May 2026
Should Lustleigh take on the provision of public toilets in our village?
Teignbridge District Council have made a decision to stop funding or providing toilets as from next year and have informed local communities that if they want to continue to have these facilities they will need to take on the ownership and management of the premises themselves. There will be no funding provided for their upkeep, cleaning or for essential supplies such as toilet rolls.
If our community does not want to do this, Teignbridge District council will sell the premises and we will have no public toilets in the village.
The parish council are seeking your views on this and thought it would be helpful to provide some background on the likely costs and how to get in touch.
As part of our council tax bills, there is a contribution collected called the parish precept which is then paid to Lustleigh Parish Council for it to use to benefit the community. The cost of the precept is spread over the 279 dwellings in Lustleigh using a formula that takes account of the council tax band. This currently ranges from £26.85 per annum for band A to £80.54 for band H properties. The total currently received by the Parish Council is £14,517
If Lustleigh takes over the public toilets then the cost of doing so will be funded by an increase in the precept.
We know that the fabric of the building is not in a good state of repair and we would want to negotiate with TDC about the condition in which it is handed over. If they are not prepared to bring it up to a good standard before handover then we are likely to face costs of around £9000 to do so ourselves over the next few years. This would be in addition to the cost of regular cleaning, servicing, plumbing, electricity, insurance and supplies.
At present the toilets are serviced daily in the winter and twice daily in the summer months. The following sets out an estimate of the extra costs for both continuing the current level of service and for reducing this to a single daily service throughout the year
| Option (per annum) | Servicing | Consumables | Insurance | Est annual cost |
| Once-a-day clean | £6,000.00 | £3,120.00 | £400.00 | £9,520.00 |
| Once-a-day clean + twice-a-day summer | £13,000.00 | £3,120.00 | £400.00 | £16,520.00 |
If we decided to opt for a once daily clean then the increase in the annual precept for each council tax band would be approximately as set out in the following table.
| Band | Implied Dwellings | Band D Equivalent Count | Multiplier | Band Charge | Contribution |
| A | 10 | 6.6 | 0.67 | £17.61 | £174.29 |
| B | 19 | 14.9 | 0.78 | £20.54 | £393.48 |
| C | 37 | 32.6 | 0.89 | £23.47 | £860.89 |
| D | 27 | 27.4 | 1.00 | £26.41 | £723.57 |
| E | 45 | 54.9 | 1.22 | £32.28 | £1,449.79 |
| F | 56 | 80.2 | 1.44 | £38.14 | £2,117.90 |
| G | 79 | 132.1 | 1.67 | £44.01 | £3,488.47 |
| H | 6 | 11.9 | 2.00 | £52.82 | £314.25 |
| TOTALS | 279 | 9,522.64 |
This does not include the cost of making good the structural maintenance backlog, ongoing routine maintenance of the building or emergency repairs for example if the toilets were vandalised.
Whilst this does represent a financial cost to local people, there is a very significant wider cost if we decide not to take on the toilets. As a Parish Council we are concerned that people who need to use the toilet will have to go somewhere and that is likely to be in the village orchard, verges or on private land. This would not only have a serious impact on dignity but it could also become a public health hazard. As was pointed out by several residents at the parish meeting, it is not only visitors who use the toilets. There was particular concern that as the church does not have toilet facilities, those travelling to attend services, weddings and funerals would have nowhere to go. There is also a strong case that if we expect to be able to access decent public toilets when we visit other communities, we should be prepared to provide them in our own.
Some have asked whether we could introduce a fee to use the toilets but unfortunately the cost of installing a payment and locking system would far outweigh any money collected. These systems also have a tendency to be vandalised.
We would like to hear whether you would support the Parish Council in taking on the toilets. Dean and Shirley are kindly hosting a box at the Dairy for you to respond with the completed slip below. You can also respond via email to clerk@lustleighparishcouncil.gov.uk or by post to Lustleigh Parish Clerk, Wreyland Lodge, Lustleigh, TQ13 9TR. Please include your address and a clear yes or no answer to whether you would like the Parish Council to take on the toilets. Closing date 21.5.26
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☐ I would like the Parish Council to take over the public toilets in order for these to stay open
☐ I do not want the Parish Council to take over the public toilets and understand these will permanently close
Address:
April 2026
CHAIRSMAN’S REPORT APRIL 2026
Good evening everyone. I apologise for not being here in person unfortunately work has got in the way this year.
Well here we are again another year has passed and quite a year it was. Aswell as the usual items the PC have to deal with, planning, potholes, potholes and more potholes, the Play Area, orchard etc, this year we had the retirement of our Clerk Lis Wallace and Parish Council stalwart Jeremy Grammar, the Beating of The Bounds and the small matter of some filming.
Firstly I must thank Lis who did a tremendous job as our Clerk over the years. She kept me in line and was always on the end of the phone if I needed advice on anything PC related. Lis had over a period of time made a timeline document, the Clerks bible as I called it, so the new incumbent would have a reference point for when things needed to be done to aid their settling in. This made the transition from one clerk to another as seamless as it could be. Thankyou again Lis for all you did.
Now what to say about Jeremy Grammar. A stalwart Parish Councillor for more years than he cares to remember, Jeremy made the decision to retire in May last year. Jeremy’s grasp on how the DNP planning worked and the relationships he built up with their officers, the hours he spent on awkward issues was quite exceptional. As was his relationship with Devon County Council highways department. Jeremey also made sure the change of contact from himself to James on matters relating to Devon County highways department went smoothly. Again, thankyou Jeremy, for all you have done over the many years representing the Parish council.
