A LOCAL man has written the following letter to Shobrooke Parish Council concerning a proposed licensing application at Shobooke Park.

The letter reads:

“I write with considerable alarm at the proposed licensing application by an entertainments company, Showbitz, to hold up to 10 events a year (in reality they are likely to be between April and September) at Shobrooke Park.

The application is for up to 10,000 people and a license to serve alcohol between 10am and 4am the following day with at least three proposed events to be held over three days.

No indication as to what type of event is given but it would not take a genius to work this out.

Whilst such ‘events’ bring little to the local economy (think Glastonbury) they come with significant worries to the local, working and farming community.

Let me be specific in my objections:

1) Creedy View Care Home, specialising in those with special needs, is not 200 yards from the main gate of Shobrooke Park. Often those in care are walked by their carers on these narrow roads.

2) Residential Housing: The new residential housing development under construction is 400 yards from the edge of Shobrooke Park.

3) Tractor movements: This is a deeply agricultural parish. On any day there may be up to 100 tractor movements and, during harvest times (May to September) that figure will double.

4) Dog Walkers: At present there is a (presumably commercial) arrangement for dog walkers to come into Shobrooke Park. They would, one assumes, be denied access on ‘event’ days or weekends.

5) Road Infrastructure: With the exception of the Crediton to Tiverton road, all other roads accessing Shobrooke Park are small lanes. The Crediton to Tiverton road is a busy arterial route, used daily by many lorries (Crediton Milling and others) and commuters. All would be severely disrupted by any ‘festival’ traffic.

This licensing application is due to be heard on April 11.

I would urge anyone who has any doubts about its benefit to contact the Shobrooke Parish Council, Mid Devon District Council (licensing department) and Mel Stride MP.”

Rory Knight Bruce

Address Supplied

Crediton