Hemyock

The Annual Parish Meeting was held in the Parish Hall on the 30th April. About 60 people came to see and hear what the Parish Council has achieved this year and their plans for the next year. 

The well worn phrase “something for everyone” may just be true when applied to the Hemyock Annual Parish meeting.  Interest groups represented include speakers from HELIC about the upcoming opening of the Blackdown Healthy Living Centre in Hemyock; Tiverton & District Community Transport Association on their services; and someone from the Blackdown Hills AONB who will speak on "Making it Local".    Wine and cheese and a warm welcome can be expected on Friday 30th April at 7.00pm.

There has been a recent increase in the amount of dog mess which has been left around the village. Some of it is bagged, but then thrown into gardens or fields. The Parish Council are appealing to owners to clear up the mess left by their dogs. It is not only a health risk, but is unsightly and unnecesary. Dog bins ate located around the village for owners to use. Remember there are substantial fines for not cleaning up after dogs.

Do you enjoy a stroll in the countryside?

Hemyock Parish Council regularly arranges for local footpaths to be surveyed to ensure that they are kept in good order and that there are no unauthorised diversions or blockages. A few more volunteers are needed to walk and survey the footpaths.

There are now three village notice boards in Hemyock located at the Parish Hall, the entrance to Longmead and adjacent to Millhayes Hall. The additional notice boards at Longmead and Millhayes were erected in response to increasing village activities and the need for publicity. The Parish Council hopes that these and not telegraph poles will be used in the future. It was felt that the use of telegraph poles made the village look untidy.

There was a robust but amicable debate about proposals to allocate land to the North of the cemetery for allotments at the February meeting of Hemyock parish Council. With land owners on either side of the cemetery refusing to allow their land to be used for access, allotment holders would need to use the main footpath through the cemetery to entrance their gardens.

The Blackdown Hills AONB has commissioned Dr David Allen to produce reports on the biodiversity of six Blackdown Hills parishes including Hemyock. These will include distribution maps showing areas of important habitat or notable species and ideas for nature conservation action that the local community might like to pursue.

Happy New Year from your Parish Council.
Most of us are fit and healthy and are enjoying the snow. Some of our neighbours, especially the elderly, may view this weather with trepidation – not being able to get out to the shops, not having their friends or family come by to see them, etc. Do you have a neighbour who might value a visit today?