Ridge Path
- visit the lookout
- mini-beast safari
- learn about the ancient history of the park
- display of archaeological find
I will throw in two penny worth for all of your thoughts.
What will happen to this countryside park when all of the razzamatazz has died down. It looks a prime site for some hippy-ho's to move onto and then the fun will start.
Loads of two-legged and four-legged visitors had a great time yesterday at the official opening. And from what I understand, the feedback was very positive and enthusiastic - which is often the case when I speak with many people from Dawlish who have a healthily positive outlook to life.
As it is so easy to look over to the car park of this Country side park from the main road and as I pass there several times a week in dell boy's reliant which doesn't go very fast, I shall be taking special interest.
Already heard it is a god place to dispose of old cars that as I understand the market to take old cars has collapsed for the moment, meaning you have to pay the scrap dealers to take them away.
I travel through many lanes in Devon and I see abandon cars and fly tipping of all descriptions, It doesn't stay there long I might add, something to do with Devon County Council not wanting the general public to know that it is happening so they clear it up quickly at tax payers expence.
Perhaps there would not be so much fly-tipping if the council made the local tip at Forde Road more user-friendly. Waited ages the other day to dispose of an old lawn mower until the queue was out on to the road while they were loading and unloading skips.
Majorp - who told you that the countryside park was a good place to dispose of old cars?
And would you rather DCC leave fly-tipping where it is or collect it ASAP (even though they don't have to)?
Just had a walk round for the first time. Lovely views and a nice quiet walk. I can see the pathway getting bogged down in mud in the winter though.
Hundreds of people and their dogs came out on Monday to celebrate the opening of the vast new 65-acre Dawlish Countryside Park
See more..http://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/every-dog-day-opening-new-431759
This forum is descending into what it was before a certain person was banned! You know, none of us could voice our own opinions without caustic comments like the one above from Leatash. I can guess who agreed with them - the banned person using yet another name!
A little fun come on Margaret its not exactly caustic is it, any way i will be of walking the northern hills and mountains in a few days but will be back for Christmas.
No, to wasn't fun and you know it! It was reminiscent of past times when a particularly nasty poster used to make similar comments. They are not needed and not wanted.