Wykeham Homes

Barnes Meadow Development

Inspite of strong local objections The Uplyme Parish Council recommended the go ahead of this development, originally for 44 houses. It was East Devon District Council who reduced it to 41.

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Progress Report from October 2004

(Reports before October 2004)

This is not an official website but a collection of notes once mainly obtained from the monthly meetings given by John Steven that preceded the Parish Council's meetings in the village hall. He no longer attends meetings and we now rely on other sources such as the official parish council meetings, local and national newspapers as well as village gossip!

Parish Council Meeting 8th December 2004 A surprise awaited parishioners at the December Uplyme Parish Council meeting. There spread out on a series of tables were the plans for phase three of the development. After John Steven's Wykeham Homes development company put a temporary hold on completing phase three for reasons given at the March 2004 meeting of the parish council, many people thought that the final phase would never be completed. Here we are just nine months later with Mr Steven showing some urgency in getting going again. Although a planning application has still to be submitted the company was told, by EDDC, on being asked if the planning process could be speeded up, that it will take the usual eight or so weeks. Councillors were concerned that, according to the plans on display, the wildlife area and the wildlife corridor were not apparent. Are we surprised? A planning application was registered with EDDC on 6th December 2004 Ref: 04/3197/MFUL The proposal was for replacement house types to plots, 10,11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25 and 26 The Wall The Chairman Beryl Denham said that if the wall is not finished by the end of March penalty clauses will kick in which would result in a "huge fine" being levied on the company. Will this do the trick by encouraging the developer to complete the wall? 9th December 2004 The truth behind the temporary postponement of phase three? You are excused if you found the News report on the reasons for the delay in completing phase 3 somewhat confusing. John Steven's suggests that the landslip problem came at a convenient time allowing his company to temporary abandon the completion of the development and move his resources to a project in Portugal. At a time when house prices are beginning to fall he now says that "the market was now right for the final development" Will we now see the reinstatement of his appearances at the parish council meetings with his reports on progress on the site and for him to face questions from the parish? 7th January 2005 Is John Steven no longer someone Uplyme Parish Council can work with? The feelings expressed by several councillors at the January 2005 Uplyme Parish Council meeting left no doubt that the statement made by the council back in the heady pre-application period, that Mr John Steven was someone the council could work with, is much regretted or conveniently long forgotten. Members of the council have met the case officer at EDDC to discuss the design of the replacement houses and with them they are jointly appalled. They said that they are not of the local vernacular, but of urban designs using red brick and other unsympathetic materials. May I again remind you of what the then parish councillor Carole Halden said (January 2004 and May 2002). One of her concerns was that if Mr Steven had to sell on the development what guarantee would there be that the site design and house types would be adhered to. Mr Steven may not have sold on but all the same the house designs are to be changed for inferior types. As for the site layout the councillors re-emphasised their concerns for the apparently missing wildlife area and corridor. Chris Sellars was shocked that Mr Steven could go ahead with Phase 3 whilst the question of the three damaged and unoccupied premises was still unresolved. Brian Mason thought it insensitive and an insult to the owners of the three properties that no. 16 will be built on the area, responsible for the landslip, that so badly damaged the properties. Peter Burton questioned if the planning permission was still valid. His reasoning was that since the original geotechnical survey land contours have been significantly altered with ground heights being increased by five or six feet in places. Add to this the fact that the land slippage must invalidate the survey. He is calling for a new geotechnical survey and for a new planning application to be made. Speculation was rife, both amongst councillors during the meeting and later amongst members of the public, regarding the true reason for this hasty return to the site. Some thought that once the house design was finalised with the district council Mr Steven would sell on. But is there a development company that would now buy this site with its history? There again it may be that the statement in last week's Lyme Regis News that "the market was now right for the final development" is not so far from the truth. Perhaps meaning that if he should leave the start of phase 3 any longer the falling house market would leave him up the creek. It must be remembered that houses in the previous phases were sold well before they were completed. If he could manage to do so again, although