With Jeremy’s departure we needed to find a replacement. We had two very strong candidates and it was a really hard choice we had to make. The unanimous choice was Frances.
In August with the retirement of Lis, Rachel took over the mantle of Parish Clerk. What a lucky Parish we are to have found someone who has step into the role as if she has been doing this for years. I know she is very appreciative of the help and support she had from Lis at the start. Rachel has made this job her own and deserves a medal for putting up with us lot. She is doing an absolutely fantastic job and we all appreciate her work.
What has happened over the last twelve months
I would suggest the biggest issue we had to deal with was the filming. That took a lot of time up until the filming was completed in October. I feel it was a successful event and the film crew kept to their word, from a meeting I had with them in July, and they paid for Wreyland Path to resurfaced. They also stated, in the same July meeting, that they would like to leave a legacy to the village and asked what would I considered to be an appropriate amount. This was agreed so we hired the orchard out to them for car parking at a cost to them of £20,000.
The dealings we had with the film company from start to finish was superb from the security right up to the director himself. Quite an event.
During the year Teignbridge approached us for a meeting where they informed us that they are off loading assets and for us that means the public toilets. We are now investigating the costs etc involved in taking this facility on. If we do not then the toilets will close and Teignbridge will sell the asset off. We have a toilet sub-committee who are looking at what other parishes have done and are doing and will give you all more details later in this meeting.
As I said earlier the everyday issues of planning, potholes etc keep just rumbling on.
I would like to also thank our pothole team. They have become an example to other parishes who are looking to do a similar thing and James has been meeting these parishes explaining what our team does and how to go about setting it up.
I will finish with my thanks to the Parish Council team who, I say this every year, put in so many hours with little or no thanks. We don’t get it right for everybody all the time but as a group we discuss the issues and do what we feel is right. If you don’t agree with some of our decisions rather than be a keyboard warrior speak to a councillor or think about putting yourself forward to be a councillor in the May 2027 elections.
Tim Wakeham, Chairman, Lustleigh Parish Council
June 2025
COUNCILLOR VACANCY – JOIN US IF YOU CARE ABOUT LUSTLEIGH AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY
Lustleigh Parish Council has a vacancy for one councillor to be co-opted to the Council.
No experience or specific skills are required, just a willingness and enthusiasm to help keep Lustleigh a vibrant and good place to live. Time to attend monthly meetings and to implement decisions will be required. Training and support will be provided.
Please contact the Clerk for further details or an application form – clerk@lustleighparishcouncil.gov.uk
Closing date for applications – 8th July 2025
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JOB VACANCY – Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer
Lustleigh Parish Council is seeking an enthusiastic and highly organised individual to join us as Parish Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer. This is a part-time, home-based role, requiring attendance at monthly evening meetings, usually held on the second Thursday of each month at Lustleigh Village Hall.
Hours: 35 hours per month (some months more, some months less)
Pay: TBC
Deadline for applications: 11th July 2025
Start date: 1st August 2025
For more information please contact: clerk@lustleighparishcouncil.gov.uk
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NOTICE OF
CASUAL VACANCY
For the Parish of
LUSTLEIGH
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, that a vacancy exists in the office of Councillor for the Parish of Lustleigh, and that unless ten or more electors of the electoral area have, on or before the 19th June 2025, submitted a request in writing to the Proper Officer, Forde House Brunel Road, Newton Abbot TQ12 4XX that an election be held to fill the vacancy, the Parish Council will take steps to fill the said vacancy by co-option.
Signed: _____Lis Wallace__________ Date: 30th May 2025___
(Clerk to the Council)
APRIL 2025
Chairman’s Report Delivered at the Annual Parish Meeting
Good evening everyone and thankyou for attending this annual event that I know you all look forward too.
Another year has passed and that means another thankyou to the PC team for the hours they voluntarily put into their roles. They have looked at the majority of planning issues that pass across our Clerks desk, eventually found a very competively priced contractor to help with the orchard maintenance, organised Richard Twose who carries out the regular grass cutting of the village green and the higher maintenance areas of the orchard and don’t get me started on the amount of potholes that have been filled or reported. They are a pleasure to work with all and with the same aim of ensuring Lustleigh remains a great place to live.
I must also give our Clerk a massive mention, whilst the Parish pays her a small salary she goes above and beyond and will always ensure we play by the rules laid out for all Parish Councils. She monitors the finances and our insurances and is always available when I have query on what we can or can’t do, and the emails, my goodness so many emails even when she is in Spain! Thankyou Lis I certainly appreciate all you do.
Another thankyou must go to Kim Chambers for her time as a Parish Councillor. Kim unfortunately decided she needed to step away from the PC last year.
However we were lucky enough to have 2 very strong candidates put their hats in the ring to replace Kim and after interviewing both candidates it was decided that we would appoint Sarah James as Kim’s replacement.
Sarah has taken some of the planning load off Jeremy Grammar and is working closely with both Sheila and Jeremy on this.
What have the PC achieved and done in the last 12 months.
We have eventually found a contractor to help us maintain the orchard which has become a necessity since our local sheep farmer, quite rightly in my opinion, last year, felt the need to stop putting some of their sheep in the orchard to keep the grass under control.
We gave grants to the church for the Christmas lighting and repairs to the clock.
The Lustleigh Society have also benefitted from small grants to help with running the archives.
We have visited so many properties that have put in planning requests. Whilst some are straight forward others are not so I dread to think of the hrs put in by Sheila and Jeremy Grammar on this.
