By Sue Read

WHAT is being planned in Crediton, either by organisations or individuals, for the Queen’s 90th birthday?

This was a question asked by Crediton Town Council at its monthly meeting this week when members wholeheartedly agreed to do something, including a beacon, hopefully at the top of George Hill.

The town council is writing to the Scouts, the ACF and ATC and the town fire service about a beacon, but does not want to go across anything other groups might be organising before it goes further.

The look of the town, its rural setting down to the cleanliness of its streets was discussed. Cllr Liz Brookes-Hocking asked whether it wanted to register the former railway allotments at Fordton as a community asset.

This is the site that had formerly been given approval for housing and has now been approved for industrial units alongside the railway line.

Cllr Brookes-Hocking said this was one of the more rural areas within the town boundary. In its survey a while ago the town council had found that people “really valued” the town setting.

She pointed out that the Fordton industrial estate was screened by trees, but the former allotment land was close to the signal box, a listed building.

She said that with the town council’s Neighbourhood Plan, it was trying to look at how such sites might be used in the future, including the former scrap yard across the railway line from this site.

If the industrial development went ahead, how would it impact on the southern access from Fordton and on the Heritage listed line of houses.

“Do we think this should be the gateway to our rural hinterland?,” she asked. The clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, explained that the town council could register the plot if there was an historical use.

That meant the community had six months to come up with a business plan and to buy it if it wished, but Crediton did not have that luxury.

Cllr Brookes-Hocking persevered, saying the town still needed to think about how valuable the view was in that part of Fordton.

It was suggested the town council wrote to the planning authority, Mid Devon District Council, to say how disappointed it was that the planning application had been approved and hoped the cladding for the industrial buildings would be sympathetic with the area.

Cllr Bill Dixon commented that the town was being extended more and more by building, meaning that people had to drive further to enjoy open space.

HEDGES AND DOGS

A keen walker, council chairman, Cllr Frank Letch, said he had been surprised by the number of overgrown hedges along footpaths and pavements.

He also said he was “disgusted” at the amount of dog poo on pavements and footpaths, asking that if anyone sees someone not picking up after their dog, to please report this.

However, members agreed that seeing this happen was a lot less likely than finding the result left behind. Both his complaints were noted.

It was reported that litter at the bus shelter by the Tesco roundabout had been cleared and Tesco had said it would keep this area clear and do a regular litter pick.

BEDS AND PARKING

Knowing that by no means he not the only person to be affected, Cllr Dixon said he was appalled by the situation now that Crediton Hospital has no beds.

His wife had recently been in Tiverton Hospital where he found there was a “brand new ward” with new beds and everything else while Crediton’s beds had been closed.

Cllr Nick Way reported having been asked again by some people about the possibility of parking on the town square, this time with regard to the road closure.

“There are people who felt it would be right the square was made available for parking,” he said. However, he added that he knew the town council had been told before why this would not happen including health and safety reasons and that the original grant from the now defunct South West Regional Development Association precluded parking.

MUD AND POTHOLES

Cllr Joyce Harris reported that although the top of Tinpot had been resurfaced, not all had been done, leaving a patch that was a mud bath. Could something be done about that?

She also reported having received complaints about potholes at Barnfield and Brays Close.

It was said that people should use the Devon County Council website for reporting potholes, being as precise as possible as to where they were. The council wanted to encourage use of this website.

Looking at the need for a bus stop sign at Crediton railway station, the council heard that letters had been exchanged between the town clerk and the county council about this including whether Listed Building Consent would be needed and there was some amusement that it had taken so long to resolve.

One suggestion to avoid all this was that maybe the sign could go on the other side of the road near the new houses. This will be put forward.

BOOKS AND THINGS

Hearing some of the hopes for the future of Crediton Community Bookshop, the town council expressed its support and, although it cannot give the financial help, it would support any application the Community Bookshop might make in its efforts to gain further support from Devon County Council in the light of the Bookshop being an educational establishment.

Mr Ken McKechnie, chairman of the Community Bookshop, outlined how it had begun from 2012 with the launch of £20 shares, raising £40,000 in shares and grants, and opening in September 2013.

He said it had made a small loss in its first year and “just about broke even” in its second.

There was the question of whether this was sustainable. Although there had been some scepticism when it opened, the bookshop was still trading despite “a fairly hostile business environment”.

However, it did not have the space to expand. With about 30 per cent of its sales being to schools (it works with a network of 18 primary and two secondary schools) if it could move to larger premises on the High Street, he was sure sales would increase, its services for local authors and poets could grow and it could become even more of a community hub.

It could not afford a mortgage and, given the effort it took to raise the initial funding, they did not want to go back to those share holders to ask for more money. He wondered whether the town council had any ideas about premises.

PLANNING

The council had no objection to an application for an ATM at the Post Office at 7 Market Street. This would go where the Post Box is at present with a new Post Box to be provided.

The council said it did not object so long as the postal service outside the building was not interrupted, but it did object to the application for Advertisement Consent with internally illuminated lettering.

It was felt to be unsuitable because its external light would be inappropriate and too bright for the Conservation Area and local street scene.

There was no objection to an application for one non illuminated projecting sign and one non illuminated staff information sign at Crediton Dental Care, 100 High Street.

Nor was was there objection to an application with a revised scheme to build a B1/B2 light industrial unit on land at Commonmarsh Lane, Lords Meadow Industrial Estate.

There was no objection to an application for a certificate of lawfulness for the existing conversion of offices into two flats at 10 Market Street.

Approval was recommended for an application to build a new early years building on the site of the former swimming pool at Landscore Primary School and to extend the school hall to provide facilities to support the school’s proposed expansion to 420 places.