North Devon District Council

direct 

northdevon 

The magazine from North Devon Council 

The Ilfracombe Centre opens 

Find out what new services are available 

Keeping your council local 

Fight to stop North Devon losing its voice 

Issue 9 | Summer 2008 

www.northdevon.gov.uk 

This magazine costs 10p per edition to produce

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Want free advice Call 01271 314770 

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2 

ABOUT YOUR COUNCIL North Devon Direct

northdevon 

Summer 2008 

contents 

P4 

P5 

P7 

P8 

P10 

P12 

P13 

P14 

P15 


A-Z of Council services 

Satisfaction with North Devon 

Fighting to keep your council local 

Rural matters 

Spotlight on housing 

Bringing vital services in Ilfracombe 

under one roof 

What’s on in North Devon 

North Devon Festival 

Fly-tipping : together we can stop it 

August bank holiday bin collections 

Helping make a safer North Devon 

Gardening tips 

Seth’s Soundbite 

If you require this document in an 

alternative format, please contact us. 

How to contact us: 

Editorial queries should be directed to: 

Claire Holm, North Devon Council, Civic 

Centre, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1EA 

Phone: 01271 388239 

Email: claire.holm@northdevon.gov.uk 

Advertising queries should be directed to: 

Nick Cooper, Salt Media, 1st Floor, 5 Cross 

Street, Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 1BA 

Phone: 01271 859160 

Email: nick@saltmedia.co.uk 

North Devon Direct is printed from 

environmentally managed forests. 

Please recycle it or, better still, ‘re-use’ 

it by passing it on. Thanks! 

The opinions and views expressed in North Devon 

Direct magazine are not necessarily those of North 

Devon Council or Salt Media. All data contained in 

advertisements, being subject to the Advertising 

Standards Authority guidelines, are accepted by us in 

good faith at the time of going to press. Reproduction 

of editorial is strictly prohibited without prior 

permission from North Devon Council. All rights 

reserved copyright © 2008. 

Front cover image: Our welcoming 

staff at the Ilfracombe Centre 

Welcome to the new 

look North Devon Direct 

Why the change 

Well, we have a new company 

helping us produce the magazine 

- Barnstaple based Salt Media - 

who have recently been awarded 

the contract for 12 months. 

We feel it has freshened up the 

magazine and it’s nice to be 

working with a local company. 

There are lots of interesting issues 

covered in this edition. The most 

important one is the review of 

local councils going on at the 

moment. We are fighting to keep 

local government based here in 

North Devon whilst others are 

proposing it all gets centralised 

in Exeter. This would take local 

decision making away and 

would leave you seriously underrepresented 

once swallowed up 

by the rest of Devon. 

Now that summer’s here, it can 

only mean one thing - the North 

Devon Festival! This fantastic 

event, which receives a large 

amount of its funding from North 

Devon Council, has a jam-packed 

programme once again this year. 

Have a look at our article to see 

what’s going on and what you 

can take part in. If you’re still 

looking for things to do this 

summer, don’t forget to check 

out our What’s On page too! 

We hope you enjoy reading our 

new look magazine and we all 

hope you have a lovely summer. 

Claire Holm 

Communications Manager 

ABOUT YOUR COUNCIL North Devon Direct 3

Council Services 

Benefits 

Surname A – CRO Tel: 01271 388390 

Surname CRU – HAS Tel: 01271 388389 

Surname HAT - MAZ Tel: 01271 388396 

Surname MC – SHAK Tel: 01271 388384 

Surname SHAL - Z Tel: 01271 388395 

Email: benefits@northdevon.gov.uk 

Building Control 

Tel: 01271 388282 

Email: buildingcontrol@northdevon.gov.uk 

Car Parks 

Tel: 01271 388279 

Email: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk 

Council Tax 

Tel: 01271 388361 

Email: counciltax@northdevon.gov.uk 

Councillors 

Tel: 01271 388253/388254 

Email: memberservices@northdevon.gov.uk 

Environmental Health 

Tel: 01271 388870 


Housing Advice 

Tel: 01271 325757 

Email: housingadvice@northdevon.gov.uk 

The Ilfracombe Centre 

Tel: 01271 855300 


Land Charges 

Tel: 01271 388406 

Email: landcharges@northdevon.gov.uk 

Barnstaple & North Devon Museum 

Tel: 01271 346747 

Email: museum@northdevon.gov.uk 

Planning 

Tel: 01271 388288 

Email: planning@northdevon.gov.uk 

Refuse & Recycling 

Tel: 01271 374776 

Email: greensweepdirect@northdevon.gov.uk 

Safer North Devon 

Tel: 01271 341200 

Website: www.safernorthdevon.co.uk 

South Molton Community Office 

Tel: 01769 573302 


All other enquiries 

Tel: 01271 327711 Text phone: 01271 388786 


Out of hours emergency number: 01271 388240 

Check out our website! 