We have our own pothole spotter who somehow has kept his enthusiasum for emailing Devon County Council with alarming regularity so much so I think James Cater has joined Jeremy Grammar and is now on their Christmas card list or perhaps when seen in the inbox there’s a cry of “ will this guy ever give up”
Jeremy H and I have eventually sourced a contractor to help maintain the orchard. Trying to find a contractor that has the equipment required to cut the grass and is prepared to do this at price we can afford has not been easy but we hope we have been successful in doing this. This will not eradicate the need for our volunteers to keep turning up when requested, in fact it is essential we keep the volunteers for strimming etc. so please keep an eye out for the call of arms from JH. If you want the orchard to remain a fantastic facility Lustleigh needs you!
We also have to thank Jerry Diplock who annually gives up a Sunday to inspect the orchard and provide a detailed report on the state of the furniture, play area and all the public access points. This is needed by our insurers and if it wasn’t for Jerry would cost an eye watering amount.
The PC now has gone full hog into the 21st century and all the members of the PC have .gov.uk email addresses. This is actually recommended by the powers that be as best practice. It also protects any councillor. If we had carried on using our own emails it would mean that an auditor could demand access to our personal emails and I’m sure I don’t want an auditor seeing some of the emails I get from………..enough said!
Our website is also now a .gov.uk one. This has all been done by Lis right down to sending us techno-phobs the instructions on how to set ourselves up with .gov.uk emails.
Now I have to go back to our thanking of volunteers. These volunteers really do help. They undertake things that our local authorities ,at present, do not have the resources to put to work on.
So to the pothole team Thankyou
To Bill Jackson and his Buddle team Thankyou
To Carol Lucas and the quizzers thankyou for the donation to the Lustleigh Fund
A massive thankyou again to the amazing PC members and our Clerk.
Finally a huge thankyou to all the people who put their time into all the village organisation and businesses that make this place a great place to live
NOVEMBER 2024
New Councillor
The parish council is pleased to welcome a new councillor. Having lived in the parish for 32 years Sarah is an active, well-known member of the community and brings to the role a wealth of knowledge and experience. Sarah James will be ratified as a councillor at the December meeting.
Parishioners’ Award
This award is made in recognition of individuals, families, groups or organisations who live or are based in Lustleigh and have made a significant contribution to the parish.
This award is managed and determined by the parish council. The Parish Council has the right NOT to make an Award if there are no suitable nominations
In the years when the council decides to run the award, nominations will be requested in December. The deadline for nominations will be 31st January of the following year. All nominations received will be considered by the parish council and the outcome will be determined at the March meeting.
The recipient of the Award will be announced at the Annual Parish Meeting in April and will be presented with a certificate.
Approved at council meeting held 14th November 2024
Amended at council meeting held 13th February when the decision was made to not make it an annual award.
OCTOBER 2024
MAKE A CHANGE
BECOME A LOCAL COUNCILLOR
JOIN US IF YOU CARE ABOUT LUSTLEIGH AND ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY
Lustleigh Parish Council has a vacancy for one councillor to be co-opted to the Council.
No experience or specific skills are required, just a willingness and enthusiasm to help keep Lustleigh a vibrant and good place to live. Time to attend monthly meetings and to implement decisions will be required. Training and support will be provided.
Please contact the Clerk for further details or an application form – clerk@lustleighparishcouncil.gov.uk
Closing date for applications – 8th November 2024
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SEPTEMBER 2024
NOTICE OF CASUAL VACANCY
For the Parish of Lustleigh
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 87(2) of the Local Government Act 1972, that a vacancy exists in the office of Councillor for the Parish of Lustleigh, and that unless ten or more electors of the electoral area have, on or before the 14th October 2024, submitted a request in writing to the Proper Officer, Forde House Brunel Road, Newton Abbot TQ12 4XX that an election be held to fill the vacancy, the Parish Council will take steps to fill the said vacancy by co-option.
Signed: ____Lis Wallace Date: _20/9/2024
(Clerk to the Council)
AUGUST 2024
Much discussed just lately has been the subject of how best to manage the wonderful orchard. The paths mown through the long grasses looked great for a while but have taken a battering from the rain. Our native wildlife, including those precious pollinators, are in desperate need of help in terms of habitat and food yet the orchard also needs to be where people can enjoy a stroll and have somewhere to spread a blanket or two for a picnic (if the sun ever decides to grace us with her appearance). So, a balanced approach is needed and that is not as easy as it sounds.
With her experience and contacts Kim is the ideal councillor for the job and, with input from Jeremy H and Tim, has been tasked with producing an annual plan as to how the orchard can best be managed, for humans and nature alike. No small task but luckily for Kim the council doesn’t meet in August, so she has until the September meeting to put thoughts and pen to paper. Should be an interesting agenda item.
The parish council has been in conversation with Devon Air Ambulance who have agreed to deliver a free CPR & Defibrillator Training session in the village hall on 7th August 2024. Places are limited but invitations to partake in this useful training have been extended to local businesses (the pub, tearoom, shop and garage) and to LADS drivers and our team of pothole fillers. Let’s hope the training is never needed to be put into practise.
If you think things have gone quiet re the missing fingerpost on the sign by Ivy Cottage, then you are right. The parish council has made progress in sourcing a possible supplier of a replacement but as the sign is owned by Devon County Council nothing can be done without their agreement. This has been requested.