not certain with house prices falling, he would be selling well above the expected trough in prices. He may again have been telling the truth when he said that the landslip gave him a lucky break. Could it have been that the profit from the Portuguese project saved his bacon? Another problem could be, bearing in mind the site's history, obtaining insurance for the final phase. Meanwhile the three dispossessed owners of the deserted properties see no end, now nearly two years, of living in rented accommodation. Their fate, as they are continually told, rests in the hands of their's and the developer's insurance companies. Two of the owners, Mrs Holmes and Mr Heath, were present at the meeting and were told that whichever insurance company foots the repair bill the condition of their properties must allow them to live with the same facilities, conditions and expectations as they did before the landslip. This would include the possibility of obtaining insurance for the buildings. Something now extremely unlikely. Eventually the buildings must be condemned and a fair market price be given to the owners. Isn't it time that John Steven showed some compassion for these people and bought them out? The company has already bought out one owner of a property in Whalley Lane, Alstone Cottage, that showed damage probably resulting from earth movements caused by the development. In this case the company's architect issued a statement that the damage to Alstone Cottage was caused by work on the site. This mistake is not likely to be repeated. 13th January 2005 Main topic at February parish council meeting Can there be any doubt that the council's relationship with John Steven has now irretrievably broken down. This would be the view of anyone attending the February Uplyme Parish council meeting. John Duffin in a tirade illustrated his disappointments with the developer and the development by listing a range of criticisms from the developer failing to keep to the use of materials agreed with the council to the frequent experience of visiting the site only to find that another ancient oak had disappeared. Correspondence continues between the council and the case officer Mr Harrington in an effort to block phase three until the previous phases have been satisfactorally completed. Where is the planning law or agreement that says a project once started must be completed? Mr Harrington replying to the suggestion that the planning permission is no longer valid says that the original permission is valid for the contours of the site current at the time of the granting of the permission. As this is not the case it must follow on that a new application is necessary. The question is will the district council have the gall to block phase three on this basis? Peter Burton later added another reason for a renewed application. The original plans included the wildlife corridor and as this does not appear on the new layout, and it was a major aspect of the whole site, it must constitute a new application. A letter was also received from the developer's architect giving reasons for the change of house types. These ranged from the fact that the houses had been designed with the living rooms oriented towards the south and as this was not the general aspect of the site it was considered necessary to rearrange the accommodation accordingly. We know that the contours have been changed, but to that degree! They did mention that the altered contours was an added reason for the new designs. If the architect freely offers this information on the changed contours isn't this supportive of the fact that renewed planning permission is required? One councillor perhaps cynically commented that the generally smaller footprint of the new house designs was a cost cutting measure requiring fewer piles and beams in the foundation work and consequently the houses would have to be taller to maintain the same volume. Ken George, Uplyme's EDDC representative, after his opening remark, that the parish council can no longer do business with John Steven, went on to suggest that contours must be reinstated to what they were when the original planning permission was granted. One obvious problem here is that the land has also undergone a rotational slippage and until this is thoroughly investigated with a new geotechnical survey the land will always be suspect. Until then buyers and insurance companies will understandably give the site a wide birth. 10th February 2005 Lyme Regis News report on the meeting. 18th February 2005 Much of the same at the April Parish Council Meeting The council's dissatisfaction with the amended plans for the third phase have brought a threat from the architect that if they don't stop complaining then the company will revert to the even worse previous ones. How this relationship has deteriorated. "Good" news on the wall. It will get done but don't hold your breath. Do you remember the Chairman Beryl Denham saying in December that if the wall is not finished by the end of March penalty clauses will kick in which would result in a "huge fine" being levied on the company. March now having passed will the parish get this windfall? Maintenance scheme for shared areas. The £150 that has been paid by each householder will be repaid, for the non-completion of the site has meant that the maintenance scheme did not get off the ground. Responsibility for the maintenance of shared areas will now revert to Mr Steven until the site is completed . 