Aller Park Environment

2006-07-30T14:42:00.000Z

30July2006: keep a close eye on Applications for extra floodlighting - ensure that it is covered by the albeit meagre present controls.
1) Reports have been recieved that the size of individual lorries is being increased - to include the new Owners (Sunlight) fleet - these being transferred from their Exeter base.
2)Following on from observations by residents of Aller Park and relaying them to Cllr G Hook the repsonse of Teignbridge Council is:

I was contacted this a m re CLS "activity".
I asked for an officer to attend instantly, which they did.
His report back is attached for your ( and others ) information.
Cllr. Gordon Hook
========================================
F.a.o. Councillor G Hook

I refer to your enquiry to Steve Robinson regarding the works that are being carried out at CLS Laundry.

I have just returned from the site. On site to the rear of the property an existing area of hardstanding is being extended by 7 metres. Under the Town and Country Planning (General permitted Development) Order 1995 provision is given to carry out such works without requiring permission. It appears these works fall within the provisions. Furthermore, CLS Laundry did contact the Local Planning Authority in November 2003 with their proposals and were advised that no permission was required. The details were also passed onto Mary De Lemos in Countryside Management in the light of the Newts. It seems the works are away from the protected areas.

I think the issue has been raised because the topsoil on the adjacent bund has been pulled back so that the small amount of material excavated for the hardstanding can be deposited. The topsoil will then be returned. As there will be no significant alterations to the ground levels no permission would have been required. However, this is clearly noticeable from a distance.

I hope this clarifies the matter but should you require any further information do not hesitate to contact me on 01626 215718.

Regards

Steve Hobbs
==================================

Confused 'Planning'

2006-06-27T18:07:00.000Z

27 June 2006: An article submitted by David Miller of Aller Park: a very 'umble tale ......

Dear Les,
I am sure that you will be as proud as I am that Teignbridge has once again been mentioned in a national journal. Sadly, however, it (again) is the Teignbridge Council which has achieved this and even more sadly, it is (yet again) the Planning Department which is adding to its fame notoriety. The article is in the Private Eye of 23 June 2006, which I reproduce below verbatim for the benefit of those who do not normally read this splendid rag:

PRIVATE EYE. No 1161. 23 June-6 July 2006.
Page 13.

TEIGN SPIRIT
THE workings of the planning system, never easy to understand, are nowhere more mysterious than in Teignmouth. Devon. Last year Frank and Joan Osborne, owners
of a property at 125 Coombe Vale Road, applied to build two new homes in their large garden. However, Nick Davies. a planning officer at Teignbridgc District Council, advised them that, for various reasons, planning permission would not be granted. The Osbornes and their architect had a 90-minute meeting with Davies at the end of which they believed they had surmounted all the difficulties. But when their new application was submitted, Davies said only an application for a single dwelling would be considered.
At this point, having spent £3,000 on architects' fees, the Osbornes decided enough was enough. They sold the house and moved to Cornwall. The new owner was Gerald Tranckle. owner of a development company. Hannon Homes, and nephew of Cllr Fred Tooley, chairman of Teignmouth Town Council. Despite being aware of the previous failed applications, Tranckle wasted no lime in submitting an application to build five, later amended to six, new homes in the garden of number 125.
Before Hannon's plans had been put out for public consultation, workers started demolishing outbuildings, removing trees and bushes and burning the debris. Outraged residents contacted Mr Davies at Teignbridge council and the work stopped. In early June the town council debated the proposals and heard objections from the public, although both public and press were excluded. Teignbridge council, meanwhile, approved the plans.
Confused locals, who cannot work out why two dwellings were not acceptable but six are, have asked the ombudsman to get to the bottom of the matter.

The Ombudsman must be getting to know Teignbridge Planning Department quite well – and vice versa, of course!

You may care to post this on your site for the benefit of other residents,

David

2006-06-24T08:36:00.000Z

23 June 2006:
Teignbridge achieves new accolade:

BBC TV Poll rates TheBlot, aka CLS laundry, as the "8th most detested building, that should be demolished".
Congratulations Teignbridge ??Planners?? and associates, you have scored again.

