AT the September meeting of Sandford Parish Council, the chairman, Councillor Jim Stephens welcomed two new Parish Councillors, Brian Fyfe and Stephen Haley.

A proposal to form a sub committee to discuss “Climate Change” was agreed.?Discussion took place on this proposal and the clerk reported on how other parish and town councils were dealing with this use. Mid Devon District Councillor, Elizabeth Wainwright advised action MDDC was taking.?Cllr Stephens suggested that Climate Change should be the main topic for the Parish Council Annual Parish Meeting in March 2020, which would give Sandford parishioners an opportunity to get involved.

This was agreed unanimously.

Cllr Wainwright agreed to find a speaker once a date had been set. Cllrs Stephen Haley, Dave Hope, Michael Lee, Brian Fyfe, Elizabeth Dalton, and Jim Stephens agreed to serve on the sub committee and would meet in advance of the APM.

A Comment had been made in the Parish Comment Book “Just to say well done for the choice of equipment and refurbishment of the play area. It took a while but looks good now – and more to come?”.

It was confirmed that the Meadowside field gate had now been replaced. Thanks were proposed to Cllr Stephens and Steve Kirkham for undertaking this task.

It was hoped that the skateboarding which had led to the damage to the gate would now cease.

New Parking signs had been purchased and would now be erected.

Sandford Parish Council now has a "Facebook" (Community Page) which is up and running and thanks were extended to the Clerk, Malcolm Vallance and Cllr Hope for making this happen. It was felt that this would be an excellent way of communicating with parishioners.

A link has been made from the Parish Council website and even those who were not on "Facebook" will be able to access the "Facebook" information.

Sandford School road safety issues were discussed.

This followed a meeting that had taken place at short notice, with Cllr G Griffin (Vice Chairman), the Parish Clerk, and both Steve Tucker (Devon County Council Highways) and Devon County Councillor Margaret Squires who had been in the area, and passing the school, and had been able to review current issues regarding road safety concerns.

Steve Tucker confirmed that the lines on the road, outside the school entrance in Fanny’s Lane were on the list for re-painting. There was currently a backlog. At the same time he was aware of the parents who persisted in parking on the lines to drop children off. He felt the Police needed to make the occasional visit.

He was encouraged to hear that the school was hoping to erect a barrier at the bottom of the school slope, on to Fanny’s Lane to stop children running out onto the main road.

He was unhappy that children and vehicles accessing the school, were mixing together.?His suggestion was to utilise the “Sunnyside” footpath that ran up beside the car park to allow a pedestrian access. (This suggestion has subsequently been removed as the footpath, it has been confirmed is now in the ownership of the two properties at “Sunnyside”).?The need for all road safety issues to be included in the School Travel Plan was stressed.?The clerk was asked to forward details of the meeting to Sandford School so that the Governors could liaise with Cllr Margaret Squires and DCC as to the way ahead.

Police Matters. Brian Fyfe reported that three properties, in Upton Hellions, had been broken into on the night of Tuesday, September 3 and various pieces of garden tools had been stolen.

It was agreed to ask for an update on Neighbourhood Watch from the Community Policeman Dave Waring and invite the Sandford Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator Graham Baker to the next meeting.

BT Outreach Complaint. An apology had been received to the issues in Sandford Square and it was reported that “lessons had been learnt” from this incident.?DCC Parking Enforcement. Advised that BT Outreach were within their right to park their vans on Yellow Lines in the Square. Whilst this was accepted it was pointed out that the vans needed to be parked sympathetically so as not to cause problems for emergency vehicles, the Sandford bus, and any business operating in the Square.

MDDC. Cllr Elizabeth Wainwright advised that she would be sending out a monthly MDDC Report to Parish Clerks for distribution. Current issues included cuts to the Fire Service (Crediton was likely to lose one fire engine) and local planning matters.

The Parish Council was delighted to learn that the re-surfacing at Long Barn had at last taken place and the clerk was asked to convey the council’s sincere thanks to DCC Highways.

Cllr Nick Unstead was in the process of obtaining estimates for the replacement of the New Buildings notice board and these would be presented at the October meeting.

Jim Stephens congratulated the organisers of Sandford Flower Show on another successful event.

The next Parish Council Meeting will take place on October 5 at 7.30pm, at Sandford Congregational Church Hall.

MJV