Back in May the parish council agreed to move to a .gov.uk domain, i.e. a government online address. Not yet mandatory but being pushed vigorously by the cabinet office, funding and support was made available to the first 1,000 parish councils who made the move. I’m pleased to say that Lustleigh applied for and received the funding and have now made the switch. The website address is now lustleighparishcouncil@.gov.uk although searches on the old domain will still be successful as they are automatically forwarded. A “go live” date of 1st August was set but everything was in place by early July, and I’m pleased to say that all 7 of your councillors have now activated their dedicated council email addresses. As before, it is still preferred that all emails are sent to the clerk (currently me) who will then share them with the council and, if appropriate, make the subject an agenda item at the next meeting.
Please note the clerk’s new email address is clerk@lustleighparishcouncil.gov.uk
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Devon Air Ambulance are visiting Lustleigh Village Hall on 7th August to provide CPR and Defibrillator Training. The training runs from 6.30pm to 8pm. In just 1.5 hours you can learn how to potentially save a life.
Please contact Lis Wallace if you wish to attend – clerk@lustleighpcouncil.gov.uk
JULY 2024
I’m pleased to report that lots of positive parish council related things have been happening with just one negative, so I’ll get that out of the way by covering it first.
For several years a donation tin has sat on the gate leading into the orchard with a request on the adjacent sign for those visitors who have enjoyed the orchard, to make a donation towards its upkeep. There’s never very much money in the tin, even after a busy May Day less than £10 was donated from the swarm of people enjoying such a lovely event. But it was still disturbing a couple of weeks’ ago to find the tin broken into with the padlock removed and the contents stolen. Even the foreign coins and trago tokens that I usually find lurking amongst the coins were taken. A new padlock has been fitted and we can only hope that the theft was from a visitor to the village who, with a bit of luck, will never return.
On a more positive note, I’m sure you will be aware that our volunteer pothole gang have been busy again, repairing the roads and lanes. As usual, they’ve done a great job and I’m sure we’re all very grateful. Of course, they need equipment to carry out the repairs and the parish council recently spent £416 (excl. vat) on a blower, shovels, tamper, etc. It was hoped that we could reclaim this unbudgeted expense from Devon Highways, but our claim was rejected and so the Lustleigh Fund money has been dipped into. This Fund holds money raised from historic Boxing Day duck races and one of the principles is that it be used “To fund items for the benefit of the parish”, so this is an appropriate use.
As many of you will know, the Lustleigh Society and Parochial Church Council have a joint project to restore the Old Vestry. This will then provide a home not just for the Archive but also for a gallery to display the growing number of Lustleigh paintings plus a “visitor centre”. Needing finance for this project the Society applied to the Lustleigh Fund and the Parish Council agreed to a grant of £400.
So, what with pothole filling equipment and the Lustleigh Society grant the Lustleigh Fund is now sorely depleted and a decision will be made as to whether or not to keep it going.
Last month I mentioned that there was a project to move the parish council to a more professional footing, switching to switch to a .gov.uk domain, funded in part by the cabinet office. After much gnashing of teeth, I’m pleased to say that this is nearly complete and a “go live” date of 1st August has been agreed. The lustleighparishcouncil.com website has already been migrated to the new domain – lustleighparishcouncil.gov.uk although searches on the old domain will automatically be rerouted. This has been tested to within an inch of its life but with these things there are always often glitches so do let me know if you spot anything odd or maybe just odder than normal.
JUNE 2024
MAY 2024
The May meeting always begins with the Annual Parish Council Meeting where the councillors elect a Chair for the coming year and confirm individual responsibilities. Having done sterling jobs over the last 12 months, Tim Wakeham was proposed, seconded and elected Chair with Sheila Palmer continuing to offer her experience and support in the role of Vice Chair.
All councillors are involved in all decision making but key areas of responsibility for the coming year were agreed as follows:
Orchard Care & Maintenance – Jeremy H and Kim
Play Area & Equipment – Tim
Preschool Contact – Tim & Sheila
Planning – Sheila, Jeremy G & Kim
Village Maintenance (including the Road Warden Scheme) – James
Village Hall Committee Representative – Henry
Once the meeting proper started there was much to discuss.
The daffodils on the village green, funded by the Parish Mag, were a great success with many commenting on how bright and cheerful they looked. As a result, the Parish Mag requested permission to extend the planting, and this was granted. The only trouble with daffs is that although when in bloom they look great they then have to be left to naturally dieback, looking scruffier and scruffier by the day. A compromise was agreed, and the extra daffs will be planted on the slope below and behind the Tudor Cross. The top area can then be mowed, leaving the area where the scruffy daffs are lurking until they can be cut back in July.
Our wonderful gang of pothole fillers have been busy and did a great job of making the Wreyland Path safe and fairly level for the May Day procession. Extra/replacement pothole filling equipment needed has been funded by the parish council who have submitted a claim to Devon County Council Highways. If this claim is unsuccessful then the monies will be drawn from the Lustleigh Fund.
You may have noticed, or seen being discussed on the Village Hub, that an arm off the metal signpost by Ivy Cottage has mysteriously disappeared. If you spot it adorning someone’s garden or mantelpiece then do please let me know. In the meantime, the council is trying to source a replacement.
The councils end of year accounts were signed off during the meeting as were the Annual Governance and Accountability Return documents. Preparing these documents is every parish clerk’s nightmare and I shall be very happy to get them in the post to the external auditor. Thanks are due to Patrick Barker for again conducting the internal audit.
All town and parish councils are being encouraged to move their online addresses to a .gov.uk domain. This encouragement takes the form of advice, training and part funding. Lustleigh parish council agreed to make the move and have appointed Cloud Next as our Approved Registrar. The outcome of all this will be a new website address, a new parish clerk email address and dedicated councillor email addresses. Watch this space, all will become clear.