Take a look at www.northdevon.gov.uk 

A-Z 

North Devon 

theatres top the bill 

Satisfaction with North 

Devon’s theatres is amongst 

the highest in the country, 

according to the latest 

findings of our General 

Satisfaction Survey. 

71% of you said you were fairly or 

very satisfied with the theatres 

& concert halls provided in North 

Devon. Compared to residents’ 

satisfaction in 238 other councils 

in the country, we ranked 8th. 

There was more positive feedback for our parks department. 

75% of you said you were either very, or fairly satisfied with 

parks & open spaces in North Devon, and 20% of you thought 

the parks service had improved over the last three years. 

The results are from our latest satisfaction survey carried out 

in the autumn of last year. We sent out 2,000 questionnaires 

to randomly selected households in North Devon and 1,100 

residents took part. 

In general people felt crime in the area, while important 

in making North Devon a good place to live, did not need 

improving as much as activities for teenagers, affordable 

housing and wage levels - which you said were the issues 

that needed improving most. The under 35’s felt crime levels 

needed improving more than any other age group surveyed. 

The survey asked people about a range 

of topics including: 

• What they thought 

about the Council’s 

performance 

• How often they used 

services such as the 

museums, parks 

and theatres 

• What their overall 

satisfaction with the 

Council was 

• How satisfied they were 

with various services 

• What they thought 

about the way we 

communicated 

with them 

• What affected their 

quality of life 

• Their thoughts about 

anti-social behaviour 

The full results are available on our website. 

Many of the people who responded to the survey said they 

would like to be involved in the decisions the Council makes 

that affect their area, but only a quarter of people said they 

were satisfied with the opportunities available for them to do 

that. This is one of the things we are now looking at improving. 

The way we communicate with you is also something we are 

looking at improving. Many of you said in the survey you felt 

well informed about how to vote and pay your bills but didn’t 

have much information about how we are performing, where 

your money is spent or how to complain. 

4 


Fighting to 

keep your 

council local 

We are fighting to keep your 

local services run locally here 

in North Devon. 

The Government is looking at the 

way local councils work across 

Devon. They want to replace 

the current two levels of local 

government (district councils 

and a county council) with 

‘unitary’ councils, bringing all 

council services together under 

one organisation. 

Every council in Devon has been 

asked for its views. We put forward 

a strong and passionate case for 

a new unitary council that spans 

across the whole of northern 

Devon, taking in an area from 

Holsworthy to Tiverton and down 

as far as Okehampton. 

This would preserve the right of 

the people of northern Devon to 

make their own decisions about 

their future. 

The opposing view from some 

other councils is that there should 

be one single unitary council for 

the whole of Devon (excluding 

Torbay and Plymouth). This would 

see all important decisions about 

North Devon being made in Exeter. 

The Devon-wide proposal suggests 

having 100 councillors, but only 

around a third of them would be 

looking out for your interests. The 

other two-thirds would represent 

South Devon because the southern 

half of the county has a much 

larger population. 

Our proposed council would have 

65 of its own councillors who 

would only be concerned with 

northern Devon. It would serve 

a population of 250,000 people, 

which is the average size of other 

unitary councils across England. 

We feel the benefits of a unitary council serving northern Devon are: 

• More local accountability - all 

decisions about North Devon 

made in North Devon, not Exeter 

• A council that understands the 

unique culture and economy of 


Councillor/ 

population ratio 

Total population 

served 

Where are decisions made 

about North Devon 

What are the next steps 

• Now - July: Options being drawn up 

by the Boundary Committee 

• July - September: Public consultation 

on a couple of options 

• Final decision expected late 2008 - 

early 2009 

• Final decision made by the Secretary 

of State, Hazel Blears 

• Better local representation - twice as 

many councillors representing you 

• We won’t be the poor relation in a 

massive, Devon-wide authority 

• Brings together the natural wider 

northern Devon community 

Northern Devon Council 

1 councillor to 

3,800 people 

250,000 (average size of 

an English unitary council) 


• Our vision for how 

councils should be 

split in the future 

- preserving North 

Devon's voice 

and keeping your 

services local 

Devon-wide Council 

1 councillor to 

7,500 people 

750,000 (would make 

it the biggest unitary council 

in the country apart from 

Birmingham) 

Exeter 

How can I express 

my views 

Write to (before 4th July): 

Structural Review Team (Devon), 

The Boundary Committee for 

England, Trevelyan House, Great 

Peter Street, London SW1P 2HW 

To look at North Devon’s bid 

for a Northern Devon Council, 

check out our website... 



Sterling House, 17 Joy Street, Barnstaple, North Devon EX31 1HE 

Tel: 01271 344300 Fax: 01271 342810 

Email: info@miltonpj.net www.miltonpj.net 

Authorised & regulated by the Financial Services Authority. 

