Town council looks at housing scheme for football club

TOWN councillors are discussing the idea of building housing on the Minehead Football Club site, almost a year since The Crier revealed an indicative scheme had been drawn up for redeveloping the area.
The talks follow the on-going issue of the club’s financial position and its inability to pay rent to the council, which owns the Irnham Road recreation ground.
Councillors recognised some residential development of the area might help to
football continued to be played.
They looked at the section of the site which presently housed garages and the clubhouse, and considered the possibility of building a new facility which could include residential units.
Councillor Simon Stokes, who is also deputy leader of West Somerset Council, said the district council might be able to find a developer for the area.
He said in return for sourcing a suitable developer, the garages and clubhouse could be given to the district council, which would enable construction of a purpose-built clubhouse managed by the district authority, which would have the resources to handle it.
Councillor Doug Ross, who is the district council’s finance portfolio holder, agreed with Councillor Stokes and said long-term plans for the site were needed to raise income to support the playing of sports.
Councillor Ross said some residential development would also provide security in the area.
He pointed out the town council had received many complaints about noise and vandalism from residents living near the football club and the council had a responsibility to them to address such problems.

• Image above shows how The Crier reported on its front page on plans for developing housing on Minehead Football Club's ground in August of last year.

Council putting £1.85m into low-cost homes for local people

UP to £1.85 million is being made available by West Somerset Council in its corporate plan this year to help provide low-cost affordable homes for local people to rent and buy.
The council is currently working on five schemes across the district to fulfil the need for affordable homes, including Clanville Grange, in Minehead, where 11 affordable homes will be sold to local people if the Secretary of State approves the council’s discounted purchase scheme.
Outline planning permission has also been granted for 20 to 25 homes off Marshfield Road, in Alcombe.
A development of homes and small workshops to rent or buy on a former field study site owned by the council in Simonsbath is also being worked on.
And an eco-friendly development in Carhampton will deliver affordable homes which are also as near carbon-neutral as possible.
The council is also continuing to support its housing association partners’ provision of additional affordable homes to rent and buy.
Support may take the form of direct subsidy, and also giving backing to bids for Government funding through the Housing Corporation.
In contrast to the last financial year, when there were no supported bids from the Housing Corporation, this year 17 potential bids have been made which could provide more than 140 affordable homes throughout the district.
A report on the subject is being considered by the council’s cabinet on June 12 to update members on progress.
The register for people wanting affordable homes at Clanville Grange has now closed, but local people who want to register for future affordable rented housing should contact the council on 01643 703704.
Anybody who wants to register for future low-cost home ownership initiatives can do so via Home2own by telephoning 01803 217600 or logging on to the website http://www.home2own.org.uk/.

• Our photograph shows Roxanne Sargent (second from right) and her baby Jaydon moving into a Caractacus Homes property in Dulverton last year in a partnership with the council. Photo submitted.

Exmoor affordable homes for rent to local people only

SIX new homes being built on Exmoor by Magna West Somerset Housing Association are expected to be completed by mid-June.
The development in Pixton Way, Dulverton, is part of Magna’s commitment to providing more affordable housing to communities across West Somerset.
The six properties will be made available for rent and provide a mixture of family homes, flats, and a bungalow.
They will be let in accordance with Exmoor National Park Authority’s planning policy, which aims to help local communities with their housing needs.
To be successfully nominated as a tenant, residents will need to meet local connection criteria set by the park authority.
The criteria includes 10 years’ continuous residence in the parish or an adjoining one in the national park, or needing to live in the parish to care for somebody who has lived there for 10 years, or a need to live in the parish as an essential part of employment.
Anybody interested in finding out further details about how they could be considered for one of the Pixton Way homes should contact the park authority’s rural housing enabler, Colin Savage, by telephoning 01398 322249.

East Wharf regeneration plans now stretch to nearby areas

RESIDENTS of Watchet are being invited to attend one or both of two community events organised to provide them with up to date information on enhancements to a planned multi-million pound regeneration of the town’s East Wharf.
Homes, offices, retail, and community units are due to be built on the West Somerset Council-owned East Wharf site by developers Urban Splash, with work starting next year.
But now the council and Urban Splash want to extend the scope of the regeneration to include Harbour Road and even the nearby Watchet Boat Museum.
The community participation events are being held in Watchet Methodist Church Hall from 10 am to 5 pm on Friday, March 30, and from 12 noon to 5 pm on Saturday, March 31.
Council corporate director Adrian Dyer said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for members of the public to see the development’s design details and to discuss the project with representatives from the scheme’s developer, Urban Splash.
“The new enhancements will enable the residential, commercial, and retail elements of the development to function independently of, but in harmony with, the day-to-day activities of a working marina.”
The enhancements, which will be funded by Urban Splash, include:

• Provision of new flexible boat storage and car parking arrangements in Harbour Road car park


• Improvement works to the current boat museum building to allow it to be converted as a boat workshop


• Demolition and relocation of the taxi kiosk at the entrance to Harbour Road


• Purchasing associated installation site works for a fixed boat hoist, including a tractor and trailer/cradle


• Works to reconfigure and enhance Swain Street car park, including the proposed demolition of existing garages and public conveniences


• The provision of a new bus stop, coach parking, and a new taxi kiosk and associated taxi rank


• Replacement public conveniences

The multi-million pound scheme is scheduled to start in the spring of 2008 and is set to transform the East Wharf.
The scheme includes 86 one and two-bedroom apartments, commercial space designed to accommodate a bistro and retail units, and community space which could be used to accommodate a museum/cultural area, meeting rooms, and town council and tourist information offices.
There will be some retail space and enhanced facilities for the marina, including offices, a laundry, and changing rooms.
Artist's impression submitted.

