EDDC Local Plan – allocation of sites for housing development
Tree preservation orders
As you may be aware EDDC have been looking at potential sites for housing developments to enable them to reach their mandated target for new houses in the region. At a meeting on 23rd September EDDC Strategic Planning Committee considered a number of potential sites in Payhembury and surrounding parishes, including the field next to The Old Vicarage at the southern entrance to the village. The Parish Council, and EDDC Ward Councillor covering Payhembury, made strong representations against the proposed allocation of housing in the field, but the Strategic Planning Committee approved the site in principle for up to 15 houses, subject to improvements being made to the sewage works. At a later meeting on 29th October EDDC looked again at the site with a possibility of increasing the number of houses to 30, but decided that 15 houses were the maximum they would approve for that site.
The field has many mature trees which provide a wonderful habitat for a range of species and also provide an important view of the southern end of the village. The Parish Council are applying to EDDC to have Tree Preservation Orders applied to these trees to protect them during any future development work and to preserve the aesthetics of the approach to the village.
Anyone can apply for a Tree Preservation Order for a tree – you don’t have to be the tree owner (although it is polite to inform the owner you are applying). If you would like to submit your own applications to protect these trees, please see the information on https://eastdevon.gov.uk/trees/tree-preservation-orders-and-trees-protected-in-conservation-areas/tree-preservation-order-tpo/ . Hopefully the more people that apply to protect these trees the more likely they are to be protected.
New gate at the bottom of Poffit Lane, replacing the bridge
The bridge at the bottom of Poffit Lane was damaged during bad weather earlier in the year. DCC Public Rights of Way (PROW) were planning to fix the problem by changing the direction of the water flow (so it didn’t keep undermining the bank). However, wet weather kept delaying the work and eventually PROW decided on an alternative solution. In agreement with the landowner they have installed a 2-way gate (a large farm gate with a pedestrian gate within the main gate). This new gate was installed during October, but unfortunately it was installed the wrong way round and the step over for the pedestrian gate is too high. PROW are arranging to have the gate reversed so the pedestrian gate is further up the lane where the ground level is closer to the bottom of the gate and therefore easier to step over.
Christmas Tree on the village green 2024
Again this year there will be a Christmas Tree on the Village Green. The plan is to put the tree up at the end of November in time for a grand switching on of the lights at 6pm on the Saturday 30th November, weather permitting.
As in previous years the tree is coming from ‘Higher Willand Farm Christmas Trees & Gift Shop’. If you are interested in getting a Christmas Tree from them for yourself, please contact them at Higher Willand Farm, Churchstanton, Taunton TA3 7RL, phone numbers 07815 059823 / 07818 462121.
Many thanks again to Amy Shaw, Baked With Love by Julie, Chetwood Private Wealth, Luton Green Sawmill, P. Woodley Plumbing & Heating, The Studio Hair & Beauty and Tuck Mill Barns for their generous donations in 2022 that have paid for the Christmas Trees for 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Thermal Camera – available first two weeks in January 2025
The Parish Council will be borrowing the thermal camera from the Blackdown Hills Parish Network for the first two weeks in January 2025. If you would be interested in finding out where, and how much, heat is escaping from your house, please contact Cllr Paul Thomas to arrange a date and time for your house to be assessed (email paul.thomas@payhembury-pc.gov.uk or phone number at the back of the parish paper).
Payhembury Parish Council grants
A reminder to submit any small village grant applications to the Parish Council by the 31st December 2024, for consideration at the Parish Council meeting on 8th January 2025. The application form is available by emailing clerk@payhembury-pc.gov.uk or can be downloaded from the website https://payhembury-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Policies/Policies-and-Procedures/Grant-awarding-policy-procedure-and-application-form-v1_0.pdf. Completed forms should be returned either via email (see above), or to Payhembury Parish Council, c/o Rose Cottage, Payhembury, Honiton, Devon EX14 3HR.
Next Payhembury Parish Council meeting
Wednesday 8th January 2025, 7.30pm, in the Parish Hall and via Zoom
The next Payhembury Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 8th January 2025 at 7.30pm. The meeting will be a hybrid meeting with members of the public able to attend either in-person in the Parish Hall or via Zoom (meeting ID = 883 5045 3141; passcode = 178541; webpage = www.zoom.us/join) or via telephone (contact the Clerk for details). The agenda for the meeting will be available as normal on the noticeboard and the Parish Council website (https://payhembury-pc.gov.uk/category/agendas/).