Whether you want to: 

To 

find out 

about the 

range of 

opportunties 

available to you 

or your workforce 

please contact 

North Devon College 

on 01271 345291 or 

visit www.ndevon.ac.uk 

 

 

North Devon College has hundreds of courses that could 

help you get where you want to be. 

With part time recreational and certificated courses 

on offer at all levels - North Devon College and 

Pilton Community College have something 

for everyone. 

Providing Education & Training for the Community 

6 


RURAL MATTERS 

Saving the village shop 

When the owners of Berrynarbor’s village post 

office decided to retire, the residents faced the 

prospect of seeing their shop and post office 

disappear. With the support of North Devon 

Council a group of villagers set up a co-operative, 

Berrynarbor Community Enterprise Ltd. 

With a £3,000 grant from the Council to help them 

meet their start up costs, and some funding and 

support from local residents, and other sources, 

the co-operative employed a manager and began 

running the shop and post office. 

However, the lease on the shop was about to run 

out and they needed to find a new site. The village 

car park, owned by North Devon Council, was just 

what they were looking for. 

The Council agreed to lease an area of land on 

the car park to the co-operative at a peppercorn 

rent and to give them a £20,000 grant to help 

with the building work. 

With the community and North Devon Council 

working together, they’ve been able to find a 

viable solution for this thriving community. 

• New village shop and post office supported by North Devon Council 

North Devon is a unique and beautiful area. Many of you live in remote villages, which is why 

issues affecting rural communities really matter to North Devon Council. Here are just some of 

the ways we have been working to address the issues affecting your villages. 

Rural housing 

You’ve told us that affordable housing 

is a big issue and needs improving, 

particularly in our villages. 

It’s important to make sure any new 

affordable housing meets the needs of 

each village, while not changing 

its character. 

Bratton Fleming was one of the first areas 

to benefit from our new Local Lettings 

Policy, which allowed preference to local 

people with a connection to the area to a 

home over people from other areas. The 

scheme included 11 rented properties and 

four shared ownership homes. 

In Brayford we had a Housing Association 

(Hastoe) work with a local landowner to 

create five new affordable homes. Other 

rural housing schemes are also in the 

pipeline in Lynton. 

Later this year we will be consulting on 

the draft version of the Core Strategy 

– a planning document outlining where 

future homes in North Devon could be 

built. Keep your eyes out for it and send 

us your views, it could affect how your 

village looks in the future. 

Animal advice 

Taking a walk in the countryside with 

family and friends is a good way to 

exercise pets. However, it’s important to 

make sure our weekend activities do not 

disturb local farm animals or wildlife. 

Dogs barking and scaring sheep or 

cattle can cause a lot of stress to animals 

and is particularly dangerous during 

the lambing season in spring and early 

summer. It can even result in stillborn 

lambs. When walking near farmland keep 

your pet on a lead, especially because 

farmers are entitled to shoot dogs scaring 

their animals. 

It is also important to pick up after 

pets. Dog poo can contain worms and 

parasites, which can not only pass on 

to farm animals but also to people. It 

can result in infected livestock being 

worthless after slaughter and costs local 

farmers money. 

There are over 100 dog bins in North 

Devon, but if one is not available please 

pick up the dog poo, double bag it and 

take it home to dispose of. 

Community 

Councillor Grants 

Each year £64,500 is allocated to local 

Councillors to support community and 

voluntary groups or organisations. 

The money is divided evenly between 

councillors and given to them to spend 

on worthy projects in their wards. 

This makes sure rural towns and 

villages benefit from councillor 

funding as much as major centres. 

Projects and schemes focusing 

on sport; culture and heritage; 

environment and sustainability; 

social welfare and the community 

may all be considered. 

To find out more about Community 

Councillor Grants and see which 

community groups have benefited 

from funding in your area, visit www. 

northdevon.gov.uk/community, 

contact Grants and Sports 

Development Officer Lucy Tomlinson 

on 01271 388433 or email lucinda. 

tomlinson@northdevon.gov.uk 


We’re here to help 

support you 

Every year, around 130 people are 

made homeless in North Devon. 

Homelessness can affect anyone and 

there are a number of different ways 

someone could be made homeless. 

They may be unable to stay in their 

current home because of a recent flood or 

fire, they could be fleeing domestic abuse, 

or they may be unable to meet rent or 

mortgage repayments. 

Anyone who needs housing advice or is 

threatened with the loss of their home can 

approach our Housing Advice Team for 

assistance. They don’t have to be living on 

the street to be considered homeless. 

The type of help offered will depend on 

individual circumstances. But we may 

help find emergency alternative 

accommodation, help with a deposit for 

a home, provide advice to people 

threatened with repossession and can 

help in court to prevent repossession. 

