Comment: Teignbridge Council have just released an draft version of it's Urban Fringe Study Consultation report. This Study seeks to assess the character and quality of the landscape at the interface between town and country. It states in the report that the council recognises that "the landscape is a precious and fragile asset - one we should cherish and nurture for the benefit of present and future generations." Yet for many residents of Kingskerswell, the draft report makes disappointing reading in respect of land to the west of the village. It can be seen from the extracts reproduced below, that whilst TDC recognises the land does play a very important role by forming a visual backdrop to the conservation area, the report does not award it the highest rating (of Very High) and does not allocate any special designations. You have to ask yourself if TDC are "leaving the door open" for the favoured western bypass route? Surely this survey should assess the land impartially on its aesthetic qualities.

Extracts from the report


Note: Other areas have been scored at Very High for Visual Exposure & Sensitivy.

The report acknowledges that the area contains evidence of medieval strip fields, which are assessed as being of moderate historic importance. Yet excludes Snakey Copse (owned by The Woodland Trust) and Kerswell Downs (owned by the Parish Council), which together are of extremely high visual importance. Certainly the Downs has a high historic value with it's ancient woodlands and prehistoric field sytems. In the year 2000, Teignbridge District Council published a Conservation Area Character Statement for Kingskerswell which said: "Panoramic views into the conservation area from the north and west are a positive feature of Kingskerswell, as are those out of the village to the west. The mature trees to the south make a dramatic backdrop to this part of the conservation area. The impact of developments such as the proposed bypass and new houses must be considered, even though their sites may be quite a distance from the conservation area....." Getting back to the point, the Urban Fringe Study looks at seven segments of land around Kingskerswell. Land sections to the west of the village (referred to as KK6 & KK7) were not given a land designation of any kind. Yet four other sections are categorised as being areas of “Great Landscape Value" (namely KK2, KK3, KK4 & KK5).

This poses the question, why did Teignbridge Council not choose to designate this land? Certainly the sections known as KK1 and KK7, have been earmarked for future development and there are growing pressures on the valley leading up to Whillborough. This draft document is available for inspection at the Kingskerswell library. It is now open to public consultation, closing date for responses is Friday 24th October. Forms to register your views are available at the library or you can download a form by visiting the Teignbridge Council web site. Clicking on the link button below will take you to the relevant page, where those wishing to study the report in more detail can download a copy.

Did you know........ Councils have an obligation under Planning Policy guideline ENV5 to protect the identity of settlements. It states that developments on open space within or adjoining urban areas or settlements within the countryside, will not be permitted if the impact of the loss of open space results in: a) significant harm to the character and appearance of the settlement or neighbourhood; b) the loss of features that individually or collectively make a valuable contribution towards a local identity; c) the loss or significant harm to the assimilation of the settlement into its wider landscape setting.