LARGE scale development around Jetty Marsh and 'the northern option' favoured by Teignbridge Council could lead to more frequent flooding in Newton Abbot.
That is the fear of Cllr Mike Hocking. 'If you stop the Teign from going into the flood plain, it is going to go up the Lemon. It will increase the flooding up the Lemon. It has got to.' He told Newton Abbot Council's planning committee, on Tuesday, that that district council planning policies were contradictory. On the one hand saying that the flood plains of the River Teign would be preserved, while on the other hand recommending large-scale development in that area.
'There is no point in Teignbridge saying they are not going to build on a flood plain when they say that is the preferred area.' Chairman Cllr David Howe pointed out that amelioration works on the flood plain would mean some building land would be gained. But Cllr Hocking was unconvinced.
'Whatever you do there will be reflected in other places. It doesn't matter how good the amelioration is because they haven't got the land to put in a big scheme. They can only tinker with what the river is doing. 'Unless you get your figures 110 per cent right, the town centre will flood. We must make sure we protect the town centre,' he said.
Vice-chairman Cllr David Corney-Walker said: 'Are you suggesting we should not support the northern option? We know that the KREAG group is opposed to this northern option. Bearing in mind that we have to provide a certain amount of new housing, have you alternatives that we ought to be looking at?' Cllr Hocking conceded that perhaps two-thirds of the area would be safe to build on. Town clerk Rod Tuck warned that developers were listening carefully to what was being said in the hope of using it to further their own causes. In particular, there was one big developer at Mile End Road, hoping to gain support for the 'western option' which the town council had supported in part. The planning committee will hear councillors' views on the Local Development Framework at two more meetings before co-ordinating its official response.