Parish Council
Met with Josh from Highways on 23rd September and we drove around the Parish highlighting sections which needed work.
The gullies at the top of Willey Lane are in fair condition but will need to be monitored during the Autumn and Winter to ensure that they do not become overwhelmed by water and/or debris.
Willey Lane – the corner adjacent to the Playing Field is in a poor state which has been noted. The haunch on the corner will need clearing by volunteers either on the Work Day or in early Autumn to allow surface water to drain away successfully.
Oaktree Park – the road through the estate has been identified as needing repairing and is being monitored.
The road up the hill (to Reddaways) past Tawside House – we had a conversation about the possibility of pursuing the procurement of signage to restrict access to vehicles, an idea brought forward by members of the SSP committee. Josh agreed to this in principle but was clear that this signage would be only be advisory; it was agreed that it might not stop everyone from driving up the lane but that it would be more acceptable than a total closure of the road and/or bollards to close the road.
The main road down past Trafalgar House (just outside the boundaries of the Parish) – I spoke to Councilor White of South Tawton Parish about this matter. She stated that the hedgerow and the verge on the left down the hill was not an obstruction or a hazard because it was not encroaching the pavement so was unlikely to be listed as requiring action. The boundary of Trafalgar House, including the trees and the debris by the road side have been reported. Councilor White indicated that she would indicate any progress to me on our next impromptu meeting.
The main road through the village (the section between the Oaktree and the Old School – We spoke about the rapid deterioration of the main road through the village and the increasing degradation of the central aisle of the highway. The approximate delay for any significant resurfacing work is two to three years. We spoke about the junction by Sticklepath Stores and the significant danger of injury posed by vehicles parking on the corner of the junction. Josh stated that he would support double yellow lines (with five metres on either side of the junction) because he considered the junction to be a pinch point and an increasing danger to pedestrians in the village. I stated that I would raise this issue again in our next Parish meeting, indicating his support for the use of yellow lines to increase safety for pedestrians. We then had a conversation about other road measures which could be installed to support the pedestrians in the village; this included a conversation about zebra crossing which, although looking like an impossibility given the financial strain on local and regional government would, in his opinion be better placed by the junction outside Sticklepath Stores. Josh suggested that the section of Willey Lane by the main road could be closed completely and a zebra crossing installed by the closed junction. Please note that the concept of installing a zebra crossing is unlikely to be accepted as a priority but it is, nonetheless, a concept which needs to be aired.
The area by the Old School – the trees and branches in this area need to be monitored to ensure that there is a mandatory five metre space between road and branches to ensure that large vehicles can travel safely through the village.
Sticklepath Hill – the potholes half way up the hill have been identified. The haunch up by Holmans has been identified as an area to be serviced by the leaf sweeper. All the drains
throughout the village and particularly on the hills on either side of the village have been jetted to hopefully minimize the possibility of the build up of detritus in the drainage system. The drain by the corner further up (which floods regularly) will be dealt with and cleared.
The corner of the road up by Higher Combeshead House – there is significant water erosion visible on the corner of the road and there is evidence of subsidence which has been identified. Josh has suggested that his team will look at the wall by this corner too and will look at providing some surface treatment to this area of the road to reduce ‘movement’. There is underground percolation of water from the hillside and down the hill at this point on the road which may be affecting the integrity of the road. It is being monitored.
Skaigh Lane – surface dressing is planned on the apron by the main road. Josh did not indicate a time frame but it is on the list.
Leaf blowing will commence in Early October after early initial leaf fall.
Report written by Jake Powell on 23rd September 2025.