2006-05-28T20:49:00.000Z

23May2006: BBC SouthWest commenced filming for their future programme 'Inside Out', which will feature "The Seven Greatest Blunders in the SouthWest" - to which The Blot more than qualifies. It comes high in their list of 'the seven'. Mr Mike Evans, past Secretary of the Aller Park Residents Action Group, was interviewed. He gave a resume of the shortcomings of the Teignbridge Planners, and how the matter has affected him.
The programme is scheduled for broadcast early September, at 7.30 p.m. on a Monday night. Full details will be published here as soon as they are known.

7 Greatest Blunders

2006-05-11T20:52:00.000Z

BBC TV are planning to have their regional programme "Inside Out" concentrating on the "7 Greatest Blunders in the SouthWest", to which TheBlot justly qualifies itself.
They have been in touch with residents of Aller Park to arrange interviews and filming of TheBlot, aka the CLS wash house. Documented files, photographs of landscape before and after, and overhead movie have been made available to them.
Filming is scheduled between 22 and 24th May. Any later details (of screening etc.) will be published here as soon as possible.
================================

Planning Permission granted:

2006-03-17T08:31:00.000Z

17th March 2006:

Planning permission has been granted by Teignbridge Council for a Grandstand at the football pitches in South Quarry, Abbotskerswell. This location is across the road from The Blot.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

UPDATE 26JAN06 ANOTHER PLANNING APPLICATION

2006-01-26T10:21:00.000Z

UPDATE 26JAN2006:

Teignbridge Planning Department advise that a Planning Application for a Grandstand at the football complex in South Quarry (opposite The Blot) has been submitted.
Details are available for viewing at Forde House. The Application can be seen on Teignbridge Council website at:

http://212.104.136.173:8080/PlanApp/jsp/RDgetAllAppDocs.jsp?=&PlanningApplicationNumber=06/03200/FUL

double click the link above to take you straight to the planning documents

BUYER BE WARE!!

2006-01-20T22:08:00.000Z

UPDATE ON 20th JAN 2006:
WESTERN MORNING NEWS: (BUSINESS SECTION)

LAUNDRY GROUP CLS SOLD TO UK'S MARKET LEADER
11:00 - 19 January 2006
A Westcountry laundry business which has been family-owned for around 100 years has been sold to the UK's market leader in the sector for an undisclosed sum.The move means 350 staff and three Devon and Cornwall plants owned by Redruth-based CLS Group - which stands for Cornish Linen Service - will now be run by Basingstoke-based Sunlight Services Group.CLS Group, which has its three operations in Camborne, Penryn and Newton Abbot, has been owned and managed by the Rowe family for four generations. The company was founded in 1912, when relatives of the present directors started the Lizard and District Laundry on the Lizard Peninsula.One of the biggest companies in the Westcountry, the group has an annual turnover of around £12.7 million, according to last year's list of top 150 companies in Devon and Cornwall. In the list, CLS Group was ranked at number 56.Bosses of the group, which include joint managing directors Colin and Alex Rowe, yesterday moved to assure staff that being owned by the publicly-listed group - Sunlight is part of the Davis Service Group - would not bring about wholesale change to the Westcountry business.A statement read: "In recognition of its local profile and reputation, it is understood that the new owners do not intend to make sweeping changes to the company's operations, and that CLS's three plants will continue to run under their existing management teams, retaining their local identity."CLS Group rents bed and table linen and towels to hotels, restaurants and other businesses across the South West region.Sunlight has a number of divisions such as workwear rental, healthcare services and washroom services, including linen products.It boasts an annual turnover of more than £260 million.The Exeter-based team of accountant Ernst & Young managed the disposal of the historic company. Stuart Crebo, Ernst & Young's corporate finance director, advised the vendors on the deal, with legal advice being provided by Steve Hadley, Tim Jackman and Ken Lewins of Westcountry law firm Bond Pearce. Taxation advice was provided by Brian Garner and Clive Townsend, from Ernst & Young, Exeter. Mr Crebo said: "The company has serviced major contracts with both regional and national hotel and restaurant groups for many years, and as such is an attractive and strategic acquisition for the new owners, Sunlight."Mr Jackman added: "Firms looking to acquire market share by acquisition are increasingly looking at businesses in the South West, like CLS Group, that present an attractive combination of being well run and having steadily expanded their business footprint.

