A TOTAL of 24 people, parishioners and parish councillors, attended Sandford’s recent Annual Parish meeting.

The chairman of the council, Mrs Elizabeth Dalton gave the Annual Report for 2017/2018.

The highlight of the year had been in July with the opening of the Sandford Community Sports Pavilion by Jack Yeandle, from Exeter Chiefs rugby team.

The parish council was also still in the process of acquiring the Creedy View car park and as Legal Fees of £4,000 would be incurred the Precept for 2018/2019 had been increased to include this.

Yellow lines had arrived in the village square, including a dedicated space for Sandford Stores. It was envisaged that within the next few months the outline planning application would arrive for new homes at Pedlarspool.

The chairman thanked parish councillors, district councillors, and the local county councillors, and also the clerk for their support in another busy year in Sandford.

Adam Voisey (Sandford AFC) reported that the Sports Pavilion was in constant use apart from spells during the winter weather.

He advised the meeting that in the period since the opening in July 2017 to March 2018, the pavilion had been used by 2,046 people including the football club and parish council meetings.

He advised that the Sports Pavilion Community Room was now available for hire by organisations and individuals and details could be obtained from Sandford AFC.

The parish council accounts were presented to the meeting by the clerk, Mr Malcolm Vallance and Sandford Parish Hall accounts by the treasurer, Mr Tony Wright. These were formally adopted.

The guest speaker was Mid Devon District Council Planning Officer, Mr Simon Trafford, who explained how “The MDDC Local Plan (and Review) fits into the Planning Process”.

The current Local Plan ran from 2013 to 2033 and the district council had carried out a Review in January 2017. The Review would be considered by the Planning Inspectorate and there would be a public consultation.

The purpose of the Plan was to help achieve “sustainable development” ensuring that providing for the development needs of the current generation did not “worsen the lives of future generations”.

The Plan was guided by national legislation and planning rules. “Pedlarspool” had previously been a “reserve site” but had been brought forward as MDDC needed to provide adequate housing for the needed government demand for a five-year supply.

This number already included the 185 homes currently under construction at Wellparks opposite Tescos.

If the application for new homes at Pedlarspool complied with local and national policy, the district council would be unable to refuse any application.

Parishioners felt that the district council had taken too long to complete the Local Plan “Review”.

Simon Trafford then took questions from the floor on infrastructure, lighting, travel needs, employment and tourism. There was also a question whether a Parish Neighbourhood Plan or Housing Needs Survey would assist MDDC?

The question was also asked as to “How Sandford Parish Council (in whose parish Pedlarspool was located) could influence any planning decision for this site?”.

The parish council was encouraged to work with the stakeholders. Also with their district councillors Margaret Squires and Judi Binks who had already indicated they would hope to achieve damage limitation for Sandford and “Would work to make the best of any forthcoming planning application at this location for the parish”.

The chairman thanked Simon Trafford for attending the meeting.

In any other business Michael Elliott advised the meeting that at the AGM of Sandford Tennis Club sufficient volunteers had come forward to form a new committee which meant that, as a result, the club could continue to operate.

MJV