AFTER many months of pursuing the matter of the waste water and potholes at Long Barn, Sandford Parish Councillors were informed at the April meeting of the council that: “The road at Long Barn as you know has been flooding for some time. Stephen Tucker (Devon County Council Highways) went along with a metal detector and identified a number of drains in the area and marked them, the jetting machine has since been in the area.

"The area has been attended to and the road is now dry. As you are aware to be classed as a pothole (national criteria) it needs to be 300mm across in any direction x 40mm deep and have a vertical edge and these defects do not meet that criteria”.

PLAY AREA

A quotation has been accepted to refurbish the Sandford Play Area and work will commence shortly.

This will see re-painting of the swings and replacement safety surfacing, play bus upgrading and add ons to the wooden monkey bars.

Also installation of two new pieces of play equipment, a cone swing and a see saw.

The cost has been financed by parish council funds, Mid Devon District Council Section 106 monies and a (Town and Parish) TAP grant. Also donations from "The Crossing" and SACA.

At the same time a new piece of play equipment is to be installed at the “Creedy View” play area to use up the S106 balance.

Also following a donation from Sandford Flower Show, a bench will be installed at the Play Area.

PLANNING

Mid Devon District Councillor Mrs Judi Binks reported that planning permission had finally been granted for the Crediton Garden Centre expansion and also that the application for the Crediton Anaerobic Digester had been deferred. The Oak tree at Pedlarspool, despite the various comments, was in need to attention due to its poor and dangerous state.

MDDC Cllr Mrs Margaret Squires thanked the Parish Council for its continued support and congratulated everyone on their achievements during the last four years.

Council Chairman Lizzie Dalton thanked the Parish Council, MDDC Cllr Mrs Judi Binks, and Devon County Councillor Mrs Margaret Squires for all their support to her as Chairman during the last three years and advised she would be vacating the seat in May.

During those busy three years a lot had been achieved in the parish, including the Sandford Community Sports Pavilion and the “Creedy View” car park.

The next Sandford Parish Council meeting will take place at 7.30pm on May 9 (Local Elections on May 2) at Sandford Congregational Church Hall.

MJV