News

January 2009

Many people have been concerned about what Network Rail have done to the bridge over the railway at the top of Monmouth Street. On behalf of The Topsham Society,  I have had discussion with Network Rail officers in Exeter and Swindon about this.  In particular, before the work started, I 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.

This was checked with the City Council, who 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 has written 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.

There is more positive news about the proposed work on the bridge over the Clyst near the Bridge Inn.  Devon County Council had proposed to install traffic lights on the bridge to restrict vehicles to an alternating one way flow.  This was to enable a footpath and cycle track to be incorporated into the existing carriageway over the bridge. Experience had shown that traffic lights at this point would be likely to produce significant queues and congestion.  Nigel and Caroline Cheffers-Heard, of the Bridge Inn, orchestrated a campaign to persuade to County Council to consider alternative solutions.  In particular they have said that they, together with Michael Dart, would offer free access to their land on either side of the Clyst to allow for a separate cyclist/pedestrian bridge.  In the light of this, and the representations received from individuals and groups in Topsham, including The Topsham Society,  Devon County Council will now explore ways of providing a safer route for pedestrians and cyclists without the traffic queues and congestion that the original proposal could have caused.

If you would like to express your views on 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 findings of the appraisal in Topsham in the New Year.  Details of the date and venue will be advertised on posters in the town.

On Friday 16th January 2009 Peter Villiers will talk on  ‘Joseph Conrad - exile, seafarer, writer’.  Peter Villiers is the son of Alan Villiers, who wrote the classic sailing book about the voyage he made around the world in the 1930’s as captain of the square-rigged ship, the Joseph Conrad.  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.

Further Information on the Topsham Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan

GEOFF WILKINSON (879107)

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