Plympton Pathfields Preservation Group Home Page

May 2002 - Site meeting focus's on outstanding issues

PLYMPTON PATHFIELDS PRESERVATION GROUP

Plympton St. Maurice, Plymouth, Devon, England.

Plympton Pathfields Preservation Group send greetings to the new residents of Redvers Grove. We regret that a part of the ancient fields has been destroyed forever by unwanted building development, but we must look to the future by ensuring that what remains of our green open spaces are preserved and protected for the enjoyment and benefit of all local residents. We are also committed to doing everything possible to making Redvers Grove a development of the highest quality and prestige that truly reflects the unique quality of the surrounding historic and cultural environment. New residents will be very welcome to attend future meetings of the Pathfields Preservation Group and Plympton St. Maurice Civic Association or by contacting us at pathfields@hotmail.com

Plympton Pathfields is an ancient tract of open land close to the medieval village of Plympton St. Maurice in Devon and next to the protected Norman motte and bailey castle which dates back to the 12th Century. In 1996 plans were drawn up to build a housing estate on this unique land and sell it off to developers. The plans were fiercely opposed by local residents and local city councillors and our Member of Parliament. But despite a concerted campaign to save the land which galvanised the local community, permission was granted by Plymouth City Council to build 31 houses on this historic land - land that had remained untouched for over a thousand years. Part of the land is within the Plympton valley flood plain and has been an important water meadow for hundreds of years helping to drain surrounding fields and preventing flooding in the village and further downstream from the 'Long Brook' which flows through Plympton. Now, the integrity of the fields are being destroyed as houses are built on the ancient meadows.

Local residents came together to form Plympton Pathfields Preservation Group to help protect the historic environment of the Pathfields and have fought every step of the way to oppose the plans, protect and promote the natural landscape and to make sure that the development inflicts the least possible damage. The Pathfields Group successfully invited Channel 4's award winning programme 'The Time Team' to the area who helped discover the lands important historic past. We also submitted the land for Conservation Area Status to halt further destruction and have worked with English Heritage to nominate a newly identified nearby castle siege mound as a protected Ancient Monument. Further efforts are underway to preserve and enhance important features like the stone bridge on Dark Street Lane and to reinstate the original course of the Long Brook.

Originally farmed as arable land by the Saxons, the Pathfields were once part of the castle estate owned by the Earls of Devon in medieval times. Later they were landscaped into parkland for the lord of the manor. During the English Civil War, Royalist cavalry used the Pathfields as their base while they assaulted Plymouth. This rich and fascinating history has now come under threat of the bulldozer and tarmac.

Construction work by Beazer Homes began on 7th August 2000 amid accusations that important planning conditions had not been met. Beazer Homes was taken over by Persimmon Plc in March 2001. The Pathfields Group will continue to monitor building work to ensure all the planning conditions related to public and traffic safety are put in place, flood prevention works are undertaken as specified by the Environment Agency and that landscaping measures and tree protection is enforced. A number of important site issues remain to be adequately resolved and are listed below.

Flood Prevention - The creation of two water catchment areas, one on the southern site boundary close to plots 16 and 17 and the other before the stone bridge on Dark Street Lane, plus the massive subterranean culvert are designed to contain flood waters which would have normally spilled onto the watermeadow. There remains concern that this 'bottleneck' will cause displaced flooding upstream in the village of Plympton St. Maurice as it did during a heavy rainstorm in November 2000. There are also fears that the capacity of the flood catchment areas could be exceeded causing flooding and subsidence on the site. The November flood saw water levels exceed the engineered culvert works on the site. The flood 'lakes' created by the water catchment areas could become death traps for children and animals unless adequately fenced (but not enclosed).

Unsightly Concrete - The concrete retaining wall of the water catchment area before the stone bridge on Dark Street Lane, culvert outfalls and the remains of old redundant concrete sections remain a visual eyesore on the sight and detract from the high visual quality of natural materials used in construction such as Delabole slate and stone Devon hedge banks. The concrete retaining wall ought to be faced in natural material to help it blend with the surrounding stonework and the redundant concrete sections along the Long Brook should be removed and the banks sympathetically re-landscaped as specified by the Environment Agency.

Stone Bridge - Plymouth City Council's Archaeology Officer and the Environment Agency's Conservation Officer have said the bridge should be preserved and protected as an historic local feature. Plans to demolish the west parapet by the Highways Department to allow flood waters to escape off the road are ill conceived and unnecessary (even the developers agree with us!). The bridge should be restored and revealed by removing adjacent concrete outfalls no longer in use. The enhancement of the bridge would give the perfect 'character' to the site entrance, complimenting the style of the development which has used natural materials in construction.

Reinstatement of Long Brook - The Environment Agency has recommended the creation of the former course of the Long Brook at the east of the site as a natural open water feature incorporating indigenous wetland planting on the banks. The stream would pick up water flowing off the Pathfields and from the springs to the east, while also maintaining drainage on the site. It could be modelled in appearance on the Long Brook as it flows at the rear of Fore Street in Plympton St. Maurice and would be a fitting visual and historic continuation of the ancient stream.

Devon Hedge Bank - The housing development plans clearly indicate the retention of the existing Devon wall shown at the north west of the site between building plots 25 and 26. Construction and drainage work has completely destroyed the wall which should be re-built in keeping with the other high quality traditional walls built on the site boundary.

Street Lighting - As the development borders onto the open and unlit fields, street lighting must be as unintrusive as possible to maintain the 'countryside' character of the surrounding area.

Tree Damage and Landscaping - A number of trees throughout the site, shown on the developers plans to be kept, have been destroyed and recorded by the Pathfields Group. These need to be replaced by the same species. Landscaping also shown on the plans, including new planting of trees and hedges, should be followed as indicated. The area of 0.4 acres of wooded land retained by Plymouth City Council in the centre of the site should be protected - particularly where tree roots may be damaged by excavation, road laying, drainage, etc. Access to this 'City' land must be allowed for the public and its upkeep properly maintained. This area of trees is very important and gives real meaning to the name De Redvers 'Grove'.

Traffic Calming - The deliberate narrowing of Dark Street Lane on a blind corner to facilitate 'traffic calming' has created a serious potential hazard. Traffic from both directions has to cross into the on-coming lane to negotiate the bend. The lane is also a bus route and 'bus borders' have been planned to be built before any occupation of the houses takes place (planning condition). This will create a further hazard and congestion for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. While traffic calming intentions are supported, adequate warning signs should be provided to indicate the need to reduce speed and the narrowing of the lane at this point.