Residents’ wish-list for Ottery’s future

A CROSS section of residents, given free reign to pen a wish-list for Ottery’s future, proposed banishing cars from the town-centre and pleaded for a new school and library.

RESIDENTS given free reign to pen a wish-list for Ottery’s future, proposed banishing cars from the town-centre and pleaded for a new school site and library.

This map shows how affordable homes, sustainable power generation from the River Otter, and a park and ride to Exeter were all suggested for specific sites - as was re-opening a railway line for “recreation.”

There was also a plea to turn the town’s derelict factory into a community facility, such as an arts or heritage centre.

New flood defences and a Coleridge ‘study centre’ were both highlighted as in-demand developments. Better bus links, improved broadband in Tipton and West Hill, playing fields and public toilets were also mooted- though those quizzed couldn’t reach a consensus on any of the suggestions.

A cross section of representatives from local politics, business, community, environmental, social and minority groups were invited by East Devon District Council (EDDC) to have their say during a public consultation last May.

Views expressed, revealed for the first time last month, were considered when the authority formed its controversial vision for the future of the region. Twenty-one people attended a workshop at The Institute in March 2010 as part of EDDC’s Local Development Framework (LDF) core strategy consultation process.

Participants were provided with large scale maps of the town and asked to draw in the features and assets they regarded as of most value and importance, and the changes they would like to see. These included where and how development should occur.

“Participants were essentially given free reign to draw on and add text and colour to the maps in any way they saw fit,” said an EDDC spokesperson.

“Groups were asked to reach a consensus, or at least a majority view, before committing pen to paper.”