By Sue Read

HAVING received a report of the meeting the previous week with Dr Helen Tucker, vice president of the Community Hospitals Association, when she spoke about community hospitals in this country, Crediton Town Council is backing hopes for a return of the beds to Crediton Hospital.

At last weeks council meeting, it agreed to write to members of the Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group about its hopes for Crediton Hospital to come under the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and for its beds to be returned so the wards could be re-opened for patients.

ONE MORE BUS PLEASE

Looking at how the reduced bus service was working, councillors had been relieved to see the Town Bus running on two days a week. It had suggested three.

However, Cllr Letch reported receipt of complaints that the time-table only gave two hours in the town. People would like three buses a day which would allow time to get into Exeter by bus and back in time to catch the afternoon Town Bus home.

He suggested asking for a third bus to run at, perhaps, 3pm. Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking wondered if Tiverton and District Community Transport could in some way combine with the public transport to help Crediton.

GRASS CUTTING

Keeping the grass tidy in the garden can be a big enough chore for some of us and add in the complications of who might be going to pay for it and how many cuts could be done was the sort of problem facing Crediton Town Council.

Neither Devon County Council nor Mid Devon District Council have money to pay for grass cutting.

Any cutting being done would be for visibility reasons. It was estimated that eight cuts a year would cost around £4,400.

The town council could ask for prices from a contractor, but that would not be as simple as it sounded with one problem being that over the years the maps of areas to be cut had changed.

So councillors recommended asking the district council for eight cuts a year, for which the town council would pay.

PLACES FOR POSTERS

Cllr Heather Sansom, who has been removing out of date posters as part of a tidy-Crediton plan, reported that there was now a special poster holder on every alternate telegraph pole through the main part of the town.

Cllr Mike Szabo reported that at the park and ride car park for the railway at Fordton, the county council had identified three trees that needed to be felled.

These had been cut and removed. A team was to be brought in to clear weeds and vegetation in the next two months or so.

He reported that the replacement five-finger sign post for Forches Cross would soon be put up and it “looked fantastic.”

He also said that wood chippings had been laid on the path at the top of Peoples Park and that there had been a request for two small passing places for vehicles to be created on Peoples Park Road. This would be a future agenda item.

Cllr Andi Wyer reported being asked who had cut the grass at the cemetery because he had been told it “looked a right state” and that “people were livid.”

Cllr Anne Hughes asked if “a proper community notice board” could be put up in the town.

She also reported that the bus stop at Wellparks did not have a litter bin. Cllr Jade Walters reported a litter bin on Exeter Road that was damaged.

Councillors supported Crediton Bowling Club’s intentions to install an automatic watering system at its green.

PLANNING

The town council had no objections to the following planning applications:

Conversion of one dwelling into two and alterations to include erection of a porch, scullery and staircases, replacement of single-storey rear extension and alterations to access at Penton, Penton Lane. Also Listed Building Consent application.

Erection of two storey extension, entrance lobby and installation of dormer window to rear at Roydon, Alexandra Road.

Erection of a dwelling on Plot 10 at the former Devon County Council Newcombes resource Centre, Newcombes.

Application to fell seven Holm Oaks within the Conservation Area at 3 Taw Vale Terrace.

Looking at an application to build a 9.4MW solar farm with landscaping and associated infrastructure at Dunscombe, Newton St Cyres, councillors wanted to discuss this with members of Crediton Hamlets Parish Council.

It was noted that Mid Devon District Council, which determines planning applications, had given approval to fell a Norway Spruce tree in the Conservation Area at 62 High Street and to fell an ash tree and a Scots Pine in the Conservation Area at Wreylands, 2 The Maltings.

It had also approved formation of a new vehicle access at Downes Home Farm.