We can liaise with landlords to try and 

resolve a dispute, represent tenants in 

court, offer advice on benefits and even 

intervene if someone is being harassed 

by their landlord. 

Although we do not own any homes we 

do run the North Devon Housing Register 

and this is open to anyone looking for 

affordable housing in the area. 

If you are threatened with the loss of your 

home don’t hesitate to visit us for help, 

call us on 01271 325757 or email 

housingadvice@northdevon.gov.uk 

case study 

After the fire has gone 

When a fire ripped through a house 

on Hillsborough Terrace, Ilfracombe, 

earlier this year, making 11 people 

homeless, our Housing Advice Team 

was on the scene within 24 hours to 

provide emergency support. 

We offered everyone made homeless 

temporary Bed & Breakfast accommodation 

while we helped them find more permanent 

homes and by lunchtime the next day we’d 

already found temporary accommodation 

for five people. 

Our housing officers set up a drop in session 

at the Lantern Centre dedicated to helping 

those affected by the fire, to answer any 

questions about what help we’d provide and 

to find out what people needed from us. 

Because each of the families and individuals 

made homeless by the fire had different 

needs, each household was given a 

dedicated housing officer. This allowed us 

to tailor the support we offered. For some 

of the residents this meant we gave them 

deposits so they could move into privately 

rented accommodation. For others it meant 

helping them find accommodation with a 

housing association, or filling out forms. 

All 11 people have been re-housed. 

8 


Second homes 

council tax helping 

local people 

Many people with disabilities are able to remain in their own homes 

thanks to a grant scheme using second homes council tax money. 

When the discount on second homes 

council tax was decreased, North 

Devon Council and Devon County 

Council agreed to use the extra funds 

for schemes to improve housing across 

the district. 

The Minor Disabled Works Grants 

scheme makes it possible for 

people with disabilities to keep 

their independence by funding 

improvements such as stair lifts, level 

access showers and access ramps 

leading up to their homes. 

Miss Pamela Jenkins is one of many 

local people to have benefited from 

these grants. It was becoming hard for 

her to get in and out of her bath due 

to mobility difficulties. She received a 

Ensuring everyone has access to a 

decent, affordable home is one of the 

Council’s top priorities. Here are just 

some of the ways we supported local 

housing needs last year: 

•65 privately owned properties were 

brought up to ‘decent homes standard’ 

through Decent Homes Grants 

•North Devon became the first district in 

the county to introduce a loan scheme 

for vulnerable home owners with 

Wessex Reinvestment Trust 

grant to improve her bathroom and 

install a level access shower, making 

her day to day life much easier. 

Mr Norman Welch received two grants 

to improve access to his home. After 

having a stroke, Norman found the 

stairs leading to his home difficult 

to climb. With special railings now 

installed, he no longer finds leaving his 

house such a problem. He also received 

a grant to make improvements to his 

bathroom, with a level access shower 

installed to replace his bath. 

Grants have also been used to help 

people living in sheltered accommodation 

maintain their independence and 

remain in their own flats. 

The scheme has now been running for 

three years and around 90 people have 

benefited from minor improvements to 

their homes. 

For information on Minor Disabled Works Grants, contact Direct 

Care Devon on 0800 444000 or email devcd@devon.gov.uk 

Boosting affordable housing 

•In recognition of our good work, we 

have been allocated £30,000 per year up 

to 2012 by the Government, to reduce 

rough sleeping in North Devon 

•Thanks to our planning conditions 

requiring affordable homes to 

be included in all new housing 

developments, 125 affordable homes 

were completed or began construction 

without the need for public subsidy 

•43 affordable homes were built with the 

help of grant funding 

NEWS IN BRIEF 

Free energy advice 

Healthier Homes North Devon provides 

free information to local people on how 

to save energy in the home. 

Homeowners and private tenants may 

be eligible for grants to install cavity 

wall or loft insulation, making their 

home more energy efficient. 

For more information and free advice 

contact freephone 0800 512012, 

email info@wcea.org.uk or visit the 

Transform Office in Ilfracombe. 

Help for first home buyers 

A number of Government-funded 

HomeBuy schemes are available to 

help local people who can not afford 

a suitable home. Ownhome and 

MyChoiceHomeBuy schemes can top 

up the amount borrowed through 

a special equity loan related to the 

property’s value, allowing people to 

buy their home outright. 

First time buyers, housing association 

tenants, those on the housing waiting 

lists or key public sector workers could 

qualify. Information is available on a 

number of websites including www. 

home2own.org.uk, www.ownhome. 

co.uk and www.ahuk.org. 

Some schemes are limited to specific 

housing developments, but others can 

help you buy a property anywhere in 

the area. Shared ownership properties 

are currently available in Witheridge, 

Lynton, South Molton and Braunton. 

