News, views and Events in and around Bigbury, South Devon

Posts by Stuart Watts

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – FINAL DRAFT FOR PRE-SUBMISSION, PUBLIC CONSULTATION

January 21, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

After a huge amount of work by the Steering Group, the final draft of the Neighbourhood Plan is available for public consultation, prior to submission to SHDC. Any comments on the draft Plan should be submitted to Valerie Scott (Chair of the Steering Group) as described in the document provided below. All comments will be considered by the Steering Group and any necessary amendments will be made before the final plan is submitted to SHDC for evaluation.

Two public consultations about the plan will be held in the memorial Hall – see UPCOMING EVENTS on this website for full details.

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK TO SEE THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT:-Neighbourhood Plan PROOF 9

COMMENTS ON THE CONSULTATION DOCUMENT MAY BE MADE ON THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT BY 8TH MARCH AND BY FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS AT THE END OF THE DOCUMENT:
Reg 14 Notice and Comments Sheet[1]

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

Subject: Devon Countryside Access Forum – NEW MEMBERS SOUGHT

January 16, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

The Devon Countryside Access Forum is a statutory local access forum under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. It has seventeen members who advise on the “improvement of public access to land for the purposes of open-air recreation and the enjoyment of the area..” The Forum gives independent advice to a number of Government bodies in addition to Devon County Council, district and borough councils and parish and town councils.

Devon County Council is currently appointing members to the Forum and would welcome applications from anyone with an interest in recreational access.

In this round of appointments applications from walkers, horse-riders, tourism providers and those with a knowledge of the Definitive Map review process would be particularly welcome. Over the coming year the Forum will be looking at coastal access (the England Coast Path) on stretches between Kingswear and Cremyll and Combe Martin and Marsland Mouth, as well as other issues associated with access. During 2018 the Forum responded to a number of local and national consultations including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plans and the national Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. It continued to suggest specific improvements for disability access across the County.

All applications will be considered and we would love to hear from landowners and managers, access users and people with other relevant professional interests such as planning, education, sport, sustainable transport and business. Although membership is voluntary, a generous mileage rate is paid. Formal meetings are held three times a year. There are occasional small working groups and a yearly training day.

It’s an interesting opportunity and members can:-
contribute to the debate- share experience and expertise;
meet and work with others- listen to and discuss ideas on solving access problems;
help make a difference- influence local and UK policy affecting access;
be informed- receive regular local and national access information updates.
For details and an application form please see www.devon.gov.uk/dcaf The closing date is Friday, 22nd February 2019.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

I should be very grateful if you could share this information with your networks.

Regards

Hilary Winter

Forum Officer
Devon Countryside Access Forum
Lucombe House
County Hall
Topsham Road
Exeter EX2 4QD

Tel: 01392 382771

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CITIZENS ADVICE: understand the new benefits system

January 16, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

There’s still time to book on one of the informative Benefits System Courses from Citizens Advice Devon.

With the confusion, negative press and upheaval caused by Universal Credit showing no signs of slowing down in 2019. It’s important that those who work with or volunteer with people who claim benefits know exactly what’s happening and how to support them effectively.

Citizens Advice Devon’s expert tutor, Vincent Willson, will take you through everything you need to know and help you make sense of these often confusing changes to the system.

Here are just some of the views from attendees to our latest course on benefits.

“An excellent course. Lots of information that I will be able to use in my work & visits to clients.”

“The calculations and scenarios were particularly helpful.”

The links below will take you to our booking pages where you can book and pay online. if you would prefer us to invoice you, please email us at info@devoncommunities.org.uk with booking and invoice instructions.

Universal Credit and Housing Costs (25th January 2019)

Challenging Benefits Decisions (6th February 2019)

Benefits Overview (15th February 2019)

Universal Credit (5th March)

Benefits for Older People (29th March)

You can view the full schedule of the benefits and money advice training sessions on the Devon Communities Together website here.

We can also arrange to have in-house, tailored courses for groups of six people or more. Please email info@devoncommunioties.org.uk or call 01392 248919 to find out more.

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NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – report to the parish council on 9th Jan 2019

January 10, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

The report and green spaces addenda are listed in the DOCUMENTS section of Neighbourhood Plan. Select NP tab on home page>documents>categories (Reports, green spaces)> select relevant file by date.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
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TRAFFIC NOTICE – TAPFIELD CROSS – BOWLING GREEN CROSS: 21-23 Jan 2019

January 4, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Traffic Notice- Tapfield Cross – Bowling Green Cross

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ROAD CLOSURE: Challons Combe to Bowls Cross, Bigbury between 17th and 21st Jan 2019

January 4, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Traffic Notice- Challons Combe to Bowls Cross

NB The roadworks will be outside Dulce Domun

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79 Bedroom Hotel to be Built on Council land in Kingsbridge.

December 19, 2018 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Investing in Kingsbridge

18/12/18

79 Bedroom Hotel to be Built on Council land in Kingsbridge.

Last week South Hams moved a step closer to building a new hotel in Kingsbridge, that could add an extra £3.9m to the local economy per year.
Cllr John Tucker, Leader of South Hams District Council explains: “The plot of land where the hotel would be built is in Rope Walk, behind the leisure centre in Kingsbridge. It is derelict at the moment, but it is the ideal spot for a hotel which is in easy walking distance of the town. We are delighted to have interest in this site in Kingsbridge from a major UK hotel operator, it demonstrates confidence in the Town and will be a boost the whole of the area.”

Executive Councillors at South Hams approved a multi-million pound investment into the project. The project will be subject to planning approval and confirmation of funding at Full Council and it would take approximately two years to be built.

The project hits the key deliverables set out in the Council’s Commercial Property Strategy of supporting regeneration and economic activity. It is an excellent example of the Council investing financially in its area, to the benefit of the District.

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Your Waste and Recycling Services – A new partnership

December 19, 2018 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

18/12/18

South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils will be working in partnership with FCC Environment to provide waste collection, recycling and street and toilet cleaning services from the 1st April 2019.

Following a competitive tendering process, South Hams and West Devon Councils have awarded the contract for your Waste Recycling and Cleaning services to FCC Environment which will save over £5 million in the next 8 years. As well as continuing to deliver the key services for each council, the new contract will offer extra services which will help to improve the local environment.

Cllr John Tucker, Leader of South Hams District Council said: “I am delighted to bring this news to our residents. It not only offers better value for money for the tax payer, but also huge environmental benefits. Big improvements are coming to the recycling service over the next two years. I am looking forward to working with FCC Environment who are bringing their industry knowledge and expertise into our services.

“We have been listening to residents and we know that you want to be able to recycle more at the kerbside, particularly glass and mixed plastics. It will take a little while to put everything in place but the good news is that you will be able to recycle more from the kerbside by the end of 2020.”

Cllr Philip Sanders, Leader of West Devon Borough Council said: “I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to make such substantial savings at a time when we are facing a huge budget gap. The bonus is that will be able to improve vital services and increase our recycling rate even more over the coming years.”

Steve Longdon, Regional Director for FCC Environment said: “We are one of the UK’s most trusted resource and waste management businesses. We hold over 100 contracts with some 60 local authorities up and down the country recycling more than 1.6 million tonnes of waste each year and so we consider ourselves to be a safe pair of hands . Ever since Blue Planet 2, residents have been more interested than ever before in re-using, reducing and recycling so it’s a great time to be rolling out new and enhanced services that will allow residents in South Hams and West Devon to do just that.”

Residents should not see any immediate changes to services and the Councils will be working closely with FCC Environment over the coming months to plan the changes to the recycling collection services. Will be provided more details on the improvements over the coming months.

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