North Molton Parish News

South West Water traffic management 24th April to 26th April.

North Molton Square.

Delays possible.

The Parish Annual Meeting will be held on Wednesday 8th of May in The Victory Hall, North Molton, at 7:30pm. All are welcome to come along and hear a yearly summary from the Chairman and short reports from Parish Council officers and representatives of village organisations. 

The meeting will be followed by the Parish Council Annual Meeting for election of Chairman, Vice Chairman and responsible officers, and approval of key working documents.

There will also be an Extraordinary meeting to discuss the latest Planning Applications.

The agendas will be available on the noticeboard and this website at least 7 days in advance of the meeting.

Please find attached details of the nominated candidates and their agents.

Please find attached the latest updated Griffiths’ Newsletter for the North Devon Link Road Project – A361 - (Portmore to Borners Bridge).

Please find attached the latest Griffiths Traffic Bulletin and FAQ for the North Devon Link Road Project - A361 - (Portmore to Borners Bridge) or click HERE to view online at the Griffiths Community website under Traffic Updates. This bulletin contains important Traffic Information regarding traffic lights, road closures, works and traffic management. [endif]

An Election is to be held for the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Devon and Cornwall Police Area on 2 May 2024.

Please see attached for further information.

Please find attached an update from the North Molton Parish Council on their activities last year and plans for the new financial year.  All residencies within the Parish should receive a hard copy, but if you have not and would like one, contact the clerk on nmpclerk@gmail.com.

North Molton Parish Council is looking for someone to help maintain the Laurels Playground, benches and potentially other assets. It is expected that 40 hours per year are required, although not necessarily spread evenly throughout the 12-month period.  Please see the attached for more details, or the noticeboard. Closing date 3rd April 2024.

Jon Triggs NDC Deputy CEO has provided a summary of the latest budget:

Reduction to National Insurance contributions for employees from 6 April.  To reduce the rate by a further 2p in the pound (2%).

The Household Support Fund, which allows local councils to help families via food banks, warm spaces and food vouchers, will be extended beyond 31 March.  It will continue for six months.

Some more help for parents with childcare benefit.  Chancellor says he will consult on a new rule to make the benefit to apply to collective household income, rather than on an individual basis, which he aims to introduce by April 2026.  But, as a more imminent help, announced the threshold will go up from £50,000 to £60,000.  And the top of the taper at which it is withdrawn will go up to £80,000.

The higher rate of property capital gains tax is to be reduced from 28% to 24%.  The move is predicted to increase revenues as there will be more transactions.

The threshold for VAT registration will go up from £85,000 to £90,000.

Announced will scrap tax breaks which make it more profitable for second homeowners to let out their properties to holiday makers rather than to long-term tenants to rent.  Will abolish the furnished holiday lettings regime.

The government has announced it will scrap and reform the tax break for wealthy foreign residents in the UK who have non-domiciled tax status.  It will be replaced with a "modern residency system".

Frozen alcohol duty. The freeze in duty was due to end in August but has been extended to February next year.

Fuel duty will remain at its current rate and be frozen for the next 12 months.  Also extending a "temporary" 5p cut on fuel duty which was due to end this month.

To help make loans for household emergencies more affordable, he announced an increase to the repayment period for new loans from 12 months to 24 months, and an end to a £90 charge for debt relief orders.

Creation of a “British” ISA - in the form of an extra £5,000 tax-free allowance for the public to invest exclusively in UK.

Up to £120 million more to the Green Industries Growth Accelerator. This is to build supply chains for new technology such as offshore wind and carbon capture.

Also announced £270 million to advanced manufacturing industries, to fund car and space innovation, to grow "zero emission vehicle and clean aviation technology".

Medical research - proposing an additional £45m investment with £3m put into cancer research.  Announced a new investment into life sciences company AstraZeneca; an additional £650m investment in the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and a new vaccine manufacturing hub in Liverpool.

The investment needed to modernise NHS IT systems will cost £3.4bn - but will unlock £35bn of savings.

