News

February 2009

I have yet to find anyone who approves of what Network Rail have done to the bridge over the railway at the top of Monmouth Street, and you may have seen the views of Rob Newby, one of our local councillors, in the Express and Echo in January. The Topsham Society has had discussions with Network Rail officers in Exeter and Swindon about this.  In particular, before the work started, we talked to the engineer in charge of the project and asked for any work that was necessary to be carried out sympathetically and using materials matching those in the existing structure.  Network Rail made the following points:

• The work had to be carried out to meet Regulations governing the height of the parapet for bridges over railways.
• This work did not require planning permission, but did require permission from Exeter City Council, and Network Rail had obtained the City Council’s permission for the work they have carried out.
• The extension to the height of the bridge could not be achieved using matching bricks because this would have made the walls too heavy.

We talked to the City Council about this and they said that the grounds on which they could refuse consent for this kind of work are much more limited than for a normal planning application. The City Council had therefore, albeit reluctantly, given consent for the work to be done.

Given the strong feeling among the The Topsham Society members, and in the town generally, The Topsham Society wrote to Exeter City Council asking that they have further discussions with Network Rail to try to find a way to remove the ugly metal structure and, if the height of the parapets really does have to be raised, to achieve this in a way that is in keeping with the existing appearance of the bridge.  Copies of this letter and of the replies from the City Council and Network Rail are on the Topsham Society website www.topshamsociety.co.uk.    In essence both have said that our concern is understandable but there is nothing they can, or will, do about it.  Not a very happy or satisfactory state of affairs!

If you would like to express your views on this or on any other issues affecting the Topsham Conservation Area, including the possibility of extending the area covered, you will have an opportunity to comment on a draft appraisal document published by Exeter City Council.  The document, Topsham Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, and a comments form, are on the Exeter City Council website www.exeter.gov.uk (Look under A-Z, then C, then Conservation Area, then Related Pages- Conservation Area Appraisal).  The document examines what makes Topsham a special place, its key features and characteristics, whether the existing boundary requires modifying and if there are areas of negative townscape that could be improved.  Exeter City Council plans to hold an exhibition on the appraisal in Topsham in the near future.  Details of the date and venue will be advertised on posters in the town.

On Friday 27th February Dr Sadru Bhanji will talk on “Barbary Pirates of the 17th Century”.  As many of you know, Dr Bhanji is an historian who lives in Topsham.  His researches reveal that many of the hostages taken by pirates come from this area, including some who were from Topsham.  The talk will be in Matthews Hall and will begin at 7.30 p.m.  Tea, coffee and wine will be available in the interval.

PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO THE ABOVE

Further Information on the Topsham Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan

GEOFF WILKINSON (879107)

Back to News homepage