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Newton & Noss Parish Meeting
Newsletter
26 March 2015
1. ELECTIONS- Thursday 7 May.
General Election- Hustings Meeting Friday 10 April WI Hall 7pm.
District Council- Elections. A new two member ward to be known as Newton & Yealmpton to
extend from this Parish to Holbeton in the east and Sparkwell in the North.
Parish Council Elections- parishioners are encouraged to stand and vote. Applications must be
submitted by 4pm Thursday 9 April.
2. PLANNING
 Collaton Development proposals- the landowners and their planning agent gave a
presentation to the Parish Council at the meeting on 13 November 2014 in respect of their planning
applications for employment units and outline application for mixed use development of 70
dwellings, allotments, community facility, recreation and employment land. The Parish Council
objected to both applications. It is understood both planning proposals will be put before the South
Hams District Council Development Management Committee in the near future.
 Solar farm proposals – Newton Down Farm.
Lorna Good, a representative from Good Energy, gave a short presentation regarding their
plans for a possible small solar farm at the Parish Council Meeting on 26 February.
Good Energy is proposing to build a solar farm at Newton Downs Farm, near Butts Park.
The proposed design provides for 19,000 solar panels installed on ground-mounted solar PV
arrays standing 2.8 metres high, across one and a half fields with a total area of 25 acres.
Arrays arranged would be in rows at least six metres apart to enable sheep to graze. All
components of the solar farm would be removed at the end of the project lifetime with the
majority of materials recycled, and site returned to current use.
It is anticipated that a public exhibition will take place in April 2015, followed by the submission
of a planning application that same month. Good Energy anticipate that the application will be
determined in June 2015. If successful work would commence in September 2015.
Good Energy expect the construction would last approximately 16 weeks. Traffic to site would
be vehicles bringing the workforce to and from site and up to 5 articulated lorries each day.
There would be noise in the first weeks caused by the piling machinery.
The company advise they will work with the community to develop ways of sharing the benefits
of their developments, e.g.
i) A community fund worth at least £4,700pa for the lifetime of the solar farm controlled by local
people to fund local projects or
ii) A community investment scheme enabling local people to take a financial stake in the
project. It is anticipated that the yearly rate of return over 19 year term would be 6-7% together
with the return of the original investment.
iii) Option for a stake to be gifted to the community to provide income to fund energy efficiency /
fuel poverty measures
There have been initial discussions with Yealm Community Energy, but any proposal would be
open to wider consultation and subject to detailed financial modelling to ensure terms do not
affect the viability of the solar farm.
Solar farm could supply 1245 homes.
Mr. Peter Brown from Yealm Community Energy will be giving a presentation at the Parish
Council Meeting.
 Potential development proposals- presentations were given to the Parish Council in July
2014 regarding possible development at “The Old Pigfield” site, Noss Mayo. It was suggested
the developer set up a public meeting. There has been no further update. At the same meeting
a potential scheme for a small development at Land at end of The Fairway was given. It is
thought the scheme as outlined to the Parish Council may not be going ahead in its original
format.
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 Planning appeals- Od Quay and Rushpoint Court Wood in respect of which the Parish
Council objected were both allowed on appeal
 Steer Point brickworks- an application for the importation of inert waste for the purpose of filling
void as part of restoration of Steerpoint Quarry was granted by Devon County Council. This will
affect traffic in Brixton.
 Neighbourhood Plani) The decision to go ahead was made by Parish Council at their Meeting on 27 February 2014.
ii) Designation of Neighbourhood Plan Area (Newton & Noss Parish Boundary) took place in June
2014.
iii) Initial Consultation meeting 17 June 2014.
iv) Allocation of SHDC assigned officer contact at SHDC – Mr. Graham Swiss.
v) A vision statement was sent out to householders for feedback.
vi) A further public consultation event took place on 5 January 2015.
vii) Five members of the Parish Council have been appointed to the Steering Group in principle.
The Parish Council are awaiting details from Mr. Peter Pritchard of those people who have come
forward to fill the remaining five positions on the Steering Group before it is formally constituted.
viii) It is understood Mr. Pritchard has secured funding for the construction of a website for the
Neighbourhood Plan.
