The recent “Annual Parish Meeting” at Hemyock reflected the confidence which the Council and its community have going forward.
The recent “Annual Parish Meeting” at Hemyock reflected the confidence which the Council and its community have going forward.  With significant projects completed and others in train, the Council is always seeking to do the best for its people said it’s Chairman Heather Stallard MBE.  The pavements project, which will see further safe yardage added to local streets, the recently created Emergency Plan, a new parish web site and the Longmead Sports Complex almost completed, were evidence of the Council’ success.  Projects under consideration include a trim trail which will circumnavigate the Longmead Complex, a youth centre based on disused garages at Millhayes and a Healthy Living Centre at the closed factory social club.
 
Two excellent speakers had been invited to address the well attended event.  Mary Seaton who is Chair of the Lay Magistrates in Central Devon spoke about the history of magistrates going back as far as 1195AD when they were called ‘Keepers of the Peace’.  1920 saw the first female magistrates and now 95% of all cases are handled by Lay Magistrates, with only 5% going to Crown Courts.  James Maben is Access and Interpretation Officer for the Neroche Scheme and spoke about this £3 million project covering 35 square miles, from Culmstock Beacon to Castle Neroche.  The vision is to ‘liberate the landscape’ through a series of projects to restore wildlife, improve access and uncover the heritage of the landscape and its communities. He told the group that the local community is closely involved in shaping and running the Scheme, which is a partnership of local authorities and agencies, and backed with money from the Heritage Lottery Fund.  The first Herepath (original Saxon trade routes) at Staple Fitzpaine was to open within days of the meeting he said, with more to follow.
 
Picture attached – Chairman Heather Stallard with some of the Hemyock Councillors.  From left to right James Edwards, Ian McCulloch & Roy Brooke.