Gittisham Parish Council JANUARY 2025 REPORT

Four councillors met for the January meeting. One member of the public was also present. DCC Highways. In his report Phil Twiss (DCC) said that Devon has been allocated £83.6m from the government funding for repairs fund, more than any other council in the UK. This is broken down as £61.7m in 2025/26 and £22.5m in 2026/27. He said this will have a significant impact on the quality of the highways network, but is subject to certain criteria being met including highways, bridges, cycle ways etc and is not just for fixing potholes. In the coming weeks and months, plans will be drawn up as to how this funding can be put to best use. Councillors also discussed the regular flooding at Iron Bridge on the old A30. The Chair said she would contact Phil Twiss to see if anything can be done, as cars often get stuck there following periods of heavy rain. EDDC Local Plan. David Valentine explained that East Devon District Council’s Strategic Planning Committee had approved a policy which sees land west of Hayne Lane allocated for a mixed-use development to provide 310 homes and 14.6 ha to accommodate employment. According to EDDC’s policy document, “this allocation will need to come forward on the basis of an agreed masterplan for the whole site that clearly demonstrates how comprehensive development will be undertaken and implemented. Southern parts of the site are in the East Devon National Landscape and this area will require very careful design to take account of its landscape setting. On the western edges the site is close to the historic village of Gittisham and particular sensitivity will need to be attached to preventing adverse heritage impacts. These southerly and westerly parts will be best suited for open space uses.” This is part of East Devon’s Local Plan, which will have to go to a public enquiry. Finance. Members agreed the budget for 2025/26 and the parish precept was increased to £10,927.25; as the population of the parish has increased, this should not represent a rise at the individual level. Crimes. Hedge Field Close – 2 x violence and sexual offences Hamlett Close – 1 x violence and sexual offences Nether Close – 1 x violence and sexual offences Parsonage Lane – 2 x violence and sexual offences Donations. Members agreed to donate money to Force, Diabetes UK, TRIP, Citizens Advice and Hospiscare. Road closures. 16 January: Lane to Catshayes Farm closed for installation of South West Water sewer level equipment. 03-08 April: road closed through Alfington again for SW Water. Peter Orchard said he would ask Phil Twiss to enquire as to why it’s felt necessary to close the road during term time, with corresponding disruption to school transport. Casual vacancies – new councillors wanted. The Chair said Janet Twist had resigned from the parish council. Councillors joined the Chair in thanking Janet for her dedication to the council and service to the local community. There are now two vacancies on the parish council, one to represent Gittisham Vale and the other to represent Gittisham Village. If you are interested in taking up one of these roles, please contact for more details. The posts will be advertised in due course. Next meeting. Thursday 6th February at 7.30pm in the parish room.

	Gittisham Gazette	January 2025
	A parish newsletter brought to you by Gittisham Parish Council and St Michael’s Church
What’s On At the village hall __ Pierre’s Kitchen Sunday 12^th January Burn’s Night Supper and Dancing Saturday 18^th January Coffee & Cake Saturday 25^th January Evening talk about Joanna Southcott Friday 7^th February __ Weekly Fitness class Tuesday mornings Folk Dancing Wednesday evenings Community Kitchen Thursday evenings Yoga Friday afternoons Gittisham Cabaret April 25^th & 26th	A little piece of what might have been Paul Wakley Go past the entrance to Putts Corner caravan park, and you come to the gate of the back drive to Combe House. To the right stood Higher Lodge, a ground floor with four square rooms, diamond paned windows and thatched roof, the plot was surrounded by a white paling fence. It was demolished after becoming derelict. To the left of the gate is a piece of woodland where I found the piece of pillar, it is thought to have been a stone mason’s sample from when Combe (the Pig) was going to be rebuilt in the Palladian style. The pillar is fluted on one side and plain on the other. The great rebuilding by Tom Putt of apple fame, would have made Combe three times the present size. The brewery and bakery were demolished (the flat area to the right of the front) the facade taken down, in readiness to be refaced in stone. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Tom Putt died before the project got any further, because his heirs found there was very little money. So the facade was rebuilt much as it had been. Home Grown Gold A real superstar visited the hall in December to tell a devoted audience of fans about his journey to a gold medal in Paris 2024. Ed Fuller explained all about his interest in rowing, taking it on at national and international level and finally being picked for the Paralympic team at Paris 2024. When asked what it was that gave him the edge on his American rivals, he had to agree that knowing he had the support of Gittisham made all the difference. There were several youngsters in the audience, so who knows what this will inspire them to do? And some of the older ones!
St Michael Church Services in January Sat Jan 11th from 3pm Christingle Making in the Parish Rooms Sunday Jan 12th 11am Holy Communion with presentation of Christingles Sunday Jan 26th 11am Morning Worship A message from Pierre: Happy New Year to you and your family’s. On the 12th mains will be Mediterranean Beef Slowpot with vegetables and couscous. Vegan pancake rolls gratin with salad. Price don’t change £9.50. French king cake. All the team wish guest a Happy New Year. Church 200 Club December Draw Results 1st Aurora Wakley Beddows 2nd Catherine Wakley 3rd Will Wolsey And the Christmas Draw for £125 to Nick Chapman	St Michael’s Church Fundraising meeting – 10am Sunday 19th January in Parish Rooms An open invitation to all friends and residents to attend a short meeting on Sunday 19th January to be held at 10am in the Parish Rooms. St Michael’s Church is under considerable financial strain as our running expenses are now exceeding our income. The meeting will start with a brief presentation to explain our financial challenges after which we will have a discussion and invite ideas to help raise more income from both regular giving and events. We are particularly keen to welcome anyone who does not wish to attend church but is still interested in helping us raise funds to care for the building and grounds. Fresh coffee and pastries will be available from 09.45 and the meeting will finish at 11.15. If you are interested in coming along then do please let me or Julia Barrett know. We are particularly keen to welcome anyone who does not usually wish to attend church services but is still interested in helping us raise funds to care for the building and grounds. James Fuller Gittisham Village Hall The committee would like you to wish you all a great new year. We are busy working on an exciting program of events to bring you over the next 12 months. Now that new calendars have been started we would like to invite you to make a note of some of our upcoming events: Coffee&Cakes4AKitchen last Saturday of the month throughout the year with the exception 24th May, 19th July, 23rd August The regular programme of exciting evening talks continues on 7th Feb with *Joanna Southcott: from maid of Gittisham to mother of God* starting at 7pm Burns Night supper and dancing 18^th JanuaryEaster Bingo March 29^thFather’s Day BBQ June 15^thGittisham Village Fete August 30^thChristmas Bingo November 29^th The coffee and cake afternoons we began last year proved very popular and so we plan to run them throughout 2025 in order to raise funds specifically to renovate the kitchen. If you wish to run one on our behalf this year, do please get in touch. They are lots of fun! you are guaranteed a large crowd and some fantastic fare from the bakers in the parish! Let us know your preferred month and we will do our best to accommodate this. RIP Mike Newcombe who lived at Combe Farm and tragically died at the end of November.

Gittisham Gazette January 2025

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