THE September meeting of Newton St Cyres Parish Council had a very large agenda and several items of correspondence from parishioners to discuss.

Eight councillors attended and were joined towards the end of the meeting by Devon County Councillor, Mrs Margaret Squires.

Eleven members of the public joined the councillors for the meeting with the main concern being Highways issues.

The concerns ranged from the lack of visibility when turning out of Langford Road, the speed restriction signs being covered by vegetation, the speed of traffic travelling along “Quickes straight” and into the bend at Smallbrook, the overgrown bus stop at Langford, the narrow pinch point at Castlands where a house had been hit by lorries on several occasions and the estimated cost of a pedestrian crossing in the village.

All these concerns were aired by members of the public and taken on board by the council.

The chairman explained that Devon County Council would no longer be undertaking hedge trimming and verge cutting as a result of their cut-backs, but that many of the jobs could be undertaken by councillors or members of the public.

He himself had cleared the bus stop at Langford that very day.

The issues regarding speeding and road markings would be taken up with Devon County Council and our County Councillor when she arrived at the meeting. Unfortunately Cllr Squires did not have any updates on the issues that had been raised with her and Devon County Council at a meeting which had taken place at the beginning of August.

URGENCY

Cllr Squires was pressed to take up these urgent matters with DCC as a matter of urgency and to include the new concerns expressed at this meeting.

Other matters raised included the weed killing along Station Road towards the Recreation Ground and the Station and it was confirmed that this was the responsibility of local landowners, Network Rail and the Recreation Ground.

The change of site for the bus stop at Half Moon was discussed and it was agreed that the chairman would talk to Hanlons about help with the siting of this.

As a result of all the concerns raised it was agreed that Cllr Squires should try to arrange an open meeting sometime in October with DCC Highways in attendance where the parishioners could raise their concerns directly with those from DCC who could supply answers.

OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS

Cllr Steve Parker was thanked for rebuilding and painting the seat on the village green to such a high standard.

The Parish Council has bought a set of display boards which will be used at public events and at the Village Market. Notices will be kept updated.

The notice boards in the parish had been cleaned and repainted and parishioners were asked to make sure that only drawing pins are used to secure notices to the boards.

The Chairman would produce a paper on the future of the Village Market for discussion at the October meeting.

The results of the survey on the possibility of a community shop had been collated and would be published in the “Newton Wonder”.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held on Thursday, October 1, in the Clubroom of the Parish Hall at 7.30pm.

The next Parish Surgery will be held in conjunction with the Village Market on Saturday, October 24.

Please come along to the market and meet your councillors and to the council meeting with your concerns. We will do our very best to answer queries and take on board your concerns and issues.

Cllr Jill Baker

Press Officer