Galmpton Torbay

GALMPTON NEWS 2008 (contact)

2/07/08

Herewith the Mayoral reply to our email

dated 29th June 2008 regarding Travelers on the Common

For obvious reasons, I am v unhappy to see that Travellers have come onto Galmpton Common. Our officers are working v closely with the Police to ensure that they are moved on ASAP. But we can only act within the Law. We shall, of course, clean up any mess after they have gone … as we have done before & only last week at Clennon.

I understand that Police Officers have called on residents in an attempt to re assure them.

Our officer Andy Phillips has a good track record in “sorting “ these problems & he has sent me a v thoughtful report & suggestions to prevent this in the future. However, the only practical way of ensuring prevention would be to fence off the Common or at least grow an impenetrable hedge of some sort. Thoughts, please?

We are working with other Devon Councils to establish pitches & you are quite right to point out that having pitches would help us to move on Travellers. Cllr Jeanette Richards is more au fait with progress on this & I shall include her in this response. But the problem is to find a suitable location.

I am sorry that you are so obviously disappointed in my role. All I can say is that I am not Mayor Giuliani , but I have been to Galmpton on Saturday & yesterday. I am happy to meet with Police & residents, but the sort of “action” that some folk call for might not be within the law & may, in fact, make a v difficult situation worse.

Best wishes,

Nick Bye

Elected Mayor

Torbay Council

Town Hall

Castle Circus

TORQUAY

TQ1 3DR

Tel. No. 01803 207113

24/02/08

WINDY CORNER DECISION

CLICK HERE TO POST YOUR COMMENTS TO THE HERALD EXPRESS

On 22 February Torbay Council Transportation Working Party decided in favour of a scheme to extend the slip lane from Dartmouth Road onto the Ring Road some 200 m. by cutting into Galmpton Common. This was despite a 60% (80% from Galmpton) vote against the scheme from the Public Consultations held in Churston and Brixham (where relatively fewer people participated).

Some dozen residents attended the Working Party meeting. Gordon Batten (for GRA), Councillor Mills and 4 other local people spoke opposing incursions into the Common, and pointed out that the proposals would make access to and from side roads more difficult and dangerous. Gordon also argued that congestion is endemic in Torbay and that this proposal was a piecemeal response where strategic thinking is needed. Councillors should think beyond roads and cars to improved, faster public transport, bus lanes, and perhaps look at some form of rapid transit system utilising the present rail route right across the Bay.

Councillors on the Working Party however saw “dramatically” increased housing and traffic as “inevitable” in the next 20 years, and seemed determined to ”do something” about traffic, and Windy Corner is “it”. They authorised officers to take steps to acquire land from the Common for their scheme (Option A) and to seek funding to pay for it.

The GRA Committee are disappointed by this short-sighted decision by the Council, and will consult the village on whether and how to oppose the taking of land from the Common. Please attend the AGM at 7.30 pm on 27 March at the Village Institute to elect and support your committee. In particular we need a committed Chairperson to lead us.

Gordon Batten,
Convenor.
22/2/08

24/01/08 Report on Proposed Torbay Council advertising billboard

Dear All

Thank you for your amazing prompt Emails to Planning. I'm sure this reinforces the "don't mess with Galmpton" image.

8 residents plus our two councilors who are also opposed to siting Billboards on Common or Bridge road attendedding a dry but fresh and windy morning. Considering the short notice this was very good and encouraging for the GRA. We know at least a dozen individual Email protests were sent to the Planning Dept. More have probably gone in not copied to us, and more can still be sent in to reinforce the objections. Councilor Mills also wants to reduce the surprising number of existing road signs along this stretch.

This was apparently a preliminary meeting with the lead Councilor and 2 officers to decide whether to agree by officer delegated powers or to put it through the full Planning Committee. We learned that the application for a billboard at Bridge Road has already been withdrawn. We were able to put our case about spoiling the Common and distracting drivers.

The Lead Councilor and Officer will now decide the next step and will let us know.

I don't know about the Herald Express or road notice, but the application was submitted as far back as November. Anna Turner certainly saw some notification
of it weeks ago which she only this week realized hadn't reached GRA. So she got in touch. Thanks very much to Anna! It shows how we do rely on shared vigilance and communication within the village to pick up on issues

We would like as many people as possible to Email a brief Objection to this proposal immediately to planning@torbay.gov.uk quoting Application reference P/2007/1851 (copy to our Councilors derek.mills@torbay.gov.uk; anna.tolchard@torbay.goV.UK )

Thanks everyone.

Next stop, the Windy Corner proposals. GRA MEETING

Gordon Batten, Convener.

23/01/08 Appeal to residents from Galmpton Residents' Association

Dear Residents

We have just discovered (very late in the day), that Torbay Council have made an Advertisement Consent Planning Application to erect a 6x4 foot billboard 9 feet high on Galmpton Warborough Common near Manor Vale Road. It will advertise the "Brixham Regeneration Project" for at least 3 years.

It is totally inappropriate for any hoarding to be on the Common, and Brixham can host its own posters in a more suitable urban landscape. Time is now very short before a decision is taken. We would like as many people as possible to Email a brief Objection to this proposal immediately to planning@torbay.gov.uk quoting Application reference P/2007/1851 (copy to our Councilors derek.mills@torbay.gov.uk; anna.tolchard@torbay.gov.uk )

NOTE: IF YOU USE A PROGRAM ON YOUR COMPUTER SUCH AS OUTLOOK EXPRESS FOR SENDING EMAILS JUST COPY AND PASTE THE ADDRESSES ABOVE OR TYPE THEM INTO YOUR NEW MESSAGE

The Planning Committee is holding a site meeting on the Common at 10 am on Thursday 24th January. Gordon Batten will be there and would welcome support from any other members with the leisure for an outing on the Common.

Thank you for your support.

Kind regards

Gordon Batten, Convener.

08/01/08 LETTER FROM TORBAY COUNCIL REF WINDY CORNER JUNCTION

I would like to inform you that it is proposed that the next meeting of the Transportation Working Party, scheduled for the 22nd February 2007 at 9:30am in the Town Hall, will discuss the proposed improvement scheme for the Windy Corner Junction. As you are aware the consultation was carried out some time ago but the results were never considered by Councillors due to the elections. Members will now consider the results of the consultation and recommend whether the scheme will be progressed to the next stage or abandoned. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Please contact me if you require any further information.

Regards,

Patrick Carney
Highways and Engineering
Tel (01803) 207710

08/01/08 Subs Collection

Almost every household in the village has been asked to contribute £2 to the Residents’ Association either by personal visit or in writing when it has not been possible to recruit a visitor. As usual there has been a splendid response, particularly where personal contact was made. The costs of the Association have been met and there is a surplus to start rebuilding the reserves, based on Mrs Betsy Treadgold’s legacy, so that we might have the wherewithal to support any future necessary action, perhaps seeking legal advice. Many thanks to everybody, particularly the visitors. If you haven’t yet had a chance to pay and don’t want to feel out of things, Kay and Gary Deare have kindly agreed to accept subscriptions on our behalf, in envelopes with your name and address and e-mail address if you would like to be kept in the picture.

Peter Royle

GRA Treasurer

2007

17/12/07 Wedding Anniversary

On 27th December, 'Mac' and Joyce Madkins will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. Merry Christmas and congratulations to Mac and Joyce from everyone in Galmpton Residents' Association and all the residents of Galmpton. Photo courtesy of Stewart Miller.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL VISITORS

Please send any old or new pictures you may have of the village by email

Also, If you are a Galmpton resident and can help with news for this website please send an email to paul@galmptontorbay.org.uk Thank you.