“Eagle” Notes
To provide additional communication and interaction with residents, this page contains the Parish Council notes from the parish clerk published in the “Eagle” village magazine each month. (The December issue also covers January of the following year.) This page will contain the latest notes together with those for the previous two issues of the “Eagle”.
May 2024
After the surprise of snow a couple of weeks ago, temperatures are on the way up and there are even glimpses of sunshine. We are lucky to live in a beautiful part of the country with several footpaths, so that everyone can enjoy nature. Unfortunately, for some weeks now there have been reports of dog walkers letting dogs run loose in fields. This can cause damage to crops and livestock and we ask every person exercising their or other people’s dogs to keep their animals under close control and respect the Countryside Code. If there is evidence of a person(s) allowing dogs to run free in fields, the dog warden will be informed and fines can be issued. As mentioned in last month’s edition, dogs are not allowed in the playing field (village fete and dog show being the only exception).
This year, the Annual Parish Meeting will take take place on 22 May 2024 at Yarnscombe Village Hall, 7.45pm. We encourage as many parishioners as possible to attend, especially if you are new to the village. This is your chance to voice any concerns and issues you feel need to be dealt with. We may not be able to offer solutions on the day but any issue brought to our attention will be followed up.
Last but not least, on behalf of Yarnscombe Parish Council we would like to offer our congratulations to “The Eagle” on its 40th birthday! No mean feat to keep a village newsletter going for this length of time and, as the excerpts in the current edition show, the village has changed tremendously. Thank you to the Eagle team for including council news and ensuring that all village organisations are represented.
HOW TO REPORT A POTHOLE
Please go to www.devon.gov.uk > Roads and Transport > Report a Problem > Pothole. There you will find the definition of a pothole and once you press “Start now” it guides you through a short questionnaire regarding location, size etc of the pothole. You can then pinpoint the pothole on an interactive map, check if it has been reported before and its current progress update.
REMEMBER: The more people report a pothole, the likelier it is to be repaired.
If you are reporting an emergency that requires immediate attention, something that is very likely to present an imminent threat to life or serious injury or serious damage to property, please call 0345 155 1004. You can also ring DCC on 0345 155 1015 to report a pothole or for any other problems related with highways.
April 2024
Spring is here! Well, at least in meteorological terms. Apart from a few dry days, it has been so far a very wet spring, which has taken its toll on the roads in the parish. Since the last meeting a ditching order has been put in by the Neighbourhood Highways Officer for the problem drainage area on the road from Clogshill Cross to Easton Moor Cross. If and when resources are available, the road to Clogshill Cross is also earmarked for repairs, although no time schedule has been announced. Be assured councillors raise the issue of road conditions on a regular basis with our County Councillor.
If you as a parishioner spot a pothole in need of urgent repair, please report it. More details below.
The council have come to the decision to replace the wooden fencing surrounding the playing field with metal fencing. The fencing serves various purposes, it denotes the border of the field, provides a barrier to a neighbouring field, protects adjoining properties and, last but not least, keeps the field a safe space for children and adults to enjoy. Over the years, the wooden fence needed to be partially replaced, maintenance is an ongoing issue and the cost of wood has risen dramatically. Metal fencing is an investment for the future, its longevity and low maintenance mean a clear advantage over wood. Naturally, it comes at a cost and councillors have not taken this decision lightly. At present, we are in a financial position where we can undertake such a project. Also, we will look for financial help from District and County and other funding sources.
On the subject of the playing field, an urgent reminder for everyone: Dogs are not allowed to be exercised in the field! Recently, somebody was spotted with their dog in the playing field; this is forbidden. The only occasion when dogs are allowed is the exception of the dog show as part of the annual village fete.
March 2024
At our last meeting, council set budget for 2024/25 and set precept. In the previous year, council had stayed within parameters set by budget of previous year. This year, clerk's salary is rising slightly according to national guidelines. Also, the council's 5 year contract with the insurance company will come to an end. This long-term arrangement had guaranteed us a favourable quote in recent years. So, an increase in insurance costs also had to be taken into account. As the council is in a secure financial position, councillors decided to only raise the precept slightly overall: the parish element of the precept will only rise by £0.49 for a Band D household.
Another matter of concern is the upkeep and maintenance of the playing field fence. Repairs are being carried out at present, although hampered by the weather. Councillors are hoping to replace wooden fence with galvanised metal. This would be expensive, but also future proof the fencing.
It is good to see that representatives of the Village Hall / Social Club Committee have started to attend our meetings. We appreciate their input and open lines of communication can only benefit both organisations. It is planned that one of our councillors will attend future meetings of Village Hall / Social Club Committee.