UPDATE 28 May 2010

URGENT; HELP IS REQUIRED

Please write a letter of objection now.

New plans have been submitted to Torridge District Council by Simon Maunder to build 24 flats and a community building with repair works to the Dry Dock, gates and surrounding area of Richmond Dry Dock. They can be viewed on line www.torridge.gov.uk planning applications or at Riverbank House, Bideford - Planning Numbers 1/0383/2010 and 1/0384/2010.

The previous application 1/1248/2007 and 1/1249/2007 were recently withdrawn by the applicant. They were not formally considered by Torridge District Council but in March 2009 the then Chief Executive wrote in a response to CASH that the plans were unacceptable for a number of reasons, principally their height, bulk and design and refusal would be recommended. In February 2010 a TDC Planning Officer wrote to the developer suggesting the plans were formally withdrawn within a 14 day period or they would be refused.

The new plans appear very similar though the developer claims that the buildings show a reduction in massing and height and reflect more the architectural style of previous commercial buildings on the site. He also claims now to have the support of English Heritage and the Environment Agency. The proposals are for 3 building blocks, a Dockside Unit, Slipway Unit and Quayside Unit with car parking spaces all on the south side of the dry dock and a Community building housing a cafe on the northern side, currently in the ownership of the Environment Agency.

Repairs are included to restore the dry dock and gates to working order and open up the site for the benefit of the community. Mr Maunder has offered CASH to play a role in a "Not for Profit Trust" to which he will donate the restored dock and the café, the annual revenue from which to be used to fund its going maintenance.

CASH has pledged to oppose these plans. The proposed flats would dominate the waterfront and would not fit the character and context of Appledore and its conservation areas. The character and integrity of the dry dock as a Grade 2 listed structure would be lost and the opportunities for the dock to again be used for its true purpose severely limited. Private housing and a working dock do not fit side by side. We fear that promises to refurbish the dock might not be kept once the flats have been built. Further we feel very strongly that the land classified in Flood Zone 2 and 3 by the Environment Agency (the highest risk of flooding) should not be used for residential purposes as stated in New Government guidelines PPS25. Local people know well the potential of the site to flood and the already high water table which can effect local properties in times of heavy rain. To ensure the safety of residents the buildings will have to be raised high above ground level and so dominate the landscape.

CASH has actively been promoting the Richmond Dock site to play a role in servicing vessels and transporting workers to and from the wind and wave green energy schemes proposed off the north Devon coast. With its ready made port and dry dock facilities we believe the site to be ideal and to see maritime use again would be welcomed by the community and would bring opportunities for new jobs, businesses and economic regeneration. We sincerely hope That Torridge District Council will embrace these opportunities and work with CASH to achieve them. It should be noted that Captain Roger Hoad Bideford Harbourmaster has supported the view that housing on the site would render the unique listed dry dock unusable and lose out on the opportunities presented by the Atlantic array Wind farm and other green energy schemes.

How can I object to the plans?

1. Send a letter of objection and encourage friends and other family members to do likewise addressed to Mr R L Webster, Head of Environmental Health, Planning and Public Services, Torridge District Council, Riverbank House, Bideford EX39 2QG. For convenience these can be handed in to Docton Court Gallery who will ensure delivery to Riverbank House.

2. Obtain and sign a draft letter of objection from the Appledore Paper shop, Docton Court Gallery or Walter's Emporium or download one from the Appledore Residents Association website www.appledorera.org and they will be delivered to Riverbank House.

3. Write a letter expressing opposition to the plans to the North Devon Journal and North Devon Gazette.

4. Attend the forthcoming Public meeting on Thursday June 24th 2010 at 7.30pm in the Appledore Hall. CASH is very concerned that there has been no public consultation about these proposals prior to their submission despite assurances given to us by Torridge Planning Officers that this would happen. The only consultation undertaken by the developer has been with the immediate neighbours from whom he bought the site and who may have an ongoing financial interest, with 3 members of the CASH committee a year ago and 3 plans posted on the dock railings on Christmas Eve 2009 which quickly fell victim to the weather conditions.

Timetable

Letters commenting on the application should be sent as soon as possible. Cllr Eastman has called in the application which means that it must be considered by Members of the Torridge Plans Committee rather than by Torridge Planning Officers and CASH advises that letters should be sent before the end of June 2010.

UPDATE 24 April 2009

The plans to develop Richmond Dry Dock for housing submitted to Torridge District Council by owner Simon Maunder in October 2007 (nos.1/1248/2007 and 1/1249/2007) have not been presented to the Torridge Plans Committee. TDC Chief Executive, John van de Laarschot, in a letter dated 19 March 2009 to the CASH Committee states, "the two applications (Planning Application and Listed Building Consent) to which you refer are still undetermined by this Authority as in their current form, they are unacceptable for a number of reasons - principally the height, bulk and design of the buildings. Therefore we would be recommending refusal. The Architects have since been having detailed discussions with English Heritage and the Environment Agency about a revised plan, which will ultimately be in the form of a new application. Their intention is to withdraw the current proposal; however this Authority is not obliged to determine the current proposal and this is now unlikely, given the pending withdrawal of the current applications. We understand the architects are currently seeking to resolve the flood risk issues as well as design issues, but at this stage have no knowledge of when a revised proposal will be submitted."

