Council Cuttings December 2003

Only three members of the public attended October's Parish Council meeting which was a pity as two very knowledgeable ladies gave an expert presentation on Affordable Housing. This was a particularly apt subject as adjoining Barrett's des.res. estate at Highland Park there is more land owned by Mid Devon (i.e. the public) which will become available and it is hoped that this will be used for affordable housing - a definition of which is very difficult to establish. The council is anxious that the major proportion will fall into this category, which seems unlikely. 50-50 would be the most that could be hoped for. Do you know how many are on Uffculme's waiting list for housing? Go on, have a go (*answer at foot of the page). A mock up of the sort of housing with which Hastoe (the Housing Assn concerned) have been involved was on display - most attractive and not a vehicle in sight.

Then it was down to the main business.

The Village Hall roof has a further problem but the P.C. are making up to £1,500 available to sort it out.

The Bowling Club want a better pavilion and the clerk does not think this would involve the (deep sigh) Charity Commissioners provided it were built on the site of the present pavilion.

Having set up a committee the Parish Council might be on their way to having Quality Status, which actually sounds a bit like a lamb chop.

Having to 'declare an interest' is a winter health hazard. The unfortunate member has the choice of climbing the stairs to the landing where a chair has been thoughtfully placed (pronounced "very chilly") or going outside into the wind and rain. A solution could be to give the affected member ear muffs and a blindfold. A dig in the ribs would then reactivate.

The B.M.X. track is still at the drawing board stage but someone is definitely going to see the one at Willand. A play area is badly needed at Ashley Close and the entrance, to comply with disability legislation, will cost 15k or thereabouts - honestly.

The phone box by The George had been vandalised twice in a fortnight. How long will it be before B.T. announces that it will join the lavatories as one more lost amenity, and who would blame them?

It's not all gloom and doom, the Clerk's day was brightened by a letter from Willand saying how nice the cemetery looked.

November's meeting has been postponed to December 2^nd, which means that this particular correspondent will not be available. However it throws up the chance for someone else to have a go at putting their own particular slant on things. It could well become a permanency.

*(answer 106)

J.B.G.