“After further debate, the scheme was eventually approved by the council’s planning committee (Wednesday, October 23), helped by the fact the application now specified medical use only.” [local democracy reporter Bradley Gerrard]
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Looking for a flu and covid jab for the winter? The Exeter Vaccination Centre is open – and the winter vaccine programme is available particularly for those at greatest risk of getting seriously ill, including the vulnerable and over-65s.
The centre’s address is Greendale Farm Shop, at the industrial estate between Sidmouth and Exeter.
The large green building at the edge of Greendale Business Park, near Farringdon, courted mixed opinion among East Devon planners, with some concerned that pulling it down could cause unnecessary environmental harm, while others referenced complaints from residents living nearby.
Those in favour of the application also stressed that given the building was already in situ and could perform a vital function in the event of another emergency such as Covid 19, it made sense to retain it.
Planning officers were recommending that the proposal to keep the building there should be refused, largely because it was outside the agreed built-up boundary for the business park meaning it was in land deemed open countryside. They also contended there was no evidence for its need, or that similar facilities could not be provided elsewhere, as well as the building being “unduly prominent and visually intrusive”…
Greendale Vaccination Centre.Image: EDDC.
Councillor Geoff Jung (Liberal Democrat) contradicted what the parish council had said. “I’ve had many complaints, including from neighbours of the building and it can be seen from many locations,” he said. “I originally explained to residents that this building was built under government emergency powers as a temporary building and should be returned to agricultural land following the demise of Covid requirements.”
He added that the centre had been staffed by volunteers, and so did not provide local employment, and questioned whether it was a good use of public funds to keep it open. “I would hate to think I was party to this money pit,” he added.
After further debate, the scheme was eventually approved by the council’s planning committee (Wednesday, October 23), helped by the fact the application now specified medical use only. A prior iteration of the scheme that had been refused could have allowed for any type of commercial use.
