MUCH of the July meeting of Sandford Parish Council was spent discussing parking issues and signage in and around Sandford Square.

A small number of residents attended the Open Forum and a number of objections were put forward to the one sign in the square.

Stuart Albrighton presented a statement in connection with this new parking sign outside his home “Fairview”. He also confirmed that Devon County Highways Department had been contacted to seek its views.

The objections were mainly concerned with a perceived increase in traffic in Church Street and the effect on pedestrians making their way to the church and school.

(During the erection of the direction signs to the Parish Council Car Park the chairman and clerk had spoken with some residents of the Square about the sign).

The Landlord of the Lamb Inn welcomed the new parking signs in and around the Square which were put up as an attempt to encourage drivers to use the parish car park. He encouraged all his visitors ahead of their visits to use the parish car park.

The chairman responded on behalf of the Parish Council to point out that parking in the Square was once again becoming a major problem as recorded in recent minutes.

The parking signs were an attempt to encourage drivers to park away from the Square to alleviate the problem.

This was not helped by residents who lived in the Square having two vehicles parked there and not taking up the suggestion of parking one vehicle off the Square.

Devon County Councillor, Mrs Margaret Squires wondered if the time had come to extend the yellow lines? She also offered to put the Parish Council in touch with James Anstee, DCC Road Safety Officer, to discuss these various issues and this was accepted.

The parking sign in the Square had been erected in accordance with signage rules for Conservation Areas as advised to the Parish Council in 2018 by Mid Devon District Council.

Matters reported to the Clerk during the month included:

• Obstructed footpath issue on the raised footpath in the Square causing pedestrians to have to walk in the road on Church Street. (Parishioners had been told to report this to DCC Highways).

• Cones at the entrance to the Square still not removed.

• Parking issues under the signpost at the top of Rose and Crown Hill causing visibility issues when leaving the Square. Also parking below the Lamb Inn railings which could potentially cause obstruction issues for Emergency vehicles.

• Home-made bollard and rope post on Back Lane to ease parking problems which was seen as a potential safety hazard.

• Meeting with residents regarding the proposed Sandford AFC net fence. It was agreed to discuss this at the September meeting once the Sandford AFC Annual General Meeting had taken place.

Grass Verge at Meadowside – It was agreed that the Clerk should contact Steve McCulloch to request that he arrange for the grass verge to be cut during the summer months. It was pointed out that the grass verge was not the responsibility of the Parish Council as it belonged to DCC.

The September 2 meeting of Sandford Parish Council will take place at 7.30pm at Sandford Community Sports Pavilion.

MJV