Tell council if you want a home or place to work on Exmoor

WEST Somerset Council is appealing for people in central Exmoor, which includes Simonsbath and Exford, to let it know if they need affordable homes or business premises.
People are being invited to attend an informal drop-in information afternoon at the Exmoor Forest Hotel, Simonsbath, from 3pm to 7pm on March 13, where they can discuss the options with council officers and Rural Housing Project representatives.
The council’s ideas for the homes and workspace will also be on show, and it will be followed by a presentation by officers and a question-and-answer session from 7 pm to 9 pm.
It wants to hear from people living in and around Simonsbath, or those who have a long-standing connection with the area, who are in need of affordable housing or business premises.
The council’s housing, health and welfare portfolio holder, Councillor Mary Crowley (pictured), said: “House prices on Exmoor are over 14 times the annual average earnings in the district and we would like to help.
“We have some land in the parish which could be used to build affordable homes or ‘live/work’ premises which combine housing with small workshops for people who run businesses from home.”
Councillor Crowley said the council would also consider building small workshop units for new or existing businesses within the parish if there proved to be a demand.
She said: “So far, not many people have come forward and we are appealing for them to do so now.
“The council is currently building affordable homes and workspace in the district’s larger towns and villages, but we are equally prepared to explore these options in our smaller villages and hamlets if local people have a need for them.”
People wishing to register their interest or apply for more information on affordable housing and workspace opportunities on Exmoor should contact rural housing enabler Colin Savage on 01398 322249 or email cbsavage@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk.
To register an interest in business premises, they should contact Nigel Furze on 01984 635276 or email nfurze@westsomerset.gov.uk.

More help to find a way of owning your own home

MORE help has been made available by West Somerset Council for people looking for affordable homes to buy in the district.
The council has joined the Government-led Westcountry agency Home2own to provide more options for local people.
The agency provides affordable housing information for residents across Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall on everything to do with low-cost home ownership.
Councillor Mary Crowley, who holds the portfolio for housing, health and welfare, said: “Home2own is designed to help first-time buyers and people without enough money to buy a suitable home on the open market.
“It is a great opportunity for young people, key workers such as nurses and teachers, and local people on low incomes get on the property ladder.
“The scheme is a one-stop solution because it unites a variety of buying options and people who may not qualify for one scheme, may well find another to suit their needs.
“We are delighted the council has raised the income threshold so that households with an income of less than £35,000 per annum can apply for affordable housing if they are able to secure mortgages and also meet the local connection criteria.”
Anybody who believes they may qualify for affordable housing in West Somerset can contact Home2own’s experienced advisers, who can explain the options available.
More information is available on the website www.home2own.org.uk or by telephoning 01803 217600.

• Our photograph shows an affordable housing development at Gillams Close, Watchet. Photo submitted.

Public sessions to discuss Carhampton eco homes

A PUBLIC meeting is being held in Carhampton Village Hall on January 18 to allow local residents to view plans and have their say on the proposed development of eco-friendly, carbon neutral, affordable homes at Townsend Farm.
There will be an informal session between 3 pm and 5 pm, followed by a formal presentation between 7 pm and 9 pm.
West Somerset Council wants to develop the scheme in partnership with the Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development, a charity set up to promote sustainable construction and design.
A community land trust would be set up to allow land to be taken into the ownership of the local community and managed by a board of local people, including parish councillors, local residents, and tenants.
The trust would have a responsibility to protect community assets, re-invest any proceeds, and ensure the homes remained affordable.
District council housing, health, and welfare portfolio holder, Councillor Mary Crowley, said: “We could build 30 homes, 20 of which will be affordable homes to rent and buy, with the remaining 10 to be sold on the open market to off-set costs.
“If we can take it forward, this will be a groundbreaking project, with homes built to a carbon neutral specification that will be affordable for local people on low wages.
“The aim is to derive 20 per cent of the homes’ energy from micro generation like solar or wind power, or ground source heat pumps.”
Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development director Charles Couzens said: “We are looking forward to working with the local community and the council to create new homes which meet the need for affordable housing and have a vastly reduced global footprint.”
The presentation from the Somerset Trust for Sustainable Development will explain how community land trusts can work for the benefit of the community, as well as the benefits of carbon neutral housing.
Following the presentation, representatives will be available to explain more about the development and to answer questions.
Photo submitted.