APRIL 2024
Chairman’s Annual report
For my first AGM as Chair of the Parish Council I would like to start with by thanking a few people who willingly give their time for the good of the village. Firstly, my fellow Councillors, Jeremy Hepworth for his Chairmanship over the last few years, to the other Councillors, Sheila Palmer, Jeremy Grammar, Kim Bartlett, James Cater and Henry Reddaway who between them Keep an eye on planning, the orchard, the village green, Pethybridge woods and the odd pothole! I must include a big thankyou to our Clerk, Lis Wallace, who goes above and beyond on the nominal wages we pay her and keeps on us on the straight and narrow!
The Parish Council would like to express our gratitude to Jerry Diplock who every year gives his time for nothing to undertake a safety audit on the orchard including the play area and furnishes us with a comprehensive report on the condition of the seats, benches, play equipment, gates and the bridge into Pethybridge Woods.
We must also thank our brilliant pothole team lead by Martin and Roger who work closely with James Cater filling the potholes that they can and reporting the ones that are rather too large for our equipment to Devon County Council. DCC must be fed up with the name James Cater as I have lost count of the amount of potholes James has reported of the last twelve months, let’s just say the spreadsheet reads as long as War and Peace!
Planning this year, as in previous years has been closely monitored by the terriers that are, Jeremy G and Sheila. They have taken Kim under their wing and are slowly introducing her the ins and outs of planning within DNP and our parish boundary. This last year seems to have been a little quieter than recent ones as work on a property along Knowle Road appears to have been at a standstill for a while. Having said that we have had 20 planning applications and all 20 have been investigated and reviewed by the team.
The orchard play area has had some investment by way of replacing the old cradle swings with new. This had to be done as the stanchions were showing signs of decay and Jerry Diplock suggested we need to replace so we dug into our reserves and did so.
Whilst on the subject of the orchard thanks need to go to Jeremy H for time he spends placing new benches, organising the apple picking, the mistletoe regeneration, and cutting days. Unfortunately the turn out of volunteers to help with the cutting etc has been disappointing. Here I must mention Richard Jacoby who very quietly, spends a lot time cutting things back. We have received an anonymous donation to aid with the up keep and we are exploring contractors who would be willing and have the machinery to undertake some of this for us. This is a one off donation so we will need to try to encourage our younger residents to become more active in maintaining this lovely asset.
Kim represented the PC in Chagford and collected a donation from Chagford Show to go towards the mapping of the orchard which will help us build a management plan for the orchard in regard of maintaining and replacing apple trees.
Staying with the orchard we would like to thank those who have donated memorial benches and a picnic table in the last twelve months. We feel we are now in a position of having enough seating and tables, well that is until the next annual inspection!
Finally on the orchard, we must thank Bridget for buying our apples and to the apple pickers who turn up and fill numerous bags.
Other things that have happened over the last year:-
The area of land that houses the bus shelter has been kindly donated to us by Darren and Sue Wilson of Combe Hill.
Hopefully you will have noticed how much drier the road is on Brookfield Corner. This is due to the tenacity of Jeremy Grammar aided by James beating DCC into submission and having a spring catchment trap installed and hooked up to the existing drain on the lane up to Loxtor and May Day Lane.
Most recently we have been in contact with BT, Ofcom and anyone else we could pester in regard of the digital switch over. The upshot is that we have managed to get the phone box by the Post Office change back to analogue so if there is a long loss of power that phone can be utilised. This is a short term gain as it will be digitised by 2025 but by then the mobile signal should be much improved. Ummmmm time will tell.
We need to thank Patrick Barker for his input on this and he worked closely with us to help us achieve our goal.
On the subject of Patrick I must thank him for his time and very careful scrutinization undertaking the annual audit of our accounts.
Whilst on the subject of money we have opened three savings accounts, one is instant access, a fixed term account and the Lustleigh Fund. By being proactive on managing the public money by doing the Parish Council have earned £227. This does mean that Lis has to spend more time monitoring the bank accounts but £227 will go towards the purchase a blower for the Potholers.
A couple of people who need, in our opinion thanking for what they do are Bill and Vicky Jackson. The speedy response they give if there is a call of tree down on a footpath is fantastic, and the buddle busting is appreciated by us all.
I can see a couple of you starting to nod off so just to say thankyou to all of whom I haven’t mentioned that give their time freely and willingly to make this village not a bad place to live. I include in this Councillor Reddaway who not only attends every PC meeting, his interjections are always relevant, on point and sometimes humorous! And as the PC’s representative on the Village Committee he probably attends more meeting in the village hall than the rest of us.
Being a Parish Councillor is voluntary and we may not, in the eyes of some, always get it right, but I consider myself fortunate to have a great team to work with and we all strive to do what we feel is best for the parish and it’s parishioners. If any of you are interested in becoming a Parish councillor in the future but are not sure what it entails, please ask one of the team and I’m sure they will do their up most to put you off!
Tim Wakeham – 11th April 2024
MARCH 2024
2024/25 Budget
Council tax bills for 2024/25 are landing on our doormats and so now seems the right time to publish Lustleigh Parish Council’s budget for the same period.
Any percentage increase on a low base number looks high and the published 14.8% is no exception. To put that figure into perspective, the Parish Council’s precept (the amount requested from Teignbridge District Council) has increased from £11,735 in 2023/4 to £13,328 in 2024/25. An increase of £1,593, which works out at £5.21 for each of the estimated 306 households. Of course, this figure varies dependant on the property’s council tax band.
So why is the increase necessary?