18th April 2005 Soil levels to be investigated Following the unexpected EDDC's planning officer's recommendation of the re-submitted amended plans involving re-designed house types for phase 3, it was left, after considerable nudging by Uplyme parish councillor Brian Mason, to the planning committee to carry out the officer's work and question site levels. On meeting on 3 May, they called for a site visit (see LRNews article). That visit took place yesterday, 13th, and it was decided, after the officers had a change of heart and prompted by them,that an independent geotechnical survey should be carried out regarding the site levels and ground stability. The parish council maintains that levels have been altered since the original application was approved and the site is unstable. Further more in an unprecedented move the cost of the survey will be met by the EDDC. What brought about this 'u' turn by the planning officers? Perhaps it was having the governments PLANNING POLICY GUIDANCE 14 (PPG14): DEVELOPMENT ON UNSTABLE LAND, brought to their attention. Paragraph 22 states: Nevertheless, where development is proposed on land which the planning authority knows is unstable or potentially unstable, it should ensure that the following issues are properly addressed by the development proposed:- - the physical capability of the land to be developed; - possible adverse effects of instability on the development; - possible adverse effects of the development on the stability of adjoining land; and - possible effects on local amenities and conservation interests of the development and of any remedial or precautionary measures proposed. EDDC were within their rights to insist that these surveys be carried out by the developer but chose to take up the responsibility of the work themselves. 14th May 2005 Parishioner speaks out One of the most regularly attending parishioner at the monthly parish council meetings said, during the public forum of the July meeting, that he had been listening all evening to talk about Lyme Regis with no mention at all about the plight of the owners of the three properties damaged by the land movements on Barnes Meadow. He challenged the complacency of the council to stop pussy footing and get something done for these people. He threatened not to attend any more meetings if the council continues to ignore this problem. Brian Mason was keen to get some letters written immediately but Beryl Denham put a damper on this saying that the official business of the meeting had finished and that it would be illegal for the council to write a letter without it being discussed during official business. It will therefore now be discussed at the August meeting. Yet another month's delay in merely getting the issue discussed. Of course individual councillors could write their own personal letters on any subject but unfortunately seldom do. I believe that some parish councils are aware of the problem of having the public forum after their meetings and accordingly have a session before and after the meetings. Perhaps this is what quality status councils do. Perhaps the subject of the damaged homes and the plight of their owners could be put on each month's agenda until something is done about it. 15th July 2005 A Start to Phase 3! The parish council reported at their September meeting that in a letter received from John Steven he announced that a start on phase 3 is imminent, with ground works and piling of the "first phase of phase 3" being finished by Christmas. This has come as a complete surprise to everyone for the last we heard on this was that the district council had insisted that an investigation was first made into site stability and soil levels, before the latest planning application for the final phase could be considered. The parish council has no knowledge that the survey has been carried out and surely they should be in the loop of those to be contacted with the survey's findings. Or is Mr Steven doing what he threatened? To "revert to the even worse previous" house types. Mr Steven also said that the fronting wall would also be finished! John Duffin has been given the responsibility of chairing the working party for tree planting on the millennium copse. 15th September 2005 October Parish Council Meeting Although as usual Barnes Meadow featured well at the meeting, being a thread that ran in and out of the entire meeting, it was mainly ground being revisited about the wall, the millennium copse and landscaping or the lack of, de-watering (now rightfully renamed by John Duffin as "drainage"), site levels,etc. John Duffin described how the parish council had agreed with John Steven on designs and materials and that the Georgian front of the Devon Hotel would be reflected in designs on Barnes Meadow. But when it came to the actual completed buildings these features had been changed and the cheaper alternatives had been chosen. He said, although John Steven had in the first instant wooed the parish councillors with his plans he reneged on the agreement evident in the houses he came up with. He contrasted this with the council's experience with the developer on the other side of the road, the Devon Hotel development, here although negotiations were tough, once designs and materials were agreed the developer kept to his word and the resulting houses were as