For further information contact 

the Housing Advice Centre on 

01271 325757 or email 

housingadvice@northdevon.gov.uk 

Planning northern 

Devon’s future 

We received over 2200 comments on 

our Core Strategy Issues and Options 

Report, prepared with Torridge District 

Council. When complete, this paper 

will guide how northern Devon will 

develop up to 2026. 

The comments, available on our web 

site, will help us draft planning policies 

and identify new sites for future major 

housing and employment growth. Draft 

policies will be published this autumn. 

A Supplementary Planning Document 

guiding how land east of Parsonage 

Lane, South Molton, should be 

developed has been adopted. The 

draft brief was amended after a public 

meeting earlier this year. 

For more information contact 

the Planning Policy Team on 

LDF@northdevon.gov.uk 


BRINGING VITAL SERVICES 

IN ILFRACOMBE UNDER ONE ROOF 

• Ilfracombe Mayor John Swan 

cuts the ribbon to mark the official 

opening of the Ilfracombe Centre 

The multi-partnership Ilfracombe 

Centre is now open for business 

The Town Council’s building in the High Street has undergone a 

massive transformation in order to provide the people of Ilfracombe 

with range of vital services all under one roof. 

In its first week of opening it welcomed over 300 visitors! 

North Devon Council has a large presence in the building, providing 

a one-stop shop for all of its services. 

• The Customer Service advisors at the new 

Ilfracombe Centre waiting to give you a warm 

welcome - Judith Wallis, Celia Redmore, 

Hannah McDonald and Sara Curry 

What North Devon Council 

services are provided at the 

Ilfracombe Centre 

• General enquiries 

• Environmental Health 

• Housing 

• Benefits 

• Planning (Tuesday mornings) 

• Freephone direct to other 

services in Barnstaple 

What other services are provided 

• Citizens Advice Bureau 

• North Devon Pathfinder 

• Exeter Drugs Project 

• Scribes South West 

• Surgeries held by Trading 

Standards, Credit Union, 

MP Nick Harvey and the Police 

• Freephone to Devon 

County Council 

How do I contact the Ilfracombe Centre 

Call in and see us at 44 High Street, Ilfracombe, 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri 

Tel: 01271 855300 or email: theilfracombecentre@northdevon.gov.uk 

10 


Tell everyone 

in North Devon 

about your 

business! 

Why did the chicken 

cross the road 

To get to Shirwell Stores of course. The shop is committed to 

supplying local food and drink, so expect to find it stuffed to the 

rafters with top quality regional produce including veggies, meats, 

jams and pickles. There are also veg boxes for pick-up and warm 

fresh bread daily. 

Shirwell Stores 

deliciously local produce 

Shirwell Stores, Shirwell, Barnstaple EX31 4JS | 01271 850734 

www.shirwellstores.biz | deliveries@shirwellstores.biz 

PUT BACK WHAT TIME 

TAKES OUT - NA TURALLY 

Your face is the first thing people notice about 

you. But when your apperance no longer 

reflects how you feel inside it may be time for 

a change.The liberty cosmetic clinic offers the 

latest in anti ageing injectable treatments, all 

administered by a specialist cosmetic doctor. 

Restore your youthful glow. 

Before 

Don’t put treatment off 

any longer - Interest Free 

Credit now available After (4 Treatments 

57 yr old woman) 

The Wooda Surgery, Clarence Wharf, Barnstaple Street, Bideford, EX39 4AU 

Tel: 01237 472470 

Email:info@libertyclinic.co.uk www.libertyclinic.co.uk 

direct 

nor thdevon 


Problems with your dentures or just want new ones 

Want free advice Call 01271 314770 

Only a ‘CLINICAL’ Dental Technician is a lowed to treat 

patients and make the dentures as we l. He/she will listen to 

your aesthetic wishes and cope with i to make a denture which 

suits you best and wi l give you the best long term solution. 

20a Newport Road, Barnstaple, EX32 9BG 

RHS Garden 

Rosemoor... 

... 

...a garden for summer 

Great Torrington, Devon EX38 8PH 

01805 624067 www.rhs.org.uk/rosemoor 

Registered Charity no. 222879/SCO38262 

The Ilfracombe Centre opens 

Find out what new services are available 

Keeping your council local 

Figh to stop North Devon losing its voice 


Issue 9 | Summer 2008 

This magazine costs 10p per edition to produce 

direct 

northdevon 

is delivered to EVERY house in 

North Devon - that’s 42,000 

copies, so there’s no better 

way of promoting your 

business in North Devon. 

We are taking bookings now for 

the autumn magazine so please 

call Nick Cooper on 

01271 859 160 

today to secure your space. 

