Current Topics within Dunchideock and surrounding area
The following may be of interest to villagers. Some of these have been discussed or will be discussed at Parish Council meetings. Other items are for background information. If you would like to have further information, please contact the Parish Clerk or the Councillor who is responsible for your kind of query.
Relevant Planning Applications/Issues
Planning Application - Agricultural Building change of use
Dunchideock Parish Council has been informed of an application for change of use of an agricultural building to two dwellings, at Treetops near Webberton Wood.
The Planning Reference is 18/02553/NPA and the deadline for responses is the 18th January 2019. You can view all associated documents on the Teignbridge planning Portal by clicking the following link: https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/planning/forms/planning-application-details/?Type=Application&Refval=18/02553/NPA
The application will be included as an item on the agenda for discussion at the Parish Council meeting on the 15th January 2019.
Dunchideock Parish Council has been informed of an application for change of use of an agricultural building to two dwellings, at Treetops near Webberton Wood.
The Planning Reference is 18/02553/NPA and the deadline for responses is the 18th January 2019. You can view all associated documents on the Teignbridge planning Portal by clicking the following link: https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/planning/forms/planning-application-details/?Type=Application&Refval=18/02553/NPA
The application will be included as an item on the agenda for discussion at the Parish Council meeting on the 15th January 2019.
Dunchideock Barton Quarry
Aardvark have applied to the Traffic Commissioner for a variation on their operators licence - they have applied for an additional number of goods vehicles and trailers.
A copy of the licence can be found here together with details of how you can participate in the process. Note that representations must be in writing to the Traffic Commissioner and must be received by midnight on 19 December.
This will be discussed at the Parish Council meeting on 19 December in the Village Hall.
Aardvark have applied to the Traffic Commissioner for a variation on their operators licence - they have applied for an additional number of goods vehicles and trailers.
A copy of the licence can be found here together with details of how you can participate in the process. Note that representations must be in writing to the Traffic Commissioner and must be received by midnight on 19 December.
This will be discussed at the Parish Council meeting on 19 December in the Village Hall.
Dunchideock Parish Plan 2005
The Dunchideock Parish Plan was completed in 2005 and a copy is available from the Parish Clerk. A pdf version is available to download click here.
Dunchideock Conservation Area Review
Teignbridge District Council has reviewed the Conservation Areas in all parishes within the District, and an update report for Dunchideock is available on Teignbridge DC website. Click here to access the pdf docuument.
Parish Council Updates
UPDATES 05 DECEMBER 2018
Parish Clerk Vacancy
It was disappointing that our recently appointed Clerk was unable to carry on with the position due to circumstances beyond her control. We wish her well in the future. Meanwhile we have advertised the vacancy and hope to be in a position to appoint a new Parish Clerk in time for our January meeting.
It was disappointing that our recently appointed Clerk was unable to carry on with the position due to circumstances beyond her control. We wish her well in the future. Meanwhile we have advertised the vacancy and hope to be in a position to appoint a new Parish Clerk in time for our January meeting.
Community Litter Pick - Saturday 24th NovemberThe Parish Council would like to thank all those who braved the wet weather to come out to support the litter pick on Saturday 24th November. 12 people filled 10 bags of rubbish. The village hall committee welcomed us back with home made soup and a roll to warm us all up. There will be a further litter pick on Saturday 23rd February next year so please put this date in your diary and help us tidy up the village before the hedges and verges begin to grow.
Public Rights of Way
Ros Davies, the DCC Rights of Way Officer is invited to the next Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 15th January in the village hall. She will update us on grant funding that is available to maintain our four rights of way. This may be to improve stiles, gates or surfaces. There will be an organised walk on our village footpaths on Sunday 7th April. This will be combined with an Easter egg hunt and will give us an opportunity to assess the condition of the paths. Look out for more information on this event on the website and noticeboards nearer the time.
