The "road to nowhere"

DUBBED "the road to nowhere", Sidmouth's town council planners will not support plans to build a new access road to a field at Chelson Farm, Salcombe Regis.

A design and access statement for applicant John Rosewell, says the road is to provide improved access to farm buildings for farm vehicles, "including one articulated vehicle and one rigid 7.5 ton vehicle."

It would take the most direct and shorter route to an existing track and would be contained within Devon banks to match existing banks to the road frontage to Beechtree Lane.

But, said Councillor John Hollick at last week's meeting: "This is the road to nowhere. It is very impressive but where does it go to? It goes to a track."

He said there was a double gate where most farms had single ones and added: "It is a very impressive roadway to nowhere and it leaves me wondering why."

Councillor Lois Kelly was anxious to save an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty from more concrete, while Councillor Tony Reed said he understood the road was to service the applicant's haulage business.

"This road doesn't support what it is supposed to be for," said Councillor Graham Liverton. "It is not going right up to the farm buildings, it is going nowhere. If it was going to the farm I could see the reason, but it is just in the middle of a field."

Councillor Tom Cox added: "It is a question of invasion of the AONB. The issue is this road is really not justified there. I don't remember seeing anything about these lorries making their way to Chelson Farm.

"This is a new AONB opening for new services. Unless it is bringing UN aid in there is no justification for it.