Updates from our May meetings

• We provided a report of our year, and received reports from community groups and organisations about what they have been up to over the last year. It’s fantastic to hear about all the activities and how they benefit people and our area in lots of different ways. Read the reports.
• Emma Forward was re-elected as Chair and Lucy Ellis-Brookes was re-elected as Vice Chair and we confirmed membership of our committees and groups.
• One of the main topics raised by residents at the meeting was a planning application for a new home in South View in Westleigh (ref 26/00604/FULL) and the impact it will have, particularly on parking, in South View and the rest of the village during and after the works. We heard a wide variety of concerns and resolved to submit an objection to the plan. You can review the application and add a comments via the public access system.
• Attendees also raised the issue of dust and mud from the quarry and the potential impacts on health and the environment. We continue to represent views to the quarry via the regular liaison meetings. We’d also encourage you to raise topics directly with the quarry and other relevant bodies e.g. Mid Devon Environmental Health. The more detail you can include in your message the better – dates, photos, lorry registrations or anything like that is very helpful.
• Following a recent sewage discharge into a local River Culm tributary, Cllr McDonald shared an initial report on the issue of water quality, which includes what residents can do if they see a potential issue. Read the report and find out more about what you could do on the Rivers Trust website.
• The Housing Needs Survey has now closed. The Council will review the results and look to fill in any gaps that will help us to develop a Neighbourhood Priority Statement. This is a document that is created in consultation with the community to help us define what we need and want from future development and can strengthen our position when inevitably planning applications are submitted. Keep an eye out for more information in the coming months and do get involved if you can.
• Following the success of the recent Spring Clean-Up Day, we will plan some further similar sessions in the coming months to help look after where we live and get together with parishioners.

The minutes will be on our website soon. We’ll meet again in June and will share the date as soon as it’s set.