The Dartmouth & Kingswear Society Annual Report for 2011/12

Activities (Meetings & Social Events)

There has been much activity in 2011/12, mostly reported in the Chairman’s Summer and Christmas Newsletters. A brief summary is given below.

Our last Annual General Meeting was held on 22nd March 2011 with our President in the chair. Minutes of the 2011 AGM were circulated with the notice of the 2012 AGM. The AGM itself was followed by a popular “ice-breaker” quiz and a talk on “Britannia Wood, BRNC” by Brian Parker.

The Spring Outing in May 2011 took us first to Pentillie Castle, followed by lunch at the Smithaleigh Hotel and a visit to Langage Farm Dairy (and anaerobic digester), with cream tea to round off the day.

The final social event of the season was our Summer Party on 29th June, when members and guests had a memorable buffet and drinks at the Venus Café, Blackpool Sands.

Our General Meetings in the autumn/winter covered a range of local topics.

In October 2011 we had the second talk on the Dartmouth Fire, during which Colin Souch of Paul Carpenter Associates showed some astonishing pictures and described the early stages of the restoration, demonstrating what could be preserved or renovated and what had to be removed. ln November, Wally Fleet gave us a witty and illuminating talk (jointly with the Dartmouth History Research Group) on wartime Dartmouth through his eyes as a boy in the town. In December Daniel Tagg made us aware of the splendid social work done by the Townstal Community Partnership. Finally in February 2012, in a joint talk with the Dartmouth Museum, Brian Parker described some Royal Treasures in the Dartmouth Museum and entertained us with his exploits diving off Anglesey on the wreck of one of Charles II’s Royal Yachts.

Our traditional Winter Market Day Lunch, held on 20th January 2012 was once again a very popular event, with the Royal Castle Hotel providing the usual congenial setting and a return to good food and service, after last year’s disappointing meal.

Our next event is the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 20th March 2012.This will be followed by a talk by Alan Baker on "Shelterbox - the first 10 years". All members are strongly encouraged to come along, as the AGM provides an opportunity for feedback to the Committee and for airing ideas for future activities. The post-AGM talk will also be of great interest to many.

For the Spring Outing on Wednesday 16th May 2012 we will be spending the day at Saltram House - with special guided tours of the house and gardens; morning coffee and lunch will be available. Please note the earlier start time of 8.00am from Dartmouth!

Finally we will have our Summer Party at the Royal Dart Yacht Club, Kingswear on Thursday 28th June, starting at 6.15pm to avoid the ferry’s tea-break.

Full information and Booking slips for these two Events are available on this website on the Our Programme > Application Forms page — so please ensure you retain the form and return the Booking Slips to our Events Secretary in good time to ensure your place.

Planning Issues

Our approach to planning applications continues to rely heavily on an on-line retrieval program created by Phil Charlesworth, followed by committee discussions with subsequent actions carried out by Kathy Stanstield and Eric Preston.

The Committee reviewed 375 Planning Applications for our Area in 2011 compared with 422 in 2010, so the numbers are getting slightly less. During the year the Society wrote 33 Letters of Objection and 14 Letters of Comment or Acceptance. The number of Decisions recorded by SHDC was 315: of these only 31 were refused (to 16 of which we had also objected, but 15 of which we had accepted). Of the rest we objected to 11 that were accepted by SHDC. There are still far too many retrospective applications and we have again brought this to the attention of SHDC. Of 13 Appeals against the Council’s refusal of planning permission, 4 were rejected but 8 accepted, with 1 as yet undetermined.

West Dartmouth Development

Following the Inspectors’ approval of the Local Development Framework Site Allocation Development Plan Documents outlining proposals for future housing (and leisure/employment land) to 2016 and beyond, the formulation of a Master Plan for the West Dartmouth Development is now being carried out by the developers, Millwood Homes.

The Society has participated fully in the consultation process; two representatives from our Committee have attended the Steering Group meetings, supported by a small working group looking at the proposals in detail, as well as by full Committee discussion. We are somewhat concerned at SHDC’s lack of control of the master planning process and also at some of the layout concepts being proposed by the developers.

The essence of our position is that the new development should be integrated with Townstal and, as far as possible, the lower town, and not be an isolated third Dartmouth community. A genuine community hub containing job-sustaining key services should be located on the current Park & Ride site, which should be relocated -- though not to the west of Venn Lane. Much of the proposed development will actually be within Stoke Fleming Parish and the consequences of this require further consideration and dialogue.

The integrity of the area designated by the LDF Inspector for the Development should be maintained — against Millwood Homes’ pressure to expand beyond it — in order to prevent urban sprawl and ribbon development all the way out to Norton Park. ln your Committee’s view, the long-term success of the Development must be judged by whether a genuinely mixed population of very substantially permanent residents is created. Increased employment opportunities are ultimately the key to this and there needs to be much greater clarity about the intended use of the 4.5 hectares of land designated for employment. We have communicated our views to SHDC Officers and Councillors by writing directly to those concerned.

Other Planning Issues.

The Society has given support and backing to the Kingswear Action on Rail and Riverboat Development (KARRD) Group which has succeeded in forcing SHDC to obtain independent advice on the legality of constructing a new building at the Listed Kingswear Station without Planning Permission or Listed Building Consent. The outcome is awaited.

Also of on-going concern is the state of the former Guntield Hotel. Your Committee has written twice to SHDC regarding this Listed Building which is in need of urgent renovation or sympathetic development. A site meeting with SHDC and the Architects is now scheduled for 9th March; we will let you know the outcome.

