Exmoor local housing need questionnaire

The survey is a collaboration between Somerset and North Devon Councils, as local housing authorities, and Exmoor National Park Authority. Somerset Council will be analysing the responses and, later next year, they will prepare a summary report with information on housing need for each Exmoor parish.

A letter with information about an online housing need questionnaire, has been sent to households in Exmoor National Park and Brushford parish. The letter includes a link and QR code to the survey which is designed to be simple and easy to complete. The information provided through the survey will be dealt with in strict confidence. It will be vital to those considering housing need and provision and will help inform the future Exmoor Local Plan review. The survey is aimed at those who might be finding accommodation in the local area unaffordable, whose home no longer meets their needs, or who wish to own their own home through a self/custom build project.

The letter to Exmoor residents also asks that the survey be shared with people who have moved away and want to return, local workers who live away and travel into the National Park to work or who live on Exmoor with family or others because of the cost of local housing. Anybody wishing to set up their own home, e.g. young people approaching adulthood, is encouraged to complete their own survey separately.

Parish surveys have been the starting point for almost 120 homes with a local need occupancy tie, achieved in Exmoor’s communities through conversions and new build and as self-build.

Additionally, local libraries (Dulverton, Lynton, Porlock and South Molton) have access to a computer and will have paper copies for those who are unable to complete an online survey. If requested, we can provide paper copies to parish /town councils for their parishioners who cannot complete an online survey or visit a local library.

Devon County Council has produced a leaflet on recovery from a flooding incident, attached.

Oakford Villas to Back Lane Footpath - of direct importance to the village, we have an opportunity to turn the path between Oakford Villas and Back Lane into an official footpath, with the various protections that will come with that designation. This is a very useful short-cut, and also keeps people off of the road. It's important that you write/email to Miss Gatrell to express your support of the proposal and to explain how often you use it/how important it is to you. The closing date is 20th Feb 2026. Miss C Gatrell, Public Rights of Way Service, Devon County Council, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Sowton, Exeter EX2 7NL. Email: caroline.gatrell@devon.gov.uk Telephone: Exeter (01392) 383240

Reply form also attached.

Snow Warden - we still need a Snow Warden for North Molton Parish. This would entail coordinating the delivery of salt/grit and a team of volunteers (also needed for most areas) to take a few bags out to their local patch to fill the bins. We also have to find a location to put the bags of salt (inside) in the warmer seasons. If anyone would like to help, please contact the Clerk on clerk@northmoltonparish.gov.uk

Devon Library Services - there is also a consulation on the future of libraries in Devon, end date of 22nd February 2026.  Go to https://devonlibraries.commonplace.is/en-GB/

The Clerk (Ian Fisher) and Cllr Rachel Beaman will be in the North Molton Community Shop on Saturday 31st of January from 10 to 12am as part of the Parish's Meet Your Council series. 

If you have any questions about the work of the Parish Council or want to raise any issues, please come along and have a chat - we'll even buy you a cuppa.

Remember you can contact the Parish Clerk at any time and ask for an issue to be raised at the next meeting (usually 2nd Weds of the month).

clerk@northmoltonparish.gov.u

There are now two new pages on the village website. Under Parish Council there are details of some of the Highways work that we carry out, and under About North Molton, our Footpath Warden Steff Harris has provided excellent summaries of our network.

North Devon Council has issued a statement in relation to the clarification of its trade waste service decision:

There has been a lot of discussion about our Trade Waste and Recycling Service. We want to clearly set out the facts and explain how and why this decision was made. Following a detailed review, councillors took the decision to withdraw our trade waste service, including refuse and recycling collections, from 31 March 2026. This decision to stop this service was made after a thorough assessment and was considered by councillors at two separate committee meetings, where options were reviewed before a vote was taken.

The review was carried out because our trade waste and recycling service was costing more to run than it generated in income, and this position was expected to worsen. Trade waste collection is not a service that councils are legally required to provide. Any losses from operating it must be covered by local taxpayers. Councillors were advised that continuing to operate the service would require significant additional investment.

This included

• Replacing specialist collection vehicles at a cost of around £260,000, with new vehicles not available until 2027.
• Hiring vehicles in the meantime would at a cost of more than £100,000 per year.
• Recruiting additional staff.
• Increasing charges to businesses by around 25% to cover costs.
• Central Government requirement to collect food waste separately for trade customers. We have neither the capacity at our depot or the appropriate fleet vehicles to comply with this requirement.
• As a result of the above, many of our customers have a separate contractor for food waste and we are losing customers to these contractors for refuse and recycling.