"gdemianyk@ westernmorningnews.co.uk

16th Dec 2005 We're not all cosy with laundry firm

2005-12-16T09:27:00.000Z

16Dec05:

30th Nov 2005 Teignbridge Letter to Complainant

2005-12-05T21:52:00.000Z

05DEC05
The following letter has been received by the Complainant who had his report of noise nuisance by TheBlot/CLS upheld on investigation by Teignbridge Council. The letter is copied here:
===============

Re: Complaint of Noise – CLS, Kingskerswell Road, Newton Abbot Environmental Protection Act 1990

I refer to your complaint to this department which David Eaton has been investigating and I would like to update you on the progress. On the 23rd September 2005 a Requisition for Information was served on the company as detailed in my letter to you of the same date.
On the 27th September 2005 the company employed a specialist steam engineer called Spirax Sarco to inspect the boiler system. Their report was received on the 30th September and identified a number of issues which might cause the safety valve to discharge which are summarised below.

The safety valve is fitted to prevent over pressurisation of the steam system should the main pressure reducing valve fail to maintain the set pressure. There was a rise in the downstream pipe work after the pressure reducing valve of approximately 2.5 metres. There was also no drain to trap the condensation. Under low or no load conditions the 2.5 metre rise in pipe work would gradually fill with condensation. This resulted in the valve becoming back flooded and caused it to lift and discharge high velocity steam to the atmosphere. This created the noise complaints.
The strainer fitted in front of the pressure reducing valve was fitted with a standard coarse screen. This would allow "gritty" particles into the system and loss of control of the valve.
The existing valve was a DP17 and it was recommended that it was converted to a newer model.
It was recommended that the boiler crown valve is closed overnight to prevent any steam reaching the system.

The works recommended by Spirax Saco were carried out on the weekend of the 1st and 2nd October.
On the 5th October, Peter Ashford from Ian Shartand Limited, an acoustic consultant, visited the site. His report was received on the 17'thNovember 2005. The company overrode the safety valve to create the noise problem that you had been experiencing. The noise levels recorded correlated with our noise readings and substantiated your complaint. Mr Ashford recommended that a data logger was installed on the pressure reducing valve to monitor the valve discharges. This is due to be fitted in the near future. My officer will then visit the site and verify the system so that if future complaints are made the source of the noise can be investigated. I then propose to carry out a period of further monitoring to ensure the remedial works have been successful.
You may be aware that complaints were made in early October of a loud steam noise early in the morning. Following investigations by my officers it was identified as steam cleaning of the railway and not the CLS site. From our records them have been no reports of the steam valve discharging, causing a noise complaint since the works were carried out.

I will write again once my officers have carried out the further monitoring following the installation of the logger.
If you require any further information or notice any significant changes please do not hesitate to contact David Eaton.

Yours sincerely
D. Eaton.
cc:
Cllr. Gordon Hook
Portfolio Holder for Environment and Environmental Health 2 Forde Place
Forde Park
Newton Abbot
Devon TQ12 1 DR
David Beer, Assistant to the Chief Executive

28th Nov 2005 e-mail to Cllr Hook

2005-11-28T20:47:00.000Z

28Nov2005: e-mail to Cllr Hook
Dear Cllr Hook,
Thank you for your reply to our e-mail of 24th Nov.

1. We have always made our complaints in a “civilised manner” to both Officers and Councillors. Yet the infringements carry on. There may be ‘behind the scenes’ activity on the complaints, but unless we are kept in the picture fully then we can only assume that nothing is being followed up on our complaints. Feedback would be most useful, and avoid any misinterpretations. Does it have to be a big secret within the hallowed walls of Forde House? The Ombudsman did recommend that Teignbridge Council looked into ways to better communicate with the public.

2. We realise “it aint going to disappear”, and therefore we are compelled to be ‘vigilant’, hence our complaints are brought to yours, and the Councils attention. But how much longer do we have to report infringements – until the next, and the next? It is better that CLS is under no illusion just how residents feel about The Blot, get their act together and try to blend in with not only the environment, but understand our feelings on having the eyesore dumped on us.

3. Interesting that CLS had to be “persuaded out of prosecuting the Complainants of noise”. How ridiculous, and typical hot steam. Better that they put their own house in order. One resident made an honest, understandable mistake (this noise was in addition to other industrial and similar noises we were experiencing at that time, in what was originally a quiet neighbourhood), on realising it was not CLS at fault he took the trouble to phone Cllr. Hook to clarify the facts and apologise for any misunderstanding. Fuel oil spillages, breaking restrictions on the use of floodlights after regulated hours, on-going noise pollution etc. are all claimed to be “mistakes” by some parties who are not so keen to take matters to court under those circumstances.