The largest increase, £710, is against the clerk’s salary and PAYE. This is due to a nationally negotiated cost of living increase and also to a review of the scale on which the clerk is paid. Such a review has not been held for several years, during which time there have been some major changes to the role.
The second largest increase, £491, is against the council’s public liability insurance. In October 2024 the council reaches the end of a 3-year fixed rate insurance contract, and a sizeable increase is anticipated.
Other reasons for the increase include the need to purchase equipment for our pothole filling team, an increase in necessary subscription fees and an increase in the village hall room hire rate.
The following link will take you to a detailed breakdown on the 2024/25 budget.
If you have any questions, please contact the parish clerk lustleighparishclerk@hotmail.com
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Clerk’s Report – There is good news on the issue of the public payphone failing to work during our not so infrequent power cuts. Largely due to the persistence of Jeremy Grammer, BT has offered to change the mechanics to give the payphone kiosk a line powered phone. This will be a temporary solution until the PSTN network is fully switched off in 2025 but who knows, there might be a decent mobile signal in the village by then. The parish council has accepted BT’s offer so let’s wait and see what happens next…
Before we leave the subject of BT (I promise that we will!), it is worth reminding anyone with vulnerabilities of the need to make contact with your phone provider, making sure that your situation is logged on your account. This is to avoid an unplanned and non-agreed digital changeover as has recently happened to others in the village. If you need help with this then let me or a councillor know.
Speaking of power cuts, if lengthy then it would be really useful to know who in the village owns a generator that they would be willing to share, for example to allow others to recharge their mobile phones. Please drop me an email if you are one of these generously hearted folk, your name will be kept private and only shared if/when the need arises.
In the orchard you may have noticed a couple of smart new benches, lurking by the main gate. One has been donated in memory of Raymond Powell, who lived in Lustleigh for the first 50 years of his life and had a deep love for the village. These recycled plastic benches have a great many benefits (maintenance free, will not crack, rot or splinter, etc) but my goodness they are heavy. Fear not, muscle power is being organised and the benches will soon be moved into position.
Many years back I remember there being a horror film where every time one monster was killed it regenerated and multiplied into many more. Potholes are clearly of the same ilk. The good news is that our wonderful team of volunteers are out filling holes every fortnight and James Cater has reported a further 14 of the “too big for our team to fill” monsters to Devon Highways. Remember, you don’t need to wait for James to do one of his note-making, photo taking, what-three-words locating strolls around the village. Anyone can report a pothole and details as to the how and where can be found on the parish council website at www.lustleighparishcouncil.com/monthly-news
FEBRUARY 2024
FEBRUARY 2024
Clerk’s Report – Thanks are due to Alexa Mason for organising the Lustleigh Societies, Organisations and Businesses Coffee Morning on 11th January. Perhaps not the snappiest of titles but a great idea and very well supported. What an amazing village this is with such a varied range of entertainment, information and support on offer. Oh, and cake! Wow the people (almost typed “ladies” but that could land me in all sorts of trouble) of this village certainly know how to turn out the very best of cakes. Topics raised by those who stopped at the parish council table included potholes (bet that surprises you), fireworks, “whine and wine” sessions, BT, motorbikes, hedging and rusty flails. Life is never dull in Lustleigh.
January’s council meeting was a long one with much to discuss. The planned British Telecom digital rollout is of prime concern and Jeremy Grammer is the lead councillor, speaking with BT at a senior level and demanding that concerns be addressed. With both terrier and rottweiler blood in his genes Jeremy usually gets results. More on this from both Jeremy and Patrick Barker (who are in cahoots on this subject) elsewhere in the mag.
The date for the Annual Parish Meeting has been set for the 11th of April and will be held in the village hall, starting at 7pm. Often, but wrongly, called the AGM, this is not a parish council meeting but is a meeting organised by the council, for the parish. Oh yes, there is a difference! The Annual Parish Meeting is a legacy from the Middle Ages, when local councils did not exist (can you imagine?!), and all local decision making was carried out by meetings of the whole community. The fallouts must have been spectacular. Times have changed but the Annual Parish Meeting continues and remains open to all residents of the Lustleigh parish, who have the right not only to attend but also to speak on any matter they consider valuable and relevant to the parish. No decisions can be made at the meeting, but issues can be made agenda items for a future parish council meeting. More details will follow but for now please make a note in your diary. The village hall at 7pm on Thursday 11th April is the place to be!
JANUARY 2024
British Telecom digital roll out – Change in telephone system in Lustleigh -Starts May 2024
Why?
Replacing the ageing analogue system which has been in service for a considerable time.
Benefits
Improved service and reliability.
Progressive increase in broadband speeds and access.
Improving mobile coverage.
Risks
Eliminates current dual system (powered separately)
No mobile coverage as a fallback
Systems dependant on continuous electricity supply.
No critical emergency cover in the event of power cuts
Impacts
Many vulnerable residents will need support and guidance in preparation for the
changeover.
Essential first steps.
To avoid any unplanned or not agreed changes to digital tell your phone provider now of your situation and make sure this information is logged onto your account.
Check points:
No mobile coverage Non mobile phone user
Dependant resident Health pendant user
Over the age of 74
Say no to change until these points are explained and fallback cover is agreed in the event of power outages.
Second Steps
The providers will write to all users in April/May prior to the changeover seeking specific information from each account along the lines of the check points indicated above.
Contact your parish councillors for help or further guidance in preparation for the digital rollout.
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Clerk’s Report – “There’s a time each winter when things go from magical to miserable. They call it January” Anon
January is often the time when we get snow which is great fun for some but a worry and inconvenience to others. Personally, I dreaded snow when getting up at silly o’clock to drive to work (I was always so relieved if there were tyre tracks in the snow meaning I wasn’t the first to attempt the lane) but now that I’m retired, I’m rather hoping for some of the white stuff. What will be will be.