North Devon Direct is published by Salt Media 

5 Cross Street, Barnstaple, North Devon EX31 1BA 

Tel. 01271 859 160 www.saltmedia.co.uk 


What’s on 

1 

28 

6 

12 

14 

15 

15 

21 

21 

24 

27 

29 

June 

Devon Rocks 

9.30am - 5pm, Mon - Sat, Museum 

of Barnstaple & North Devon. 

Discover Devon’s fossils & minerals 

and even practice your climbing! 

Starting in Art 

Broomhill Art Hotel. Workshops for 

budding artists using traditional & 

innovative techniques. Visit devon. 

gov.uk/adultlearning for details. 

Cancer Research UK 

Relay for Life 

2pm Sat - noon Sun, North Devon 

athletics track, Braunton. Fun for 

teams of all ages. Cancer survivors 

honoured in opening lap. For info 

call 01271 815327. 

Boot ‘n’ Brunch Morning 

8am, Filleigh Village Hall. 

£5 per pitch - free to charitable & 

fundraising organisations. Call 

01598 760332 to book a place. 

West Down Day 

1pm, West Down. Old fashioned 

summer fayre with tug-o-war, West 

Down Celidh Band, beer tent & 

more. Free parking & entry. Disco & 

spit roast 7:30pm at Parish Hall. 

Instow in Bloom 

Garden Trail 

2 - 6pm, starts Instow Parish Hall. 

£2 entry. For info call 01271 861019. 

Barnstaple Organ & 

Keyboard Club 

7.45pm, Roundswell Community 

Centre. Music concert featuring Dirk 

Ranzijn from Belgium. Refreshments 

& raffle. Entry £4, members £1. 

Woody Bay Beer Festival 

Woody Bay Station. Run by Lynton & 

Barnstaple Railway Trust providing a 

selection of locally brewed Real Ales. 

5 

30 

Aug 

5 

6 

16 

19 

20 

22 

July 

Creative Castles 

9.30am - 5pm, Mon - Sat, Museum 

of Barnstaple & North Devon. 

Artwork & hands-on activities. 

Learn about Devon’s castles and 

how to defend them! 

Westleigh, Instow & 

West Yelland Community 

on Show 

1 - 7pm. Exhibits & activities on 

Instow’s beach, Parish Hall & Commodore 

Hotel car park. Call 01271 

861165 for info. 

RNLI Summer Splash 

1 - 5pm, Landmark Theatre & 

Wildersmouth Beach. Rescue 

demo’s, bouncy castle, refreshments, 

competitions & auction. Fun for all 

ages. Call 01271 862402 for info. 

Theatre on the Move 

7.30pm, Swimbridge Jubilee Hall. 

Audience walk between short plays 

written by local writers in four 

atmospheric locations. Tickets £6.50. 

For info call 01271 830311. 

Ilfracombe Dogs Trust 

Fun Day & Dog Show 

11am - 4pm, Braunton Recreation 

Ground. Bouncy castle, craft stalls, 

BBQ and more! 


Keyboard Club 


Centre. Music concert featuring 

David Thomas. Refreshments & 

raffle. Entry £4, members £1. 

North Devon Homes 

Road Show 

10am - 4pm, The Candar, Ilfracombe. 

Meet the Customer Forum, find 

out about Digital TV (am) & how to 

reduce fuel bills (pm). Call 01271 

313384 for info. 

5 

9 

16 

20 

24 

26 

28 

• Enjoy Theatre on the 

Move in Swimbridge 

this July 

August 

Devon Wildlife Trust Walk 

7pm, Velator DBWPS Reserve, 

Braunton. See ‘closed reserve’ with 

Devon Bird Watching Preservation 

Society warden. Call 01271 374324 

for info and bookings. 

Anstey District 

Garden Show 

2.30pm, West Anstey Hall, Yeo Mill. 

Entries close 1pm, 5 August. 

Entry 50p, children free. 

Magnificent Moths 

8pm, meet Sandy Lane car park. 

Discover insects on Braunton 

Burrows with the British Naturalists’ 

Association. 01271 343607 for info. 

North Devon Homes 

Road Show 

10am - 4pm, United Reform Church 

Hall, Lynton. Meet the Customer 

Forum, find out about Digital TV 

(am) & how to reduce fuel bills (pm). 

Call 01271 313384 for info. 

Lynmouth Fete 

11am - 5pm, Manor Ground, 

Lynmouth. Fun & learning with the 

National Trust, traditional stalls & 

games. Call 01598 741101 for info. 


Keyboard Club 


Centre. Music concert featuring 

Michael Wooldridge. Refreshments 

& raffle. Entry £4, members £1. 

Smuggler & Wreckers 

Walk & Talk 

7.30 - 9.30pm, meet Mortehoe 

Heritage Centre. Join storyteller & 

National Trust warden on walk. 

£4 adult, £2 child. Booking essential 

on 01271 870555. 

