Saturday, 30 August 2008

Red Cow: Jeremy's letter to Lisa Cocks

In addition to three earlier photographs taken on 27th August, this is one I took today.  It shows that the plastic bags left over by the recent deposit of scores of old shoes have now been joined by more garden rubbish.  It joins the other rubbish left outside the Red Cow site that we have been complaining about for the last two years, about which nothing has been done.

Stacey Salter said that she was sending this aspect of my complaint on to you since fly-tipping is not a planning issue.  I hope that you will not use the uncertain ownership of the unadopted Red Cow Lane as a reason for not doing anything about it.  We are resigned to the fact that litter deposited by the public in the lane is ignored by the council, but we are now in a situation where your colleagues' failure to do anything about the state of the demolition site is directly impacting the state of the lane.

I don't know whether your responsibilities also include litter but can I also direct your attention to the removal of the litter bin at the bottom of Red Cow Lane.  This used to provide some limited protection from littering in the lane, but shortly after the Red Cow Inn was demolished the bin disappeared.  The council then tried to say that it had never existed: actually it was moved up the hill to below The Imperial.  A new bin was provided, clamped to a lamp post across the road and therefore irrelevant to Red Cow Lane.  Can I urge that a new bin be provided?

While on the subject of the bin across the road, the other day my five-year-old granddaughter was unable to put litter in it because it is clamped halfway up the lamp post.  Is there any reason for this?

Generally I am deeply underwhelmed by your department's professionalism in dealing with the Red Cow Inn area.  In common with other marginal parts of Exeter you seem to have written it off.  This state of affairs would definitely not be allowed to persist in any more prosperous area of Exeter.  Could we possibly move to a less class-based strategy?


Red Cow Enforcement Notice


Stacey Salter, Exeter City Council's Senior Enforcement and Projects Officer has written to confirm that a notice of a breach of planning control regulations has been served on the site owner.  The notice takes effect on 2 October 2008 and the owner of the site must remove all litter, rubbish, waste material and waste items and reduce the height of the vegetation to no more than 30cm by this date.

She will check it after this date.

The fly-tipping problem has been passed to Lisa Cocks in Environmental Health Services.

Wednesday, 27 August 2008

Iris Sutton has left Taddyforde


With characteristic independence, Iris was seen today on her way to St. David's having left Taddyforde House without fanfare.  I remember her saying to me some time ago that she would like to live somewhere where "bits don't keep dropping off".

Any of you who have lived here for while will know that Iris, and her husband Bruce, brought up their family here and that Iris has spent an awesome amount of time, skill and persistence in researching the history of Taddyforde (in which she is now an expert) as well as researching the lives of many other people of Exeter when their relatives have tried to seek out their forebears through St. David's Church.

She warned the Residents' Association (as a committee member) that she might not be around much longer, but it's still a shock to find that she has gone.


Exeter's Dustbin on our Doorstep



To Exeter City Planning Department

These pictures (taken today) show the state you have allowed the site to get into, and also show that flytipping is spreading beyond the site up Red Cow lane.  The very public state of the site encourages passers-by to think that this is a good place to dispose of rubbish.  The latest deposit included three large plastic bags full of assorted footwear and several electrical items, deposited outside the electricity substation.  This morning the bags had been emptied and most of the footwear taken.  It is to be hoped that this does not presage Red Cow Lane becoming a kind of unofficial recycling centre.

You will know that Red Cow Lane has not been adopted and has no known owner.  Consequently disposing of rubbish has to be done by local residents.  They all pay the rates and wonder what exactly they are paying for?

Monday, 11 August 2008

Devon County Council's leaflet


You may have received this glossy leaflet on the proposal to abolish Exeter City Council.  If you haven't actually read the Boundary Committee's draft proposals you might find it all seeming very pleasant.  I still don't and have written to them accordingly.

If you are interested you can read my response (Boundary.doc) by clicking on the title of this message.






Neighbourhood Watch


The crime prevention officer for Exeter has had reports that there has been a man cold calling at people's doors trying to sell aerial photographs.  His description is : white male about 6ft tall and of average build.  He has dark hair and a northern accent.  He was carrying a black sports type holdall.

We remind residents to use our bogus caller advice - keep doors locked, use security chains and do not allow anyone into your home that you do not know.  If you have a call like this and are concerned about his selling tactics call:

08452 777 444.

A note of any vehicle he was driving would be useful.  Thank you.



Friday, 8 August 2008

Save the City Council


Did you know that the Boundary Committee has proposed the abolition of Exeter City Council?  They want us to be something like a Devon parish but with no local elections.  The City would be represented by a "board" appointed by Devon County Council.  The consultation period ends on September 26th 2008.

For details of their proposal visit:  www.electoralcommission.org.uk  and look at the Devon pages or click on the title of this message to get to the right page.  You can send your comments through this site or email: reviews@boundarycommittee.org.uk. 

Or send your views to:

Devon Review Manager
The Boundary Committee for England
Trevelyan House
Great Peter Street
London SW1P 2HW

Thursday, 7 August 2008

Red Cow Site Gets Worse


As the litter accumulates and strange activity is evident, Exeter City Council officers are still dragging their feet.  Despite the persistence of Percy Prowse, the Council has STILL not issued the formal Untidy Site Notice.  The Senior Enforcement and Projects Officer, Stacey Salter, wrote to Percy Prowse on the 23rd July saying that "This matter will shortly be passed to the Council's Planning Solicitor to prepare and issue a notice."

How long is "shortly"?  And will the Planning Solicitor take as long to issue the notice as it has taken her to request it?