Ros Davies, the DCC Rights of Way Officer is invited to the next Parish Council meeting on Tuesday 15th January in the village hall. She will update us on grant funding that is available to maintain our four rights of way. This may be to improve stiles, gates or surfaces. There will be an organised walk on our village footpaths on Sunday 7th April. This will be combined with an Easter egg hunt and will give us an opportunity to assess the condition of the paths. Look out for more information on this event on the website and noticeboards nearer the time.
Free First Aid Session
A resident paramedic has offered to run free first aid awareness sessions for us. There will be one in the village hall on Saturday 9th February 10-1pm. We will also be running a Community Defibrillator Awareness session once the defibrillators are installed. If you can't make the first aid input on 9th February, there will be one held in the village hall at Shillingford St George the following Saturday 16th February and you would be welcome to attend.
A resident paramedic has offered to run free first aid awareness sessions for us. There will be one in the village hall on Saturday 9th February 10-1pm. We will also be running a Community Defibrillator Awareness session once the defibrillators are installed. If you can't make the first aid input on 9th February, there will be one held in the village hall at Shillingford St George the following Saturday 16th February and you would be welcome to attend.
Defibrillators
There has been a fantastic response to the fund raising for the community defibrillators from businesses and private donations. We will be able to place an order for the defibrillators soon and may manage to fund a 3rd unit. The Chairman would like to thank you all for the tremendous support and recognition of the importance of easy access this vital lifesaving equipment. Should anyone like to donate to the fund, please ring Sarah Sharpe on 811614, email her on lowerhorrels@gmail.com or speak to any of our councillors.
There has been a fantastic response to the fund raising for the community defibrillators from businesses and private donations. We will be able to place an order for the defibrillators soon and may manage to fund a 3rd unit. The Chairman would like to thank you all for the tremendous support and recognition of the importance of easy access this vital lifesaving equipment. Should anyone like to donate to the fund, please ring Sarah Sharpe on 811614, email her on lowerhorrels@gmail.com or speak to any of our councillors.
Felling of the Lime tree at junction of School Lane for reasons of public safety
It was sad to see the lime tree felled. The survey we had commissioned recommended that it was felled before the winter. The survey is available here.
It was sad to see the lime tree felled. The survey we had commissioned recommended that it was felled before the winter. The survey is available here.
Parish Noticeboards
The consultation on the parish noticeboards has been extended to give our residents an opportunity to have a say, as there were only a handful of responses. Do you read the noticeboards? Which ones? Should we maintain what we have, reduce the number and give the community use of others? Should we have more boards? Any other ideas? If you have a view on the noticeboards, please contact Councillor Stephen Moor on 832697 or email stephenmoor70@gmail.com
The consultation on the parish noticeboards has been extended to give our residents an opportunity to have a say, as there were only a handful of responses. Do you read the noticeboards? Which ones? Should we maintain what we have, reduce the number and give the community use of others? Should we have more boards? Any other ideas? If you have a view on the noticeboards, please contact Councillor Stephen Moor on 832697 or email stephenmoor70@gmail.com
UPDATES 18 NOVEMBER 2018
Community Litter Pick - Saturday 24th November - Please come and help
The Parish Council has not held a litter pick for some time. Although these are generally held in the spring, concern has been expressed about the amount of litter around the village. Whilst we will hold a litter pick in the spring of next year, Teignbridge District Council offered us a short notice date to do one before the winter sets in as well. We will therefore be meeting at 10am at the village hall this coming Saturday 24th November. We have advertised this as widely as we can in the time available. Your parish councillors will be there and would welcome any help you may be able to give. All equipment is provided but please wear suitable footwear and clothing for inclement weather, We will look forward to seeing you and the Village Hall Committee have kindly offered to provide refreshments afterwards.
