Kingsteignton Residents Environmental Awareness Group KREAG

“promoting a sustainable community for Kingsteignton and respect for its residents both present and future” About Us Kingsteignton Residents Environmental Awareness Group (KREAG) was formed on the 24th October

2004 at a Public Meeting which filled to capacity the St. Michaels Church Hall in Chudleigh Road,

Kingsteignton. The meeting was called following the environmental concerns of two housewives after the development

company Arnold White Estates (AWE), acting on behalf of two major landowners, publicly promoted an

urban village development to “give Kingsteignton a heart”, in September 2003. The landowners were the

quarry company Watts Blake Bearne Ltd (WBBM) and Clifford Estates Co. Ltd. Whilst the publicity referred to development of “the ugly horrible brown areas of redundant land”, it was

soon evident the proposed development area was some 680 acres to the west of the village running from

Jetty Marsh in the south through to Babcombe in the north. It included the greenfield buffer zone between

the residential areas and the industrial workings of the clay industry and the beautiful ”Kingsteignton

Lakes” of Rackerhayes, behind the Tesco superstore and the Newcross Pond County Wildlife Site

recognised as of regional importance for its breeding dragonflies and damselflies and its 200 different

varieties of fungus, some of which were extremely rare.

The development was to include 2,000 new dwellings, thereby increasing the population of Kingsteignton

by approximately 40 per cent, an increased retail area and approximately 70 acres of industrial

development. Kingsteignton would lose open green space and become a concrete jungle, a 15,500

population industrial town. The two housewives sought the reaction of the community of Kingsteignton

by circulating a “SAY NO TO AWE” window poster which approximately 30

per cent of houses throughout the village exhibited. Once formed, KREAG members set about looking at freely available public

records. We discovered intentions for development by Teignbridge District

Council and Devon County Council dating back to 1999. Further delving

unearthed alarming evidence of how this development was to be

progressed by big business and democratically elected representatives

with little regard for the residents of Kingsteignton who elected them. The first comments of the opening speech at the inaugural meeting set out what KREAG was not against. - We are not against housing development that the village needs and can reasonably support which

does not unacceptably impact upon the character of the village. - We are not against reasonable industrial/employment development that does not unacceptably impact

on the character of the village or the quality of life of its residents. - We are not against recycling of waste facilities that do not unacceptably impact on the character of the

village or impact on the quality of life of its residents. However, we take exception to attempts to mislead the people of Kingsteignton into believing that

piecemeal development within the parish boundaries is for their benefit when, in fact, it will prove to be to

their detriment. At present there are two KREAG representatives on the local council who are working to secure

sustainable and measured growth in a manner which will not destroy the quality of life of its residents and

those who will come after. We also aim to publicise other matters which affect the community on our

Notice Board so that residents are better informed of what is happening and how it may affect them.