Prestigious planning accolade awarded to Teignbridge
Teignbridge has scooped the top slot for Excellence in Planning Delivery in the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) South West Awards.
Recognised for its work to create Dawlish Countryside Park, Teignbridge turned plans for a 65-acre natural green space into a welcome community facility treasured by local people. The Park provides a natural recreation area for people, reducing pressure and protecting internationally important wildlife sites nearby such as Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve and the Exe Estuary.
Once the site was secured, it took just over 18 months to open the Park to the public. Equivalent to the size of 26 rugby pitches, it is new, natural countryside for all to enjoy, next to almost 1700 new homes.
The Park is proving hugely popular with residents. In the 5-week period from 18 May to 22 June, more than 14,000 pedestrians visited the Park. It’s proof that the Park is a huge hit with local people for Teignbridge and for the partnership of three Councils who provided it.
The Park is just one of the actions to come out of the joint Habitat Mitigation Strategy adopted by Teignbridge, East Devon District and Exeter City Councils through the South East Devon Habitat Regulations Executive Committee (SEDHREC). Forward-funded by Teignbridge, SEDHREC pay for the site with money from developers of new housing across the three council areas.
Teignbridge District Council’s Deputy Leader, Executive Member for Planning and Housing and Chair of SEDHREC, Cllr Humphrey Clemens said:
“We are over the moon to receive this fantastic award. It’s well-deserved recognition for Teignbridge in planning and delivering the Dawlish Countryside Park.
“Thanks to the hard work of Teignbridge staff for bringing the Park to life and for continuing to manage it as a great asset for the growing community at Dawlish. We also thank the many volunteers who give their time at the Park.
“Local people tell me that they absolutely love it there. Thousands of people visiting the Park is testimony that it’s a resounding success and we’re really proud of it.
“This natural, green space is needed to help protect internationally important conservation sites close by, providing more leisure choices for the growing population and people living in new developments.”
Teignbridge Countryside Ranger, Jon Steward manages the Park. He said: “I love my job. People always tell me how much they value the Park. Many visit daily and enjoy the space where their dogs can run free and appreciate there are plenty of dog bins. People enjoy strolling up to the Ridge Path to sit, ponder and enjoy the views, or letting the kids run around and having a picnic. People also say it’s a good place to go as an alternative to the Warren.
“We’re grateful to all the volunteers who help us. We run lots of events and there’s plenty of wildlife to see too. A keen local birdwatcher told us that she recorded Willow and Grasshopper Warbler in the spring and now is the time for Redwings and Fieldfares - it’s always changing.”
The Park is great for wildlife. Tony Whitehead, from the RSPB, said: “Many congratulations to Teignbridge. When our regional conservation team visited Dawlish Countryside Park they met lots of happy dog walkers, spotted cirl buntings and more than 100 linnets over the stubble. These birds are protected so it’s great to see they are enjoying this new green space as well as the many visitors. The Park is providing these birds with a great food source through the winter because the stubble hosts lots of seed-bearing arable `weeds’. The birds feed on the small seeds of small plants including knotgrass, chickweed and annual meadow grass. Also growing amongst the stubble are more colourful `weeds’ including field madder, field pansy, corn marigold and sharp-leaved fluellen. These arable plants were common a century ago, but some have become increasingly rare with the success of modern farming techniques and herbicides – corn marigold is now classified as Vulnerable.
“Dawlish Countryside Park has been suggested to be part of a project called ‘Colour in the Margins’ which is a Back from the Brink partnership between Plantlife and RSPB. We hope to conserve rare, arable plants around England by reintroducing them to suitable sites. This site is perfect for the small-flowered catchfly. The way the site is managed organically without herbicides is just right.”
The Royal Town Planning Institute South West Chair, Suzanne D'Arcy, said: "Staff at Teignbridge District Council led a multidisciplinary team of stakeholders - including Natural England and RSPB - to design and deliver a masterplan that culminated in Dawlish Countryside Park.
"Three areas in south Devon are designated of international importance for nature conservation. Through the realisation of the Park, staff at the Council provided a crucial response to protecting European protected habitats living in these areas. They will continue to create prosperous places for both communities and wildlife alike."