If you haven’t yet checked your local grit bin, then now is the time. If less than half full then please report it to Devon Highways who are pretty good at timely top-ups. If we do get snow, then the grit will be much needed.
As we know, Lustleigh is a hugely generous and supportive village, and the parish council has received several offers of memorial benches for the orchard plus a replacement picnic table. The orchard is a special place where both residents and visitors love to spend time so providing enough places for people to sit and enjoy is important. Thank you to all concerned.
Elsewhere in this magazine you will read of a real concern with BT’s planned switch to digital. The parish council is in communication with both BT and Ofcom and will do what it can to ensure communication lines are always kept open.
The parish council will have a table at the Lustleigh Showcase coffee morning on Saturday 20th January 2024. So, if you wish to learn more about your parish council, have a question or an issue to raise then do come along. Several councillors will be in attendance and would love to see you.
Councillor James Cater has a new hobby. You may have spotted him on one of his regular walks round the village, he’s the one photographing and measuring potholes! James then reports said potholes to Devon Highways who decide what they will, or won’t, do about them. The most recent report included 37 potholes, 14 of which have now been filled and 8 are due to be filled in the New Year. So, well done and thank you James. Smaller potholes are filled by our intrepid band of volunteers who met recently at a very esteemed establishment, The Cleave, to develop a plan. They will be out and about in the New Year.
The parish council wishes all parishioners a happy and healthy 2024, let’s hope it’s a kind year and is good to us all.
“Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.”
― Brad Paisley
DECEMBER 2023
Clerk’s Report – Crikey, December again already. I don’t have a crystal ball and have not a clue as to whether we’ll have a white Christmas or not so best I stick to giving an update on what your parish council got up to during November.
Jerry Diplock kindly donated his time to complete the annual orchard and play area inspection and has produced a detailed report. Quotes for replacement cradle swings have been received and an order placed. The likely installation date is 12th December 2023 so the play area will be closed that day. We also need to replace one bench and one picnic table as both have seen better days. Does anyone wish to donate or sponsor either? Perhaps a memorial bench? If so, let me know but if not, the parish council will go ahead and purchase them. The orchard needs to be enjoyed and so safe things on which to perch one’s bottom are pretty important.
The council has received a parishioner’s request for more Twenty’s Plenty signs to be installed however the existing signs seem to be ignored by many, with some people continuing to drive far too fast both into and out of the village. So, the jury is out, and the situation will be reviewed once the signs have been in place for 12 months.
The war memorial is always kept looking nice with parishioners kindly volunteering their time to weed and plant the troughs. The area behind the memorial had however become something of a jungle and so the parish council recently paid to have it cleared. Not an easy job as it was littered with bits of broken fencing but now it looks so much better the council will come up with a plan to keep it that way.
A few years back BT decommissioned public phone boxes in many villages, but we kept ours due to mobile coverage in the village being so poor. The switch to digital means that landlines, including the phone box, will cease to work during a power cut. And of course, Lustleigh is no stranger to power cuts. The parish council was alerted to this by Patrick Barker and has been in contact with BT. The response is that BT can fit a UPS battery back-up to some public phone boxes, but that Lustleigh doesn’t need one as mobile coverage in the village is so good. Odd then that many of us can get no signal at all! The council is of course challenging this response and has also contacted Ofcom. Watch this space.
James Cater has been out and about identifying, measuring and photographing potholes and 32 of the little blighters have been reported. The seemingly constant rain is a handicap to getting them filled but plans are afoot.
Here’s hoping your Christmas is both merry (hic) and bright.
Happy Christmas!
NOVEMBER 2023
Clerk’s Report – The apples in the orchard have been picked and paid for, the daffodil bulbs have been planted on the village green, planning applications have been assessed and the new bench for the orchard has been delivered. It’s all been happening here in our fabulous community! Incidentally, I recently overheard a visitor talking on the phone, telling someone how delightful they thought Lustleigh was and how we had the best village shop they’d ever seen. Nail hit firmly on head!
By the time the parish mag goes to print the annual inspection of the orchard and play area will have been completed. Thanks, as always are due to Jerry Diplock for providing such a vital service to the community. In last years’ report Jerry flagged up that the cradle swings were starting to show their age (aren’t we all?). Quotes are in the process of being obtained and over the next few months the cradle swings will have had more than a face-lift, they will have been replaced.
So far, the weather has remained mild (my tortoises are not yet showing any sign of going into their winter slumber), but this could soon change. If you have a grit box for a near neighbour, then now is the time to lift the lid and take a peek inside. Along with the spiders and their webs you should hopefully find some grit. If not, or if the level of grit is low, then please request a refill. This is very easy to do, just make a note of the bin’s identification number and go online to https://devon.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/safe-travel/winter-travel/grit-bins/ The alternative is to drop me an email and I’ll place the refill request on your behalf.
I’m going to digress a little but stick with me and you’ll see there a is a point (albeit not a very sharp one) to my ramble. Here in Lustleigh we are fortunate enough to have an extensive archive full of some really interesting information along with some fabulous old photographs. If you’ve never visited the archives (or volunteered to help) then make it a date, although you’ll have to wait until spring as the building is just too flipping cold to be opened in the winter. Anyway, one of the many ways I fill my time is by doing a few stints of archive duty and this recently has included indexing old parish council minutes. This has been so interesting with many of the same issues back then still being relevant today. In particular, the condition of the lanes and the state of some of the hedges. Back in 1955, one of the things under much discussion was the state of Wreyland path which, it was reported, was being made worse by the number of horses being ridden there. To resolve this, it was muted that horses should be banned from Wreyland path, and this was almost carried until some brave soul pointed out that it was in fact, a bridleway! See, I’ve told you before that parish council meetings can be fun.