The Parish Council has not held a litter pick for some time. Although these are generally held in the spring, concern has been expressed about the amount of litter around the village. Whilst we will hold a litter pick in the spring of next year, Teignbridge District Council offered us a short notice date to do one before the winter sets in as well. We will therefore be meeting at 10am at the village hall this coming Saturday 24th November. We have advertised this as widely as we can in the time available. Your parish councillors will be there and would welcome any help you may be able to give. All equipment is provided but please wear suitable footwear and clothing for inclement weather, We will look forward to seeing you and the Village Hall Committee have kindly offered to provide refreshments afterwards.
Felling of the Lime tree at junction of School Lane for reasons of public safety
To recap, this magnificent lime tree at the junction of School lane near Dunchideock House was planted to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, in 1897. Unfortunately the tree is now reaching the end of its life - it has a great deal of deep rot at its base and there is a significant amount of dead wood in the crown. This has been confirmed by a specialist who has advised that it should be felled before the winter.
An ecological survey has established that there are unlikely to be any roosting bats but the contractors will be advised to leave the tree in situ for at least 48 hours after felling to ensure any inhabiting species have the time to relocate. A colony of wild bees that we have been advised of needed to be eradicated prior to the felling as they would have presented a hazard to the contractors and possibly nearby households. This was advised by two bee keepers. All other options were considered before a professional service was engaged. The original tree contractor was instructed to fell the tree as they offered best value in terms of quotes. However they have not produced the required public liability insurance proof or a risk assessment and have proven difficult to get hold of or to establish an early date to do the work. An alternative contractor will be considered at the Parish Council at our meeting on Tuesday 20 November. We will endeavour to progress this matter as soon as we can.
To recap, this magnificent lime tree at the junction of School lane near Dunchideock House was planted to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, in 1897. Unfortunately the tree is now reaching the end of its life - it has a great deal of deep rot at its base and there is a significant amount of dead wood in the crown. This has been confirmed by a specialist who has advised that it should be felled before the winter.
An ecological survey has established that there are unlikely to be any roosting bats but the contractors will be advised to leave the tree in situ for at least 48 hours after felling to ensure any inhabiting species have the time to relocate. A colony of wild bees that we have been advised of needed to be eradicated prior to the felling as they would have presented a hazard to the contractors and possibly nearby households. This was advised by two bee keepers. All other options were considered before a professional service was engaged. The original tree contractor was instructed to fell the tree as they offered best value in terms of quotes. However they have not produced the required public liability insurance proof or a risk assessment and have proven difficult to get hold of or to establish an early date to do the work. An alternative contractor will be considered at the Parish Council at our meeting on Tuesday 20 November. We will endeavour to progress this matter as soon as we can.
Quarry update
Following a number of reported incidents with vehicles connected to the quarry, this matter has been placed on the agenda for the Parish Council meeting on 20 November at the request of a parishioner.
Following a number of reported incidents with vehicles connected to the quarry, this matter has been placed on the agenda for the Parish Council meeting on 20 November at the request of a parishioner.
Defibrillators
Following our unsuccessful application to the National Lottery, we have been told that they are currently not looking favourably on funding for community defibrillators as there are a number of other charities who are offering grant funded options. In order to ensure our project is viable, we have reconsidered the number of units we aim to initially install and it is proposed that we aim for two, one at the village hall and one in the vicinity of the Lord Haldon Hotel driveway. We will aim to provide one unit through grant funding and another through business and private donations. We have already had two grants promised of £500 each and we have a further application for £300 funding from a small local charity, The outcome of this application will be known by the end of November and if successful, we will be in a position to purchase the first unit.
We have had pledges of £875 so far from local business and parishioners so this fund is also growing fast. If you would like to give a donation, please contact our Parish Clerk, Sara Westcott via email parishclerk@dunchideock.org.uk or our Chairman Sarah Sharpe 01392 811614 lowerhorrels@gmail.com
Thanks to the offer from a paramedic who lives in the village, we plan to provide free first aid and defibrillator awareness sessions to our parishioners and employees of contributing businesses. Dates will be published shortly.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far.