4. Your efforts are acknowledged and appreciated. Having seen you in action on the matter in a Council Meeting I can say that. But please Councillors be under no illusion that this CLS thing will go away any sooner than The Blot itself, and that we will continue to be vigilant and expect enforcement when the next incident occurs. As you told a Council meeting “the residents have not been well served by this Council”,- there lies the rub. We do expect better from Teignbridge District Council.
Regards,

L.EdgecumbeDevon
http://allerpark.blogspot.com/ www.allerpark.com/theblot/
====================

27Nov2005: e-mail from Cllr G. Hook (in response to mine 24Nov2005)
We return yet again to CLS.

Lets remind ourselves of just one or two of the facts.

This was a mistake….an awful mistake, on the part of the council ….officers and members. I do not attempt to defend that error, and never have attempted to do so. I was not a Planning Com. Member at the time of the mistake; neither was I your Cllr. Your Cllrs. at the time however were PC members. If anyone should apologise me thinks its them. The council has been through the Ombudsman process and the Ombudsman has ruled
I have consistently brought each and every complaint to the instant attention of the relevant officer(s)The most recent allegations you may recall were found to actually have been caused by Network Rail, and we managed to dissuade CLS from attempting to prosecute all those who had made accusations.
The previous incident, the one you wanted legal action on was investigated in the correct manner by the Environmental Health Officers, and included some all night observations. TDC could have taken CLS to court and spent a lot of Council Tax payers money over a period of time gaining exactly the same result but taking many months(probably) over getting it. Which do you really think is the most efficient use of time, effort and money?
I held three separate meetings over a period of days with different officers in the EH Dept and also requested the Enforcement Officer in Planning to look at each and every angle to see if legal success were likely. The officers were as courteous and as helpful as they could be.
If you do not know by now that I am as infuriated by the CLS issue as you are then you are unlikely ever to be. I would love to think that one day(soon) we would all wake up and find it gone. It aint going to happen. What we must all do is to minimise the impact as much as humanly possible, to complain (in a civilised manner) at every occasion and if legal action is the way forward to demand that it is taken. I will continue to be happy……or at least prepared…..to follow that course of action. Be utterly assured that nothing would give me greater satisfaction than to see the place closed down……but realistically it isn’t going to happen, at least not in the short term. We have to live with it and be vigilant and determined to bring them to book if restrictions are broken. I am and will remain committed to that. I would appreciate an acknowledgment of that. I can assure you no wrong signals have been sent to CLS. They know full well that we/I am very keen to catch them transgressing.
Best wishes, Gordon Hook . T.D.C. Cllr Milber Ward
=============================

The Blot in its' glory

2005-11-26T20:55:00.000Z

24th Nov 2005 e-mail from Les Edgecumbe to Teignbridge Councillors

2005-11-24T20:26:00.000Z

UPDATE: 24 NOV2005:
E-mail from Les Edgecumbe to Teignbridge Councillors (Milber Ward)
24 November 2005:
Dear Councillors,

Last Monday I met Cllr. Hook and inquired as to what was happening re the upheld complaint of noise generated by TheBlot/CLS. He rang Mr Cox at TDC and the outcome was that the Council would not be taking legal proceedings.
This has not gone down at all well with the residents of Aller Park - long suffering Council taxpayers who have had this abominable creation thrust upon them by the Councils incompetence and cosying up to the CLS company in preference to protecting the interests of long standing natives of this area. This infringement is the latest of several by CLS management.
Town Councillor Mewis picked up the news from our website and has done an outstanding job of relaying our views to Mr R Cox and Brian Gray at TDC.
The full details of the correspondence can be read at the 2 websites below.

We residents would appreciate our 3 Teignbridge Councillors reinforcing our dismay, disappointment and anger at the fact that CLS have not been brought to book yet again - to Teignbridge Council in all quarters relevant. They are giving all the wrong signals to CLS who go from incident to incident with impunity.

