18 Feb 2023 SORG Mailing

(4) SORG MAILING  18 FEB 2023

Subject: Seabrook Orchards Residents Group Newsletter, 18 Feb 2023
To: Andrew Sails <rev.andrew.sails@gmail.com>

To all on the Seabrook Orchards Residents Group (SORG) Mailing List.

As promised, here is a further update following our latest Executive meeting on Wednesday this week.

Thank you to all who have continued to feed in helpful information and suggestions.

We are particularly grateful for the support of our local Councillors,
including Cllr Andrew Leadbetter who was able to share in our meeting on Wednesday.

Our major current concern remains the closing off of the link between Fish Street and Vernon Crescent,

It appears that the barrier has been erected by Bloor as required by HOLAW, 
the company which owns the one metre wide “ransom strip” preventing access.     
We have been in touch with HOLAW’s solicitors, who tell us that HOLAW do not intend to reopen the road at this time.

This clearly goes against the aims of the Exeter strategic plan which seeks effective access routes across the various Newcourt developments,

Many Seabrook residents have also told us that Bloor gave them oral assurances that the road would be opened up in 2021-2,

but that Bloor have not delivered on their promises.

SORG is looking to seek 

legal advice on our options.Newcourt Community Association, with which we are closely affiliated, have indicated that they may possibly be able to offer some financial support if formal legal advice is needed.

Issues we have been looking at include the following:

(1) Alternative access for the general public using the footpath from Vernon Crescent to the school.
The school tells us that their access across the ransom strip expressly forbids use by the general public.

(2) Compulsory purchase of the ransom strip.

We are exploring this with the city council in terms of both agreeing the principle and potential funding of such a purchase.

(3) Mis-selling by Bloor Homes.      

This is one of the issues on which we need to take legal advice.

We would particularly like to hear from any buyers who received contractual or other written (as opposed to oral) assurances from Bloor,

(4) Opening up other routes from Phase 2 to the Community Centre and the Railway Station.

The second access onto Topsham Road (currently used by contractors only) will eventually shorten the route out of Phase 2,

but this will still involve a much longer journey than the route via Fish St/Vernon Crescent.

The developers are required to open up the link between the top of Dart Ave and and Admiral Way when 651 houses have been occupied,
but this is likely to be several years away.

There appears to be no equivalent “trigger point” requiring the developers to acquire/open the Fish St/Vernon Way access.

There is a footpath from Phase 2 (Ruby Red Row) across the stream to the woods.

This could link with roads and paths leading to the station and Community Centre.

This is often boggy around the stream and also has a locked gate at the corner of the wood.

It would be interesting to know if many people would use this route if it could be opened and upgraded.

(5) Further conversations with other stakeholders.

We are continuing discussions with Exeter City Council and Planning Dept,

and are seeking meetings with Michael Dart and also with Bloor Homes.

We have not discounted major Media Protest action in the future, but strongly 

recommend this is held in reserve 

until we have further explored negotiated solutions with other parties.

(6) Meanwhile we are aware that the Fish Street barrier has been partly dismantled by residents taking the law into their own hands.

We will update you further in due course,

not only on the ransom strip, but also on other ongoing areas of concern, including

• The M5 sound barrier
• Road adoptions
• Timescale for undergrounding power lines
• Development and management of community spaces including
  sports pitches, MUGAs, streamside walk, allotments and Seabrook Square

Thank you again for your support for what we are doing.     

Nat, Gordon, Jon, Annabel, Ed and Andrew

Nat Baker, Gordon Edwards, Jon Goldsworthy, Annabel Harris, Ed Rashbrooke an

d Andrew Sails

SORG Executive Committee

— 
Andrew SailsSORG Executive Committee3 Bosun Close, Exeter, EX2 7GXrev.andrew.sails@gmail.com077 666 565 71