agreed. There was much criticism with the planning department at EDDC for allowing this divergence away from that agreed. Also building control came in for some stick when Colin Pratt revealed that it recently came to light (after a change in ownership of one house from a single occupant to a young family with an increased water consumption) that two attached houses were not connected to the sewage system. John Steven cannot be blamed for this, apart from his selection of builders perhaps, the culprit, and I should think that Mr Steven has good cause for compensation, is EDDC's Building Control in obviously not carrying out their inspections. In the light of the above perhaps all house holders on the site should check their foul water connections before their 10 year NHBC guarantee expires! They should also have received the "architect's RIBA certificate of practical completion and confirmation that the building and associated works comply fully with all building regulations and relevant British codes of practice" Barnes Meadow - Quintessentially English. 14th October 2005 Phase 3 gets the go ahead According to a report in the LRNews of 18th November planning officers said that the 2002 landslip that caused damage to the three bungalows was "not a relevant consideration". The district council's consultants on investigating soil levels have said that they were satisfied that the application as submitted was accurate. The plans have been given the OK. A WDDC spokesman said "We will ensure through building control and enforcement that the work is done as it was originally intended". Hardly as originally intended. The parish council had objected to the design of the 14 houses of phase 3 as being a diversion from the designs originally agreed on, too big and not of the local vernacular. See 13th January article for more on this. 18th November 2005 Phase three progress to be monitored Uplyme Parish Council, realizing that EDDC cannot be relied upon to keep an eye on the proceedings at Barns Meadow, are determined that phase three will be built according to the agreed plans have nominated a liaison officer to keep an eye on progress at the site and work hand in hand with the builders. She is Mrs P M Shirley, the most recent member to join the parish council. She conveniently lives on Barnes Meadow and will be perfectly situated to watch for any deviation from the plans. This move was heralded in, at last night's parish council meeting, after Beryl Denham related how over a period of nine days she had been back and forward to the site with the intention of protecting the remaining established trees - (remember what happened four years ago?). Some of the conditions attached to this application call for barriers to be in place around the trees before work began, of course.... There will be a parish council tree planting detachment in action on Sunday 18th December starting at 10 a.m. I am sure that any help would be much appreciated and you will hopefully see the fruit your labours flourish over the years. 15th December 2005 Where has all the water gone. The parish council has recently become aware that the drainage outfall from Barnes Meadow into the Lym at the Talbot Arms shows little if any flow. A pipe of at least 12" in diameter was laid under the road from Barnes Meadow to the Lym at great expense. Closing the road at one stage as work passed the village shop and necessitating one way working at other times. Beryl Denham on asking someone from the construction company why there never seems to be any discharge into the river was told that the water was finding its natural way. But was that not what it was doing before the pipe was installed? In which case why was the pipe installed? Incidentally the lack of water is not a new phenomenon. My attention was first brought to this matter exactly three years ago when someone pointed it out to me after a council meeting. 12th January 2006 Fertile soil Apparently the footpath crossing the millennium copse is being put to good use. Unfortunately many of the walkers are walking the dog and the subsequent fouling of the area is not being cleared up. Dog owners are required to clear it up or face heavy penalties. A notice informing people of this fact will be erected and there is a threat that EDDC's dog warden will be taking a look at the situation. A problem resulting from all this fertiliser being dumped on the "wild flower meadow" is that it will further encourage rank grasses to develop smothering the flowers. Already the soil here was suspected of being too fertile. Incidentally did anyone see any wild flowers on the millennium copse last summer, other than dandelions and buttercups? 