by Sue Read

AN extra early-morning train, serving Crediton and other stops from Barnstaple (6.30am start) to get people to London before mid-morning will begin early next year, Crediton Town Council has been told.

Cllr Nick Way, also a county and district council member, was reporting on a meeting of the Tarka Line Forum at last week's town council meeting.

He said one part had concerned Crediton Station Tea Rooms which closed in December. Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership had been "very involved" in trying to liaise between the former owner of the Tea Rooms and Network Rail to find someone to take over the business.

He explained that the Rail Partnership was based at the University of Plymouth and works to encourage and publicise the community rail lines such as the Tarka Line.

Latest figures showed a two per cent increase in the number of travellers on the Tarka Line.

Cllr Way added that the Rail Partnership was looking for ways to save the model of the station that was in the Tea Rooms.

Royal Mail would soon be delivering 3,500 leaflets to homes in the area promoting train journeys and the rail line.

HIGH STREET IDEAS

How to find a way to better manage traffic along the High Street had been a concern for some time with the town council trying to find money to have a feasibility study done, costing £20,000.

It now looks as if that funding has been found. The town council has been liaising with the district council about the possibility of using Section 106 air quality monies for this.

Asking if there had been an update on felling of trees beside Crediton Rugby Club, Cllr Downes was told this was because they were diseased, but the town clerk would double check.

Cllr Downes also reported having been asked why two flood lights had been allowed near a street light outside South West Galvanizers on Lords Meadow Industrial Estate when there were concerns about light pollution from street lights. Street lights have to conform to a British Standard.

Cllr Downes was told that the county council was responsible for street lights but was not responsible for investigating light pollution.

That could only be investigated by the district council if people living nearby had complained.

The council agreed to become a member of the Campaign to Protect Rural England at a cost of £36 a year.

PLANNING

The council put in an objection to Mid Devon District Council to an application from Reed Construction and Development Limited of 106 High Street for alterations to the internal layout of 5 Charles Symonds Court, Mill Street, and rear windows, levelling of ground at the back to form a garden, putting up a conservatory and upgrading/sound proofing the boundary fence.

The council felt this was an overdevelopment, would impact neighbouring properties and the fence was too high.

The council had no objection to the following applications:

Erection of a single storey extension at 1 Monks Close for Mr and Mrs Gilbert of 1 Monks Close so long as the drainage was satisfactorily resolved.

Erection of a temporary office building and re-arrange car parking spaces for Ernest Jackson at Marsh End, Lords Meadow Industrial Estate.

A revised scheme for the erection of a rear extension, lowering the roof of the existing rear extension to form a flat roof with a roof light and putting in a flue for Mr and Mrs P Williams at 25 Exeter Road.

Erection of a two-storey extension and basement following demolition of the garage at 12 Chapel Downs Road for Mr I Halsey of 23 Churchill Drive.

Notification of the intention to remove four lower limbs of an oak tree at Poundsgate, Pounds Hill for Mr S Jackson, within the Conservation Area.

Erection of a single storey side extension at Penton House, Penton Lane for Mr and Mrs Robbins.

An application for Listed Building Consent to put three portholes in garage doors at 16 St Lawrence Green for Miss K Voysey.

Planning applications are decided by Mid Devon District Council.