Exclusive by Alan Quick

A LACK of action by Devon County Council with regard to road safety, "walk to school" provision and infrastructure in the village of Copplestone was the subject of a presentation made at the March meeting of Copplestone Parish Council.

Phil Bourne, former vice-chair of the council, and also a former Mid Devon District Councillor, updated councillors on what he described as "frustrating work done from 2007, up to 2012, towards resolving Copplestone’s road safety and particularly ’walk to school’ needs, following unique, 60 plus per cent increase in population during the past seven years, after completion of the four new housing developments, Dulings, Lytchgate, Bassets Bridge and Bellway/Station Road".

Mr Bourne added that attempts to move ahead with the needs of the vastly expanded community since that time, despite the best efforts of some people and the parish council itself, had resulted in nothing.

Copplestone, which is probably Devon’s newest parish, formed from surrounding parishes, has seen its population rise from 894 in 2001 to 1,253 in 2011 and is now estimated to be near 2,000.

The 60 per cent population increase has been described as the largest ever recorded in a Devon village outside of a new town, making it now the size of the "town" of Bampton.

Mr Bourne said that in other areas like Cranbrook, near Exeter, a joint venture between Exeter City Council and East Devon District Council, infrastructure was "both properly planned and put in place, in advance of the new venture".

NO VILLAGE HALL

Former Copplestone Parish Council chairman Ken Warren, a member of Copplestone Recreation Association, was despondent that the village had not been able to achieve the building of a community hall for the village.

He reported that attempts to apply for National Lottery funding through Mid Devon District Council had been unsuccessful and despite re-submissions and areas requesting clarity, a re-submission had not been made and since then the appropriate National Lottery fund had closed.

He said this was bitterly disappointing and claimed that the Association had been "badly let down by Mid Devon District Council".

He added: "Copplestone is not a small village but the size of a small town and needs the versatility a good-sized hall would give.

Mr Bourne said that it was "shocking" that the village had no community hall and highlighted how one resident had recently explained that despite living in Copplestone for two years, she had not met her neighbour.

Mr Bourne said that a hall for community events would help with community cohesion.

NO PAVEMENT

The lack of a pavement at Bewsley Hill narrows, where children walk to and from Copplestone Primary School, was reported as a significant failure by Devon County Council.

The meeting was told that in the past there had been a minor injury incident to a child at the scene when the child had been in contact with an inpatient car driver at the location.

It was reported that a pavement was not achieved because of land ownership issues and a "ransom strip" situation.

Copplestone Parish Council has been trying to achieve a solution at the location for many years and it was hoped that further discussions could be had to achieve a pavement.

A lack of a pavement on the Okehampton direction route from the village from "Furzedown" was requested in 2008 by a parent anxious, with others, about getting their children safely down this busy, very lively piece of road but Mr Bourne said that "except for the 30 sign painted on the road, there is nothing to show after 10 years!"

TRAFFIC

Other issues raised included the vast increase of traffic passing through the village and what was described as a "clear need to address serious risk to pedestrians, with close proximity of children, parents and vehicles on the pavement”.

The re-siting of one of the traffic lights in the village was also discussed because the visibility distance for motorists at one location was not adequate.

In conclusion Mr Bourne said there had been "no headway" with regard to a number of issues concerning traffic and pedestrian safety in Copplestone and said "children and residents were still at risk".

DULINGS

At the meeting the Parish Council also decided to object to the re-submitted application for further homes at Dulings.

A number of members of the public attended to hear the decision.

The council currently has a vacancy for a councillor.