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MAIDENCOMBE.NET AUTHOR Jim Campbell

MAIDENCOMBE.NET AUTHOR Jim Campbell
Maidencombe resident since 1960. Local historian and author of the 'Coves of Maidencombe'.
Copyright © 2013 . All Rights Reserved.
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The bowl of the coombe as seen from Sladnor heights

The bowl of the coombe as seen from Sladnor heights

Maidencombe point

Maidencombe point
as seen above Maidencombe cove.

Blog Archive

Saturday, January 05, 2019

SCATHING CONDEMNATION OF THE TDRP's SECRET MEETING ON SLADNOR PARK

The Torbay Coastal Heritage Trust's letter regarding the perceived abject failures and duplicity of the Torbay Design Review Panel (TDRP) makes for fascinating but ultimately alarming reading. The letter is reproduced here by kind permission of the TCHT.


“It is up to us to live up to the legacy that was left for us, and to leave a legacy that is worthy of our children." 

Our ref 129 -3rd January. 2019 Objection
Your ref. P/2018/1053 Sladnor Park, Maidencombe. 

Planning Officers re Torbay Design Review Panel

Dear Sirs / Madam     Timeline of Events re Sladnor Park Application

1. Developer responds  to Torbay Council web question quote:
“Do you need Planning permssion?” “Contact us about a potential future major development”
“Save you the costs of pursuing a formal application unlikely to gain approval”
“Avoid delays by reducing the amount of negotiations and amendments required at the formal application stage”
“In some instances we will wish to refer development proposals to the independent Torbay Design Review panel. A separate fee will be required to cover the cost of using the Panel."

2. Developers Architect Tyack Architects prepare a 7 page briefing document for Panel distribution and a powerpoint presentation to procure the support of Torbay Design Review Panel.

3. 7th November 2016 meeting, Torbay Design Review Panel at Council House, Torquay Chair, Panel Members, Developer, Architects, Planning Advisor and Torbay Planning Officers. commencing with a presentation noting the site is within the Countryside zone, Coastal Zone and Area of Great Landscape Value. Recording incorrectly:-“ An extant planning permission exists for a similar type of development”

4. The TDRP minutes records para 2.1. quote:
“The various viewpoints that you illustrate with a comparison between the current scheme, the impact of the approved project and the anticipated impacts of the new proposals seem not to show a significant increase in harm to the visual amenity of the surroundings,” and Para 5.0 quote:“We are broadly supportive of the revised proposals as a replacement for the approved scheme and it appears that the new strategy is not markedly different in terms of visual impacts.”

5. Torbay Design Review Panel - became -Torbay Developers Resolution Panel By Wittingly or Unwittingly a series of grave incorrect assessments.

Reasons:
a) Incorrect analysis that previous approved scheme was valid. Expired (see Para 6)
b) Since expiration, ignoring a multitude of new relevant National and Local Planning Policies.
c) In breach of Principle Accountable. “The Review Panel and its advice must be clearly seen to work for the benefit of the public. This should be ingrained within the panel’s terms of reference.”
d) The Panel was not Independent, working only for the Developers overdevelopment benefit.
e) Not taking account the proposed large development is in an area scheduled as Country Park.
f) Failed to look at scheme in context, and challenge the design brief, to preserve the setting.
g) Failed to identify weak and inappropriate scheme at an early stage, when radical changes can be made with a minimum of wasted time and effort, and consideration of current policies.
h) Failed a programme of community engagement, to hold a meeting in public, proceeding secretly
i) The community was denied knowledge of the secret minutes of the meeting for over two years.
j) The secrecy from the Community, delayed identifying errors of simple common sense.
k) A Panel member was biased- designing and advocating tall building in protected Coastal areas.

6. 21st May 2018 Torbay Mr Scott Jones Pre-application advice Quote:- “As previously stated within correspondence by Ruth Robinson it was stated that the Authority considered the previous consent to have expired” 7. 15th Nov.2018 Planning Application Validated - Agent Pegasus Planning Group Ltd.

It is requested the proposals are re-assessed by an Independent Regional or National Panel to re-consider the above mis-calculations before the Committee consideration.

Yours faithfully   — Trustees (12) of Torbay Coastal Heritage Trust  (copy to CABE)

Wednesday, January 02, 2019

MAJOR SURVEY TAKING PLACE AT SLADNOR PARK

Engineers and equipment have been on site all day at the lower end of Sladnor Park just in from Brim Hill. Two operations are taking place with drilling equipment to test the water tables and saturation levels of the lower reaches of Sladnor Park.
Survey team number 1 at Sladnor Park
The latest planning application - the highly contentious 'Retirement Village' is under scrutiny by Torbay Council's Planning Department and one of a number of major obstacles facing the developer is the drainage and rainwater run off from Sladnor Park.  There are, as villagers are patently aware,  existing problems from flooding down Brim Hill with rainfall run off from Sladnor Park. 

The following two videos of the operation are posted below. Video #1 is detailed footage of the Survey 1 team and the following video shows both survey teams.


BLOG CONTENT

BLOG CONTENT
The twinning of Maidencombe with Comeinbemad reflects the light-hearted nature of this gentle blog. The articles posted are written by the author alone and have no connection with any official body or association.

SLADNOR PARK CHALETS

SLADNOR PARK CHALETS
Eerily shrouded in mist, two of the lower chalets of Sladnor Park.

