A controversial development off Reynell Road, Ogwell, would create another Buckland traffic problem, it was claimed this week.
More than 180 two and three-storey houses are to be built on the site, but it will only have one access off Reynell Road and all the vehicles using it will finish up at the Ogwell Cross roundabout. At Buckland, motorists have to negotiate the notorious Penn Inn roundabout – the only access into and from the estate.
On Tuesday, Adam Davis, project manager of developer Midas Homes, and Alan Ringe and John Natland, of G J R Architects, gave a presentation of several schemes for the Ogwell development to Newton Abbot Town Council Planning Committee. Their preference leaned towards 183 houses with a flatter open space in the centre of the site. Some 40 per cent of the houses are to be affordable and 20 per cent discounted market units.
There would only be one access via Reynell Road, with a bus route and turning point in the site, though there would be an emergency-only access on to Denbury Road. Describing it as another 'Buckland problem', Cllr Geraldine Gaskell said traffic was the main cause of high blood pressure and stress in Newton Abbot.
'Past experience of Buckland shows that. They build houses and think about the traffic afterwards,' she said. Having heard that every household would be given a £50 voucher towards purchasing a bicycle, and that the
county council was putting in £92,000 for off-site traffic works and cycle ways, Cllr Gaskell said: 'In the real world everyone has a car'. She told the representatives that with one access they 'would have to work miracles'. Replying Mr Davis explained that outline approval had been given and they were only following on from that. It was what they had inherited. Mr Ringe said they had to comply with a Section 106 Agreement. 'We are not trying to re-invent the wheel because the rules are effectively set,' he said. Proposals to develop the land, which includes a former pig farm, were refused by Teignbridge Council, but were later given the go ahead by the secretary of state. The area is in Ogwell parish, and the town council became involved because of the concerns about the impact on Newton Abbot, particularly the traffic issues at Ogwell Cross, and the rainwater run-off situation. Members heard that the developer had consulted the Environment Agency. Ponds would be installed outside the flood area for water quality, and continuation storage tanks would hold flows before it was slowly released. The drainage run-off would be less than it is now, it was claimed. Cllr David Corney-Walker maintained the problem would occur in the future when the residents concreted over their gardens creating an even greater run-off.