Following our unsuccessful application to the National Lottery, we have been told that they are currently not looking favourably on funding for community defibrillators as there are a number of other charities who are offering grant funded options. In order to ensure our project is viable, we have reconsidered the number of units we aim to initially install and it is proposed that we aim for two, one at the village hall and one in the vicinity of the Lord Haldon Hotel driveway. We will aim to provide one unit through grant funding and another through business and private donations. We have already had two grants promised of £500 each and we have a further application for £300 funding from a small local charity, The outcome of this application will be known by the end of November and if successful, we will be in a position to purchase the first unit.
We have had pledges of £875 so far from local business and parishioners so this fund is also growing fast. If you would like to give a donation, please contact our Parish Clerk, Sara Westcott via email parishclerk@dunchideock.org.uk or our Chairman Sarah Sharpe 01392 811614 lowerhorrels@gmail.com
Thanks to the offer from a paramedic who lives in the village, we plan to provide free first aid and defibrillator awareness sessions to our parishioners and employees of contributing businesses. Dates will be published shortly.
We would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far.
UPDATES 16 SEPTEMBER 2018
Proposal to fell lime tree at junction of School Lane for reasons of public safety
It was recently brought to the attention of the Parish Council that a mature lime tree at the junction of School lane near Dunchideock House is a Parish asset, having been planted to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, in 1897. Unfortunately the tree is now reaching the end of its life - it has a great deal of deep rot at its base and there is a significant amount of dead wood in the crown.
Councillors are concerned that the tree now presents a significant risk to the public - especially so given its position alongside a public highway and its direction of lean towards the road. We therefore recently asked an experienced tree specialist to check it. The specialist confirmed our original suspicions; that the level of rot means it does present a significant risk. The specialist has recommended that the tree be felled before winter and in view of this advice, the PC regrettably now needs to instruct felling as soon as practically possible.
If anyone has any queries about the proposals (which may require short-term road closure) please do contact Councillors Ellis or McCarthy.
It was recently brought to the attention of the Parish Council that a mature lime tree at the junction of School lane near Dunchideock House is a Parish asset, having been planted to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, in 1897. Unfortunately the tree is now reaching the end of its life - it has a great deal of deep rot at its base and there is a significant amount of dead wood in the crown.
Councillors are concerned that the tree now presents a significant risk to the public - especially so given its position alongside a public highway and its direction of lean towards the road. We therefore recently asked an experienced tree specialist to check it. The specialist confirmed our original suspicions; that the level of rot means it does present a significant risk. The specialist has recommended that the tree be felled before winter and in view of this advice, the PC regrettably now needs to instruct felling as soon as practically possible.
If anyone has any queries about the proposals (which may require short-term road closure) please do contact Councillors Ellis or McCarthy.
Dunchideock Barton Quarry
Following the Annual Parish Meeting in May 2018, the Parish Council has been responding to parishioners concerns regarding the heavy plant operation at Dunchideock Barton Quarry. At the last PC meeting in July, Councillor McCarthy presented a summary of the investigative work undertaken by the PC to date; this concluded that the operation appears to be 'planning-compliant'; i.e. it falls within a 'Storage and Distribution' land use class. A transcript of the statement is available here.
Since the PC meeting we have held a further site meeting with Aardvark, the owners and DCC Highways and we are continuing to work with them to find solutions in respect of (i) drainage / debris washout onto the road and (ii) the perceived safety issues associated with slow turning lorries. We understand that the debris issue should be resolved in winter 2018 when the entrance splay will finally be surfaced, whilst the safety element might potentially be addressed via new signage - providing this is acceptable to DCC Highways (this is being investigated currently).