12th January 2006 John Steven does his best! John Steven the head of Wykeham Homes recently invited Barnes Meadow house owners and the parish council to a meeting at the Talbot Arms for a questions and answers session, Cllr. Brian Mason reported at the March parish council meeting. Cllr. Mason asked Mr Steven why after the expense and upheaval that ensued when the road was dug up to install a drainage scheme for Barnes Meadow no water is ever seen flowing from the discharge pipe into the River Lym. Mr Steven's answer was that it is an indication of the success of the operation for the water table has been reduced to a level below that when the surplus would be drained down this pipe! (But isn't this the very system that was designed to lower the water table otherwise it was quite un-necessary?) On being asked about the completion of 'the wall' Mr Steven said that it is now part of the contract of the builders who will be building phase 3. He said part of the delay is the result of the council insisting that the wall be faced with chert rather than pre-constructed blocks. He had also said that a wall faced with stone will be in danger of water ingress with possible damage resulting from its freezing! (If the wall is in danger it could be because the inner and outer skin of the wall, so far completed, were not tied together when his untrained gang attempted finishing the wall exactly two years ago. It is understood that Mr Steven approached the mason who had built the excellent chert wall opposite the Black Dog, with the intention of employing him on the wall, but he would not agree to the craftman's conditions, for which you can read price. ) Mr Steven is still doing his best for the three displaced bungalow owners nearly three years after earth movements on the site damaged their properties and rendered them homeless. The residents heard that the Ramblers Association were concerned that the millennium copse footpath posed an inherent danger. Their fears were based on the fact that where the path passed between tall fencing of two adjacent properties there was a sharp bend where a footpath user could be taken by surprise! The meeting wisely chose to ignore such scaremongering. Mr Steven made an assurance that following a legal letter from EDDC concerned with the non-conformity with the landscaping conditions that it was all in hand. (As tree planting represents a fair part of these conditions time is fast running out) Thanks were very thin on the ground, from residents, as had been actual help and encouragement, regarding the tree planting on the millennium copse. In fact there were several complaints about views eventually being spoilt by the trees. John Duffin reacted strongly to this in saying that these same owners knew of the millennium copse when they actually bought the houses. Besides species had been carefully selected to limit intrusion with view but alas there will be some within the next hundred years. 9th March 2006 Breach of conditions It was revealed at tonight's parish council meeting that the deadline for the developer to complete the front wall and the landscaping on the site has now passed. The enforcement officer will now visit the site to determine that this work has or has not been completed. Once this formality has been carried out and his findings are, as we all know, that the work is still incomplete the district council will have no option than to proceed with legal action which will end with a court case. 12th April 2006 Residents again meet John Steven Hot from another evidently fruitless meeting with Mr Steven, Beryl Denham, chairman of the parish council, last night reported at the council meeting of the latest confrontation between home owners and herself with the property developer. Amongst the topics discussed was the lack of drainage water issuing from the pipe besides the Talbot Arms. Mr Steven's excuse on this was that as the pipe was below the surface of the river you would not see the water entering it. After such a dry period perhaps he should have stuck to his previous excuse. This pipe is usually above the water level. Mrs Denham checked on the pipe on her way to the council meeting and was certain that no water was exiting the pipe Much more serious, at least at the present time for who knows what years of erosion from the disappearing water will bring, was the continuing plight of those affected by the land movement, now coming up to its third anniversary. Mr Steven now seems to be in the process of distancing himself from any responsibility to the damage caused. He apparently said that the damage to the houses would have happened even if Barnes Meadow was not developed. John Fowler, in the open forum following the parish council meeting, spoke passionately regarding his concern for the people affected by this disaster. The death of an elderly lady forced to leave her home may well have been brought on by the resulting tension. One family has spent £7,000 in solicitor's bills all to no avail. Mr Fowler was particularly angry that from Mr Steven to the district council and the parish council no one was doing anything for theses people. It was revealed at the parish council meeting that although a rather obvious attempt had been made by sending in somebody for a couple of days to give the impression that landscaping was taking place there was still a breach of conditions. For these conditions state by which date the work should have been completed, not merely commenced. There was a suggestion, by councillors, that as Mr Steven was entering into a new development venture in the Plymouth area the innocent people soon to be affected by his plans should be informed of what was about to befall them. But you may well ask wasn't Uplyme Parish Council tipped off about Mr Steven's past affairs by a parish councillor, later ostracised by her fellow councillors for her opposition to the development, when Barnes Meadow was no more than a twinkle in Mr Steven's eye? Her advice fell on stony ground. If the details of events in the early days of this development are a little hazy in your mind then perhaps you can look back into the history of the development. And there was the wall.... 11th May 2006 Elderly landslide victim 'died of broken heart' LRNews reports on the victims of the landslide as revealed at last week's parish council meeting. 