GUEST speaker at the September meeting of Sandford Parish Council was Cllr John Berry (Chairman of Mid Devon District Council) who gave a presentation on where the District Council currently found itself.

Cllr Berry then took questions from councillors including, Why did MDDC not recycle plastic like Exeter City Council? – He said this was still being discussed.

Other topics raised with him included collection of re-cycling, S106 funding, and Planning Enforcement issues.

Cllr Berry agreed to send a response to the parish council on these issues and was thanked by the parish chairman for attending the meeting (and duly stayed to the end of the meeting).

At the meeting Dom Dunn (Parish Emergency Officer) presented copies of the Sandford Emergency Plan to the Clerk and councillors representing areas of the parish.

Chairman, Mrs Pat Yeo, thanked him for all the work carried out in preparing the updated Emergency Plan.

It was reported that the revived Sandford Revel had gone off well, with approximately 500 to 600 people attending. It was felt that the Revel should now become an annual event again and that a separate Sandford Revel Committee should be formed to run it.

A letter had been received from a parishioner complaining over the number of unused bollards around the village. The clerk had passed the letter to Devon Highways.

At the same time the clerk had made enquires as to when the new railings around the Shute stream were to be installed?

A reply had been received from Duncan Tolson, Senior Bridge Engineer, stating: "We didn't want to install the railing before the new trash screen was installed over the mouth of the culvert immediately downstream of St Swithun's Bridge, as there is a risk of accidental damage when the pieces are lifted in.

"The trash screen is currently being fabricated and should be available shortly. I am expecting the work to be finished within the next few weeks.

"Once the trash screen is available, then the County's contractor will be able to complete these works. Please accept my apologies for the delay with this scheme.

"The trash screen has had to be especially designed to fit the stream profile and the existing culvert and this took longer to sort out than we were expecting."

The chairman reported on a meeting with Bob King (Highways), MDDC Cllr Michael Lee and Mr A Wright (owner of the orchard) to discuss suggestions for resolving the flooding issues in the village and in particular at the bottom of Rose and Crown Hill.

Following the meeting the ditch in the orchard has now been cleared out. Further work is needed to clear out the stream's course as it flows through the village.

It was felt that it was necessary to contact someone with the "know how" and equipment to undertake this work.

The clerk had researched the MDDC website for the planning application for "Land off Fanny's Lane for a mixed development of 12 open market houses and six affordable eco-houses etc".

At the MDDC planning meeting on August 14 it was noted that this application had been granted permission subject to the provision of a Section 106 Agreement

The next Parish Council meeting will be held at Sandford Congregational Church Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday, October 3.

MJV