Since the May 2018 Parish Council meeting, when a briefing was given on the ongoing investigation into the Aardvark plant hire operation at Dunchideock Quarry, Councillors have met with the owners / operator and Devon Highways to discuss road safety. In particular we highlighted the risk to downhill traffic (especially fast-moving cycles) of encountering slow moving lorries exiting / entering the quarry. Since our meeting, the owners / operators have continued their discussions with Devon Highways, and they have finally been given the green light to install a 'Caution Lorries Turning' sign before the sharp left hand bend on the downhill approach above the quarry entrance. We think this represents a significant step in improving road safety on this stretch of road. We understand that the sign has now been commissioned and it should be installed during the next month.
We will continue to update villagers on progress in these areas as more information becomes available.
Following the Annual Parish Meeting in May 2018, the Parish Council has been responding to parishioners concerns regarding the heavy plant operation at Dunchideock Barton Quarry. At the last PC meeting in July, Councillor McCarthy presented a summary of the investigative work undertaken by the PC to date; this concluded that the operation appears to be 'planning-compliant'; i.e. it falls within a 'Storage and Distribution' land use class. A transcript of the statement is available here.
Since the PC meeting we have held a further site meeting with Aardvark, the owners and DCC Highways and we are continuing to work with them to find solutions in respect of (i) drainage / debris washout onto the road and (ii) the perceived safety issues associated with slow turning lorries. We understand that the debris issue should be resolved in winter 2018 when the entrance splay will finally be surfaced, whilst the safety element might potentially be addressed via new signage - providing this is acceptable to DCC Highways (this is being investigated currently).
Since the May 2018 Parish Council meeting, when a briefing was given on the ongoing investigation into the Aardvark plant hire operation at Dunchideock Quarry, Councillors have met with the owners / operator and Devon Highways to discuss road safety. In particular we highlighted the risk to downhill traffic (especially fast-moving cycles) of encountering slow moving lorries exiting / entering the quarry. Since our meeting, the owners / operators have continued their discussions with Devon Highways, and they have finally been given the green light to install a 'Caution Lorries Turning' sign before the sharp left hand bend on the downhill approach above the quarry entrance. We think this represents a significant step in improving road safety on this stretch of road. We understand that the sign has now been commissioned and it should be installed during the next month.
We will continue to update villagers on progress in these areas as more information becomes available.
Defibrillators
Dunchideock Parish Council is committed to helping the village become a healthier place to live and therefore has submitted an application for National Lottery funding for defibrillators for the village. If successful, this will purchase 2 solar powered and 2 conventionally powered defibrillators to be sited across the parish. The grant assessment process takes about 12 weeks. We will keep you updated with progress. Each defibrillator will need to be checked weekly to ensure it is in good order. We will be seeking a volunteer to look after each unit. If you feel that you could help, please contact the Chairman, Sarah Sharpe 01392 811614 or lowerhorrels@gmail.com
A defibrillator can be used by anyone to save a life. You don't need to be trained and it won't deliver a shock unless the patient actually needs it so you can't get it wrong. However, we plan to run a free training session so that people can become familiar with the equipment and will understand what to expect, should they need to use on. Watch this website for further details once we have confirmation on funding.
Dunchideock Parish Council is committed to helping the village become a healthier place to live and therefore has submitted an application for National Lottery funding for defibrillators for the village. If successful, this will purchase 2 solar powered and 2 conventionally powered defibrillators to be sited across the parish. The grant assessment process takes about 12 weeks. We will keep you updated with progress. Each defibrillator will need to be checked weekly to ensure it is in good order. We will be seeking a volunteer to look after each unit. If you feel that you could help, please contact the Chairman, Sarah Sharpe 01392 811614 or lowerhorrels@gmail.com
A defibrillator can be used by anyone to save a life. You don't need to be trained and it won't deliver a shock unless the patient actually needs it so you can't get it wrong. However, we plan to run a free training session so that people can become familiar with the equipment and will understand what to expect, should they need to use on. Watch this website for further details once we have confirmation on funding.
