SO long as Mid Devon District Council approves the recommendation of its Cabinet, Crediton could have an all-weather surface (artificial turf), on the hard courts at Lords Meadow next year.

Cllr Mike Szabo reported at this week's meeting of Crediton Town Council that the district Cabinet had recommended allocating £113,000 from reserves for this, which included money to upgrade the floodlights.

Cllr Szabo reported that Lee Chester, manager of Lords Meadow Leisure Centre, had applied to Sport England three times for a grant for the work.

Sport England had now approved £87,000, if match-funded by the district council. The Cabinet recommendation would go before the full district council on October 30 for approval. If given, work could begin in December and take seven or eight weeks.

The Cabinet was told that the hard court surface was deteriorating and due to be resurfaced. The nearest other all-weather pitches are in Exeter, Okehampton and Tiverton.

NEED TO KNOW HOW CROSSINGS CAN

BE PROVIDED

Support for safer crossing of Exeter Road for pedestrians came from Cllr John Downes who said the town did not need excuses from Devon County Council as to why this could not be done but needed to know how it could be done.

He said there was a problem for pedestrians on Exeter Road, especially with a push chair or wheel chair.

Cllr Downes said he had seen the county engineer who had given a reason at each place why a crossing could not be made.

"The fact of the matter is you cannot cross the road," he said. "I would like the town council to push the county council for a solution," he added.

"It means that mothers and disabled people have problems every day crossing the road. You have to go to the Mill Street crossing or the one at the top of East Street outside the church to be safe."

SPEED CHECKS

Cllr Nick Way, also a district and county member, reported that the county council's local highways team had carried out speed checks with a hand-held radar machine on Western Road, near Broad Close.

The maximum speed recorded was 44 mph by a vehicle going towards the town and 38 mph by a vehicle going in the opposite direction. It had been felt this was strong enough to go to the next stage of speed checks.

HIGH STREET

LOADING BAYS

The town council had asked MP Mel Stride for help over making making it more obvious that the loading bays on the High Street were only available for car parking after 2pm.

However, councillors were disappointed that he had only reiterated the Department for Transport reply received by the town council more than a year ago that the words "Loading Bay" could not be replaced because this would cause confusion.

Councillors wondered whether Mr Stride fully understood the problem and, perhaps, if he was to visit the town council in the new year they could discuss matters.

Town councillors are still hoping to bring about a change in the national guide lines. Cllr Bill Dixon commented: "We need Mr Stride to fight on our behalf."

SHOWING WHO IS WHAT!

By a majority vote - six to three - the council agreed to accept a quotation of £1,000 for a new jewel (the big enamel pendant that hangs on the Mayor's chain of office) plus two ribbons and two bars, one saying Mayor's Consort, the other saying Vice Chairman.

This is an idea that has been with the town council for some time. Cllr Paul Vincent thought it was "a terrible waste of money" and Cllr Nick Way, also district and county councillor, said he "would find it difficult to support."

However, Cllr Joyce Harris commented that, having been to lots of events as vice chairman and as Mayor, she had noticed that many other councils had much more elaborate insignia of office.

"It can be difficult when you are vice chairman, people want to see what you are, what you represent.

"It could cost a lot more because many councils have chains for their deputies," she added.

Cllr Mike Szabo added that in the short time he has been a member of the town council he had seen the amount of work Cllr Harris put in.

"The longer you put off getting the jewel and ribbons, the more it will cost," he added. "Both will be used ad infinitum."

AGENDA QUESTION

Cllr Bill Dixon had been asked by a member of the public how to find out about forthcoming council meetings.

He had said there was the town council website and agendas were posted on the notice board outside the council offices on Market Street.

A maximum of half an hour is always available for members of the public to speak or ask questions at council meetings but it is rare for anyone to be there, to the disappointment of councillors.

This will be a future agenda item, giving councillors time to put ideas together.

LAPEL PIN FOR

DEPUTY

Council chairman, Cllr Frank Letch, presented Cllr Joyce Harris, vice chairman and Deputy Mayor, with a Crediton lapel pin. It is a miniature version of that worn by the mayor.

Cllr Letch said that over the past 16 years "no-one has given more than Cllr Harris, who has been 'a reluctant Mayor' and has been Deputy Mayor for five years."