WHILST making a donation towards a new Tourist Information Point in Crediton and to the introduction of a town Shopmobility scheme, there was disappointment at this week's meeting of Crediton Town Council. at the attitude of the District Council towards these projects.

The Town Council had agreed to make a donation of £400 to Crediton Area Community Transport towards setting up a Shopmobility centre at its offices in Market Street which will operate from next Tuesday, March 23.

The Town Council also agreed to make a donation towards the setting up of a Tourist Information Point at The Book Shop at 100 High Street. How much was not specified.

At this week's meeting of the council Mrs Jill Holden, owner of The Book Shop, said she was looking forward to having a TIP at the shop, restoring a service given by the Tourist Information Centre at the Old Town Hall until it closed 18 months ago.

At Tuesday's meeting it was felt that the District Council should also be looking to make a contribution towards the running costs of the TIP.

Said Mrs Holden: "I approached the District Council and it came up with a sum towards signs and fittings. I am looking for a contribution towards starting costs."

Mrs Holden told councillors that staffing a TIP could take some considerable time to achieve. She was looking for a pro rata rate of a day a week.

She said she would be meeting council officers again and hoped for a successful outcome.

treatment of

Community Transport Group

'Appalling'

Councillors were glad to hear Mrs Holden had offered to house the TIP and Cllr David Nation (also a district councillor) said that the district council "used to give £7,000 to Crediton's TIC, money it is not now spending."

He was "really annoyed" that the district council was "being so difficult in coughing up anything".

It had made Crediton Community Transport officers "jump through hoops" and he thought it was "appalling" how it had been treated by the district council,.

However, the council had now "got to grips" with that and he understood a grant was being made to the Community Transport to operate a Shopmobility scheme and to The Book Shop for a TIP. Neither were for running costs.

Saying the TIC had been "sorely missed", Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking said the district council should realise that the revenue costs of a business needed to be covered by everything it did. The TIP was not just for the town but the whole area, visitors as well as residents.

The town council agreed to ask the district council to look at supporting the revenue costs of the TIP; any business taking on a TIP should have this support.

The town council would contribute financially while pointing out that the TIP was an area resource.

Cllr Walter Brown said Crediton was probably unusual in that the majority of accommodation provision was outside the town, as were most of the attractions.

Mrs Holden told the council at present she was thinking of holding leaflets and information to give out but would not take on bookings.

Shopmobility help for disabled

Mr Kevin Yarnley, co-ordinator of the Crediton Area Community Transport told the council that "some time" had been spent developing the Shopmobility plan. "It is not a service we are doing to make money," he said.

"We are doing this for the businesses in the town, particularly the town centre, to try to give people one less reason to bypass Crediton to shop elsewhere," he emphasised.

Mr Yarnley said the Shopmobility centre would be open on the Saturday mornings when Crediton Farmers' Markets were held. This service was only possible because of the generosity of staff who open the Community Transport Centre voluntarily at those times.

He said the Shopmobility would run on weekdays and on one Saturday a month, based on the goodwill of staff. It cannot afford, at present, to pay for staff to open the centre on Saturdays.

The town council agreed to donate £400. Councillors observed that Shopmobility users would be less likely to be Crediton residents.

Keep bypass route

The town council is asking Devon County Council to keep the projected route of the town's bypass.

Cllr Brookes-Hocking said the town council should "deplore" the fact that the county council Cabinet said the protected route should be dropped.

Cllr Nick Way (also a county and district councillor) commented that no-one knew what the road situation might be in 30 or 40 years' time. If any part of that route was developed "it would be the end of that route", he said.

He added that, because it was there now and a certain amount of work had been done on the plan, it was important it should stay.

Cllr Nation said that it had taken a long time, because of the topography of the area, to identify a route. "If any part was built on, where would we go?" he asked.

It was also agreed to send a copy of the letter to the Inspector who would conduct the inquiry into the district council's Local Development Framework in April. "If this project was struck out, we would be done for," said Cllr Nation.

New TICKET machines for car parks

In the next month or so new ticket machines will be put in the two district council car parks at Crediton. They will be able to give more detail about parking movements than the current machines.

Cllr Brookes-Hocking had been talking car parking with a district council officer finding, to her surprise, that the revenue generated in Crediton was more than she had thought.

It was found that St Saviours Way car park was under-used, but analysis of its use would not be possible until the new machines were in operation.

But she had already found that whereas the most popular car park in Tiverton was used the equivalent of seven times a day, St Saviours Way was once a day.

The town council will have to wait until more detailed figures are available to be able to go much further with any car parking plans.

Dog bin requests

A request had come from a member of the public for an extra "dog bin" on Four Mills Lane.

Cllr Bob Wright (also a district councillor) had found that the district council would provide a bin, install and service it, so long as the town council paid for it, about £390.

Town councillors felt there were still people who needed to be educated about what "doggie bins" were for.

Unsure whether there was already more than one bin along that road, a councillor will check to see where might be a good point for another bin to be positioned before the town council makes a decision.

Queen's Diamond

Jubilee

Council chairman Cllr Frank Letch reported that at his recent Mayor's Surgery someone had asked when the town council would begin planning celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012?

He suggested forming an Events Working Group. This and the Jubilee would be discussed at a future town council meeting.

Cllr Nation reported that the next day's meeting of Crediton Hospital Campaign Group would be looking at the Primary Care Trust not spending money it receives for care homes.

Cllr Way reported that in the county council 2010-2011 programme, money had been allocated to repair the road at Barnfield.

New finger post signs are needed to show the way to the Library, Crediton Community Transport offices and the Museum. Only two signs can be added to most of the posts, so a councillor is going to look at which signs would be best sited. The town council also hopes for a new post and signs on the town square.

Cllr Way had wondered whether extra notice boards giving town council information were needed in the town, in addition to the existing one outside the council offices on Market Street.

However, it was felt that as the town council's website was now up and running again, this could cut out the need for more notice boards.

At a previous meeting a member of the public had asked about repairs to the metal fencing along the A377 at Downes Mill and Creedy Bridge. The town council agreed to write to the county council and relevant parish councils about this.

Annual town meeting

Planning for the annual town meeting, to be held on April 20, was under way. Councillors hoped that district council officers would be able to come to talk about the air quality management scheme and air quality monitoring.

It was felt that most people in the town did not have the opportunity to hear the amount of information that has been available to the town council.

If you don't ask...

Cllr Way reported that there was some money left in the Locality Fund for which community groups or organisations could apply.

He said some groups had applied to the fund to cover professional fees. To find out more contact Cllr Way on 01363 777903.

He said the fund covers not only Crediton but groups in his county Ward, including the Copplestone, Bow, Cheriton Bishop and Yeoford areas.

Planning

Approval was recommended for the following planning applications: Listed Building Consent to replace the gas heating system at Crediton Youth Centre, East Street; Listed Building Consent to replace six windows and a door at 30 Exeter Road.

There were no objections to the following applications: Erection of a dwelling following demolition of a detached garage at 2 Longmeadows; outline for erection of a dwelling at the rear of Shangri La, Broad Close; revised application for variation of the time limit for work to begin for erection of one dwelling at 1 Landscore Close.

Decisions are made by the district council. It was noted that the district council had granted permission for 22 dwellings with parking on land to the south of Exeter Road, Wellparks, Crediton. This is opposite Crediton Railway Station.