Tiverton canal petition faces backlash over 'misleading' language

A petition aimed at protecting a Mid Devon conservation area has been criticised as being "misleading at best".

The 'Save the Grand Western Canal Conservation Area' petition was launched by Tim Bridger, who sits on Tiverton Town Council and secured 4,196 signatures.

Cllr Bridger presented the petition to Mid Devon District Council this week, stating the conservation area around the canal needed protecting and Tiverton residents don't want to see it altered or reduced.

He suggested that the district council wanted to "end protection for parts of the canal area, and to open the door for protected woodlands and open areas to be developed for housing".

But Cllr Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrat, Bradninch), leader of Mid Devon District Council, hit out at the language used in the petition, saying at "no point were we thinking of scrapping the conservation area.

"We understand and appreciate the canal's significant contribution to Mid Devon, and so the title of the petition to 'save' it was therefore misleading at best.

"The petition used provocative and inaccurate phrases, such as 'opening up woodlands and open areas to be developed', and so I feel I now ought to clarify things for people who may have been convinced to sign this petition."

Cllr Taylor said a few facts had been "conveniently omitted", notably that the council had been required to review its conservation areas in line with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), and guidance published by Heritage England.

A report by Historic England published in 2019 states that it is "a statutory requirement for local planning authorities from time to time to review their conservation areas".

Cllr Bridger had suggested some of the petitioners thought the timing of the conservation area review was "curious" given the authority needs to prove it can build a certain number of houses over the next five years in line with government requirements.

He said any reduction of the conservation area around Tidcombe Hall would "open the door to speculative applications" on that land.

However, Cllr Taylor noted that the council's planning committee had in August unanimously rejected a controversial plan for 100 homes in its grounds, the second time it had refused a scheme there in three years.

When Mid Devon's cabinet first discussed the conservation area review in June, it voted in favour of a public consultation on potential changes included an in-person drop-in event.

Cllr Taylor said feedback from that had "commended the council for its openness and transparency" on the issue.

He added that the petition would be considered this month when the cabinet meets again to discuss the conservation area review.

"Petitions are encouraged and I don't want to deter the public from carrying them out, but I ask that full and accurate details are included to allow residents the opportunity to have the full details before adding their name," Cllr Taylor added.