Is it just me or does Salcombe seem to have some very "dubious" planning applications approved? If you take a drive around Salcombe you see a plethora of flats where once beautiful houses stood...you will see houses that have doubled in size with ultra modern extensions not in keeping with the surrounding areas and various new dwellings that just make you think; "how?".
The latest 2 arrivals will be the affordable housing in East Portlemouth on Isobel Waterhouse's land overlooking the estuary and the redevelopment of Tony Soper's old house up at Gerston in an area of area of natural outstanding beauty. Both are strange planning decisions that don't fit within the usual guidelines but have somehow got through. You can understand the bending of the rules to some extent for the affordable housing, but surely rules are rules?? However, there can no reason that I can see that would make increasing the footprint of the house at Gerston by 5 times a suitable thing to do. Situated slap bang on the shoreline the new house is sure to change the waterfront and that is what should not be happening.
The other historically subtle but increasingly garish waterfront development in that area is Curlew Drive in West Charleton. Increasingly inhabited by second home owners or wealthy retirees the waterfront houses are doubling in size and changing the entire waterfront. The latest monstrosity is "Creekside" an already over developed house that is being increased in size by a third again. I know that many Curlew Drive residents were less than pleased and also somewhat surprised that this application got through...
There are plenty of examples of great developments that have worked but also many that make you wonder how the planning was granted in the first place...although I clearly would not want to suggest that something untoward was going on...
Saturday 18 April 2009
Salcombe Planners Open to Persuasion?
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12 comments:
I think you're definitely making a valid point. I certainly believe that a number of the developments around the town in recent years are not appropriate and are not serving the town's best interests. I wouldn't like to suggest anything untoward has gone on either, but you do wonder how the plans got approved all the same.
Talking of developments..... does anyone know what is going on at the Marine Hotel - as it all seems to have gone very quiet?!
heading to salcombe in couple of weeks ..... does any one know what the latest is on restaurants being open etc? Has any one been to dick and wills yet and what kind of food do they do etc?
I have recent experience with South Hams planners, my gripe is that planning policy seems to be applied inconsistently and not transparently. Some peoples plans get turned down under delegated powers, while others get 3 minutes at planning committee.
I think that the Gazette inferred that the Gerston Point plans went through on the nod because the meeting was running late because of the Portlemouth discussion, imo the Gerston decision is a travesty and only got through because neither Salcombe or Kingsbridge residents spotted the application.
I don't think that being a second home owner or a retiree is a valid reason for your plans being considered any differently from a local working person, but it certainly feels frustrating when non controversial plans for a home you are living in get kicked out, whilst various blots on the landscape (imo) from the pen of Stan Bolt get approved.
I think one needs to be open minded about the style of development, ie not automatically damn modernity or glass and stainless steel. Any new build or "new for old" needs to blend in though, and the inconsistency of SHDC's decisions is staggering. Lots of notice seems to be paid by SHDC planners to uninformed comments from bodies such as the self appointed pompous South Hams Society, and to erroneous comments (when is a piece of scruffy side garden ever an outstsnding ammetity?) from Salcombe Town council as well, who go out of their way to impede progress. We can't live in a time warp and trying to stop discreet development is a waste of time and money. We all pay for these over zealous town hall cushy job/final salary employees - lets wake up!
In reply to Anonymous asking for details of where to eat,try the Galley - as usual great food, great ambience,great value and nice people.
Went to the Victoria tonight, very average... only spotted the Specials on the way out, no one mentioned these to us when we were offered a menu!! Plaice was more expensive than the Fort and only £1 less than the Galley - it was small,bony, greasy, with no sign of any crab in the "crab and butter sauce" accompanying. The spuds seemed to be catering pack microwaved. Cabbage very undercooked, and carrots not topped or tailed properly. All very disappointing. Catch has reopened.... looks good, and Dick and Wills busy. Enjoy Salcombe - looks fabulous in the Spring sun today.
I can agree that The Galley is very good. The Winking Prawn BBQ is also very good but I wasn't as impressed with the internal restaurant.
Dick Tator - it was very interesting to read your comments regarding having eaten at my pub the Victoria Inn on Monday - I'm sorry you class us as 'average'... and if you were disappointed with your meal. I won't go into huge detail or comments on other public house menu's and their prices I can only comment on ours.
Our fish is delivered fresh to us a couple of times a week or more if needed and the Plaice appears to me to be of a good size. I have watched chef prepare the white crab and prawn butter - and I can assure you that he puts crab and prawns into a butter mix which is rolled and chilled, then cut to cook with. The new potatoes are most certainly NOT catering pack - they are delivered and cooked fresh most days. As for the carrots we leave the tops on as that is our chef's preferred method of presentation - I'm sorry it was not to your liking.
On Monday night we served in excess of 60 covers and I am not aware of any complaints such as yours.....in fact I talked to many of our customers that evening as I do most days and was re-assured as usual by their compliments.
If you would like to talk to me personally regarding your exerience that evening I would be more than happy for you to contact me.
In terms of market research we have eaten at Dick & Wills and also at the new Catch and enjoyed both evenings very much.
Dick and Wills is FABULOUS - we had a couple of super evenings there recently - what a lovely change to the previous owners - lovely food; wonderful atmosphere and super service - my new fave spot!
We ate at the new Catch restaurant during Whitsun half term week, the Italian food and wine was fantastic including a "Bambino" menu and the service was very friendly. The only slight negative and I'm being ultra picky would be we had to book, a concept foreign to regular Captain Flint customers with hungry kids, as when we were dining there appeared to be a couple of tables not being utilised at all? A definite 9 out of 10 from us.
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