12 

ABOUT YOUR COUNCIL North Devon Direct 

27 

Appledore & Instow Regatta 

10.30am - 3pm, Taw & Torridge 

Estuary. Appledore & Instow quays. 

Call 01271 860578 for info. 

For a full list of what’s on in North 

Devon visit www.northdevon.gov.uk 

To include community events in the 

autumn edition of North Devon 

Direct please contact Alison Carragher 

on 01271 388278 or email her at 

alison.carragher@northdevon.gov.uk

• Bill Giles 

This year 


Festival 

celebrates 

its tenth 

anniversary 

and North 

Devon Council 

is proud to 

be the major 

funder of this 

spectacular 

local event. 

North Devon Festival returns for the 

whole of June, marking its tenth 

anniversary with its biggest and best 

series of events yet. Top artists visiting the 

Festival include Paul Merton, Alfie Boe, 

Angelina Ballerina, Courtney Pine, Laury 

Dizengremel, Simon Amstell, Blood 

Brothers, The Bad Plus, Bill Giles, Toots and 

the Maytals, Lee Evans and Billy Cobham. 

They feature alongside the outstanding 

regular events GoldCoast Oceanfest, 

Appledore Visual Arts Festival, Lynton and 

Lynmouth Music Festival and Art Trek. 

A greener Festival 

North Devon is listed as an Area of Outstanding 

Natural Beauty and has Britain’s 

first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Many 

of the events incorporate the beautiful 

surroundings, wildlife and lifestyle of this 

unique place, including the Devon 

Wildlife Festival and Devon Rocks. 

Community 

participation 

The Festival unites the whole region and 

depends on the talent and initiative of 

local people, who give up their time to 

organise and run many of the events. 

It’s this variety of community 

involvement mixed with familiar and 

eagerly anticipated blockbuster events 

and the spectacular setting that makes 

the Festival so special. 

With so much going on, there is sure to 

be something for everyone and with over 

half of the events being free, North Devon 

Festival is truly accessible for everyone. 

Festival Facts 

• In the last five years, North 

Devon Festival has generated 

an incredible £48 million 

towards the local economy 

• The Festival has grown from 

27 events to more than 200 in 

just ten years 

• A total of almost one million 

people have taken part in the 

Festival 

• 40% of people attending 

events are from outside the 

region, helping develop 

tourism in North Devon 

• Lee Evans 

• Paul Merton 

For more information visit www.northdevonfestival.org.uk 


Fly-tipping 

TOGETHER WE CAN STOP IT 

What if you discover 

fly-tipped waste 

Do not: 

• Touch the waste - it may contain 

syringes, broken glass, asbestos, 

toxic chemicals or other 

hazardous substances 

• Disturb the site; there may be 

evidence that could help identify 

the fly-tippers and lead to 

their prosecution 

Fly-tipping is a very 

serious offence costing us 

thousands of pounds every 

year. Last year alone we 

received more than 600 

requests from residents 

to remove waste that had 

been fly-tipped. 

It’s not just household furniture or bin 

bags that are fly-tipped. Our wardens 

are finding more and more of the 

waste dumped in our beautiful 

countryside is building rubble. 

Often this has been collected from 

a home where work is being carried 

out by unscrupulous fraudsters who 

offer to dispose of the waste for the 

householder for cash. But instead of 

taking it to the tip, they just fly-tip it. 

Many people don’t realise that even 

• Don't let your 

waste end up like this 

though they’ve paid someone to take 

away their waste they could still be 

prosecuted if it’s fly-tipped because 

they failed to exercise a Duty of Care 

in disposing of it. 

This can be avoided by making sure 

anyone taking waste from your 

premises holds a licence, so before 

paying anyone to dispose of your 

waste, ask to see their waste 

carriers licence. 

Last year, we held around 373 

fly-tipping investigations and two 

official cautions were issued. 

However, without your help it can be 

very difficult to prosecute the culprits. 

We need to gather really strong 

evidence that can be used in court, 

such as who the waste belongs to 

and any details of vehicles used, if 

we are to successfully prosecute 

these criminals. 

Do: 

• Visually try to work out what the 

waste consists of and how much 

there is 

• Make a note of the day, date and 

time you saw the tipping, its exact 

location and whether it is in or 

near water 

If you see someone fly-tipping 

make a note of: 

• How many people are involved 

and what they look like 

• What has been tipped - how much 

and what it looks like 

• Details of any vehicles involved 

including make, colour and 

registration number if possible 

Report 

fly-tipping 

To report fly-tipped waste 

or someone fly-tipping 

Call 01271 374776 

August Bank Holiday 2008 

Refuse & recycling collection information 

This information applies to all wheelie bin, black/orange bag 

and green box and green bag services. 