Keep day-to-day public spending at 1% growth in real terms but stated the money will be spent more sensibly.  Launch of Public Sector Productivity Plan, as announced as part of Finance Settlement.

As the Easter bank holiday approaches, North Devon Council is advising residents to stay informed about their waste and recycling collection schedules. To ensure a smooth process during the holiday period, residents are encouraged to check their collection dates on the council's website.

There will be no waste or recycling collections on Good Friday (29 March), collections due that day will be made on Saturday 30 March instead. For the entire week commencing Monday 1 April, collections will be one day later than usual, running from Tuesday 2 to Saturday 6 April. Normal collection schedules will resume on Monday 8 April.

With the Easter festivities resulting in increased cardboard and foil waste, residents are reminded to continue recycling responsibly. Cardboard and brown paper should be placed in brown bags, while plastics (except black) and scrunched up foil can be deposited in green or black recycling boxes.

TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF THROUGH TRAFFIC NOTICE is hereby given that Devon County Council has made the above titled order. From THURSDAY 18 APRIL 2024 for a maximum of 18 months Anticipated Finish FRIDAY 26 APRIL 2024 No person shall cause or permit any vehicle to proceed on the sections of Affected Roads. Roads affected - ROAD FROM YARDEWELLS CROSS TO MOLLAND CROSS, BRAYFORD The alternative, signed, route for vehicles will be via - NORTHLAND CROSS - A399 - BRAYFORD - FREINDSHIP FARM CROSS - B3358 - SIMONSBATH - B3223 - SIMONSBATH BRIDGE - KINSFORD GATE CROSS AND VICE VERSE.

Please find attached the latest Griffiths Traffic Bulletin and FAQ for the North Devon Link Road Project - A361 - (Portmore to Borners Bridge) or click HERE to view online at the Griffiths Community website under Traffic Updates. This bulletin contains important Traffic Information regarding traffic lights, road closures, works and traffic management. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine] [endif]

Please find attached the latest Griffiths Traffic Bulletin and FAQ for the North Devon Link Road Project - A361 - (Portmore to Borners Bridge) or click HERE to view online at the Griffiths Community website under Traffic Updates. This bulletin contains important Traffic Information regarding traffic lights, road closures, works and traffic management. [endif]

Please find attached a Project Update for the North Devon Link Road Project - A361 - (Portmore to Borners Bridge) and the latest Traffic Bulletin.  This bulletin contains important Traffic Information regarding ongoing traffic management.

For additional project information or to view all newsletters and traffic updates online, please visit the Griffiths in the Community North Devon Link Road website HERE

Please find attached the latest press release from Griffiths and Devon County Council regarding the North Devon Link Road – A361.

This includes nighttime closures and traffic lights during the day until mid/late March.

Please find attached the latest Griffiths Traffic Bulletin for the North Devon Link Road – NDLR – A361 (Portmore to Borners Bridge) Traffic Bulletin – 29.01.24 or click HERE to view online at the Griffiths Community Website under Traffic Updates. This bulletin contains important Traffic Information regarding night closures and traffic management.

Barnstaple's residents, businesses and visitors are being invited to take part in a survey which aims to gather insights into thoughts, opinions and attitudes about the town centre, in order to guide positive change in the future.

North Devon Council is running the survey for six weeks from Monday 22 January. The council says the results of the survey will help ensure the success of ongoing regeneration initiatives in Barnstaple town centre, such as the Market Quarter project. 

The survey will be available on the council's website and paper copies will be available in various locations in the town centre, including Green Lanes, the Pannier Market and selected businesses. The survey will be open between Monday 22 January and Monday 4 March.

Please find attached the latest Griffiths Traffic Bulletin for the North Devon Link Road Project - A361 - (Portmore to Borners Bridge) or click HERE to view online at the Griffiths Community website under Traffic Updates. This bulletin contains important Traffic Information regarding road closures, works and traffic management. [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]RESIDENTS OF NORTH MOLTON please note that access to South Molton from the new roundabout will be blocked from 30th Jan to 9th Feb.

