A monthly community newsletter published by St Michael’s Church and Gittisham Parish Council
February 2021
Edition 228
St Michael’s Church and Quinquennial Repairs
Gittisham PCC would like to thank all those who have helped fund the Church during lockdown
by contributing via the Parish Giving Scheme. As it has been impossible to run fund raising events or obtain donations via church services the Parish Giving Scheme has been a lifeline. The PCC is using
the current period of lock-down to carry out much needed repairs. This will mean that our reserves will
be depleted and the PCC would be grateful if anyone else would like to join the Parish Giving Scheme to
provide a regular income to support the work of the church, maintain the building and the churchyard.
The 2021 planned repair works are now well underway focusing on the overhaul and redecoration of the gutters and downpipes, exterior decoration of doors, internal repairs to the gallery ceiling as well as minor repairs to roof slopes and valleys and some minor stone and tarmac path repairs. The work is being undertaken by The Bucknall Partnership and Bill Griffiths and his team are doing an excellent job for us. Len Abbott has also done a fabulous job of installing two new oak gate posts and softwood safety rails to the new churchyard extension and the entrance now looks very smart! Rufus Lyle will be undertaking the repairs to the churchyard wall.
Free to a Good Home
I have a much loved child’s toy pram in good condition. The height of the handle is 60cm and the navy body lifts off the collapsible metal frame. All enquiries welcome.
Telephone Angie on 01404 45101.
Combe Farm Shop
We are back open! Thank you for your support through a very busy and exciting first Christmas season for us. After a lovely two week break, the farm shop reopened on Jan 12th. We are operating slightly reduced hours at the moment, to allow us to be able to offer a delivery service to the local area. Tuesday to Friday 10-3pm and Saturdays 10-4. We are offering our full butchers counter, bakery items, fresh fruit and veg, homemade frozen ready meals and more. You can see the full list of items available on our social media or on the main estate website.
We have some specials coming up from the butchery counter, our meat boxes, 3 for £10 on selected
items, special valentines deals. As always, we use local meat and do all the butchery in house.
Please contact the shop if you are interested in our “click and collect” or delivery service.
Thanks, Joanna and the Team. 01404 519093
Census 2021
Every household across the nation will soon be asked to take part in the 2021 Census.
The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and
households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941. The Census is a snapshot of who we are and how we live our lives. The information is vital for assessing community needs for services such as schools and Doctors surgeries as well as how our communities are made up and changing.
Census weekend is 21st March. It is so important everyone takes part and we have made it easier for
people to do so online on any device, with help and paper questionnaires for those that need them.”
Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years,
kept safe for future generations. For more information visit www.census.gov.uk
Thank you
Kind regards
Carol Hall Gittisham Parish Council
Carol Hall Dog Daycare and Home Boarding
Part Drillers, Gittisham. EX14 3AJ
01404 850793 07854 492347
https://www.facebook.com/CarolHallDogdaycare
Where did January go? Life at Sherman’s Farm by Jack Bartlett
A strange Christmas and new year was had, not seeing family and friends. I’m grateful that us farmers can carry on pretty much as normal. I’m not sure how we had time for socialising before lockdown became a thing. In the first month of 2021 we had 40 new mothers join the herd, obviously this means lots of calves. We have modified a couple of sheds to house the extra babies! Sexed semen has resulted in a good run of heifer calves born, this is good for the future of the herd. Genetics and breeding are improving the herd year by year. We now take a DNA tissue sample of each heifer calf born. This DNA is read in a lab where a report is created for us, we then know exactly which heifers are best suited to be milked by the robots. The process is called genomic testing.
Through the winter Dad buys in store lambs at market, we buy these in to graze off the pastures and all of last year’s left overs. This allows completely fresh grass to grow and hopefully results in better silage. These sheep do a very important job. Keep safe & well.
Parish Council February 2021 report
Six councillors met for the February meeting. Susie Bond (EDDC), Phil Twiss (DCC) and one member of
the public were also present.
EDDC / DCC Report.