Normal Collection Day 

Mon 25 August (bank hol) 

Tue 26th August 

Wed 27th August 

Thurs 28th August 

Fri 29th August 

Actual Collection Day 

Tue 26th August 

Wed 27th August 

Thurs 28th August 

Fri 29th August 

Sat 30th August 

14 


JUNE 

• Plant out summer 

bedding in borders. 

Remember many 

bedding plants have 

small root systems 

and easily dry out in 

hot weather 

• Prune shrubs that have 

finished flowering. Cut 

back flowered shoots 

to a healthy bud. Water 

well and feed using fish, 

blood and bone 

• Clip evergreen hedges 

and topiary. Give a light 

feed of all-purpose 

plant food 

Gardening tips 

Alan Beer, Parks and Amenities Manager, 

explains how we can keep our own gardens 

looking their best this summer. 

• If you didn’t do it last 

month, feed your lawn 

with a spring and 

summer lawn food. Mow 

with blades set low but, 

if it is very dry, a medium 

setting is better 

• Aerate your lawn if it 

hasn’t been done yet. 

It is best done after rain 

JULY 

• Cut stems right down 

and apply liquid feed 

to early-flowering 

perennials for a second 

flush of flowers 

• Water plant containers 

every day in hot weather. 

Hanging baskets can be 

watered twice a day 

Helping make a 

safer north Devon 

Safer North Devon is a partnership 

between North Devon Council, the 

Police and other local organisations 

working to improve safety for both 

local businesses and residents. 

Street Champions 

support local residents 

On 29th April, a new Street Champions 

scheme was launched in Barnstaple helping 

local people tackle issues in their area. 

Twelve volunteers from Frankmarsh and 

Gorwell received training as part of the 

pilot scheme. They work closely with 

partner organisations that support their 

neighbourhood including the Police, 

Neighbourhood Watch, Safer North Devon, 

North Devon Council and local Councillors, 

under the name Partners and Communities 

Together (PACT). 

Residents can approach their local Street 

Champions to help with issues such as 

anti-social behaviour, waste collection and 

recycling, fly-tipping, dog fouling and noise 

nuisance. They can also provide emergency 

contact details. 

AUGUST 

• Trim lavender bushes 

once the flowers are past 

their best. To attract wildlife, 

leave the seed heads 

as Goldcrests adore them 

and may visit in early 

autumn 

• Take cuttings of tender 

perennials 

• Before going on holiday, 

arrange for a friend to 

water containers and 

hanging baskets. Move 

them out of the sun if 

they can’t be watered 

every day 

If this scheme is successful it may be 

introduced to neighbourhoods across 

North Devon and Torridge. 

Building business links 

Northern Devon Radio Link is run by Safer 

North Devon and allows local businesses to 

communicate with each other and the Police 

about issues, such as anti-social behaviour 

and shoplifting, using portable handsets. 

Each local network member receives 

messages at the same time, warning them 

of any problems to look out for. 

The scheme is already running in a number 

of villages and retailers in South Molton have 

been approached to find out if they think a 

new network in their area would be useful. 

To join the local Northern Devon Radio Link 

network, sponsor the Link or suggest an area 

that could benefit from the scheme, contact 

Abi Mandeville, Radio Management Officer 

on 01271 341200. 

For further information on 

Safer North Devon, visit 

www.safernorthdevon.co.uk 

Congratulations to Barnstaple 

Rugby Club on promotion to 

South West League One. Under 

Head Coach Kevin Squire the Chiefs 

have had another hugely successful 

season at Pottington Road and this 

progression up the rugby pyramid 

is richly deserved. 

Instead of trips to Taunton and 

Torquay, next season there will be 

longer journeys to Bournemouth 

and Oxford. The club with its 

excellent reputation will be taking 

the name of Barnstaple further 

afield meaning promotion for 

the Chiefs won’t only benefit the 

town’s rugby fans. Supporters the 

length and breadth of the South of 

England will soon know that Barum 

is more than a beer or a range of car 

tyres. The sponsors of these clubs 

that Barnstaple will play will get to 

know about the delights of North 

Devon and may see new business 

opportunities in our great region. 

Or perhaps they may want to come 

back for a holiday. 

The results of the matches will be 

given greater prominence in the 

newspapers around the country 

spreading the town’s name far and 

wide. Sporting success can not 

only lift the spirits but also act as a 

catalyst for change. As Barnstaple 

prepares for redevelopment this 

glory on the pitch will go hand 

in hand. 

Until next time... 

Seth’s 

Soundbite 

In football, Ilfracombe have also 

had a very pleasing season and 

have built good foundations for 

the next campaign, finishing as 

the district’s highest placed side. 

But again as money flows into the 

town with the new one-stop-shop 

and harbour regeneration the feel 

good factor, the buzz that’s created 

about the place does rub off on 

the pitch. 

So let’s get behind our sides, 

it’s in all our interests. 

Seth

North Devon District Council

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