19th May 2006 Steven buoyant on final phase progress In a progress report, printed in the LRNews, to Uplyme Parish Council on the state of play on Barnes Meadow John Steven is full of optimism. It's all coming together from the 'boundary wall' to the wildlife corridor. Shame that his dedication to housing people does not go as far as helping the people still unable to occupy their homes since May 2003 when earth movement on the site damaged three adjacent properties making them unsafe and unfit to live in. Very little seems to have happened since an irate parishioner expressed his feelings at the July 2005 parish council meeting. In the meantime Mr Steven was only able to look at his shoes when Cllr. Shirley who lives at Barnes Meadow said she told him at the very least he had a moral responsibility. "But at that point he just looked at his shoes," she said. "But I think he got the message," said Coun Denham.(see LRNews report) 19th November 2006 No news is not necessarily good news. Since the rosy report from John Steven almost a year ago and the fact that Mr Steven no longer attends parish council meetings little news comes through at least not to me. From this you may infer that all is well on the estate and that the property owners are on the whole content. But the four members of the public attending the October parish council meeting learnt otherwise. Parish council chairman Beryl Denham reported on a recent Barnes Meadow residents meeting that she attended. Her questions to John Steven repeatedly fell on stoney ground so much so that she felt it quite pointless to remain at the meeting. Cllr. Shirley, who lives at Barnes Meadow, who also attended the meeting stayed the distance but was equally unimpressed with Mr Steven's performance. Cllr. Shirley then updated us on the situation on the estate. Amongst the grievances and the courses of action that the residents plan to take she said that people were worried that estate maintenance work is not being carried out. This is because Mr Steven had returned the annual payment of £150 that each property owner contributes to the Management Committee. She also said that newly completed houses on the estate are no longer being issued with NHBC certificates, the ten year building industry's insurance scheme. This is probably because Mr Steven has failed to pay registration fees to the body that runs the scheme.Although the action that the residents plan to take have been aired in public, if only to four members of the public, I feel that the details should be left until a more appropriate time. 11th October 2007 Mr Steven's New Company and Millennium Weeds I am still receiving emails from people disappointed by the lack of news on Barnes Meadow. I have said before that this is partly because John Steven no longer steps foot into the village hall at parish council meetings. One thing that concerns people is the rumour that Mr Steven or his company has yet again gone bankrupt. This possibility was in fact aired by the chairman at a recent parish council meeting although you will not find any reference to this in the minutes. As this subject was dropped by the council at subsequent parish council meetings and investigations into this possibility proved fruitless I was unable to comment on it. All I can say is that John Steven has formed a new company called Barnes Meadow Construction Limited. The subject of Barnes meadow was resurrected at the December parish council meeting when Cllr Peter Burton brought to our attention the "disgraceful" state of the millennium copse. Dead weeds have been uncut. Looking at the species involved there is little evidence, apart from some knapweed and willow herb, of the wild flowers resulting from the wild flower seed mix sown on the site, but a lot of rank grasses. In the summer of 2004 I was worried that "we could see [is] a rank growth of perennial weeds and coarse grasses" because of the mistake of using fertile soil on this area. After these weeds have been strimmed off I fear that the temptation now will be to keep them under "control" by further strimming during the growing season. 14th December 2007 Where have all the flowers gone? As predicted the parish council has now decided that action must be taken to attempt to control the rank growth on the millennium "wild flower meadow". What's more two or three cuts per year were being called for (see article immediately above), and it will take several years of this treatment with the removal of all mowings before the fertility is sufficiently reduced for another attempt to sow wild flowers on the site. The cost of this will be considerable but as the council are looking for quotes for the work I will not say the amount that they are prepared to pay. A special flail mower will also have to be hired to cope with the task. 14th August 2008 Uplyme and Lym Valley Society to finance tree planting. It has now become evident that the saplings planted on the Millennium Copse in recent years are being kept in check by the activities of deer. The small spiral tree guards not being up to the task. At last night's ULVS AGM Alan Kennard proposed that the society finances the planting of more substantial trees complete with protection to deter deer. This proposal was unanimously supported by the members present. The society will look into costings with the intent on carrying out the plantings next winter. 20th November 2008 John Steven's company in administration. It was also announced at the ULVS AGM that John Steven was again experiencing financial difficulties. For a company that seemed to sail so close to the wind the present credit upheaval with its pronounced effect on the housing market must have been the final straw. What this means to the final completion of the estate, the finishing of the site roads and the handing over of the millennium copse area is unclear apart from that there will be further delay. 20th November 2008

