SANDFORD Parish Council is now in the process of considering Tenders received for the construction of the new Sandford Community Sports Pavilion.

It is hoped that building work will begin in the late autumn of 2016 and be completed by the spring or early summer of 2017.?Whilst the building works are in progress the play area at the playing field will be temporarily closed for health and safety reasons and during this time the new play area at Creedy View and the one at Linhay Park can be used.

A resident had written stating that they felt that the play area could remain open if safely secured whilst the building works proceed.

For safety reasons the council could not agree to this suggestion or any additional costs incurred to make the play area “doubly secure” over and above the proposals to secure the area.

Due to the building works both the slide and the play bus will have to be removed. As the slide will no longer meet Health and Safety Rules (it will be too high) this will not be replaced.

Also the bus, which was only second-hand when it was acquired, and is now in a poor state of decoration, will not be replaced.

The parish council in future has plans to refurbish the play area and acquire some new pieces of equipment.

<7 cent>PARKING?<7 point>An entry in the parish Comment Book from a new resident raised parking issues in the village and suggested that the Mid Devon District Council garages at “Crofts” be used for their correct purpose rather than for storage.

Adoption of Mill Lane telephone box – It was agreed to ask for suggestions for the change of use of the call box and in particular from residents in Mill Lane and the the owners of the Millennium Green.

Tania Weeks (DCC Public Rights of Way) gave notice that a public inquiry would take place in the Summer of 2017 to discuss the “Objected Modification Order to the Restricted Byway No 50 Sandford (Henstill Cross to Lower New Buildings)”.

Devon Communities Together gave notice that their “Information and Advice Surgery” was to be in Crediton on November 8.

MDDC gave notice of a “Tough Choices Meeting” at Tiverton on December 5, to be chaired by Cllr John Hart, Leader of DCC.

<7 cent>FUNDING

<7 point>The CAB and also Crediton and District Community Ring and Ride had submitted requests for funding. The clerk had acknowledged both applications pointing out that these applications would be considered at the January 2017 meeting.

A letter had been received “requesting that the Parish Council consider providing a bus shelter at the corner of Mill Lane as part of the Football Pavilion project in the playing field”.

It was pointed out that there was already a bus shelter at the end of Mill Lane although it was appreciated that passengers waiting there were unable to see the bus approaching down Rose and Crown Hill.

It was agreed that this was not an easy matter to resolve, and that Mill Lane was in the Sandford Conservation Area, it was agreed to consider the suggestion further at the next meeting.

In the meantime it was agreed to write a letter to the bus company, Turners, suggesting that as the bus approached the bus stop at Mill Lane it slow down to see whether any passengers were waiting in the bus shelter.

Parishioners are reminded that as well as using the parish Comment Book and emailing the parish council they are also very welcome to attend the beginning of the monthly parish council meeting to speak in the Open Forum.

This is a dedicated part of the council agenda when parishioners may raise any current issues with the parish council.

The next meeting of the parish council will take place on January 6 at Sandford Congregational Church Hall.

MJV