THE March meeting of Newton St Cyres Parish Council held on Thursday, March 2, was attended by seven Councillors, the Parish Clerk, the Mid Devon District Councillor, Graeme Barnell, and two members of the public. 

Some Important Announcements

• The date of our Annual Parish Meeting is Thursday, April 6 at 7pm in the Parish Hall. This is an important meeting that enables you to hear about the work of the council over the last year and to raise any queries you have.

We will also be awarding the "Volunteer of the Year Award". All Parishioners are invited to attend. The meeting only last 30 minutes and will be followed by the regular Parish Council meeting, should you also wish to attend this. 

• Our local Volunteer Road Warden scheme is up and running very successfully.

If you have seen a problem on one of our minor back roads, including potholes, sign cleaning, weed clearing or small drainage problems, then you should report them on the Parish Council website: https://www.middevonparish.co.uk/newtonstcyres/ .

This will receive rapid attention from the Road Wardens. Alas, they cannot tackle the potholes on the A377.

The Parish Council continues to press Devon County Council for their repair, but you can also report them on the their website: https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/ .

• We have had the driest February in 30 years. Our reservoirs and aquifers have not yet recovered from last summer. This could pose problems for next summer.

Southwest Water has launched a campaign called "Save Every Drop". It’s full of useful advice and has some great links. Find it at: https://www.southwestwater.co.uk/services/save-water/#/ .

• We have local council elections on May 4. Some of your Parish Councillors are standing down after many years of service, and we need to replace them.

If you are interested in helping to improve your local area, contact the Parish Clerk (see the Council website) to find out how to become a councillor.

It is important that parishioners stand for election as, should the council have insufficient councillors, the number will be made up by Mid Devon nominees. The deadline for applications is April 4. So please hurry.

Planning

• The Parish Council noted applications for Bidwell Barton Farm and Elmshurst, Church Lane. At Bidwell Barton Farm, the application was for the building of a barn.

At Elmshurst the application covered a small extension and solar roof panels. There were no objections from members of the public and the Council decided that "no comment to make" was the most appropriate response.

• The Parish Council strongly supported an application for the installation of ground-mounted solar panels at Home Farm, Newton St Cyres.

• The Parish Council was asked to comment on the recent spate of tree protection orders. After some discussion, the council decided that, while in general agreement with tree protection orders, the lack of consultation with the landowners and the wider local community was unsatisfactory.

Other Council Issues

• DEFRA is withdrawing funding for the permissive footpaths in the parish. The Parish Council will be investigating how we might be able to support them in future. 

• There was a very successful meeting for consultation about the Neighbourhood Plan. A report of the meeting appears in the latest issue of the "Newton Wonder".

• A petition was received about the condition of the New Estate road. Graeme Barnell, Mid Devon District Councillor, is setting up a meeting with residents and Mid Devon Council.

• Graeme is also investigating the repair of one of the lights in the Parish Hall car park which provides important street lighting for the bungalows adjacent to the Parish Hall.

The next meeting of the Parish Council will be held in the Parish Hall on Thursday, April 6 at 7.30pm, starting after the Annual Parish Meeting. 

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