Talaton Parish Plan
Talaton Village Plan
Talaton Parish Plan Group have produced a Parish Plan as part of the Countryside Agency initiative. It was formally endorsed by the District Council on 25 February 2004 and will be used to inform decision making. The text of the document is set out below.
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TALATON PARISH PLAN
2004
The quicklinks below go straight to the relevant issues within the full text.
Housing
Education
The Environment
Health & Social Services
Retail Services
Sport & Recreational Facilities
Transport & Roads
Utility & Miscellaneous Services
Action Plan (25KB - PDF Help)
Who produced the plan?
The Plan was produced by a Steering Group made up of representatives from the main Village organisations. The Group met on ten occasions and also carried out various parts of the work individually. The Group were as follows:
Chris Harwood-Parish Council
Charlie Hutchings-Parochial Church Council
Trish Lenehan-Shop Association
Martin Mitchell-Chairman
Dawn Newman-Parish Hall Committee
Dennis Oakley-Parish Council
Peppi Shaw-Produce Association
Nemo Young-Native Talatonian
How the plan was produced
In the Autumn of 2003 Talaton Parish Council commissioned the production of a village plan. A steering group was formed and funding obtained from the Countryside Agency. The Steering Group's first task was to draw up a questionnaire which was sent, personally addressed, to each voter. A group of teenagers also contributed to drawing up the questionnaire and an evening event was held for them to fill it in as individuals. The results from the questionnaire were analysed and a 20 page summary produced, a hundred copies of which were distributed on free issue through the village shop. The questionnaire was anonymous and indicated a strong interest on several issues where, if progress was to be made, people needed to come forward to take part in organising/participating in those interests. An open evening was held to identify the support for, and interest in, these issues. Throughout the eight months of preparing the Plan, monthly reports have been published in the village magazine, known as the "Talaton Calendar".
About the Village
The Parish of Talaton lies 12 miles east of Exeter and 6 miles west of Honiton. It is surrounded by a mixture of arable and grassland, which is owned by a variety of small and medium sized farms. It has 430 voters and a total population of around 500 people. There is a shop (community run) and post office, an ancient church, a pub, a village hall and a number of well-supported organisations. The nearest primary school is in the next village, Feniton. It is estimated that a quarter of the working population are employed within or close to the Village.
There are seven outlying settlements within the Parish:- Newtown (the largest), Lashbrook, Larkbeare, Escot, Talewater, Westcott and Rydon. The Parish occupies an area in the order of 1000 hectare (2500 acres). There are approximately 200 homes in the Parish with around half of these in or close to the village centre.
Talaton dates from a little after Doomsday. The first Rector is recorded in 1285 and a small
Norman 12th century church was replaced by the present church in the 15th century. In the Civil war there was a skirmish at Escot, with the Roundheads winning the day. The village was largely self sufficient and throughout the 19 century had a population of 300 to 400 people.
No major development!
From the questionnaire, it is apparent that the majority (83.5%) of the village does not want a major housing development (major was considered to be a development larger than 30 houses). Over half the respondents (53.5%) were against any development outside the existing built-up village centre.
Accordingly the Action Plan details steps to be taken to seek to protect the village from any material development.
Housing design
In responding to the questionnaire, many people commented on the design features they would like to see where building of new houses takes place (there are currently six building plots in the village). The design features most favoured were:-
(a) the need to be in-keeping with surrounding properties,
(b) a desire for cottage style housing,
(c) a wish for sites not to be crowded
or (d) not to overshadow neighbours.
Some 400 comments were made and the Action Plan takes account of this high level of interest in planning the production of a "village design statement", which, when adopted by East Devon District Council, will have the force of planning rules.
Affordable housing
Half the people who responded to the questionnaire said they would like to see more affordable housing in the village, either owned or rented. Of these, 19 said that the need was for themselves and indicated the time at which they would require the accommodation. There is clearly a forthcoming need for affordable homes but it is not clear if the demand from the Parish can be met by the existing supply of affordable housing. The Action Plan therefore takes this issue forward to prevail upon East Devon District Council to determine if the need is likely to be met and if not, in conjunction with the Parish Council, arrange for additional affordable homes in Talaton.
Playgroup, parent & toddler group and pre-school education
The response to the questionnaire showed that the majority of people are very satisfied with the local schools. Over a quarter of people said they would like to see a play group, or parent toddler group, or pre-school education facility. An open evening was held to develop ideas and enlist support from those with young children. Unfortunately no one volunteered support or expressed interest. It is therefore difficult to see how progress can be made and it is only proposed that the Parish Council keeps a watching brief on the subject to see if support emerges over time.
General
The response to the questionnaire indicated that the majority of people are very happy with the local environment. Over 60% feel that the open spaces around the village are well maintained and 78% felt that the general look of our countryside is as they would like it to be. There was however a wealth of constructive views from a significant minority.
Open spaces
The Action Plan deals with continuing attention to maintain the Moor and addresses, through a reporting system, maintenance of verges and ditches. It proposes working parties to keep public places tidy.