Some businesses have asked why they pay business rates if we are no longer providing a trade waste service. We would like to clarify this. Business rates are not a payment for specific services.

• We collect business rates on behalf of central government. A significant proportion is passed to central government, with the remainder retained locally to help fund a wide range of statutory council services.
• This year, we estimate to collect £33million in business rates, of which £6million is retained for the North Devon Council budget to be used on statutory services such as refuse collection, street cleaning, housing and provision of temporary accommodation.
• Trade waste collections are a separate, non-statutory service that is paid for directly by businesses and is not funded through business rates.

Taking all of this into account, councillors took the difficult decision to stop all council-run trade waste services, including refuse and recycling collections, from 31 March 2026, in line with the requirement to give at least two months’ notice. We recognise that this decision affects local businesses and was not taken lightly. We are working to support affected customers through the transition. Officers have already spoken to several private waste companies operating locally, and these companies have confirmed they are able to take on new customers. Their details are being shared directly within the letters that have been sent to all existing customers.

Affected businesses have been contacted and this is being followed up with a letter, which should be received in the coming days, with further information and support to help them move to an alternative provider and ensure there is no break in service.

Contact Information

North Devon Council Communications Team communications@northdevon.gov.uk

Please be advised that the bridge repairs will take two days longer than expected as the state of the supports was worse than anticipated, extended by two days to Friday 23rd January 2026. The working hours will continue to be 09.00 – 15.30. Our County Councillor is asking to see whether or not limited foot traffic might be allowed.

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

Weds 14th January - The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds 11th February - The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds 11th March - The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds 8th April - The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds 6th May* - The Victory Hall, North Molton [Village Annual Meeting and Parish Council Annual Meeting]

Weds 20th May* - The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds 10th June - The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds 8th July - The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds 12th August -  Heasley Mill Village Hall

Weds 9th September - The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds 14th October - The Victory Hall, North Molton

Weds 11th November - Heasley Mill Village Hall

Weds 9th December - The Victory Hall, North Molton

For any queries, please contact Ian Fisher, Parish Clerk 07784 177666 clerk@northmoltonparish.gov.uk

We have received the following update regarding the bridge repairs and road closure in North Molton. While the bridge will be closed for part of the day, main commuting times and overnight it will be reopened. 

Dan Woollacott Fencing, on behalf of Devon County Council, will be carrying out repairs to the posts, rails and meshing on the bridge on East Street, North Molton, between Friday 9th – Wednesday 21st January 2026; our working hours will be between 09.00 – 15.30, the road will be open outside of these times.

Please see attached TTRO, the extension was required following in-house discussion regarding access for school transport during drop off and collection times, and for commuters. The works will take longer but hopefully the disruption at peak times will be lessened.

I understand some local residents have received a letter regarding the closure from the Traffic Management team, unfortunately that letter has the previous timings on it (09.00 – 17.00) so may raise alarm. Dan will definitely be working to restricted hours.

Further details can be found in the attached files.

TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF THROUGH TRAFFIC & PARKING NOTICE is hereby given that Devon County Council has made the above titled order.

From FRIDAY 9 JANUARY 2026 for a maximum of 18 months Anticipated Finish MONDAY 19 JANUARY 2026 Between the hours of 09:00 and 17:00 No person shall cause or permit any vehicle to proceed or wait on the sections of Affected Roads.

Roads affected - EAST STREET, NORTH MOLTON The alternative, signed, route for vehicles will be via - EAST STREET, LANDACRE LANE, WORTH LANE, ROOM HILL ROAD, B3223, KINSFORD HILL, A399, ALLER CROSS ROUNDABOUT, A361, BORNER’S BRIDGE JUNCTION, FORE STREET, EAST STREET & VICE VERSA.

This temporary restriction is considered necessary to enable - INSTALLATION OF SCAFFOLDING, FOLLOWED BY POST, RAIL AND MESH REPAIRS TO BRIDGE. THEN SCAFFOLDING REMOVAL ONCE WORKS COMPLETE.

For additional information contact: DAN WOOLLACOTT FENCING Telephone: 07825 350181 Dated: FRIDAY 2 JANUARY 2026 Meg Booth Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport Devon Highways Devon County Council County Hall Exeter EX2 4QD Ref: TTRO2667094