TWENTY-ONE years ago history was made when a woman became a member of Crediton Hamlets Parish Council. She went on to serve as vice chairman for a number of years and since then was joined by three other women, two of whom are still serving.

That first woman was Mrs Renee Jarvis who retired from the parish council at its July Zoom meeting and last month was formally thanked for her years of service with a tea party in the garden of her home near Woodland Head, Yeoford, everyone properly socially distanced.

She received a huge bouquet of flowers and the parish council chairman, Cllr George Mortimer, thanked her for her years of service and her local knowledge. There is now a vacancy on the parish council.

Renee said that she had stood for election 21 years ago because someone who lived at Woodland Head had retired. “I know this area pretty well and I also know Hookway where I grew up,” she said.

“I am often surprised at the level of information parish councillors have to go through. They are all volunteers although there is some training. They have to understand all levels of government and it can be frustrating how little power a parish council has.

“It is often what wasn’t done that stands out as the best achievements such as when, I think it was Network Rail, wanted to put a 100 metre tall radio mast at Yeoford Station. The parish council was successful in its campaign against this. What was put up was much smaller and away from the station area.

“Then there was the plan to close the railway station because, we were told, it would be more sensible to keep Copplestone station open, close ours and the crossing at Salmonhutch to save three minutes on the journey between Barnstaple and Exeter.

“The parish council was able to stop both of these ideas with the result that Yeoford became a request stop for the trains instead of them all stopping,” said Mrs Jarvis.

Another area where the parish council had objected was to plans for new homes opposite the old post office.

“The original plan was for them to open directly on to the pavement. We got them moved back with the grass area between them and the pavement,” added Mrs Jarvis.

“Also the homes that were built behind the pub. To start with there wasn’t going to be any parking space. But the parish council got the parking provided,” she said.

There is now a vacancy for someone to join Crediton Hamlets Parish Council. It is a rewarding job that the current councillors all agree is one that demands commitment if it is to be done properly.