News & Events
News
Future development of
Staplegrove -
Talking Tomorrows Taunton Deane
The Strategy Unit
The Deane House
Belvedere Road
Taunton TA1 1HE
26 February 2010
Dear
Sir/Madam
Staplegrove Parish Council - response to the Core Strategy Proposals
The
Parish Council was very pleased to have the opportunity of contributing to the
draft proposals through the community consultation meetings last year.
Staplegrove
is a very special place and its character is highly valued so the major changes
proposed are of great concern to its residents.
The
Parish Council is extremely alarmed at the suggested imposition of 1800 new
houses in the Staplegrove area. The 900 north of the village will swamp the 150
or so existing dwellings. This would be an increase of some six-fold!
It
might be possible to accept a much smaller number of new houses without too much
change to the character of the village but 900 are grossly more than can easily
be accommodated.
The
long-awaited northern outer distribution road (NODR) would certainly help to
solve some of the local traffic problems, but as it would also help to divert a
lot of traffic from having to pass through the centre of Taunton it is felt that
the cost of such a road should be shared and not fall wholly on the Parish.
The
current plan shows the NODR at its western end joining the A358 proximal to the
Silk Mills roundabout. This should be discouraged and attempts made to link it
with the Silk Mills roundabout in order to avoid yet another set of lights or
new roundabout.
It is
essential that the new road should be built and completed before the housing;
that as a bypass it would be of adequate width, a freeway and no on-road parking
permitted. It is also hoped that the narrow local lanes which will intersect the
new road can be prevented from misuse and becoming part of the rat-run culture
which currently prevails.
Village
footpaths should be preserved and enhanced and cycle paths extended. These are
issues, which have been of great concern for many years.
We are
very pleased to see the existing green wedge is to be preserved and welcome the
extension northwards along Whitmore Lane and neighbouring land and hope that
urban extension will not be permitted here in the future.
The
lower part of the Kingston Road is already prone to flooding and the proposed
major housing development in this area will inevitably add to this problem.
A
major concern voiced by parishioners in recent weeks refers to the loss of much
valued views to the north from Staplegrove Village, Manor Road and Corkscrew
Lane. Hopefully, planners will not permit elevated buildings to obscure these
views and similarly the proposed Structured Landscaping will shield new housing
when viewed from the Quantocks.
Yours sincerely
Dr JSG Hayes
Chairman
Coffee Morning And 'Beat Surgery'
On every first Tuesday of each month there will be a coffee morning and ‘beat surgery’ for Staplegrove parishioners in the Mary Mercer Room in Staplegrove Village Hall from 10.30 am to 12 noon. Coffee/tea and biscuits 50p.
This is a great opportunity to meet for a chat and socialise with other people in the parish. There will also be one of our local Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) in attendance, who will listen to any concerns you may have relating to police matters and will give help and advice.
Do pop in any time between 10.30am and 12 noon. We would be delighted to see you.
Events in Staplegrove
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|
Parish Council. The annual meeting of electors of the parish
followed by the annual meeting of the Parish Council will be held on
Tuesday 25 May 2010 at 6.00pm in the Committee Room, Staplegrove Village
Hall. To view the agenda, which will be published nearer the time, please click on the Parish Council link at the top of
this page. Members of the Parish Council welcome attendance by parishioners, to hear discussions and decisions reached about our Parish and may speak when invited to do so by the Chairman. If you wish to attend the meeting but are unable to negotiate the stairs to the committee room please contact the Clerk (telephone 251034) in advance of the meeting so that we can make arrangements for you. |
Contacts
|
|
Contact
name |
Telephone |
|
Staplegrove Strollers |
Alison Cursham/Jan Darby |
451217/271457 |
|
Evergreen Group |
Elizabeth Hall |
284877 |
|
Men's Society |
Graham Hobrough |
332118 |
|
Women's Group |
Marion Coombes |
284236 |
|
Local History Society |
Claudine Tyson |
01460 234675 |
|
Staplegrove Trust |
Peter Heal |
259765 |
|
Women's Institute |
Anne Rogers |
275381 |
|
Stepping Stones Pre-School
Playgroup |
Paula Lukins |
324566 |
|
1st Staplegrove Rainbow
Guides |
Tina Brownlow |
288428 |
|
1st Staplegrove Brownies |
Marilyn Horsfall |
272436 |
|
2nd Staplegrove Brownies |
Alison Cottey |
253847 |
|
Staplegrove Cubs |
Simon Lacey |
257208 |
|
Staplegrove Scouts |
Martin Allen |
335815 |
|
Staplegrove Group Scout
Leader |
Chris Owen |
332886 |
| Staplegrove Beavers | Mark Foster | 276888 |
|
Staplegrove Village Hall |
Margaret Taylor |
271570 |
|
Local Link for Age Concern.
Contact Mon-Fri 9am-5pm |
Connie Brake |
334126 |
|
Staplegrove Local Action
Team |
|
|
|
Police Community Support
Officer |
Tony Wearmouth |
Voicemail 363287 and 70108
at the prompt |