AT the December meeting of Sandford Parish Council, the chairman, Shauna Waller, welcomed two new parish councillors, Jake Weedon and Andrew Webb.

It was also agreed to co-opt Elizabeth Dalton and Phillip Harvey to the parish council.

In the Open Forum two parishioners, from Barnstaple Cross, expressed their concerns over road safety issues to pedestrians in that area due to the heavy volume of traffic.

A traffic survey had been carried out by parishioners, conducted “over two normal week days” in three, two-hour slots between 7.30am and 7pm.

It demonstrated that the traffic counted between 7.30am and 9.30am travelled mainly from the A377 in the direction of Jockey Hill.

While that counted between 5pm and 7pm (and between 12 noon and 2pm) travelled in the opposite direction (from Jockey Hill to wards the A377).

During the six hours of the count, vehicle movement averaged 3.57 per minute, with a peak of 5.9 per minute during a 30-minutes period.

The “pinch point” that occurred made sight limiting to both pedestrians and other road users and potentially hazardous to the residents of Barnstaple Cross when walking to and from the A377 in order to access the local bus services.

OS MAPPING

Mike Brett gave a presentation on the Ordnance Survey (Public Sector Mapping Agreement).

He felt the parish council should consider applying to Ordnance Survey for a "Public Sector Mapping Agreement" membership.

He explained that to do this would provide the parish council with access to a wide range of otherwise restricted OS data.

His intention would be to use this data to explore and evaluate the possibility of a community-organised high-speed internet connection scheme for the more rural areas in the parish and surroundings.

Membership of this scheme would also enhance the council’s ability to graphically visualise other potential schemes in the future.

St Swithun’s Parochial Church Council had agreed the erection of the two advisory “No Parking Signs” on the Church Wall. They also suggested a sign to be erected on the top Church Gate asking for “No parking here” as it obstructed access for disabled members attending Church. The Clerk agreed to go back to them to agree the final wording.

ROAD SIGNS

Dr Mike Anderson had sent details of a suggestion for “Twenty’s Plenty” road warning/speeding signs at New Buildings.

As these we unofficial signs County Cllr Margaret Squires was seeking advice from Devon County Highway over their use.

It was agreed to report the following Highway matters - Heath Bridge to Broxford Cross - Failing sub base and surface cracking; New Buildings - poor road surface; Between Thornhedges Cross

to Fanny’s Lane - three potholes; Bottom of Church Street – Footpath repaired again but as this was in Sandford Conservation Area surely the materials used should reflect this?

Creedy Lakes (Long Barn) - Multiple potholes and surface ruts have formed, further repairs had made surface very uneven.

The next meeting of Sandford Parish Council will take place on January 7.

The next meeting to discuss parish celebrations for the Queen’s 90th birthday will take place on January 19.

Malcolm Vallance