Housing needs surveys have gone out with this month’s Gittisham Gazette. Please fill them in and return them to have your say on affordable housing in the parish, whatever your circumstances. If anybody you know with a link to the parish might be interested in completing a survey, please get in touch via this website.
This is the first step in finding out if there is a need for more affordable housing in the parish, so please get those forms filled in and returned.
Thanks!
Circumstances and weather permitting, South West Highways will be undertaking essential highway maintenance works on behalf of Devon County Council, on 8 April 2016.
The works will involve essential surface patching works in the highway between Gittisham Farm Cross and Eveleigh’s Farm in the centre of the village. In order to carry out these works, a road closure and diversion will be in place.
We’ve been assured that the work will be done first thing and won’t affect anyone attending the funeral of Richard Saunders at 1.30pm in the church.
The road is closed between Parkers and Winsor Cottage for emergency sewage works. No buses can pass through the village at the moment, and no end date has yet been given for the work although reckoned to be a couple of days.
Stagecoach SW has tweeted that the Exeter 4a service is unable to serve Gittisham in both directions due to icy roads today.
Road from Gittisham to Honiton past the forge impassable; more than 2ft of standing water, which is enough to float your car. Access to village via Ironbridge.
Water levels appear to have dropped in places flooded earlier within the parish. However, more rain is forecast so please take care.
Reports today (30/12/15) that there is 3ft of flood water under the railway bridge by Gittisham Forge. AA advises that you should not enter flood water that is more than 10 cm / 4 inches deep. Sixty cm / 2ft will float your car. Please seek alternative routes.
When we surveyed the community for the Parish Plan in 2010, residents felt that there should be more affordable housing for local people. There was a broad agreement that there should be more housing available for rent and that uses should be found for redundant buildings.
It has been five years since then, there have been some changes in the village population and planning permission has been agreed for 300 houses on the Hayne Farm fields.
In the meantime, Combe Estate and the parish council have been talking about whether there is still a need for some new housing in the village on, possibly, the old estate office or land opposite Clysthayes. We have agreed that the number of dwellings should be small (no more than 10 or 12) and that most of these would be affordable and for rent.
The Parish Council wish to ensure that the houses should be the main residence of the occupants be-cause we are concerned at the proportion of village houses that are second homes or holiday lets and are keen to strengthen the community links that year-long occupancy encourages. The Estate is in accord with this wish.
However, in discussion with East Devon District Council it has become clear that the council would only agree to any residential development in Gittisham Village in exceptional circumstances. Their view is that development should only occur in the larger villages and towns where there is a full set of services. Small communities such as ours are deemed to be unsustainable.
The exceptional circumstances may apply if we could demonstrate strong community support and evidence of a local housing need. The parish, with the cooperation of the estate, would than have to form a community housing trust that would take the project forwards and run the eventual development.
This is where your views are vital.
Are you in favour of some small scale development within the village ?
You can reply to David Fallows or Richard Pratt. Contact details below. Your other thoughts would also be welcome. Thank you for your time.
David Fallows: Parkers East Gittisham 01404 850922
Richard Pratt: 1 Campion Way 01404 46551
Some work needs to be done in a general tidying and care-taking fashion and some sand needs to be spread on the boules court, but we have also acquired some logs to provide another play activity (a log walk) and we may be in a position to start constructing a climbing frame and slide.
Bring something for a picnic lunch and we’ll have a BBQ from 6pm too.
Invite your friends to help out and make this a fun day.