OCTOBER 2023
Clerk’s Report – Autumn seems to have arrived somewhat early and as I write the rain is lashing down and the wind is blowing hard. No doubt apples various are bouncing around all over the orchard, just in time for the apple picking session on Saturday, 30th September. Hopefully a fun and productive morning for all involved.
The September council meeting was wildly exciting with topics such as the concrete RAAC, the closure of train ticket offices and insurance renewal being just some of the many items discussed. These meetings are open to the public so please do come along to one and join in the fun, you’ll be made very welcome.
The flooding at the Knowle Road/Loxtor corner has been something of a saga but, largely thanks to the terrier-like persistence of Jeremy Grammer, has now been resolved. It was a pain for some having the road closed for several days (not helped by the road closed signage being put in the wrong place and causing confusion) but a spring trap has now been installed and the drainage has been given a major overhaul. So, hopefully no more water leakage. Hopefully.
As always, councillors have been busy assessing planning applications, all of which can be found on the Dartmoor National Park website.
Sadly, the Moorland Flower Club, based at Moretonhampstead, has folded. When distributing their closing funds, the Flower Club kindly donated £250 to Lustleigh parish council, to be put towards the cost of a bench/seat in our orchard. The timing is perfect (for us if not for the Flower Club) as a broken bench in the orchard needs to be replaced. A new bench is on order and will hopefully be in situ soon.
All seems to have gone quiet on the pothole front, perhaps we just don’t notice them anymore? If you do know where any are lurking then please report them as per the guidance on the parish council website, https://lustleighparishcouncil.com/pot-hole-reporting or just drop James Cater or me an email.
Several years ago, the council created an emergency plan, and the feeling is that it now needs a review and possible/probable update. The existing plan can be found on the website, under the Documents tab, so on a rainy day such as this you may like to take a look and let me know of any amendments that you feel may be useful. If you don’t have access to the website, then just drop me an email and I’ll send you a copy.
SEPTEMBER 2023
Clerk’s Report – Thankfully nothing urgent cropped up during August and so the parish council got to enjoy a meeting free month. Speaking with clerks of other, similar sized parishes, Lustleigh is quite unusual in holding monthly meetings with many others only meeting every other month. We always seem to have a pretty full agenda so monthly (with the exception of August) seems to work for us.
With no meeting having been held in August I have little of interest to report. There was a planned road closure plus a couple of unplanned ones due to branches or whole trees coming down and blocking the lanes. Thanks are due to our local farmers, the Palmers and Bonds, for the speed in which they always turn out to clear the debris and to reopen the lanes. At least on one occasion during August this was done in near darkness. It’s a shame that Openreach don’t respond so quickly when it comes to repairing downed phone lines!
I reported recently that the new owners of the land on which our bus shelter sits have very kindly decided to gift the land to the parish council. In early August the necessary paperwork was completed, and this has now been submitted to the land registry. The land registry has responded saying they have a backlog – who doesn’t?
Keen to maximise the precept received by the council, two new savings accounts have been opened with Lloyds. The aim is to keep the minimum amount necessary to pay monthly bills in the Treasurers Account and for the remainder to be split between an Instant Access Account and a, higher interest earning, Fixed Term Account. If you are head scratching at the term “precept” I confirm this is the amount of your council tax that is paid to the parish council. For more riveting information about the parish council finances please visit the website www.lustleighparishcouncil.com/accounts/
No date has yet been set for apple picking but will be confirmed at the September council meeting so watch this space.
August 2023
Clerk’s Report – Crikey, August has arrived. Whatever happened to July?
Seeking inspiration for this month’s piece I’ve had a look at what I wrote in last August’s “News from the parish council” and this month’s will be pretty much the same. Potholes continue to be filled and again the village is looking forward to and gearing up for our annual show. I suspect that August 2021’s report was similar. Which led me to thinking, why don’t I save myself some time and just recycle? Hmmm…
On the 2023 subject of potholes, at the July meeting it was confirmed that all those reported had been filled. Hurrah I hear you cry, but wait, whilst this is great news, I suspect it doesn’t mean that our roads and lanes are now crater free but rather that some/several/many have simply not been reported. For details on how and to whom those pesky potholes should be reported please visit the parish council website – https://lustleighparishcouncil.com/pot-hole-reporting/. Alternatively, drop me an email and I’ll happily send you details. Please don’t just bounce, bump and brace, instead report, relax and rejoice once they are filled. As always, huge thanks are due to our volunteer team of pothole fillers (they so need a team name).
The parish council has agreed to a request for wild daffodils to be planted on a section of the village green. It probably won’t be a Wordsworth “host” but is a lovely idea and will cheer and brighten many a spring day. Thanks are due to the Parish Mag for funding the purchase of the bulbs.
The orchard is looking smart after a good seeing too by a strimmer wielding team of volunteers. The unwanted vegetation growing behind the village hall has also been cleared. Thanks are due to everyone who turned out to help on a dull, wet Saturday.
Devon county council is currently engaged in a programme called HUG2 with other partners, offering residents in Devon homes upgrades to make their homes more energy efficient. A letter is being sent to all residents giving details and the parish council has been asked to let residents know that it is legitimate and worthy of a read before hitting the recycling pile.