Best regards,

L. Edgecumbe
H. Ritson B. Yates
B. Wills V. Yates
M. Wills E. Ward
S. Gardner A. Ward
S. Gardner A. Johns
S. Johns T. Beck
H. Beck Mr + Mrs Cartwright
K.Lloyd Mr + Mrs Moreton (more names can be submitted if required)

Les EdgecumbeDevon http://allerpark.blogspot.com/
England www.allerpark.com/theblot/

24 Nov 2005
To the Chief Executive - Teignbridge District Council

Dear Brian

With regards to your e-mail response, I do expect common courtesies to be enacted, irrespective of views held. I would therefore appreciate it if correspondence started with either Dear Roger or Dear Mr Mewis or Dear Cllr Mewis or Dear Sir and ended with Yours sincerely or Yours truly or Yours faithfully. You will note that even though I was extremely annoyed over the Bishopsteignton matter, I addressed my e-mail To the Chief Executive - Teignbridge District Council.

You are a senior officer and, at the present time, acting as its head. It should not be incumbent upon myself to bring to your attention the requirements and courtesies of inter party correspondence. I request and require that these are observed in future communication. It is, after all, good manners and etiquette.

Yours sincerely

Roger Mewis
Cllr - Milber Ward

From: Gray, Brian
To: 'Roger Mewis'
Cc: Cllr Connett, Alan ; Robinson, Steve
Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 4:17 PM
Subject: RE: [Aller Park Environment] update 20Nov05

I acknowledge receipt of your e-mail and understand your concerns on this issue in Bishopsteignton. You will have read Cllr Connett's statement on this matter and the press statement accurately describes the steps we have taken. As you would have expected the local elected representative was informed of the situation and the Council will take on board any views of the ombudsman.
Brian Gray

22nd Nov 2005 e-mail to Cllr. Mewis

2005-11-22T19:47:00.000Z

22Nov 2005:
Cllr. Mewis,
Just a note to say thanks for your unstinting trials over the last few days. It really is appreciated.
It is sad when this has to be gone through with people who are solely paid to look after OUR interests - rather makes a nonsense of the system. The relationship between CLS and TDC is far too cosy, and certainly not in the interests of us taxpayers. If we contravene a planning regulation, or any other law, we would be clobbered instanto by the big machine in Forde House. If you have the financial and legal clout of a company behind you it is an entirely different matter. WHY?
If TDC could simply say they had made a mistake in not consulting resident taxpayers sufficiently and it was an unsuitable location for such a project, encourage CLS to paint green we could all get on back in the garden! Somehow I don't think either will happen, and so the saga continues.

Please keep your efforts up.

Best regards,

Les Edgecumbe

22Nov 2005:To the Chief Executive - Teignbridge District Council
Dear Brian
I would have thought that TDC could have at least had the courtesy to acknowledge my e-mail but as I find the silence deafening, I can only assume that TDC finds it difficult to formulate any words which would give any creditability to the debacle. Given the nature of the 'mistake', it would not surprise me if a The Blot on the Landscape Mk2 web site made an appearance.

Yours sincerely

Roger Mewis
Councillor - Milber Ward

22Nov 2005:
Dear Mr Cox
You have amply demonstrated, certainly to my satisfaction and possibly some others, that when asked to clarify statements or give unequivocal answers, you retort with the standard phraseology, 'I have made our position clear'. That Mr Cox, is a contradiction in terms. For if, as you state, you have made the Council's position clear, why would it be necessary for me to seek clarification on your conditional terminology?

You will find in life Mr Cox that the public have an in-built distrust of civil servants who give ambiguous answers or answers with the proverbial and conditional back door. Instead of tap dancing around the subject, a simple statement that if CLS contravened their compliancy requirements, formal action would be instigated. In that simple sentence Mr Cox, you would have the support of those residents affected and the Council would have been held in higher esteem than it currently enjoys. Instead, you decided otherwise and when push became shove, up went the corporate wall.

Be assured Mr Cox that if CLS should breach their compliancy requirements at any time in the future, I shall be contacting you requiring and, if necessary, demanding that formal action be carried out. You have been so advised.

Yours sincerely

Roger Mewis
Councillor - Milber Ward

22Nov 2005:
Dear Mr Cox
I must thank you most sincerely for the English language lesson. A few other words you may wish to consider:

Deemed: regard, reason, think, reckon
Necessary: essential, needed, required, compulsory, indispensable, crucial, vital, de rigueur

So now after the frivolity, let us consider the question posed and your answer. I have attached a document clarifying Statutory Nuisance. Please identify those items applicable to CLS, which would initiate formal action.

