A Community Conversation
On Saturday 21 March a well-attended second Community
Conversation was held in the Boniface Centre. This event was the
result of a joint effort between Crediton Town Council and
Sustainable Crediton. Thanks to all those who helped make this
morning so successful! The first Community Conversation was
held last year to discuss the Land Use Framework and how a holistic
approach to land use could be developed to reflect the needs of the
inhabitants of Crediton: both current and into the future. This
approach recognised the constraints and tensions that can occur
when considering land usage and demonstrated how factors can and
should coexist successfully. The community called for a more
sustainable approach to housing development and one that respected
local character, enhanced green infrastructure, green spaces and
supported nature recovery.
Subsequently the Town Council took the findings of the first
conversation and commissioned a document entitled "Vision For Land
At Barnfield, Crediton…….Aka Old Deer Park" which Town Councillor
Liz Brookes-Hocking presented to the audience. Groups then
discussed the vision, accompanying maps were studied and relevant
comments made and noted. Housing was then discussed after a brief
presentation from Dave Harris, a video about Community Land Trusts
and input from Rob Rickey about passivhaus standards. Again the
different groups discussed and noted what they actually wanted to
see built, to what standard and for whom. There did appear to be a
wish for more social housing, sustainable standards and
developments to be built which fostered the idea of community. The
third session was about educational opportunities, walking and
cycling routes and nature recovery which resulted in more solutions
and suggestions.
At the end of the morning there was an opportunity for all to
see the flip chart papers produced by each table before they were
collected up and taken to the Town Council. The findings will be
incorporated into the "vision".
The point of these conversations? Getting in early before
planning decisions are made. Local voices should be heard and
incorporated into the development of land to meet the multi-faceted
needs……..Crediton has spoken, others should listen and act!!
Many thanks to all of those who attended and were so engaged in
developing the vision.
Jo Poulton
Climate Action Team
