What to do



Aggregate Industries scheme to quarry Straitgate Farm DCC/3944/2017 and transport the as-dug sand and gravel 23 miles to Hillhead, near Uffculme, for processing DCC/3945/2017 was granted permission by the Planning Inspectorate in 2023 following a Public Inquiry. 

The scheme was ONLY made acceptable by imposing the following conditions and legal obligations:

 

Devon County Council has a duty to investigate any breaches of these conditions and obligations. 

The Council encourages members of the public to report any suspected breaches. 

Any suspected breaches should be reported to the Council as soon as possible

Breaches can be reported to the Council through this link

The Council’s Monitoring and Enforcement Plan gives more information, for example: 
3.2.1  Local planning authorities such as DCC have a duty to investigate alleged breaches of planning control, and anyone reporting an alleged breach to the Council is entitled to expect that the matter will be investigated in a timely and professional manner and the outcome communicated to them. 

4.1.1  DCC encourages the reporting of suspected breaches of planning control by members of the public or representative bodies such as town and parish councils and County Councillors. As development can gain immunity from enforcement action over time, it is important that any suspected breaches are reported as soon as possible in order that harmful development can be removed or minimised. 

4.3.10 A significant proportion of complaints received by DCC concern existing mineral or waste sites where it is alleged that the operator is failing to comply with the approved documents or with the conditions attached to the site’s planning permissions. Common examples include working outside approved hours, failure to control levels of noise or dust, and failure to carry out necessary habitat management or restoration work. While such breaches can become apparent through the Council’s site monitoring, reports are welcomed from local residents to ensure that adverse impacts can be investigated as early as possible. 

4.1.2  The most convenient means of reporting an unauthorised development or other potential breach is through the online reporting facility on DCC’s planning website at https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/enforcement
Other methods of communication available are: Email: planning@devon.gov.uk 
Post:  Development Management Planning, Transportation & Environment Devon County Council Lucombe House County Hall Exeter EX2 4QD 
Phone: 01392 383000 (ask for Planning)

In addition:

You can find out about the latest developments here

You can contact us at straitgateactiongroup@outlook.com 

You can also write with your concerns to your Devon County Councillor
Otter Valley – Cllr Jess Bailey
Whimple & Blackdown – Cllr Iain Chubb
and your East Devon District Councillor

You can contact your MP – Simon Jupp MP