Modbury residents mount demonstration over new housing scheme

Dartmouth Chronicle (30/5/09)

OUTRAGED Modbury residents mounted a demonstration in the town on Tuesday morning over ‘a lack of consultation’ on a new housing scheme.

The demonstration intentionally co-incided with a council meeting at Modbury Memo-rial Hall, which addressed a proposal to build 50 houses in the town. Residents also raised issues about the way two meetings, on Monday, June 8, and Tuesday, June 16, were conducted.

Over 50 people and 10 vehicles – including two tractors – were involved in the protest march, which began in Poundwell Square at 8.30am. The demonstrators marched through the streets armed with hooters, sirens and anything that made a noise. They reached the hall by 8.45, where they had a minute’s noise, with klaxons, car horns and hooters.

A representative from the Prince’s Foundation Trust came out to meet them with Lee Bray, the head of community regeneration at South Hams Council. The demonstrators had many questions but received few answers from the representative who – according to protesters – called them ‘a rabble’ and ‘a mob’ and refused to speak to them as a group. No one else was available – despite over 40 people being present at the meeting inside.

Sue Sturton, one of the demonstration organisers said: ‘The representative from the Prince Foundation Trust was very rude to us and was clearly someone who had no idea of the importance of the matter.’ Nigel Owen was chosen to speak for the group and invited into the meeting to ‘observe’. He said after the first session that the feedback gave a greater idea of the development framework, which was helpful.

The demonstrators had also produced a 500-name petition against the framework. Joanna Owen, another protester said: ‘We have had trial by Telegraph. This is trail by Modbury. We have had enough of this lack of transparency!’ She added: ‘We are only doing this because we feel passionately about the lack of democracy over the subject.’ Ms Sturton added: ‘We are all in support of change, but not like this.’ She said the development framework process should go back to square one and start again with proper community involvement and feedback. Simon Davies agreed Turn to page three From page one saying: ‘The time scale on the plans is ridiculous. There is still time to go back.’

The demonstration follows on from a parish council meeting on Monday, June 8, which was attended by over 60 people from the village. However, due to the size of the hall, many had little option but to stand outside, where they could neither hear nor be involved in the proceedings. Sue Sturton said the information provided to residents about the proposal was vague and better information from the parish council would have helped residents to understand the plans. Eventually, after an hour of discussion, several concerned parish councillors agreed to postpone the Monday night meeting and move the topic to a public meeting.

The parish council meeting is now set for June 19 at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall. If people cannot make the meeting but would like to contribute, they can write to the parish council office or contact Sue Sturton.

Local Land Owner urges owners to Control Dogs !!

Ive just taken on the field 07 in Modbury at the top of Galpin Street, we cut it and baled the grass over the last few days and we where not impressed by the amount of dog walkers using our field as a dog toilet.

On Tuesday 16th june we counted atleast 5 lots of dog owners allowing there dogs off the leads.
There are clear Devon County signs reminding owners to keep there dogs under control and not to stray off the path, not one of the dog owners cleared up after there dogs.

We will be putting livestock on the field of the weekend 20th june and we expect all dogs to be kept on leads. We would like the owners to know that we have the right to shoot any dogs upsetting livestock.

I will be contacting SHDC about getting a poo bin put at the entrance to the field and i also expect dog owners to clear up after there dogs.

Im a dog owner myself my kennel prefix is Dodgewells we show/work our dogs worldwide so please dont think im anti dog.

Bernadette Mcmanus