Site History Latest Progress Reports (this page) 8th December 2004 There will be a Phase Three The Wall 7th January 2005 Why was phase three shelved? 13th January 2005 UPC disillusionment with John Steven 10th February 2005 Irretrievable break down 18th April 2005 Amended plans, the wall windfall? and maintenance scheme reversal. 14th May 2005 Soil levels to be investigated. 15th July 2005 Parishioner demands action on damaged homes 14th September 2005 Start announced for Phase 3 14th October 2005 The Saga Continues 18th November 2005 Phase 3 Go-ahead 15th December 2005 Liaison officer to keep watch 12th January 2006 Barnes Meadow drainage 12th January 2006 Dogs fertilizing Millenium Copse 9th March 2006 Meeting with John Steven Site drainage The Wall Homeless Millennium footpath Landscaping commitment Millennium trees 12th April 2006 Breach of conditions 11th May 2006 Another fruitless meeting with JS 19th May 2006 Landslide victims 19th November 2006 Phase three progress 11th October 2007 NHBC Scheme, Site Maintenance 14th December 2007 Mr Steven's New Company and Millennium Weeds 14th August 2008 Where have all the flowers gone? 20th November 2008 Lym Valley Society to pay for trees. 20th November 2008 Mr Steven and administration Progress Reports to October 2004 9th September 2001 Lost Oak 13th September 2001 John Steven Owns Up 11th October 2001 Death of the Dormice 13th October 2001 Quintessential Sales Catalogue 15th November 2001 Caught Red-handed Going Like Hot Cakes Could it be 42 OK? 9th January 2002 Gas Leak 21st January 2002 Sunday Telegraph Article 3rd May 2002 Developer Not "Bust"! 10th May 2002 No John Steven 18th May 2002 Council Repudiates "Rumour" 13th June 2002 Early Hand-over of Millennium Copse 14th August 2002 Incorrectly Placed Parish Council's Change of Attitude 11th September 2002 John Steven Comes Clean 1st Occupation 9th October 2002 John Steven Walls, Pavements and Occupancy Parishioner's Letter Diversion of Stream Traffic Calming 8th January 2003 John Steven Braves the Weather Front Retaining Wall Saga De-watering! More on the Waterfront Suburbia by Sea 12th February 2003 Whalley Lane Slippage UPC not in on Materials Choice Development Lost it's Way 12th March 2003 Sunday Working Whalley Lane Slippage Front Retaining Wall Saga Smaller Footprints! Award Winning 9th April 2003 Sunday Working Continues The Wall Footpath 12 Badger Set 14th May 2003 That Wall will be Finished. A Summer Break for the Badgers. Site Activity. Footpath 12. Starter Homes Traditional Bungalows 11th June 2003 Angry Meeting, but no JS 9th July 2003 No JS, badgers and broken promises. 13th August 2003 Goodbye to JS?. 19th January 2004 That Wall Again Nigel Marsh on footpath, house prices and the consequences for Barnes Meadowers of an unfinished site The Lone voice 10th March 2004 John Steven faces the village Peter Burton in a hurry Time table Houses sold at premium Why leave site? JS takes full blame Last word on the wall? Why Plot 7 was delayed 14th April 2004 Final cosmetics Wild flowers? Railway cutting infilling 12th May 2004 Final Broken Promises The Wall 14th July 2004 Wild Flower Meadow UPC Meetings: 11th December 2002 8th January 2003 12th February 2003 12th March 2003 9th April 2003 14th May 2003 11th June 2003 9th July 2003 13th August 2003 10th September 2003 8th October 2003 12th November 2003 10th December 2003 14th January 2004 11th February 2004 With Links to: Other Pre-2003 Meetings Other Relevant Pages Introduction Page to Parish Council Meetings Rhode Hill Gardens Home Page Go to Top of Page

Parish Council meetings will now again revert to their usual starting time of 7:30pm. as John Steven has now probably made his last appearance at a parish council meeting.

Disclaimer: This page cannot be guaranteed to be void of mistakes. It is sometimes, in the village hall, difficult to hear some of the councillors, for a number are determined not to use the amplification system available. An example of what can happen was at the September 2002 meeting when I heard the word "included" as "include" when a letter from John Steven was being read out. This threw an entirely different meaning on the sentence. The interpretation that I came to was so important that I put the news on the website as soon as I could. It was not until I read the Lyme Regis News that I realized how wrong I was. I even more speedily removed the offending story. If you were one of those that read the original then I apologize. If you have any doubts concerning the validity of anything you read please check with the parish clerk.

Please Email    johnrhodehill.co.uk   with any comments.

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