Dawlish Discussion

Yes! Even more is up for development.

For those of you familiar with the area you may have wondered to yourselves why there is a patch of undeveloped land on the corner opposite the barns at the junction with Secmaton Lane. If you know the area you will know the bit of land that I am talking about.

Well, unless it has been sold recently, it is up for sale, for offers in the region of £675,000 according to this webiste  https://www.rossiterproperty.com/gatehouse-farm-dawlish.

It has planning permission for 8 flats and 7 houses to be built there (planning application 18/01727 refers). 

Just thought to mention it in case the land gets bought by some developer before the link road is built.  In which case, how would the construction vehicles access it? Well, there would only be the one way and that is via the Elm Grove Road area.    

Just been looking at the planning docs re this development.

Seems Devon County Council Highways department can't see any problems with construction traffic having to use Elm Grove Road. This is what the officer's report (23/9/20) had to say;

"An additional representation has been received objecting to the proposal with concerns regarding additional major development in this area and road safety, particularly with regards to lorries/cars passing two schools and the access on to Exeter Road. The impact on the highway has already been considered above and Devon County Council, as local highway authority, has raised no objections to the proposal subject to the proposed conditions."

So there we are then, absolutely no probs with construction traffic using the Elm Grove area in order to access/egress this particular site.

And I'm sure we all agree with that, don't we. (NOT!)

Probably the same problems as experienced by people on other side of town with building contractors trying to access sites. Last Friday lorry driver delivering to Longlands site by way of Lower Meadow Rise complained about people parking on road making it difficult for him. Um, these people actually live here & so entitled to park in their own street!

Can't agree Cassandra.  What you say sounds like common sense but I believe it isn't so.  Happy to be corrected if anyone knows better.

@Daverc:

Which part of the post do you disagree with?

@Cassandra: the last sentence.  AFAIK, householders have no rights to any part of the Queen's Highway (whether it is outside their property or not) except the common right of free passage.  I remember Cllr John Clatworthy saying 'parking on the highway is a privilege not a right'.

@Daverc:

My understanding is that anyone can park on the road, whether it be outside their own home or not, as long as there are no yellow lines & they are not blocking access to anyone else's property. Maybe someone else knows different?

Just asked the question and hit the search button. This is what came up.

As long as your vehicle is taxed and you are not contravening any other traffic laws, you are allowed to park anywhere on a public highway (but not on footpaths/pavements) where it is legal to do so.25 Jan 2022

Provided your street isn't governed by residents' parking permits, any member of the public can park there - as long as they are complying with restrictions and not causing obstructions. If your street uses permits, anyone with the right permit can park anywhere in the relevant zone.

I'm sure everyone is fed up with this, so I'll say one thing more and then shut up.  Promise.

Note the 'not causing obstructions' phrase in Lynne's post.

Cassandra's original post seemed to imply that householders must be able to park outside their property even if by doing so they cause an obstruction.

If that was not what you meant then I apologise.

Without boring anyone further, I always try to avoid causing an obstruction on the highway, others seem able to do that for me quite successfully!

And so, some 18 months later from the last post and to return to the original topic of this thread - this land is now having work done on it.

Just had a look at the planning docs.

Seems it's Taylor Wimpey that's developing this land.

Taylor Wimpey, along with Bloor Homes, are the developers for the larger tract of land that was once Gatehouse Farm land where some 400 homes are scheduled to be built in the near future.

Hope the link road and its necessary bridge across Shutterton Brook is in situ before all that building work kicks off! 

Otherwise there will only be one way to access these sites and yep! you've guessed it - twill have to be via Elm Grove Road and adjacent streets. 

Bet the residents and schoolkids and parents of the schoolkids will be overjoyed - NOT! 

 (but not on footpaths/pavements) Well from the number of vehicles that DO park on footpaths and pavements I thought it was legal and ok. learn something new everyday.