The Countryside
In response to the question about the look of the countryside around the Parish, 42 people (15%) referred to poor hedge cutting, agricultural litter and dog fouling. The Action Plan proposes a survey to determine objectively the extent of these nuisances.
Allotments
The questionnaire responses indicated that 23 people would like allotments. At an open evening, 6 people put their names forward as prospective plot holders. The Action Plan seeks to find an appropriate piece of land to be obtained by the Parish Council.
Footpaths & Bridleways
Key to Footpaths
2 Church to Rydon
4 Nr Rowden Covert to Escot
5 Ivy Cottages to Nr Beacon Cross
6 Nr Railway Cottages to Westcott
7 Nr Old Rectory to Newtown
8 Lashbrook to the Moor
9 To Escot Church via footbridge from near Fairmile
Numbers shown are the official path references on the definitive map.
From the response to the questionnaire, it is apparent that people feel the village footpaths are in good order (45%). However, 20% felt they were not adequately signed and 18% that they were inaccessible. A further 8% felt that there should be more rights of way. The Action Plan details a number of steps to achieve the objective of footpaths in the Parish being well marked and easily passable, having regard to inclement weather and agricultural operations.
Recycling
The response to the questionnaire shows that "whilst 48% of people indicated they felt recycling facilities were adequate, 36% felt that this was not so. The prime reason given by 26% was that only part of the village enjoys a recycling collection. A further 5% wanted access to a municipal shredder and 2% wanted a periodic collection of large items. The Action Plan proposes delivery of these facilities, achieved by dialogue with East Devon District Council.
Health & Social Services
General
76% of people who responded to the questionnaire thought that health and social services provided to the village were either good or excellent. A further 21% felt they were adequate. Only 1.5% thought they were poor. There were a number of complimentary comments about the Coleridge medical centre and Ottery St. Mary hospital. There are no proposed actions in this area.
Services for the Elderly
From the responses to the questionnaire, 52% of people had no view about these services. A number of these commented that this was because they had no direct experience of the services. 21% indicated that they thought the services good and a further 16% that they were adequate, but 6% felt that care was poor or non-existent. The Action Plan proposes a process of regularly informing the community of the services for the elderly which are available. It was felt that the services are actually good but that some people are unaware of what is available.
Retail Services
In response to the questionnaire, 251 people (91%) said they thought the village shop and post office vital or important. The existing shop premises have to be vacated and in terms of a new site, people favoured a central village location as opposed to being at the Parish Hall, in a ratio of 3:1.
The Action Plan proposes support for this option.
Sport & Recreational Facilities
A Village Playground
From the questionnaire, over half the respondents, 54%, indicated that the village needed a playground and of these, 26% said they or their family would use it. However, 22% of people said they did not want a playground
At an open evening, people were invited to volunteer to support and participate in the provision of a playground. There were no volunteers. Given the initial interest demonstrated by the questionnaire and in spite of the subsequent lack of support, it is proposed in the Action Plan that the Parish Council keeps a watching brief to identify a potential site and see if interest re-emerges.
A Sports Field
The adjacent chart shows, from the response to the questionnaire, the strong interest in a sports field. However, at an open evening no-one volunteered to participate in creating a field or take part in particular sporting activities. Once again the Action Plan proposes that the Parish Council maintains a watching brief to see if interest re-emerges.
The Parish Hall
Over 90% of people felt that a village hall is either vital or important and in a ratio of 2 to 1, thought the Parish Hall should be renovated rather than replaced. At an open evening, people were given an opportunity to express their preferences for various refurbishment projects which the Hall Committee is considering. It is reassuring that the priorities expressed closely mirror those identified by the Committee. The Action Plan reflects these views. The projects proposed are:
- Installation of central heating
- New club room at rear (including cyber café)
- Renovate ceiling
- Modernise kitchen
- Renovate stage and install wings/lighting for normal use
- Install stage sound and lighting system
- Remove bank to create more parking (keeping entrance to the Moor clear)
- External security lighting
- External decoration
Transport & Roads
Bus Services
The adjacent chart shows the extent to which people feel that bus services meet or do not meet their needs. It also shows that a considerable proportion of the population simply prefers to travel using their own transport.
These results indicate that more detail needs to be gathered before firm proposals can be made to provide enhanced public transport. The Action Plan proposes professional help funded by a readily obtainable grant, any residue of which may be used to fund services.
Roads
The adjacent chart shows people's views on the adequacy of road maintenance and suggestions for improvements. The Action Plan proposes how each suggestion should be addressed.
Overhead Cables
The questionnaire asked for people's views on more pavements, the introduction of street lighting, reduction of overhead cables and reduced speed limits. The issue of overhead cables was the only clear indication that people want change. The Action Plan proposes how improvements might be made.
Utility & Miscellaneous Services
The table below shows how people rated the utility and other services supplied to the village. The Action Plan proposes these results be communicated to the providers of the services.
Action Plan
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