Devon Communities Together is coming to NORTH MOLTON VICTORY HALL to talk about their Energy Outreach Project. SATURDAY 20th JANUARY 2024, 10:30 start. While hosted by NM Parish Council, residents of surrounding parishes are most welcome.

Nowadays, we are all worried about our energy bills. There will be a presentation on the ways in which you could save energy and access additional support, and a general Q & A. Depending on our community's needs, topics could include the following, and there will be an opportunity to speak to the presenter about your own bills: the energy market and energy costs; understanding fuel poverty; government support for households; industry support for households; Warm Homes Discount eligibility, home energy saving; switching energy suppliers; Priority Services Register; investment in home energy saving; the pros and cons of Smart Meters; Devon Oil Collective; Carbon Zero – new energy sources; obtaining further help/advice with energy affordability.

If you have not already had your Covid booster, and are eligible for one, then there will be one more session at The Victory Hall for walk in vaccinations.

Monday 22nd January 2024, 9:30am to 1:00pm

There is no need to book. Boosters are for the over 65s, clinically vulnerable and immunosuppressed. Please do not attend if you are not eligible (you can check at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119). 

Please find attached the latest Griffiths Traffic Bulletin for the North Devon Link Road Project - A361 - (Portmore to Borners Bridge) or click HERE to view online at the Griffiths Community website under Traffic Updates. This bulletin contains important Traffic Information regarding road closures, works and traffic management.

A reminder that 'Farming in Protected Landscapes' (FiPL) programme funding is open to applications on Exmoor that can be delivered between this year and March 2025. Funding can be sought for one-off projects, supporting farmers and land managers to carry out projects that:

🌱Aid #nature recovery

🌱Mitigate the impacts of #climatechange 

🌱Support nature-friendly, #sustainablefarming businesses

🌱Promote easier access on public rights of way

Exmoor National Park - Farming in Protected Landscapes

Or email conservation@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk and a FIPL Officer will be in touch.

Please find attached the latest update from Griffiths on the A361 improvements.

North Molton Parish Council meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month (unless otherwise stated), starting at 7:30 pm. Members of the public are welcome.

• Weds      10th January                          The Victory Hall, North Molton
• Weds      14th February                        The Victory Hall, North Molton
• Weds      13th March                            The Victory Hall, North Molton
• Weds      10th April                               The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds      8th May  The Victory Hall, North Molton [Village Annual Meeting and Parish Council Annual Meeting]

• Weds      22nd May                               The Victory Hall, North Molton
• Weds      12th June                               The Victory Hall, North Molton
• Weds      10th July                                The Victory Hall, North Molton
• Weds      14th August                           Heasley Mill Village Hall
• Weds      11th September                     The Victory Hall, North Molton
• Weds      9th October                           The Victory Hall, North Molton
• Weds      13th November                      Heasley Mill Village Hall
• Weds      11th December                      The Victory Hall, North Molton

For any queries, please contact Ian Fisher, Parish Clerk - 07784 177666 nmpclerk@gmail.com

Citizens Advice Torridge, North, Mid & West Devon are running a fuel voucher scheme this autumn and winter. Some residents may be struggling with the cost of living again this winter, with energy costs continuing to take up a large amount of the household budget. People on prepayment meters who are struggling to top up may be entitled to receive fuel vouchers from CAB.  They are able to issue £98 of energy vouchers to households at their first contact (subject to ID checks), and then following an energy advice session with a member of the team, they may be able to issue a further two sets of £98 vouchers.

Call 01237 879233 or email fuelvouchers@ruraldevoncab.org.uk

As part of providing local homes for local people, certain developments within the Parish have conditions attached to them with regards to giving local residents first option for purchase.  One such opportunity has arisen in Winsor Meadow, North Molton village. The property listing is linked here, and the conditions for purchase are attached.  For further details, please contact the property agent via the link.

Further similar opportunities are likely to arise as this area of the village is further developed.

Attached the presentation given on the 8th of June 2023.