3. HIGHWAYS/TRANSPORT
 Public Transport consultation- is currently taking place which will potentially affect the No 93
and no 94 buses. It is proposed to reduce the number of No 94 trips from 5-3. Consultation closes
20 April.
 Highways-.
i)Surface dressing at Puslinch, Membland and Bridgend Hill.
ii) TAP funding of £7731.20 was secured in 2014 between Brixton, Wembury, Yealmpton and
Newton & Noss to enable the Parishes to work together to do additional drainage work in the
Parish. Drainage work has in the main been completed save for work around Pollexfen Archer bus
stop. TAP funding of £8000 has been secured this year in conjunction with Wembury and Brixton
to undertake minor works to footpaths, verges, channels and signs.
iii) Community self-help/Community Road Warden Scheme- there has been no interest from the
Parish.
iv) Community Speed Watch Scheme- the suggestion was put out to the Parish following
concerns over speeding particularly at Butts Park and The Green. There has been no interest.
v) Bridgend Wall repairs- repairs following flood damage in 2013 were funded by Devon County
Council.
4. VILLAGE HOUSING INITIATIVE- it is hoped ongoing negotiations with the landowner for the
construction of 14 affordable homes (with 2 open market houses and a home for the landowner)
will be concluded shortly.
5. CHELSON MEADOW - it is understood South Hams residents are not permitted to use the site
unless Devon County Council pay a contribution to Plymouth City Council- a figure thought to be
in the region of £70,000.The Parish Council believe Cllr. Hosking is aware that parishioners find
the depot at Ivybridge inadequate, inconvenient and too small. Cllr Hosking has been asked to
raise with the County Council whether Plymouth City Council can legally refuse South Hams
residents access. Cllr. Hosking has advised planning permission has been obtained for a new
recycling site which would be able to take a wider range of materials.
6. VILLAGE HALLS;
i) WI Hall refurbishment- the Parish Council made grants of £5000 in 2013-2014 and two grants
of £3000 and £8626 in 2014-2015.
ii) Newton & Noss Village Hall- the Parish Council made a grant of £2016 to assist Newton &
Noss Village Hall with costs of refurbishing the flat roof over the Revelstoke Room. It is
understood plans for a “Business Hub” using the Revelstoke Room are progressing.
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7. SHDC ASSET TRANSFER- the agreement for sale has been signed by the Parish Council and
is currently being acted upon by the Parish Council’s solicitors. Three working groups have been
formed with responsibility for Butts Park playing field, the play parks and the Community
Orchard/tennis courts/Noss Green and car park.
8. WORLD WAR 1 MEMORIAL GARDEN
A WW1 Commemorative Garden was constructed in Newton Ferrers financed by the Yealm
Branch of the Royal British Legion and the Yealm Garden Society at The Green. The garden
was built with railway sleepers by former Royal Marine Scott Rogers who lives at Collaton. A
wooden Iona cross was made by Peter Leonard of Noss Mayo. The garden will remain in place
until Armistice Day on 11th November 2018.
9. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES- winter closures went ahead from W/C 3rd November 2014 and W/C
2nd March 2015. They have now re opened.
10. DEFIBRILLATORS- two now in the parish- Newton Hill and by the Tilly Institute. Thanks to the
BELS (Basic Emergency Life-saving Skills) Steering Committee for their hard work in
organising and fund raising.
11. DEMENTIA FRIENDLY PARISHES AROUND THE YEALM.- secured core funding to continue
until 2016. It is understood the organisation is being registered with Charities Commission.
Activities include Social Reading Group in Modbury, gentle exercise class in Newton Ferrers and
Art and Craft Club at Growers Organics Yealmpton. Thanks to Mrs. Caroline Hirst for representing
the Parish Council
12. SUSTAINABLE MARKET- Miss Suzanne Cove, Parish Councillor, has set up the Newton &
Noss Market which will run on third Saturday of each month from April 18th 10am-12noon
13. BROADBAND- Connecting Devon & Somerset has indicated 2016 for likely introduction of
superfast broadband for this area. They had run a campaign in February 2012 asking people to
complete a short survey which would be influential in deciding how, where and when Broadband
would be rolled out. Cllr Mumford advised at the time that the response from the Parish had been
poor.
14. COMMUNITY ORCHARD APPLE DAY- the Parish Council event took place Sunday 2
November with a storyteller, campfire cooking, crepes and weeding/tree pruning. Thanks to the
working group comprising Sue Hinchliffe, Carrie Griffiths, Jane Longworth, George Buckland and
Catherine Telford for their efforts in running the event in conjunction with the Clerk.
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