MEMBERS of Crediton Town Council were shown the Avranches Medal awarded to the Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, when he visited the town's French twin.

At this month's meeting of the council's finance and general purposes committee on Tuesday, Cllr Letch laughed when he said he had been on a civic visit to Avranches two weeks previously and ended up acting as interpreter. He had been surprised and delighted to receive the medal.

It was also reported that members of the Boniface Allotment Society had an inspiring visit to Knightshayes Court, with particular interest in the vegetable garden, on their first outing of the year.

BIN AND GARDENS

A request for a dog waste bin near the path between Spruce Park and QE Lower School, near the Barnfield Close play area, had been reported at a previous meeting.

At this meeting it was announced that although Mid Devon District Council had not been able to provide this, a dual purpose bin had been installed, but apparently this is quickly filled to overflowing.

Cllr Letch reported that Bert Jewell would be judging the town council's Floral Crediton gardens competition in July.

There were already seven entries and Cllr Letch was certain there must be many more gardens well worth being entered.

An entry form was printed in the last issue of the Crediton Courier, or readers can pick one up from Crediton Garden Centre, Tucker's Country Stores, Crediton Library or Crediton Town Council office on Market Street.

SCOUT GARDENS

There was some concern that although the new plants were growing well, the area around the Scout Memorial Gardens on Peoples Park was beginning to look "a bit untidy".

Weeding was needed and other work, which would take time. It was felt that, despite the Scouts' best intentions to maintain the area, it could take longer than they realised.

A meeting is to be called with various people to talk about the best ways to manage the new area.

One councillor was disappointed at the length of the grass in Newcombes Meadow and noted that a flower bed had been left unplanted.

It was felt that Mid Devon District Council, which owns Newcombes, must be aware of the Crediton Festival and it was hoped something could be done to improve things there very soon.

PLANNING

It was noted that Mid Devon District Council had granted permission for one house with a garage to be built between numbers 88 and 90, Queen Elizabeth Drive.

The town council had supported objections by residents of Queen Elizabeth Drive to the plan, which they felt represented "overdevelopment of a small site with inadequate supporting road infrastructure".

It was also noted that the district council had refused permission for an outline application to build a house at Casa Ramallah, Hawkins Way, Lords Meadow Industrial Estate.

The town council committee recommended approval for an application for change of use from A2 (professional and financial services) to D1 (children's pre-school) for Pippins Pre-School at Church View, Union Road.