Remembrance Sunday – 10th November 2024
Please gather at the War Memorial at 10.55am on Sunday 10th November for the wreath-laying ceremony, which will be followed by a church service for those who wish to attend. If at all possible, could you please avoid parking near the War Memorial between 10am and midday on Sunday 10th November and minimise any vehicle movements during the event.
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.
Devon County Council Transport Survey
Devon County Council (DCC) are inviting people to ‘Have Their Say’ on future plans for transport in the county. The closing date for comments is 30th November 2024. Further information is available from their website – https://www.devon.gov.uk/news/consultation-launched-on-transport-plan-for-devon-and-torbay/ .
The full draft document of the plan is available to view in all 50 libraries across the county and on the DCC Have Your Say webpage (https://www.devon.gov.uk/haveyoursay/consultations/devon-and-torbay-local-transport-plan-4/) . Feedback questionnaires are also available from the libraries and the webpage.
Applications for a grant from the Parish Council
Each year Payhembury Parish Council award a number of small grants to voluntary organisations and groups that support the residents of the parish in various ways. Previous recipients include Tale Valley Trust, Applepips, FoPs, EDBC, the Tea & Bingo group, TRIP, the Ottery Help Scheme, the Payhembury Relief Fund and others.
If you would like to be considered for a grant this year, please complete the application form, which is available 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) or by emailing the Parish Clerk for a copy. Completed forms should be returned either via email to clerk@payhembury-pc.gov.uk, or to Payhembury Parish Council, c/o Rose Cottage, Payhembury, Honiton, Devon EX14 3HR by 31st December 2024. The Parish Council will consider these requests at the Parish Council meeting on Wednesday 8th January 2025.
Next Payhembury Parish Council meeting
Wednesday 13th November 2024, 7.30pm, in the Parish Hall and via Zoom
The next Payhembury Parish Council meeting will be held on Wednesday 13th November 2024 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 = 867 4559 4087; passcode = 812288; 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/).
Trainline Closure
Upcoming engineering work between Exeter St David’s and Axminster from Saturday 9th to Friday 22nd November
Network Rail engineers will be completing a series of railway improvement works between Exeter St David’s and Axminster station during November. Engineers will be replacing a mile of rails, sleepers and ballast running through Honiton Tunnel, installing new long-life track that will resist corrosion.
Rail replacement buses will be running at the below locations and dates throughout:
Monday 11th to Friday 15th and Monday 18th to Friday 22nd November:
- 1 bus per hour Axminster to Exeter St David’s – calling at Honiton, Cranbrook, Exeter Central and Exeter St David’s.
- 1 bus per hour Axminster to Exeter St David’s – calling at Honiton, Feniton, Whimple, Cranbrook, Pinhoe, Exeter Central and Exeter St David’s.
Saturday 9th and 16th and Sunday 10th and 17th November:
- 1 bus per hour Axminster to Exeter St David’s – calling at Honiton, Exeter Central and Exeter St David’s.
- 1 bus per hour Axminster to Exeter St David’s – calling at Honiton, Feniton, Whimple, Cranbrook, Pinhoe, Exeter Central and Exeter St David’s.
The existing jointed track running through the tunnel is 50 years old and coming to the end of its life, which means its prone to delay causing faults. The new continuous welded rail will be installed to millimetre precision and has better alignment which will make for smoother and more comfortable journeys with less faults.
Taking full advantage of the line closure, teams will also be:
- Rerailing half a mile of track between Pinhoe and Feniton
- Improving track drainage, channelling water away from the tunnel reducing the likelihood of further wet beds forming
- Completing maintenance work at Feniton Level Crossing
- Completing maintenance work at Fenny Bridges Foot Crossing
- Completing vegetation management of carefully selected diseased and dangerous trees between Honiton and Pinhoe
This work is part of an ongoing investment to improve journeys along the West of England line, more information about this work and past work can be found on https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/wessex/west-of-england-line-improvements/