CREDITON Hamlets Parish Council met in April at Yeoford Community Hall. There were two members of the public present and three representatives from Barratt Homes.

The council received the resignation of Cllr Wholley for personal and other reasons. The clerk had notified Mid Devon District Council and posted notices on the Parish Council noticeboards re the vacancy. The council will consider applications at their meeting in May.

The council had requested that Barratt Homes inform the council about the proposed Chapel Downs Farm Project which is in Crediton Hamlets parish.

Mr A Cattermole, Barratt Homes distributed a hard copy of his presentation and then went through it in detail with the council.

Councillors raised concerns about the single vehicular entry and exit from the site; dark skies, increased volumes of traffic particularly on those parts of the road that cannot be widened, the extent of affordable housing, the need for more bungalows in the area and pressure on existing local services.

The chairman thanked Mr Cattermole and his associates for providing the presentation.

Cllr Stevens reported that a lease for the Yeoford play area was being prepared for the council to consider.

Cllr Brook reported that a quote could be expected shortly for the materials to repair the Binneford Cross Finger Post.

Councillors considered whether other finger posts in the parish should be listed and inspected to see if they were in need of repair.

Councillors thanked Cllr Way for his assistance in securing grants of £1,300 towards the cost of a defibrillator for Yeoford.

Peter Halford, Yeoford School had confirmed that the PTA had agreed to match fund the money the children hope to raise for the defibrillator. An event in the summer term is planned to raise funds.

The Council asked that the school should now take forward the purchase and the installation of the defibrillator. The council also requested that the clerk seek further donations towards the defibrillator through the “Yeoford Village Voice” and “Crediton Courier”.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation for this life-saving equipment is asked to please contact the clerk.

Councillors noted that three crimes had been reported in the past month: one offensive communication in Yeoford, one theft of a motor vehicle at Westernlea and one make off without payment at Wellparks. They noted that the following incidents had been reported: two incidents of mud on the road, one assistance required by RSPCA, one suspicious vehicle at Spencecombe, two road traffic collision between Uton and Barnstaple Cross, one domestic incident and one nuisance/anti-social behaviour.

The Police asked that residents should be aware of suspicious vehicles as there had been numerous reports over recent weeks of more rural properties having left gates open and suspicious vehicles being seen.

The Police request that residents take note of any vehicles or people that are unusual to a location and record as much detail as possible and forward to the police by email or if action required telephone 101 or 999 as appropriate.

The chairman suggested that the council consider how memories of the parish can be preserved and how the council website might be used to display old photographs. The clerk was asked to ask for contributions and ideas in the “Yeoford Voice” and “Crediton Courier”. Please contact the clerk.

Councillors discussed the continuing problems with the Broadband service at Woodland Head, despite the cabinet being placed in the area. The clerk was asked to contact BT about this.

Cllr Coren reported that someone had been successfully reported for fly tipping and fined £300.

The clerk said that she had put the reporting link on the council website. If you see fly tipping in the parish residents are urged to report this via the website.

The next meeting of the council is on May 8 at the Council Offices, Market Street, Crediton, at 7.30pm.

This meeting will be preceded by the Annual Meeting at 7.15pm and the Finance Committee meeting at 6.45pm. The draft minutes of Crediton Hamlets Parish Council are available on three noticeboards within the parish: Hookway, Westernlea and Yeoford. The minutes and other information about the council is available on the Crediton Hamlets Parish Council website: http://www.creditonhamlets.org.uk/ .

If you have any comments or queries the clerk, Diane Shepherd can be contacted on 01363 85051 or email: [email protected] .

DS