BT TELEPHONE BOX WAS USED JUST SIX TIMES IN 12 MONTHS

THE October meeting of Sandford Parish Council heard from the parish clerk that an item in the Parish Comment Book noted that there were road markings between Spire Lake Hill and New Buildings and asked when re-surfacing works would take place?

The clerk said he had referred this matter to Devon Highways at Devon County Council which had subsequently advised that the works would take place between October 10 and 17.

The clerk said that there was also a letter in the book raising a number of questions in connection with the play area at the playing field and the Parish Council is in the process of drafting a response to the points raised.?The meeting noted that the play area will need to be closed, for safety reasons, once work starts later in the year on the Sandford Community Sports Pavilion.

The current slide will need to be removed before building work commences. Under current regulations concerning the height of the slide, once it is removed it will no longer meet safety rules so will not be re-installed.

The Play Bus will also be removed and due to its age will not be replaced.

Once the Pavilion project is completed further discussion will take place on the current equipment, and finance, for the play area and how it can be improved following a previous parish consultation.

In the meantime work to install equipment at the new play area at Creedy View will commence on October 24. This will mean that once the play area on the playing field closes youngsters will be able to play on the new Creedy View play area and also on the play area at Linhay Park.?(Parishioners are reminded that the purpose of the Parish Comment book is to ask questions on smaller issues such as potholes, problems over refuse collection etc. Any major issues may be raised with the Parish Council by letter, email, email to the Parish Council website, or in the Open Forum which takes place at the beginning of each meeting).?Other matters reported to the Clerk and Councillors this month included:

SHUTE STREAM?

Cllr Squires reported that DCC Highways could only assist if it could be proved that flooding occurs at Shute stream. There are also still issues over the matter of contaminated waste in the stream and how it is removed and disposed of.?Problems were also now being raised over the vegetation growing in the stream alongside Mill Lane which will potentially also include flooding issues.

BRAMBLES?

Brambles growing over the Joe Hole seat was discussed and the clerk reported that Parish Footpath Warden Adrian Gill had already dealt with this matter and was also dealing with the request for a hand rail at the entrance to Gosses footpath.?With regard to trees/shrubs at the end of the tennis court on Meadowside Road obstructing visibility when leaving the playing field, it was agreed to remove this vegetation.?Complaints had also been received from residents of the bungalows at Meadowside that the hedge on the other side of the road, against the grass verge was in need of being trimmed as it was obstructing their view.

This matter has been reported to MDDC and Cllr Michael Lee also agreed to speak to the owners of the hedge.?Cllr Pat Yeo and the Parish Clerk had completed the review of dog bins and litter bins and reported their findings to the Parish Council including:

REFUSE BINS?

It was noted that the refuse bin lid in Sandford Square was not fitting.

With regard to the refuse bin at the entrance to Mill Lane, the bin is not attached to the pole and had slid down the pole.

Also, in Mill Lane, it was reported that the front of the bin over the wall in the play area is loose and the bin never emptied although shown on the MDDC Plan.

With regard to the bin outside the Parish Hall, there is no lid to the bin and the bin is not attached to the fence.

In the lay-by outside the Millennium Green on the Sandford Road, it was noted that the dog bin and the litter bin at this location were not shown on the MDDC Map. It was assumed this explained why they were not emptied on a regular basis??The Parish Council was also unhappy with the suggestion that “dog poo” and litter could be placed in the same bin and are to take this up with MDDC.

BT BOX?

Because the telephone box in Mill Lane has only been used six times in the last 12 months, BT has given notice of their intention to remove it.

The Parish Council has an offer to “Adopt the Box” for £1 and would be pleased to hear of any suggestions for its future use.?A parishioner outside of the village asked why the Sandford Best Kept Garden Contest was just restricted to Sandford Village and excluded those living in other parts of the parish? Also why was it not advertised?

It was agreed to point out that all gardens in Sandford village were included and that as judging was carried out by volunteers it was not practical to extend the contest to other parts of the parish.?In her written report MDDC Cllr Judi Binks advised that the District Council was following up complaints about parking at Crofts and elsewhere and also about hedge trimming on council land.

A recent walkabout did not raise any concerns about MDDC property. Also complaints about littering in the lanes around Sandford and the idea that an anti-litter campaign might be suggested to the school and circulated via “Sandford Crossing” magazine around the village.

Concern had been expressed at the loss and damage to historic milestones around Sandford.

Also Holly Water Bridge has sustained serious damage from a large agricultural vehicle. Also lots of temporary road closures and diversions would be taking place in the area during the next month.

The date of the next meeting is November 3, at 7.30pm at Sandford Congregational Church Hall.

MJV