BURNING OF THE BAMBOO MAN JUNE 5 2016

AN ODE TO SLADNOR PARK

(sung to the tune of 'Home on the Range')

Oh give me a park where the badgers can roam
Where the deer and the wildlife reside
There never is heard the developer's word
To disturb where the denizens abide

Oh give me a park where the diggers are banned
And the architect can't earn his fee
Where the noise of the town
Is a far distant sound
And conservation is all it can be

For when houses are built
The council covered in guilt
And all the animals forlorn
Now the only sounds to be heard
Are vehicles absurd
And the cries of a motherless fawn

Jim Campbell

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OUR MAIN LINK - CLICK ON IMAGE TO REDIRECT

OUR MAIN LINK - CLICK ON IMAGE TO REDIRECT
THE ENDANGERED CIRL BUNTING - SYMBOL OF THE MAIDENCOMBE COMMUNITY GROUP

PUTTING MAIDENCOMBE ON THE MAP

PUTTING MAIDENCOMBE ON THE MAP
Blogging Fusion Blog Directory

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MOST VIEWED POST ON THIS SITE

MOST VIEWED POST ON THIS SITE
The old Toll House on the west side of the A379 Teignmouth Road, stands at the junction of Claddon Lane with the A379 about 50 yards from Ridge Road and the former position of the black and white Solomons Post sign (see side panel right). This early photo shows the open porch (lower left) - now blocked off and the blanked out toll-board recess (top right). Under the angled roof on the right, there is a small shop and working post office. The building probably dates from 1827 when the new road was built. Originally named Solomon's Post Gate when there was a gate across the road for the toll collector to open upon payment.

RAMBLING GROUP WRITE-UP OF WATCOMBE TO MAIDENCOMBE WALK

Found this interesting little site with a rambling group's write up of walks. CLICK HERE FOR MAIDENCOMBE WALK ARTICLE

MAIDENCOMBER SLADNOR VIDEO AND WRITE-UP

YOUR LOCAL WEB APPROVES DREAMINCOMBES

YOUR LOCAL WEB APPROVES DREAMINCOMBES
After scrutiny by a panel, this site has been added as a reputable source of information about Maidencombe.

ARCHIVE: MAIDENCOMBE TIMELINE EVENING AT THE THATCHED TAVERN

The first Timeline evening took place Wednesday evening March 20th at the Thatched Tavern. Local lad Ziggy Austin's brainchild, it was an endeavour to map out the history of Maidencombe on a ten metre paper scroll. The initiative was first mooted and widely supported on Ziggy's Maidencombe Residents Facebook page. Residents and non residents were asked if they could research local history on the area and bring along any material such as postcards or text to place on the scroll.
The first evening was well attended and as can be seen in the photos on the left, a great deal was achieved.
Longest residing villager, Alan Hunt attended to add his considerable knowledge and was supported by his 'young' student Jim Campbell with a mere 53 years of residence under his belt.
The pub opened up the restaurant area for the occasion and were most generous in providing sandwiches for the studious throng.


SOLOMONS POST AT THE JUNCTION OF TEIGNMOUTH ROAD & RIDGE ROAD

SOLOMONS POST AT THE JUNCTION OF TEIGNMOUTH ROAD & RIDGE ROAD
No known images of this iconic Maidencombe landmark exist. Post war and up to the late 1960's, sign posts were wooden posts painted black and white. This is a close reconstruction of the sign where buses would actually pull in to for passengers to alight or board.

A UNIQUE VIDEO

A video of one of my foxes being treated for Sarcoptic mange - taking the medication on the food by hand. She recovered completely and my thanks go out to the Derbyshire Fox Rescue who supplied the medication.

DRAMATIC EROSION OF THE SOUTHWEST COASTAL FOOTPATH

Worth a look as Maidencombe's section of the SWCP is also very much under threat.

From myfoxesandbadgers site

ARCHIVE: DANGEROUS STATE OF CLIFF FACE

ARCHIVE: DANGEROUS STATE OF CLIFF FACE
Photo taken from the beach cafe above Maidencombe cove and the arrows indicate the cause for concern. A minor land slip has already taken place and the Environment Agency had a look Christmas eve in case the cove had to be closed.

ARCHIVE: Entrance to Crossways at Maidencombe Cross

ARCHIVE: Entrance to Crossways at Maidencombe Cross
After a catalogue of antisocial behaviour displayed by motorists illegally entering a private area, the police recommended that the entrance be made narrower. A sad indictment of society.

THE FOLLY AT SLADNOR PARK

THE FOLLY AT SLADNOR PARK
Constructed between 1830-1833 by Mrs Groves who inhabited Sladnor Manor House at the time. The hexagonal tower and accompanying arched outbuilding were built of Devon red sandstone. A projecting castellated cornice crowned the gothic apertures and single faux crossbow slit at ground level. A most interesting aspect of the folly is the purpose-built pony and trap winding carriage-way which Mrs Groves carved through the north western woods of the estate to facilitate her passage to and from the folly. The structure is now in poor condition and it is earnestly hoped that Richmond Villages, the new owners of Sladnor, will be able to make safe the folly to enable residents to enjoy in years to come.

FEATURES OF MAIDENCOMBE

Some of the features we will be mentioning:

ROCK HOUSE GAZEBO
THE CASCADE
THE IRON STILE
THE CASTELLATED FOLLY
THE BAT RETREAT
THE PUMP HOUSE
THE PILL BOX
THE 190 OAK
SMUGGLER'S LANE

GRADE 2 LISTED ROCK HOUSE GAZEBO

GRADE 2 LISTED ROCK HOUSE GAZEBO
Circa 1850. Constructed of Devon red sandstone with unfortunately, as is the case with the Sladnor Folly, some cement patching. Sited at the eastern end of the garden, overlooking the sea. A single storey structure with faux castellated parapet. It has a one-window front incorporating a gabled porch on the front to left with a segmental headed and arched doorway. There is a matching arched window to the right. Reportedly, the structure had a flight of external steps for access to the flat roof with commanding views of Lyme Bay. The interior is clay-tiled laid.