Phil Twiss said coronavirus infection rates in the UK appear to have peaked and are now beginning to
recede due to the impact of lockdown and the vaccination programme to a lesser degree. Thankfully we have no seen COVID variants in our area, he said, and with the new door-to-door testing regime in areas identified let’s hope it remains that way. He reported on a recent visit to County Hall where a pop-up testing site has been set up. It’s able to test up to 2,000 people each day, adding to other sites around Exeter. It is quite likely that in due course a vaccination site will also be located at County Hall to add significant capacity to the programme, as well as more jabs being delivered at local GP surgeries and some private pharmacies in supermarket locations that have space to maintain social distancing. Susie Bond said EDDC is currently consulting on the issues and options for a revised Local Plan. People can comment at this early stage of the review process: https://eastdevon.gov.uk/news/2021/01/have-your-say-on-futuredevelopments-in-east-devon-local-plan-consultation/ She explained that in the last 3 years, a total of 2,868 new homes were built within the district, which is comfortably over the target of 928 pa. Susie Bond said she had attended EDDC’s Cabinet meeting beforehand to discuss whether to part-fund a masterplan for an extension to the Heathpark Industrial site at Hayne Lane. David Valentine urged the council to express either support for some of what EDDC is saying such as the renewables and energy-saving features, or concern regarding future growth for Honiton. He reminded members that previous planning applications such as that for the south side of Honiton above the Vale may well come back into focus. The consultation period expires on 15th March.
Finance. Members agreed the finances.
Crimes. December 2020, 1 x anti-social behaviour, 4 x violent & sexual offences
Councillor vacancy (Vale ward) The clerk said the parish council could now fill this vacancy by co-option. Anyone interested in becoming a parish councillor should contact
Planning applications:
20/2656/LBC Winsor Cottage Gittisham Ground floor: remove walls in kitchen/breakfast room and install new door and removal of stone cladding around fireplace and under 2x. windows in lounge. First floor: remove and construct walls and doors in bedroom no.4; create door opening from bedroom no.1 onto landing for bathroom; remove and construct walls in bedroom no.1 to create ensuite and replace existing metal stair balustrade with timber balustrade. Members had no objections.
Roadworks & highways.
09 Feb Lane to Catshayes Farm: BT pole installations.
22-26 Feb Chineway to Hare & Hounds. Water works.
24 Feb-5 Mar Hayne Lane pothole repairs
Peter Orchard said he would get in touch with DCC Highways to inform the team of a blocked pipe at the entrance to a field on Hayne Lane.
Off-road vehicles.
Carol Hall said the off-roading situation is improving with the involvement of Combe Estate, DCC rights of way, Cllr Twiss, the police and local residents.
Next meeting. This will be on 3rd March at 7.30pm via Zoom
Gittisham Village Hall News and Upcoming Events
On Saturday 16th January the village hall hosted a Bake-off competition on Zoom – several
villagers competed and followed Pierre Graeber’s masterclass making a Galette des Rois.
The resulting bakes were then posted on WhatsApp, I think Angie Hutchings’s submission was
voted best. There is talk about possibly doing another one might be in the offing watch out for the
next edition.
Valentine’s Day Zoom quiz
Hamish Hall will chair the first Zoom quiz of 2021 on Saturday February 13th at 7.30
It is quiz time again. General knowledge, local knowledge and a splash of silliness. All are very
welcome so please come along. If you have any queries, please contact your quizmaster Hamish
on 01404 850793. Link to the zoom meeting below. Everyone most welcome to join in the fun
from near and far!!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83597798283?pwd=c0FSbU9iK1pKSE1ZbEt5RG5NckV0dz09
Meeting ID: 835 9779 8283 Passcode: 878019
Village Hall Film Night
For anyone missing cinema trips, the village hall committee would like to try to bring elements of
the cinema experience to you. Not so much the oversized popcorn tub as the joy of watching (and
then debriefing on) a film with others. On Thursday 18th February, you are invited to join members
of the village and parish in watching Bringing Up Baby with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant
using the BBC iPlayer platform.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0078ddk/bringing-up-baby
The communal film watching will begin at 7.15pm. If you would like to chat with others before
and/or after the film, please use the Zoom link below and join from 7pm.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81122748942?pwd=ZXFDVnBhN2dNY3ZlbWc0clRsNzZ3dz09
Meeting ID: 811 2274 8942
Passcode: 750272
Gittisham Community Land Trust (GCLT)
Despite the restrictions and difficulties of the COVID lockdown the work of the GCLT in bringing
forward a small residential development of affordable homes to rent on the site of the former
estate and agricultural buildings adjacent Town Farm, has been progressing with the focus being
on designing a site layout and house design which would reflect a traditional farmyard layout whilst
meeting current building regulations, drainage standards, access requirements together with cost
constraints. The Project Team and GCLT Board are meeting regularly and it is hoped that a
preferred option for the development on the site can be presented for public consultation early in
the spring. Details of how the public consultation will take place are still to be finalised and will be
dictated by COVID restrictions. David Valentine (Chairman, GCLT)
Village Gateway
The Parish Council and more recently the Gittisham Community Land Trust have been concerned
about the speed of traffic entering the village from the Exeter direction. The approach into the
village is down a fairly steep hill. There are no pavements or street lights in the village. There is no
speed limit other than the national speed limit (60 mph) through the village. It is the view of both
the Parish Council and GCLT that there should be investigations regarding the provision of a traffic
management scheme which would seek to slow down the speed of traffic entering (and exiting)
the village. In order that further investigations can take place it is a requirement that we provide
evidence of consultation and community approval for a scheme to come forward. To help in these
difficult COVID times it would be particularly helpful if, as a local resident, you might like to indicate
your support (or objection) for a scheme to be the subject of further investigation by commenting
by email to
David Valentine
Gittisham Parish Emergency Plan
Gittisham Parish Council is one of the few in Devon that has an Emergency Plan anticipating
reaction to severe weather and other events.
