TWO parishioners spoke in the Open Forum at the March meeting of Sandford Parish Council.

SANDFORD CRICKET CLUB - Matt Theedom gave a presentation on the latest project by the Cricket Club to create a second pitch.

This was due to the popularity of the Club and the ever increasing number of children playing cricket.

Questions were then taken from councillors. These included the need for extra parking. There were also road safety implications at the access from the Club onto the highway, bearing in mind the extra traffic that would be created.

Matt confirmed that this was already under discussion. The Parish Council felt this was a very worthwhile project that they would be pleased to support.

SANDFORD ALLOTMENTS - Penny Somerville (Allotment holder) gave a presentation on behalf of herself, and several other allotment holders, in support of the South West Water “Water Saving Community Fund” to use recycled water on the allotments. Funding could be provided for water butts etc.

The suggestion was to recycle water from the roof of the Parish Hall or Sandford School that could be saved and used by Sandford Allotment Holders.

The Chairman thanked Penny for her Presentation and advised that the Parish Council had been in support of the original suggestion although the allotments were privately owned.

However Sandford Parish Hall was not interested in becoming involved and Sandford School had not responded.

Also the Landlords had replied saying that they felt “allotment holders already generated their own water supply".

LITTER BIN - A request for a second litter bin at the Millennium Green lay-by had been received from Pamela Tilney-Ellis.

This was due to litter constantly overflowing in the lay-by from the current bin due to the amount of use.

Charlie Werner had also supported the request on behalf of Sandford Millennium Green.

This request had been passed on to Mid Devon District Council, which had agreed to supply an extra litter bin for three months to gauge demand.

SANDFORD PULLS TOGETHER - First Anniversary and the future of S.P.T - It had been agreed with Dom Dunn that SPT would continue for the present time.

TRANSPORT TO VACCINATION CENTRES - Two Volunteers had come forward offering lifts to the Vaccination centres for those who needed assistance.

PARISH CELEBRATION WALK - A suggestion from the Chairman to organise a walk, plus a cream tea, after the unlocking received unanimous support. The Clerk, with help from Cllr Shuana Miles, had made a start on the SPT 2020 Sandford Scrapbook which would probably run into two volumes.

FURLONGS FOOTPATH - It was agreed to support one of two options from Steve McCulloch (Footpath Officer) to improve this footpath which was being highly used during lockdown.

“Dig away all soil from path and gateways, cover with stonework to raise and widen the path. This option is obviously the more expensive one. I would imagine it requiring at least 16 tonnes of scalpings, an excavator and dumper truck.

"An application could be made to the P3 partnership to help fund this." It would be necessary to establish who owned the footpath below Park House.

NEW BUILDINGS DEFIBRILLATOR – Cllr Nick Unstead gave an update on funding towards the estimated £2,000 cost of installation of the proposed defibrillator in the vacant New Buildings phone box.

SANDFORD AFC – The Chairman advised that the Football Club would be happy to reduce the proposed netting fence to a height of 5M and a width of 20M. Before the football club submitted at planning application it was agreed to write advising the residents of Meadowside Road, across the road from the playing field, of the proposal.

BROADBAND - Neil Davis from Creedy Park had sent details of the Openreach Community Fibre Partnership which he had successfully found 23 parishioners to sign up to claim the government funding offer.?Elisabeth Clech had written on the matter of “Universal Service” and Rural Broadband in her part of the Parish (i.e. Stoneshill and towards Kennerleigh, Coppice Lane and Dowrich). The current Fibre Broadband installation in the Parish passed the area at the end of Coppice Lane. Elisabeth and her neighbours had asked BT Outreach why their properties had not been included.

ROADS AND FOOTPATHS – Concern was expressed over the time taken to deal with potholes reported to Devon County Council Highways, especially on the road from New Buildings to Copplestone.

OUTDOOR THEATRE – The Clerk confirmed that the Common Players were to bring their production of “Tuck Inn” to the Millennium Green in the summer. Also a performance of the “The Merry Wives of Windsor” was booked for the afternoon of Sunday, June 27.

Date of next Meeting - April 1, (format and venue to be agreed). There being no other business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.50pm.

MJV