THE chairman, Shuana Miles welcomed two new parish councillors, Michael Lee and Nick Unstead, to the September meeting of Sandford Parish Council.

A large part of the meeting was taken up discussing matters arising from the Sandford Community Sport Pavilion Project Board Design Team meeting that had taken place on August 23.

The parish council is currently going out to tender and it is hoped that work on the new Sandford Community Sports Pavilion will commence later this year with an opening date in the Spring of 2017.

For safety reasons the play area at the Playing Field will need to be closed during this time while the building works are underway.

The parish council is hoping that the new play area at Creedy View will be open in time to cover the closure of the main play area.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

The clerk reported on the finances for the parish Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday celebrations for which the parish council had paid for the souvenir rulers, which were presented to pupils at Sandford School.

The cost of printing the Souvenir Programme had been paid for from funds left over from the 2012 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.

The weekend of events had been self financing leaving a net sum of £71.55 and it was agreed to donate this to the £400 Sandford Congregational Church is raising funds towards the purchase of a Disabled Ramp for use at their Hall.

It was agreed there was no need for a “sweep-up meeting”.

The Sandford QE90 scrapbook has now been completed and is ready to view. If anyone would like to see it they are asked to contact parish clerk Malcolm Vallance.

Both the Sandford Good Companions and Sandford Heritage have borrowed it to show their members. Arrangements are also being made for the Lord Lieutenant of Devon to view it at a later date.

SHUTE STREAM

The ongoing saga of clearing out the Shute Stream, before Winter, continues and Cllr Jim Stephens offered to tackle the issue.

It was agreed to support a Mid Devon District Council Town and Parish (TAP) grant application by Crediton International Social and Cultural Organisation (CISCO) for £600 to provide English lessons so as to help migrant workers in the area improve their languages skills and enable them to share in cultural diversity.

Tania Weeks from Devon County Council (PROW) had sent a copy of the Modification Order for Footpath No 50 Henstill Cross to Lower New Buildings.?Devon Association of Local Councils (DALC) gave notice of its 2016 AGM on October 11 at Newton Abbot Racecourse and it was agreed that the chairman would attend.

NO DOG BINS?

MDDC gave details of a Review of Street Cleaning being carried and enclosed a copy Questionnaire for completion in relation to the current street cleansing in the parish including, dog bins, emptying of litter bins etc. One of the proposals being made to cut cost is to dispense with dog bins and instead put ALL litter into the current waste bins.

It was agreed that Cllr Pat Yeo and the clerk look at the questionnaire in detail and formulate a response.

Parishioners are reminded that if there are any issues they would like brought to the attention of the parish council, that they can use the Parish Comment Book at Sandford Post Office.

Alternatively there is the option to pass on any issues by using the contact point on the new Parish website: www.sandfordparishcouncil.gov.uk or emailing the parish clerk on: [email protected] .

The next parish council meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Thursday, October 6, at Sandford Congregational Church Hall.

MJV