The reason for being pedantic Mr Cox is because too many times public service institutions frame their answers to allow a back door method to prevail should it be necessary to employ the same at some later date. If, on the other hand, you had stated quite categorically that formal action would be initiated upon the next breach of any of the compliancy requirements, then this e-mail would not be necessary as all would have been satisfied.

I await your response at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

Roger Mewis
Councillor - Milber Ward

21st Nov 2005 e-mail to Mr Mewis

2005-11-21T17:22:00.000Z

21Nov 2005:
Mr Mewis

I feel that I have made our position quite clear in my previons emails and have nothing further add.
Richard Cox Environmental Control Manage

21Nov 2005:
Dear Mr Mewis

Deemed - believe,consider or judge
Necessary - unavoidable or inevitable

In practical terms this means that a complaint must be justified in terms of Statutory Nuisance and that we consider that formal action is the most expedient way of achieving compliance.
Richard Cox Environmental Control Manager

21Nov 2005:
Dear Mr Cox

Thank you for your expeditious response. While I am most grateful for your statement, I, and no doubt other Aller Park residents, would be even more comforted if the words if deemed necessary had not been added.

So that I may respond accordingly should Aller Park residents ask about the Council's position on breaches of compliance by CLS, I would be most grateful if you would kindly define the wording if deemed necessary in practical terms.

I await your response at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

Roger Mewis
Councillor - Milber Ward

21Nov 2005:
Dear Mr Mewis
I note your reply.
I can assure you and all the residents of Aller Park that any further complaints will be dealt with promptly. Formal action will be taken to ensure compliance if deemed necessary.

Richard Cox Environmental Control Manager Ext 5404

21Nov2005
Dear Mr Cox ( From Cllr R. Mewis)

Thank you for your explicit and detailed response.

With respect, it should not be the responsibility of your department to baby sit CLS to ensure compliance. They know the rules and regulations and it is their responsibility. Given the sensitivity of their premises, they should have undertaken a comprehensive audit to ensure full compliance and further demonstrated their commitment by designating a senior member of staff as the compliance officer.

Instead Mr Cox, the residents of Aller Park Road have unwittingly become the compliance officer because CLS know that by acting the concerned party and complying with your department’s instructions, no action will be taken against them. Should you have taken action against CLS after the first warning, they would have taken the responsibility for compliance seriously.

I note that you state, ‘We have had their full cooperation and now believe all noise complaints have been resolved without the need for formal action. This follows our district policies and practices, Government advice and is supported by the courts’. As you obviously believe the situation to be as you have stated, I would require your unequivocal undertaking that should CLS breach any compliance requirements at any time in the future, your department will take formal action.

That way the residents of Aller Park may be assured that CLS has been given every opportunity and now the time has arrived when they take the responsibility and any failure of that responsibility will result in formal action being taken.

I await your response at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely

Roger Mewis
Councillor - Milber Ward

20th Nov 2005 Blunder allows mast to go up

2005-11-20T20:38:00.000Z

20Nov2005:

Does any of this sound at all familiar ? ? Here we go again!!!!

Mid Devon Advertiser 18Nov2005

17th Nov 2005 e-mail to residents of Aller from L Edgecumbe

2005-11-17T20:22:00.000Z

16Nov2005:
(E-mail to residents of Aller from L Edgecumbe).
I bumped into Councillor G Hook in town today.
I was particualriy interested in the latest situation as regard legal proceedings against CLS, after the noise complaint was substantiated by the Env. Dept. It has gone very quiet!!!

Give him his due, he phoned the horses mouth at Fraud House. Apparently they are not proceeding with a legal course because "the CLS management are cooperating with the Council". Cllr Hook told R Cox on the phone that this was a continuing saga over several years, to which Mr Cox said "well Mr Edgecumbe has made complaints and we have always attended to them".

So when you shoot a red in your car next, just tell the beak you are cooperating and don’t expect to be taken to court. That should do the job nicely.

I shall put this info on the website tonight probably, but would be interested if the Council have bothered to keep the complainants abreast of their dealings of the matter.

