THE Thursday, February 3 meeting of Newton St Cyres Parish Council was attended by seven Councillors, the Parish Clerk, the Mid Devon District Councillor, Graeme Barnell, the County Councillor, Margaret Squires, and nine members of the public.

PLANNING

Mid Devon District Council has sent out a consultation document in response to a planning application for the development of land near Creedy Bridge, Crediton.

This would include 257 dwellings as well as a primary school and pitches for travellers.

It was agreed that the Parish Clerk would draft a response expressing our concerns about increased traffic on the A377, and inadequate provision for cycling and park and ride facilities.

The District Councillor, Graeme Barnell, suggested that a Parish Councillor should attend the Planning Committee when this application is discussed.

Mid Devon District Council is also seeking consultation in the formulation of a new Local Plan.

Parish Councils have been invited to attend Zoom meetings and members of the public can take part by visiting this website: https://www.middevon.gov.uk/residents/planning-policy/plan-mid-devon/ .

If you want to be part of the consultation, then hurry as the consultation finishes on March 28.

Crediton Town Council is formulating a Local Plan which may impinge on Newton St Cyres. Graeme Barnell and two Parish Councillors hope to meet with the head of planning to discuss this.

Newton St Cyres Parish Council is also formulating its own Local Plan. The first step in this is the housing needs survey, which parishioners should already have received. The Council is now setting up a steering group to take the plan forward.

GOOD AND BAD NEWS ON COUNCIL TAX

Mid Devon District Council has been obliged to put up its share of the council tax by the maximum amount.

However, central government has awarded a £150 non-repayable rebate per household for households in tax bands A-D plus.

This is to alleviate problems arising from increased fuel bills. Some of the money allocated by central government will be awarded on a discretionary basis for those that do not qualify for the above payment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

The Newton Environmental Wellbeing Group is organising a Community Forum on April 2 to discuss energy, food security and health issues arising from climate change.

This will be an opportunity for members of the public to say what action they would like to see taken to mitigate the effects of climate change. There will be a presentation in the Parish Hall on March 23 to introduce the Forum. The Parish Council awarded a grant of £100 to support the events.

ROAD WARDEN SCHEME

Temporary storage has been found for the materials needed to repair minor potholes. However, in the longer-term, the council is looking for somewhere to store a small trailer that would contain all the equipment and materials. If you can help, please contact the Parish Clerk. The Council voted to purchase the trailer at a cost of approximately £2,000.

STATION ROAD

There has been a report that brambles are overgrowing Station Road. It was agreed that, at present, this was not a significant problem.

The Devon County Councillor recently drove along Station Road with the Neighbourhood Highways Officer, who expressed a concern that the vehicles now parked there are obscuring visibility for other road users and pedestrians.

The Council would like to remind parishioners of rule 243 of the Highway Code. This lists places that you must not park including near a school entrance, opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space and near the brow of a hill or hump bridge.

OTHER PARISH BUSINESS

• Airband, who are responsible for installing faster broadband to Devon, have appointed a community liaison executive. She will be liaising with Parish Councils to discuss the roll out of fibre in their areas.

• The Council is investigating ways to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee on June 5. This includes a "mini-Revels" and a commemorative mug for school children.

• Blocked drains at Rewe Cross have been reported to Devon Highways. They have yet to be cleared.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Parish Hall on Thursday, March 3 at 7pm. Members of the public are welcome.

Alternatively, if members of the public wish issues to be raised in council meetings, they can contact councillors in the usual way.

There will also be a Parish Surgery at the Coffee Morning to be held on Saturday, March 12 in the Parish Hall.

Liz Ouldridge