THE October meeting of Sandford Parish Council heard that two comments had been recorded in the Parish comment book.

The first related to “Old Vestry” and asked why if planning permission was originally granted for a Holiday Let is it now being used for permanent residential accommodation?

Councillors agreed to pass this comment on to Mid Devon District Council’s Planning Enforcement Officer.

The second comment related to the Play Area Consultation meeting which took place in March.

The correspondent asked: “At what stage will the findings be implemented?”

The parish council felt that until the final footprint of plans by Sandford AFC to re-build the club hut, and their intentions for the re-build had been confirmed, it would be difficult to take any action.

It was agreed to hold a joint meeting with Sandford AFC for an update of their current progress.

Parishioners are reminded that the Parish Comment Book is kept at Sandford Post Office and if they wish to bring something to the attention of the Parish Council, the book can be used for that purpose.

Whilst congratulating Sandford Playgroup on another successful Scarecrow Trail it was agreed to pass on comments from parishioners over the delay in taking some of them away after the contest had ended.

A joint meeting had taken place with St Swithun’s Parochial Church Council to discuss Remembrance Sunday (November 8), and Carols in the Square (December 22) and a further meeting is planned.

FOOTPATH

A meeting to discuss the proposed footpath at the bottom of “St Swithun’s Gardens” had taken place with Simon Densham (MDDC) and Steve Tucker (Devon County Highways).

Discussion had taken place as to whether this scheme would be good use of the DCC grant money of £2,000 earmarked for this purpose.

County Cllr Margaret Squires suggested diverting the funding to the proposed footpath from “Creedy View” to “Snows”. The clerk agreed to contact Tania Weeks (DCC Public Rights of Way) for her comments.

‘VIRTUAL PAVEMENT’

Further discussion took place over the “Virtual pavement” on Church Street Corner/Fanny’s Lane. Steve Tucker (DCC Highways) had advised that “Virtual pavements” held no legal weight and were purely advisable.

It was agreed to contact St Swithun’s PCC to ask whether they would be in agreement to the Parish Council purchasing advisory signs requesting “Please do not park on the Virtual Pavement”.

If the PCC was agreeable, these could be erected on the churchyard boundary wall?

APOLOGY

Mr Andrew Busby (MDDC) had written apologising for the errors being made over the Grass areas which had not been cut in Sandford following the review.

Since this had been brought to his attention the contractors had visited the village to cut the two areas that had been missed though it was noted they had cut the wrong locations and not those shown on the list for Sandford. The clerk agreed to pursue this matter.

Cllr Jeremy Atkins gave a report on the Effective Councillor Training Event he had attended which he had found to be both interesting and informative.

Two expressions of interest had been received for the parish councillor vacancies.

It was agreed to invite the two applicants to the November meeting to introduce themselves.

As there were three vacancies it was agreed to continue advertising.

Churchyard grants agreed were St Swithun’s Church, £305 and Sandford Congregational Church £139. An honorarium of £570 was agreed to the Parish Footpath Warden.

It was agreed to report highway issues: New Buildings – Roads are in a dangerous condition (particularly bad for motor bikes and cyclists); Potholes - Jack Back Cross to entrance to Middle Henstill Farm (west to New Buildings); Kerbstones broken by Sandford Stores and also corner kerb at the bottom of Church Street crumbling away again due to bad repair previously.

The next parish council meeting will take place on November 5 at 7.30pm at Sandford Congregational Church Hall.

Malcolm Vallance