17Nov2005:
To date the complainant who had his report of noise generated by TheBlot, a.k.a. CLS substantiated, has not been kept up to date on any action or contacts with CLS of any kind by Teignbridge Council - whether it be attempts to remedy the fault causing the nuisance, or as intimated in the Press, legal action was to be taken.

Les EdgecumbeDevonEngland www.allerpark.com/theblot/

17Nov2005: E-mail from Cllr. R. Mewis to R. Cox Teignbridge Council:
Dear Mr Cox

Given the below transcript, I have concerns that TDC is not acting in the best interests of those Aller Park residents closest to and affected by CLS. Mr Edgecumbe, in particular, has reported on many an occasion about breaches of conditions by CLS and even when your own department substantiated the same, TDC decided not to act as, according to the text, 'CLS management was co-operating with the Council'. CLS management will always co-operate with the Council, they always have and I have no doubt they always will because it appeases the Council. Unfortunately, their co-operation is always short lived and they continue to breach their obligations because they sense the impotency and lack of determination on the part of your department and the Council as a whole.

The inconsistency of the Council's policy in regard to court action could be considered as prejudicial. The Council has absolutely no reservation is taking residents to court for non payment of Council Tax and yet finds the most flimsiest of excuses not to prosecute CLS for its blatant disregard of its obligations. No doubt the former is an easy target, limited resources to defend any prolonged action but the latter is something else. A successful company and, no doubt, capable of sustaining funding for any legal action. If that, Mr Cox, is your premise for this foot dragging and, in the eyes of Aller Park residents, biased manner in which CLS is being dealt with, then may I strongly recommend that you revisit the matter. You may be assured Mr Cox that if the Council's policy intends to remain the same, I shall personally make the necessary complaint to the Ombudsman.

I await your detailed response but please do not insult my intelligence with mission statements and public relations hogwash.

Yours sincerely
Cllr R. Mewis
Milber Ward

17Nov2005: E-mail reply to Cllr R Mewis, copied to others
Dear Mr Mewis

A complaint of noise nuisance from reversing bleepers was made to this department, it was investigated, found to be justified and CLS asked to resolve the nuisance. CLS replaced the bleepers with a 'TVS back alarm' that resolved the problem. No formal action was necessary.

Several complaints have been received regarding the discharge of steam from CLS, these have been investigated and substantiated be my officers. CLS were asked to resolve the problem. They employed two consultants who both agreed with my officers investigation and recommended to the management a number of modifications to resolve the problem. Modifications have been made to the plant and the problem of uncontrolled steam release resolved. We are now monitoring the situation to ensure the works have indeed been successful. All Complainants will be written to in due course.
Recent complaints (2nd week in Oct) were investigated and the noise was found to be an isolated event arising from engineering works to the railway line. Nothing to do with CLS. No formal action necessary.
To date we have had no further complaints of noise nuisance relating to CLS.
The management of the Company have responded positively to every request that we have made regarding noise. We have had their full cooperation and now believe all noise complaints have been resolved without the need for formal action. This follows our district policies and practices, Government advice and is supported by the courts.

Should you feel that this approach and our policies are ineffective I would welcome any ideas for improvement.

Richard Cox Environmental Control Manager Ext 5404

6th Nov 2005 Suitable picture of the eyesore

2005-11-06T16:43:00.000Z

Due to holidays, news on the noise infringment caused by CLS/TheBlot, has not been updated. It is hoped to have some current news soon.

Meanwhile here is a visual check on the £12,500 spent by Teignbridge Council 'hiding' TheBlot. (06Nov05).

Teignbridge Council Investigation/CLS laundry

2005-10-15T20:10:00.000Z

15 October 2005

Following on from an Aller Park resident having had sound monitoring equipment installed by the Council, it has been reported that his complaint has been upheld by the Environment Department, and that indeed the early morning noise originated from CLS/The Blot.

Residents are now awaiting the next stage - to see if CLS are at last to be brought to book after escaping legal penalty previously- or . . . . . . . . . . . .

Was it coincidence that the nocturnal noise nuisance all but ceased the day after a Herald Express front page report on the residents complaint to Teignbridge Council.??