The recent cold and wet weather is a timely reminder that such plans need to be reviewed and
updated periodically. The Parish Council is looking for volunteers who would be able to assist in
the case of extreme wet weather (flooding threat), and snow and ice for village, Vale and Hayne
Farm areas.
If you feel able to assist your community on these rare occasions, please forward your name,
address and phone number to , including, if relevant, any
background information.
Many thanks
Peter Orchard
Telephone 07956 263260
Gittisham Flower and Produce Show 2021
All being well we will be holding the Gittisham Flower and Produce Show on Saturday August 7th 2021. A full schedule will be published in the Gazette next month, so you can plan what to grow, and the
Potato in a Bucket competition will go ahead, even if the show itself has to be cancel
Sue Fallows
St Michael’s Church, Honiton Mission Community and 200 Club
Like the other members of the Mission Community St. Michael’s Church remains closed for visitors
and services however if you would like to contact our Lay Minister Julia Barrett her details are
within the Mission Community piece below. The churchyard is of course open. We do now have
the 2021 church diaries which only arrived in January owing to the company’s lockdown
restrictions, if you would like one do please let Carol know by telephone 01404 851113. I can post it or you can collect. I’m sorry it is so late, hopefully the 2022 one will be with us well before Christmas.
Honiton Mission Community
The website www.honitoncofe.org is updated regularly and has news about the latest guidelines on
the new covid regulations. The monthly newsletter Around the Parishes is included plus details of
Rev’d Sue’s weekly Zoom Sunday Morning Worship at 10.00am, if you would like to join in this
service do please email Rev’d Sue and she will forward the link , there is
also a ‘virtual’ Eucharist at 6.00pm. Julia our Lay Minister also holds a telephone (freephone)
Morning Worship service at 11.00am to receive the details for this please email Julia on
or for those without internet ring her on 07763 111367 or 01404 850680. St. Paul’s is currently closed so the weekly Sunday Eucharist is suspended. The Parish office is
also closed to visitors but can be contacted on 01404 44035 or and
messages will be replied to when someone is available.
200 Club
March is the time to renew your 200 Club subscriptions (£12 per number per year)
There are some numbers available If you would like to have a number or two do please let me
know, I can email or post an application form. Payment can be made by cheque – payable to
Gittisham PCC, BACS or by standing order – I can email or post this form too. (Carol McCann
01404 851113, 07946 409142, . Draws are made monthly with
prizes of £40., £20., £15., £10., and £5., with 2 six monthly of £48.
February 200 Club Results:
1st Phylis Broadhurst
2nd Sarah Agg-Manning
3rd Una Wakley-Beddows
4th Jean Bruce-Merrie
5th Ann Stansell
Gazette printing is still not possible with the lockdown situation, as the Parish Office in
Honiton remains closed. If you would like a copy by email please let me have your email details or
if you have no internet it can be posted to you until things get back to order some help with
2nd class postage would be appreciated, Carol McCann 3 School Cottages,
Gittisham, Honiton, EX14 3AH. As an experiment I will try to leave a few copies in the Vale
bus shelter until the whole print run can be delivered by Peter and Ann again.
Editor/Distributor:
Carol McCann 01404 851113 or 07946 409142 . If you have events
or news items for inclusion in the Gazette do please email it to Carol as early as possible (using
Arial font please) Copy date for March edition is 24th February please. I hope to have the
edition ready to send out on Friday 5th March.