———- Forwarded message ———
From: Andrew Sails <rev.andrew.sails@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jan 2023 at 17:42
Subject: Seabrook Orchards Residents Group Mailing
To: Andrew Sails <rev.andrew.sails@gmail.com>
To all on the Seabrook Orchards Residents’ Group Mailing List
Greetings and best wishes for 2023.
Here is an update on SORG activity in recent months.
CHANGES TO THE SORG EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
We are sorry to report that Mark Sweet has had to step down from the SORG executive – our thanks to Mark for all he has contributed to the group. We are glad to have been able to co-opt three new executive members who are already actively involved: Jon Goldswothy, Annabel Harris and Ed Rashbrooke.
The Executive group has been working hard in recent weeks liaising with Exeter Planners, our local Councillors and Bloor Homes. Here are some of the issues we have been working on:
ACCESS STRIP BETWEEN FISH STREET AND VERNON CRESCENT A difficult subject for Seabrook Orchards Residents’ Group has been the access strip between the older Persimmon development and the Bloor development in Seabrook Orchards. This issue has been a matter of debate for the past 10 years, including a significant legal case in 2014. Simply put, there is a short linking road between Fish Street (Bloor) and Vernon Crescent (Persimmon). According to various sources, the dividing line between the two developments is owned by a different (third) landowner. Instead of allowing free passage between Fish Street and Vernon Crescent, the landowner has, via solicitors, instructed that a boundary partition be established preventing all access between the two estates.
This will be mightily inconvenient (for example) for anyone wishing to walk from Seabrook Orchards Phase 2 to Admiral Way bus stops or the NCA Community Centre; or from the Persimmon site to Aldi or to the bus stops on Topsham Road, and can add around 20 minutes each way to a simple journey.
The SORG team managed to trace the owners of the intermediate strip (known colloquially as a ransom strip). The owners had changed the name of their company but we eventually traced it through Companies House. We sent letters to four of the directors of the company owning the strip and so far two of our letters have been returned unopened. It should be noted that some of these directors were shown as residents of Spain and Switzerland.
Fortunately, one of the directors instructed their solicitors and we now have contact with the Property Litigation arm of a local firm, based in Exeter. The law firm has a motto of ‘A law firm with a passion for our region’ and a hashtag of #lovewhereyoulive.
They state:
“The Property belongs to our client and there are no rights of way over it in favour of adjoining land holdings. The road and pavement were constructed by Bloor Homes without our client’s permission. Accordingly, our client has asked for its boundary fences to be reinstated and for the road and pavements to be removed.
“Whilst our client appreciates that this may be inconvenient to those currently using the area as an unauthorised access, all parties concerned with the development of Seabrook Orchards, including Bloor Homes and the Dart family, are aware that this land belongs to our client, that there is no right of access over it and that there was no permission to construct infrastructure on it.
“Bloor Homes has an obligation to construct an access road to connect the Bloor development to the Persimmon development prior to the occupation of the 651st house at Seabrook Orchards but we understand that they are some way off reaching that stage. For your information, Bloor Homes would need to acquire the land from our client in order to be able to construct that access. “The SORG Committee is continuing to pursue this matter and we will keep you advised on further progress.
NOISE SUPPRESSION
Some of the houses in Seabrook Orchards experience considerable noise from the nearby M5 motorway. Frankly, it is a noise which can be measured all the way from the Quayside in Topsham to the School playground at Trinity School and frequently is in excess of 60 Decibels around Seabrook Orchards.
The SORG Committee recently examined the plans and conducted a site visit to the additional land-works which have been used to create a noise suppression ‘berm’/embankment in the area close to Seabrook Orchards. Such visual inspection shows that the motorway is elevated far above the level at which a noise suppression fence would be effective. This is despite the berm and its corresponding fence appearing to have been built in line with the original drawings.
Not yet constructed is a long strip of trees, which are shown on drawings with exaggerated height. It appears that these trees should have been planted before any houses were occupied in Harvest Lane or Savoy Street, and should already have been growing for around five years. SORG has recently shared a further site visit with Exeter City Council planners, and we are continuing to explore next steps with them with regard to tree planting and any other ways in which noise suppression might be enhanced.
HIGHWAYS AND ROAD ADOPTION
SORG have been in liaison with Bloor to discuss the ongoing highway works and highway adoption. We have also raised the issues / concerns voiced by the residents within the previous AGM.
Summary below:
Phase 1 has been inspected by both Bloor Homes and Devon County Council and final remedial works are / have been undertaken.
Following final inspections Bloor intend to put Phase 1 of the site onto part 2/maintenance early in 2023. This is an intermediate stage, after which the roads will become fully adopted by DCC – probably around the end of 2023.
Phase 2. The highway works are currently being finalised and remedials undertaken.
Bloor have confirmed the phase 1 & 2 bridge link cannot be completed as per the final intended scheme until the overhead cables are downed/diverted by others. This can only be done once the Section 37 is completed and signed by the secretary of state. At such point, It will be Bloor’s priority to finalise the works for adoption.
However Bloor are reviewing temporary measures to implement a better suited drainage system for the interim period (to improve the current flooding issues) and are exploring temporary lighting measures with WDP and DCC. Further footway and crossing points are being finalised and implemented to ease walking and cycling around the estate and the access to the park is being reviewed/ improved.
With regards to the concerns raised about speeds, further speed control features have been installed as per the design which should improve this across the estate.
If there continue to be serious safety concerns within the community a further safety review can be undertaken by DCC once the roads are adopted.
SORG WEBSITE
We decided in SORG’s Committee that a Seabrook Orchards Residents Group Website would be a useful addition for the community. Starting in late 2022, Ed Rashbrooke, Nat Baker and Tom Baker began the construction of such a web site, which is already quietly live, but which we are keeping ‘under wraps’ until we have fine tuned it and allocated it to a proper ‘domain’. We are also testing it to ensure that it works on a desktop computer, a tablet and a smartphone)
Features include:
THE GROUP
– About SORG
– Around Seabrook Orchards (Currently a placeholder. Will contain info about events and local businesses)
– Knowledge Bank and Useful Documents (includes plans of the site and other relevant documents)
ACTIVITIES
– SORG Committee and Contact Details (includes biographies of the Committee)
– News (currently auto-generated news about Seabrook Orchards)
– Frequently asked Questions
COMMUNITY
– Community Links (to Facebook sites, other web sites, bus timetables and the like)
– Gallery (ie photographs)
– Get Involved
If you would like advanced access, please directly email Ed Rashbrooke (rashbre@mac.com), who will be pleased to authorise you for the provisional site and to receive any suggestions for content. Expect a formal launch by the end of Spring(!)In the meantime, we will endeavour to keep everyone posted on future developments via these occasional emails.
With best wishes and thanks for your support.
Nat, Gordon, Annabel, Jon, Ed and Andrew
Nat Baker, Gordon Edwards, Annabel Harris, Jon Goldsworthy. Ed Rashbrooke and Andrew SailsSORG Executive Committee
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Andrew Sails3 Bosun Close, Exeter, EX2 7GXrev.andrew.sails@gmail.com077 666 565 71
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