Kingskerswell Bypass Update - 12th Oct 2005

2005-10-10T21:26:00.000Z

Press Release

From the Kingskerswell Alliance

Subject: Kingskerswell Bypass Update - 12th Oct 2005. Dated: 8th Oct 2005

Members of the Press are invited to attend a public meeting to discuss the current situation regarding the bypass and associated planning matters.

Location: St Mary’s Church, Kingskerswell.

Date: Wednesday 12th October 2005

Time: 7.30 p.m.

The Alliance Chairman, Richard Hamlyn* will address the meeting.

Subjects being covered will include:~

* An update on the bypass.
* “The Blot” (CLS laundry) & development of Edginswell
* The ongoing menace of aggressive “rat running”
* DCC – 30 years of making matters worse!
* TDC – Urban Fringe Study report**

The Urban Fringe Study report forms part of Teignbridge Council’s evidence base, feeding into the local framework which influences planning decisions.

It is described on their website as “An emerging detailed study of the landscape interface between town and country". KKA uses FOI to unveil there was no detailed study!

* Q. & A. session

Notes to the editor:
* Richard Hamlyn can be contacted on 01803 873051
** http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1618

Councils efforts:

2005-09-20T19:36:00.000Z

20 September 2005:

One of the complainants of night time noise in Aller Park managed to get the Council to install sound monitoring equipment at his address. This stems from a number of residents keeping official diaries on when the noise occured and how it affected them, as requested by Teignbridge Council. This particular comlainant has now recieved a reply from the Environment Department of TDC. The body of the letter is reproduced here:

"Dated 15th September 2005 from Mr. D. Eaton, Environmental Control Manager, T.D.C.

I refer to your complaint to this department which David Eaton is investigating and the recently installed noise monitoring equipment.

I have had an opportunity to listen to the recording and analyse the data.

The recording is inconclusive and it will be necessary for my officers to carry out early morning visits to assess the noise in person. It will not be necessary for you to be available.

I will keep you informed of the progress.

Yours sincerely, David Eaton. Environmental Control Officer."

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Comment:

1 It is ironic that since recent publicity (Herald Express) that noises have ceased.

2 As residents have suffered an erratic pattern of nocturnal noise sufference - what chance of an investigator actually observing an infringment a) if the laundry is now on its guard, b) the officer is not prepared to literally camp out overnight.

The writer submitted a complaint on the same matter earlier in the year. The 'investigation' into that complaint consisted of the Environment Dept. telephoning the laundry, asking if they had a problem with the steam, being told:

"They had no steam or mechanical failures.

No unusual pressure changes.

No change in working hours.

No change in working pattern"

This was the sum total of investigation into my complaint to the Council - a telephone call to the laundry! And to be summed up by Environmental Control as "it does not constitute a statutory nuisance." If they had taken more notice of that complaint , perhaps the ensuing noises being complained of NOW would not have had to been made. It is appreciated that hard evidence must be collected before going to court, but it should be born in mind that this is not an isolated complaint - there is a long history of complaints against the laundry: ignoring Planning restrictions (floodlighting), diesel spill, noise etc., and residents want the full might of the Council to act.

If you are observing any nusiance noise, be it steam, motors, reversing alarms on vehicles, or even the Public Address system, please advise the Environment Dept, Forde House 01626 215064, e-mail: envc@teignbridge.gov.uk or any Teignbridge Councillor.

2005-09-12T19:28:00.000Z

12Sep05:

A number of Aller Park residents have complained to Teignbridge Council. They have reported sleep loss, social distrubance causing stress, and a further denegration of the ambience of a residential area. They suspect the source of the noise to be the CLS Laundry (The Blot). The nocturnal noises are similar in mode and substance as the number of episodes reported earlier in the year; this was blamed on "faulty equipment and no spares available" at those times. The laundry then decided to simply continue with a continuous steam discharge for several hours, disregarding the concerns of residents not far over the valley.

Tax-paying residents (who precede, by many years, CLS in this area), now suspect the steam discharge and 'mechanical' noises generated anywhere between midnight and 07:00hrs is originated by the laundry. Official diaries have been kept and submitted to the enforcement officer at T.D.C.

One resident has been provided with noise monitoring equipment by the Council, and is now awaiting the analysis of this exercise. One thing is for sure - a number of residents have made complaints on the same subject and look forward to an early solution to the problem.

Councillors as well as Council Officers have been tendered detailed information on the nuisance.