Things across North Devon are changing. Shops are closing, businesses are changing, and new housing is being built. And concerns have been raised about the significant changes it is all having on communities in the area. Development is happening, but it is not joined-up and is causing problems, some fear.

One local, writing in to our sister print title the North Devon Journal, says that in Northam, Westward Ho! and Appledore, house building is proceeding rapidly, with seemingly little thought to roads, parking, schools, surgeries, local shops and public transport being upgraded to match the increased demands.

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Read the full letter below

More thought for planning

With our changing shopping and banking habits, premises are being closed in Bideford at an alarming rate, never to reopen in their original guise. However, there is a finite limit to the number of charity shops, hairdressers and cafes the area can sustain, so property and business owners and planning authorities need to show more initiative with their ideas to keep the town centre alive. There are a few encouraging signs that this is starting to happen but it is unlikely to keep up with the current rate of closures.

Meanwhile, in Northam, Westward Ho! and Appledore, house building is proceeding at an amazing rate, with seemingly little thought to roads, parking, schools, surgeries, local shops and public transport being upgraded to match the increased demands these developments will impose on the area.

These are all bits of infrastructure that the planning system seems unwilling, or maybe unable, to influence but, whatever the reason, it imposes stress, not only around the particular development but the knock-on effect can become a problem for Bideford as a whole.

Meanwhile, in Westward Ho!, there is the Westbeach development or, more accurately, underdevelopment. Only a part of it is actually finished, with the rest left for a number of years, ranging from nearly finished to only the steel work being erected. It has become a blight on the area and I worry that, in the public domain, there is no sign of anything being done to resolve the situation.

How did the situation occur? Presumably the developer ran out of money and, judging from the amount unfinished, at a relatively early stage. Is there any way the financial viability of such projects and financial strength of the developer can be considered as part of the planning approval process?

Perhaps with developments such as this the council should be able to require a bond or bank guarantee so there is money available if the development is not finished within a specified time. It would not necessarily enable the project to be finished but at least it would enable the abandoned area to be cleared. That of course is too late for the current Westbeach problem, but I think it would be good if Torridge District Council could now go public and outline what the current situation is and what options are being considered to resolve it.

Tim Gibbs

Bideford

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