FOUR members of the public attended the October Parish Council meeting at Newton St Cyres, together with seven Councillors, plus Michael Lee (Devon County Council) and Peter Hare-Scott (Mid Devon County Council).

In the public section at the beginning of the meeting, discussion took place about the local shop and Post Office. The shop owners had been invited to this part of the meeting but had been unable to attend.

Charlotte Weedon, Community Project Officer with the Community Council of Devon again explained that part of her role was to work with the Rural Shop Alliance and she wished to gauge the feeling of the residents in Newton St Cyres and the shop owners about the kind of things the residents would like to see on sale in the shop etc.

Unfortunately only a few people attended the session so Charlotte went away without any further ideas. Jean Wilkins did say that she had spoken to the man who brings fresh vegetables in his van to the village every week and he had agreed to make a stop in the village car park on a Tuesday (starting on November 10) .

The parish council have agreed to set up a small working group to bring together ideas for the long-term future of the village, which could then be submitted to Mid Devon District Council and Devon County Council, when they put together their future plans. It was agreed that interested parishioners should be invited to join this group and a note of the first meeting would be put in the Newton Wonder.

Other more local issues raised included an agreement to purchase another tree for the village green (tree experts are to be consulted as to the right kind of tree for the location); new notice boards have been put up at Half Moon, Sand Down Lane and Smallbrook; the new dog waste bins will be put in place as soon as MDDC have sorted out the maintenance of these items.

The problems at each end of the school footpath were discussed and it was agreed to look at the possibility of laying a small amount of tarmac at either end. Grass cutting at the entrance to Woodlands was also discussed and the council agreed to ask for it to be cut a minimum of six times per year.

It was agreed to remind parishioners that if they find a street light that is not working, they should make a note of the location of the light and the number which is stencilled on the post and them telephone 0845 155 1004 to report the fault.

Footpaths and cycle ways are still high on the Council's agenda and talks are taking place with the appropriate authorities and Sustrans, to see if a cycle way from Exeter to Crediton can be sorted out plus safe footpaths, again from Exeter to Crediton. The Council have been informed that new and clearer speed limit signs are to be placed on the A377 as part of the Country Mile Project.

Everyone is welcome to come to the Parish Council meetings.

The November Parish Council Surgery will be at the Mini Market on Saturday, November 28 between 10.30am and 12noon. Please bring your questions and queries to your councillors.

Cllr Jill Baker

Press Officer