Our discussions with Francis Kelly of English Heritage have confirmed that revised plans are under way. We can but hope that English Heritage stay true to their principles and ensure that the integrity of the listed grade 2* Dry Dock is not compromised in any way by the development proposals. Maria Bailey, TDC Community Planning and Development Manager, at the recent CASH Annual General Meeting pledged her commitment and that of the District Council to full public consultation and involvement in community planning issues.

Meanwhile we learn that site owner Simon Maunder has instructed commercial land agent James Doble of Bideford to secure a rental lease for the Dock site for a 3 to 5 year term at £10k per annum. In past months several individuals have contacted CASH through this web site with an interest in leasing the facilities of the Dry Dock for vessel build and repair. These have all been forwarded to Simon Maunder but have not been taken up. CASH would like to encourage any interest in leasing the dock yard to get in touch with James Doble on www.jd-commercial.co.uk Tel. 01237 424053 or 07868 846357 .

Dimensions of the Dry Dock;

Gate opening width: 12 metres

Total length: 95 metres

Depth: 5.8metres

This would help our continued assertion to the site owner and others that there is commercial demand with profit potential utilising skilled local labour. The dock site is also ideally placed to play a major role in servicing vessels used in wind and wave green energy schemes planned for the Bristol Channel. We fear that the owner may use any apparent lack of interest to strengthen his viewpoint that housing is the only option. A further pledge of support to prevent high rise blocks of flats being built has been received from local MP, Geoffrey Cox, who recognizes the special quality of Appledore and the need to protect it from the kind of waterside development seen elsewhere. The CASH committee have also raised with TDC the use of the listed site as a dumping ground for builder's rubble and in a reply from the Chief Executive have been informed that the owner of the dock who also owns the old Gaiety cinema appears to have removed asbestos and other materials from there and "stored" it at Richmond Dock. He has been advised to remove it in a proper manner. CASH is grateful for all the expressions of support it has received many from people in other parts of the country who have an interest or connection with the village. We now await with interest the new proposals for the site.

At our AGM on March 31st 2009 the CASH committee were re-elected en-bloc; Chair; Richard Ker Secretary; David Meredith Treasurer; Simon Mugglestone Valerie Lampen; Maggie Curtis; Terry Bailey; Nick Carthew; David Carter.

If you would like to receive further information or offer help please contact Secretary, David Meredith at 8 Alpha Place, Appledore. EX39 1QY Tel 01237 421210 email; cdavid (at) merediths.freeserve.co.uk

UPDATE:

Plans to re-develop Richmond Dry Dock have been submitted to Torridge District Council by Simon Maunder who acquired the site in December 2006. Despite early assurances given to the CASH committee that the grade 2* listed dry dock would form the centre piece of a sensitive and exciting "maritime" development, his proposals feature large blocks of high rise apartments and duplexes which would dominate the whole area, destroy the integrity and setting of the dry dock and ensure it could never work as a dry dock again. Also included is a heritage centre, a waterside café, gallery and retail store. The dry dock would be made into a wet dock as home to a permanent vessel.

The relevant planning application numbers are 1/1248/2007/FUL(for planning permission) and 1/1249/2007/LBC (for listed building consent).

The CASH Committee is unanimously opposed to these plans and in co-operation with the Appledore Residents Association held a public meeting on November 17th 2007 which was attended by over 300 people, the vast majority stridently indicating their opposition. Since then we estimate some 500 letters of objection have been sent to Torridge District Council and the Northam Town Council; English Heritage: The Victorian Society; and Environment Agency as "consulted bodies" have all submitted objections. A local councillor has "called the application in" which means that it will be decided by the Plans Committee of the Council rather than by planning officers using delegated powers. We await news of when the application will be heard and intend to make appropriate representations.

CASH is very encouraged to have received in recent weeks a number of enquiries from individuals and firms interested in using the dry dock and yard for ship building, maintenance and repair. There is also huge potential for it to service all manner of vessels to be used in wind and wave green energy schemes now planned for the nearby Bristol channel. CASH would be very interested to hear from other possible users so that we can build up a case to the owner and local council to show that maritime commercial purpose and activity are a more suitable and viable use for the site than the provision of waterside flats and luxury homes.

Dimensions of the Dry Dock:

Gate opening width: 12 metres

Total length: 95 metres

Depth: 5.8metres

For further information about the plans or to offer help please contact; David Meredith, CASH Secretary, 8 Alpha Place, Appledore, Bideford, North Devon EX39 1QY Tel 01237 421210/ 07855 822517 email cdavid@merediths.freeserve.co.uk

Our Aims:

CASH is a community based organisation formed to protect and remember Appledore's unique shipping heritage. This charitable body has a particular interest in preserving Richmond Dock- a Grade 2* listed structure of extreme local and even national importance. The Dock is strategically situated in the heart of Appledore and once formed the heartbeat of the village. It was once at the centre of a thriving shipbuilding industry. Sadly, that industry is in decline but it is still important to remember the unique maritime history that Appledore has to offer.

CASH was formed partly as a response to a recent planning application to build houses on the listed Richmond Dock site. There was strong local opposition to these plans and they were defeated. However new proposals have been submitted for planning permission and there is much work still to be done if we are to preserve this unique site in some meaningful way.

Our aim is the restoration of the Dry Dock to full working order and to have a development that will reflect the proud maritime heritage of Appledore.

Thomas Girtin's view of Appledore from Instow in 1798