28 August 2024

A clean marine environment remains high on the agenda for South Hams District Council as they now look to expand their work in the recycling of abandoned vessels across South Hams’ waters.

A big part of the Council’s drive to reduce climate change includes looking at marine activities across the District and finding ways to reduce carbon emissions and water pollution.

Cllr John McKay, South Hams District Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said: “This research is just the first step in our work to address the issue of abandoned vessels across the South Hams.

“We want to work more closely with our industry partners, harbour authorities, marinas and boat builders. They are the ones who feel more closely the financial and environmental impact of end-of-life boats sitting in their waters and getting in the way of their day-to-day work.  

“Projects such as these are so important and go a long way in supporting our ambitions to reduce climate change.”

James Scott-Anderson from Marine Environmental Specialists Blue Parameters said: “This project has successfully demonstrated that there is a solution to end-of-life vessels, and that we have options for all kinds of composite waste, and its potential for upcycling.

“It has been a combination of expertise, resources and companies from different sectors- and using new technology, which has made this project successful. We have an alternative to landfill for composite waste which will not only benefit the marine sector, but wider ambitions to tackle climate change.

“It is also essential that we move forward and look at how the knowledge gained from this project can be used in the future, and at a larger scale.”

The project has also had the support from the Royal Yachting Association and its environmental programme The Green Blue.

Read the report and watch the Council's recent video at www.southhams.gov.uk/marine-decarbonisation

Anyone who spots an abandoned boat, can report it at the The Green Blue website.

Issued: 20 August 2024

We will come down hard on developers who ignore planning regulations and cause damage in our communities. That’s the message from South Hams District Council after a successful prosecution at Gloucester Crown Court yesterday (19 August).

The Council pursued Blakesley Estates (Kingsbridge) Ltd - now known as Garden Mill Ltd - and its Director, John Freeland through the courts, when in 2021 they continued building without complying with planning permission conditions on the Garden Mill development site, known locally as Locks Hill in Kingsbridge.

Following several court hearings and unsuccessful applications by Garden Mill Ltd and Mr Freeland both pleaded guilty to breaching a temporary stop notice and an enforcement notice issued by the Council. Garden Mill Ltd have been ordered to pay a £100,000 fine and £40,000 costs to the Council. Mr Freeland has been ordered to pay £76,000 in fines and £80,000 in costs to the Council. They have been given 12 months in which to pay.

Councillor Dan Thomas, the Council’s Executive Member for Planning, said: “I am really pleased that this company and its director have been brought to justice.

“We tried to work with them, but they refused to comply. The local community has quite rightly been up in arms about what has happened at the site – we have listened to them and relentlessly taken this through the courts over the past few years. We hope this sends a message loud and clear that we will not tolerate anyone who disregards planning enforcement notices and that we will take action.”

Blakesley Estates bought the land with planning permission for 32 new homes, with a condition. This was that no site clearance, preparatory work or development would take place until a scheme was put in place to protect trees on the site and limit the impact that building work and the development would have on a neighbouring Grade-II listed building.

Despite this, work started at the site without adequate tree protection, so the Council ordered the developer to stop. However, work continued, causing even more damage to the site.

Work finally stopped, leaving the land with a number of houses partially built and the remaining land an unfinished building site.

Blakesley Estates then lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate to restart the work, which was dismissed. Earlier this year, an inspector concluded that the developer had not complied with a planning condition and that planning permission had expired resulting in the land no longer benefitting from planning permission.

The Council continued to pursue the company and its director through the courts and has now won its case.

Councillor Dan Thomas said: “This issue has gone on for years and we have worked tirelessly to bring it to a conclusion. We are facing a housing crisis, and we are really keen for this eyesore to be fixed. We want the local community in Kingsbridge to get the housing development they deserve which respects the local area.”

15 August 2024

Creating more lower cost homes for local people is a top priority for South Hams District Council which is why they built their own affordable rental homes to help tackle the District’s housing crisis.

The Council’s new development offers eight social rented 2- and 3-bedroom homes and bungalows on a new site in St Anns Chapel.  Three homes will also soon be available to buy on the open market.

With the Council’s focus also on climate change, the homes benefit from state-of-the-art energy saving technology which will also help residents save on their energy bills.

As tenants have recently moved in, you can now hear from tenant Abbie Fish on how she is finding her new home in their recent video.

Issued: 25 July 2024

South Hams District Council’s Cllr Guy Pannell has raised £2,000 for the Dart RNLI Lifeboat Station Appeal.

During his year as chair of the Council, Cllr Pannell supported the organisation as his chairman’s charity. Having now tallied his final fundraising total, he presented a cheque to Commodore Jake Moores OBE DL Royal Navy, chairman of the Dart RNLI Appeal today (25 July).

Cllr Pannell, current vice chair of the Council, said: “Living near the coast, and from a family with many links with the sea, I am acutely aware of the need for safety on the water and along our wonderful South Devon coastline.

“The RNLI not only provides a rescue service for mariners on all types of vessels but also patrols our most popular South Hams beaches to keep holidaymakers and swimmers safe. I am delighted to have been able to support the Dart Lifeboat Station Appeal during my recent year of office and truly grateful to all those who have donated so generously to this charity.

“It is really appropriate to present this cheque on World Drowning Prevention Day and the Dartmouth RNLI Flag Day.”

Commodore Jake Moores OBE DL Royal Navy, Dart RNLI Appeal chairman, said: “It is a great pleasure to receive this cheque from Guy, which will go towards our new lifeboat station on the River Dart and allow us to save lives at sea for years to come. On behalf of Dart RNLI, many thanks go to all who supported Guy’s efforts.”

Dart RNLI is one of the busiest lifeboat stations in Devon, on call to emergencies in the Dart Estuary all the way up to Totnes and out to sea. The current Dart RNLI station is a temporary building at the end of its lease. To continue saving lives, the charity needs to raise the £1.2m cost of their new lifesaving home at Ferry View House.

To find out more about the appeal and how you can donate, visit the RNLI Dart Appeal website.