Urban Matters

We continued to contribute to the review of the Conservation Areas for Dartmouth and Kingswear, by submitting a response to the Public Consultation in April 2011. Further progress seemed to have been in abeyance for much of the year, but the Appraisals and Management Documents have now been scheduled for consideration by SHDC’s Environment and Economy Scrutiny Panel in early March 2012 and, if approved, the Documents will be adopted. This would be a very welcome development, following on from substantial work by Committee members.

Debates on traffic and parking in Dartmouth are now led by Dartmouth Town Council’s Traffic Management and Parking Group, on which the D&K has representatives. After lengthy consideration the Group will issue a Statement and set of Questions, to be circulated to all households in Dartmouth and, it is believed, to residents of neighbouring villages.

We also have representation on the Public Transport Forum, which seeks to improve and encourage the use of public transport in the Area, with better bus links to the P&R, the villages or other towns and Torbay, as well as new or improved facilities, including at bus-stops.

The ambitious private sector scheme to build an underground car park beneath Coronation Park has been on hold and there is currently no definitive proposal.

The River and Marine

Noss redevelopment is expected to go forward - with different consortium funding - but there are no further detailed proposals as yet.

We continue to maintain our representation on the DHNA’s Non-Beneficial Users Group, as a channel for consultation on matters relating to the river, although its impact seems to be reduced at the moment.

Other Topics and Activities

Following closure of Dartmouth’s Harbour Bookshop, a D&K Working Group investigated the feasibility of finding an alternative, resulting in the setting up of the Dartmouth Community Bookshop in Higher Street. This is now trading as an Industrial and Provident Society enterprise and able to sell shares ranging from £20 to £20,000 The share campaign is going well, but but the initial issue was scheduled to close on 16th March 2012, so please take action to lend your support immediately you get this Annual Report!

The main D&K contribution to the Newcomen Tercentenary celebrations is the newly published Book on Thomas Newcomen, written by our Vice-President, Eric Preston, with printing costs jointly funded by the Society and the Dartmouth History Research Group.

The Dartmouth Area Landscape Access Group (DALAG), now affiliated to the Society, has instigated (with great assistance from Devon County Council) a new diamond-shaped coast and countryside walk, to be named the Diamond Jubilee Way, to the south of the town, as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Publicity & Publications

Sales of our publications continue to do well. The Newcomen Book, mentioned above, was launched in February 2012 and is already achieving encouraging sales. Thanks go to Phil Charlesworth and a small working group who completely overhauled the Society’s website and continue to maintain it, so that it now gives an attractive and comprehensive picture of the Society’s activities and provides easy access to all Planning Applications.

Sociey Matters

Present Committee

The Officers and Committee elected at the last AGM were: John Baldock as Chairman; Peter Shaw as Vice Chairman; James Dodd as Hon. Secretary; Jill Rowe as Hon. Treasurer; together with Liane Baldock (Events Secretary), Phil Charlesworth, Griselda Guthrie, Richard Rawlins, Robin Sjöberg, Doug Twigg, William Venton and Nick Wood as general members. During the year we welcomed as co-opted Members of the Committee Kathy Stanstield and Tony Fyson.

Eric Preston, our Vice-President, regularly attends Committee Meetings.

Everyone on the Committee has contributed their own particular skills and effort to a successful programme of activities and events, as well as to all the issues of concern to the Society; and all deserve the thanks of members for their continuing hard work.

The 2012 Annual General Meeting

Sir Geoffrey Newman remains our President and Eric Preston our Vice-President, and we are very grateful for their continuing support. On this occasion our President is unable to chair the AGM so Eric will step in to do so.

All other Officers and Committee members are willing to continue in their roles for the coming year; and we are glad to report that Kathy Stansfield has agreed to be nominated as Planning Secretary.

Nominations for consideration at the 2012 AGM are therefore:

As Officers: John Baldock as Chairman; Peter Shaw as Vice Chairman; James Dodd as Hon. Secretary; Jill Rowe as Hon. Treasurer and Kathy Stansfield as Planning Secretary

As general Committee Members: Liane Baldock (Events Secretary), Phil Chariesworth, Tony Fyson, Griselda Guthrie, Richard Rawlins, Robin Sjöberg, Doug Twigg, William Venton and Nick Wood.

lt will be clear that the Committee has plenty of work to do and needs support. lf you would like to be involved in the work of the Society, please approach one of us; we can co-opt new members at any time, but we would especially welcome new representation from villages such as Blackawton - and for Dittisham, to take over from Robin Sjöberg.

Finance

A Financial Statement forms a separate part of the papers for the AGM. We recorded a deficit for the year of £480, but this was after taking account of the donation of £1000 to the Community Bookshop. As always, we are grateful for the efforts of the Committee and the generosity of members, in raising funds in various ways and we express the Society’s thanks to the Auditor.

Support for Local Causes

We have made one substantial donation during the year: £1000 towards setting up the Dartmouth Community Bookshop. ln addition we provided £1000 towards the printing' costs of the Newcomen Book as a contribution to the 2012 Newcomen Tercentenary celebrations.

Sadly the pledged donation to the Castle Cove project can now not be utilised, as the proposals are no longer going forward.

Membership

Our total membership is now slightly under 380 - down on last year. All existing members are encouraged to recruit as many friends as possible to join the Society: it is very useful to be able to say that we have a membership of over 400, so please be persuasive!

Members e-mail addresses

Finally, we are trying to assemble a full list of members’ e-mail addresses: initial response to our last call was very poor (only 24 replies received), so if you have not done so, please send your e-mail address to our Chairman. You can do this through the Contact Us page on this website, confirming in your message that you are willing to receive D&K material via e-mail. This initiative will save postage and eventually allow a more interactive exchange of views between members and the Committee.

Thank you.

John Baldock, Chairman

1st March 2012