DURING its August break it is unusual for a parish council to call a full meeting but that is what happened with Crediton Hamlets Parish Council when it had three applications that needed commenting on within a certain time.

These were one retrospective application, one for a Certificate of Lawfulness and another for a house extension. 

As one of the applications was considered to be controversial, the council had arranged for a meeting in Yeoford to give the applicant and residents a chance to talk with councillors. 

Mr K Mears had applied to keep a workshop and storage building at the Pumping Station, Uton.

The council objected to this with concerns about the flood Zone, risk of contamination to a nearby fishery and river. 

It was felt to be an unacceptable and inappropriate use for a rural site and it could set a precedent for other “inappropriate industrial or commercial style buildings in rural settings.”

Mr A Iles had applied for a Certificate of Lawfulness for the existing use of a dwelling in breach of agricultural occupancy condition on Planning Permission CD 4983 for a period in excess of the years at Sandyside, Trobridge. 

The council resolved to be neutral on this one saying that consent was granted for rural workers’ dwellings with agricultural ties, as an exception to normal policy, to support the rural economy and allow for provision of affordable homes to rural workers. 

Councillors were concerned that removing the agricultural tie would reduce affordable housing stock available to rural workers. It wondered if this met the district council criteria. 

An application for a two-storey extension at 17 Yeoford Meadows for Mr and Mrs Merrick was supported, the council saying it appeared to meet district council criteria but should not affect access to a nearby right of way.

APPROVALS

It was noted that the following planning applications had been granted:

Erection of a single-storey extension at The Annex adjacent to The Cleeve, Woodland Head for Mr and Mrs Price. 

Change of use of agricultural land to garden and building a triple garage for Mrs K Tatlock at the dwelling opposite Fernleigh, Crediton. 

Erection of an agricultural building to house dairy cows at Court Barton, Venny Tedburn for Mr and Mrs Mortimer. 

Retention of change of use of land in a revised scheme for storage and erection of a storage shed following demolition of existing shed at Gunstone Yard, Gunstone, for Mr and Mrs Hawman.