OKEHAMPTON took a crucial step towards two major housing developments this month. Planning applications have been submitted for more than 500 new homes on land between Crediton Road and Exeter Road, and for 50 ?extra care? flats for the elderly on the site of the town?s former Castle Hospital. The proposals brought a mixture of jubilation and concern for town residents. Those in Baldwin Drive welcomed the news that Somerset consultancy firm White, Young and Green had responded to their objections to having their road used as an access route to the new development. On the revised plan, Baldwin Drive will remain a cul-de-sac. Resident Ernie Parrett said: ?We?re very pleased. People don?t buy a house in a cul-de-sac only to have it turned into an access road.? But residents still have some concerns about the proposed development. Calls for a dual-carriageway link road between Exeter Road and Crediton Road to keep the extra traffic from the development out of the town centre have been partially acted upon. The submitted plans indicate a spine road running through the new development. But Mr Parrett said: ?A spine road will just become a rat-run. We need a proper dual carriageway, otherwise there?ll be accidents. ?The traffic in town is already terrible. With five hundred extra cars it would be even worse.? Chairman of Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council Derek Webber said: ?One of my greatest concerns is still the need for a major bypass link. The town is currently gridlocked and this can only get worse with this new development.? West Devon Borough Cllr Edna Hicks voiced concern about the future of Okehampton?s shopping centre: ?People in the area are already saying they won?t go into Okehampton because of the traffic. ?It?s not an answer to say these new homes will all do their shopping in Exeter. That would kill Okehampton.? Residents in the Crediton Road area are also disappointed that the affordable housing planned for the development is to be rented rather than offered under a shared ownership scheme. A public meeting will be held by Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council to discuss the planning application on Tuesday, June 19, at 7.30pm in the town hall, to which any concerned parties are invited. But there was good news for those in Okehampton concerned that the old Castle Hospital building ? previously the town?s workhouse ? would be demolished as part of the creation of a secure housing development for the elderly. The Guinness Trust, which is developing the site, has submitted a planning application which indicates that while 50 one and two-bedroomed flats will be constructed, the facade of the old workhouse will be retained. Project manager Ryan Hosken said: ?The original workhouse facade ? what you can see from the footpath alongside the river ? will be retained and re-used, although this is going to be quite difficult because of asbestos in the building and the poor repair of the windows. Everything behind that will be demolished.? Mr Hosken said the company was surprised that the old workhouse was not listed, but since he had been made aware of local concern to retain the building, he had approached English Heritage and arranged a meeting to assess whether the Victorian facade should be listed. The new development will provide a safe environment for older people to live independently, l Continued on page 3
