THE October 6 meeting of Newton St Cyres Parish Council was attended by eight Councillors and the Mid Devon District Councillor Graeme Barnell.

PLANNING

Graeme Barnell drew the Parish Council’s attention to the new planning submission for the large development near Creedy Bridge. This development will consist of 257 dwellings and up to five traveller pitches.

At present, it is envisaged that the development will require a new primary school, however the larger impact of the development also needs to be considered.

Graeme was concerned about increased traffic, not only on the A377 but also the smaller back roads. Increased pupil numbers will also affect QE secondary school as well as the primary schools.

Other areas of concern include the provision of GP services and sewage treatment works.

Obviously, a strategy is needed to provide all these services. Unfortunately, the service providers are spread across several different organisations and Graeme is concerned that co-ordination is lacking.

THE BONIFACE TRAIL

The Boniface Trail Association was founded some years ago to develop a mixed-use path between Crediton and Exeter.

Some progress has been made, but it was decided that funding from, for example, Devon County Council (DCC) would be required to expedite the work.

After the County Council was approached for support, it commissioned a report on the viability of the path and suitable routes.

This report is now very overdue and the Parish Council and members of the Association have become very frustrated with the lack of communication.

The A377 action group (of which the Parish Council is part) is putting pressure on DCC to release the report.

GRANTS FOR 2023-24

It will soon be time for the Parish Council to formulate its budget for 2023-24. Organisations hoping for support from the Council next year should submit applications for grants before November 15.

SOLAR ENERGY

Devon County Council is supporting a scheme to install small-scale solar farms across the county.

Suitable sites need to be about five acres in size, near to the National Grid, sunny, with road access and unobtrusive.

The Parish Council, while supporting the idea in principle, felt that this initiative was directed at local landowners rather than the Council. Should a landowner be interested, they should contact Devon Energy CIC.

PARKING ON STATION ROAD

The Parish Council received a letter from the management company of Newton House. Parking on Station Road is making joining the road at Newton House difficult, even unsafe.

Because of parked cars, traffic approaching the A377 from Sweetham is on the wrong side of the road and not visible from the Newton House exit.

The company pointed out that cars park too close to the school exit, Kingfisher Close and Court Orchard. (The Highway Code states cars must not park within 10m of a junction).

The Council is forwarding the company’s letter to Devon County Council Highways Department for action. However, we ask parishioners to be considerate of other road users when parking in this area.

RISK ASSESSMENTS

The Parish Council conducted its annual review of the assets within its responsibility. Most areas were fine. However, the new permissive path to the old school site needs attention and it is proposed to put some money in the next budget for this.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Parish Hall on Thursday, November 3 at 7pm.

Members of the public are welcome. Alternatively, if members of the public wish issues to be raised in council meetings, they can contact councillors in the usual way.

There is also a Parish Surgery at the Coffee Mornings held on the second Saturday of the month in the Parish Hall.

Liz Ouldridge