Latest News  

 Christmas Artisan Markets at the Civic Hall

 

 

 Christmas Artisan Markets at the Civic Hall in Totnes on the 1st, 8th and 15th of December.  For more details please contact Mairead on email mayor@totnestowncouncil.gov.uk or phone on 01803 862147

 

Saturday Morning Road Closure Update

Devon County Council have extended the Saturday morning road closure of upper Fore Street, High Street and the Narrows for a further 8 weeks (starting Saturday 17th October). The end date for these closures now is Saturday 5th December 2020.

This decision is based on the increasing cases of COVID-19 and is to allow a 'sheltered shopping' period for local residents and visitors to the town who feel unable to do so for the other 5.5 trading days in the week.

Bob the Bus will continue to run a service through the town during the 4 hour closure.

 

Catherine Marlton

Town Clerk

Totnes Town Council
 

 

Below is a table which sets out the number of representations by individuals in relation to the road closures:

 

	Residents	%	Business	%	Visitors	%	TOTAL	%
No of Correspondents	88		39		26		153
Support Road Closures	52	59.1	1	2.6	19	73.1	72	47.06
Object to Road Closures	24	27.3	38	97.4	4	15.4	66	43.14
No opinion expressed	12	13.6	0	0.0	3	11.5	15	9.80
Support No Right Turn	1	1.1	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	0.65
Object to No Right Turn	23	26.1	13	33.3	2	7.7	38	24.84
No opinion expressed	64	72.7	26	66.7	24	92.3	114	74.51
Support Shared Space	13	14.8	23	59.0	3	11.5	39	25.49
Object to Shared Space	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.00
No opinion expressed	75	85.2	16	41.0	23	88.5	114	74.51

The methodology that has been used to compile this table together is:

• to record all emails received;
• determine the number of emails received from an individual (not the number of emails) which aggregates up the various themes of the email(s): road closure; no right turn onto Plymouth Road; and shared space.
• Summarise the information by group (business, residents and visitors) and the overall view on the three big topics – road closure, no right turn, and shared space – with an overall total of views by topic.

Statement from Cllr. Jacqi Hodgson, Mayor of Totnes, regarding current road closures in Totnes 

 Please see a statement made prior to 7th September by Cllr. Jacqi Hodgson, Mayor of Totnes, regarding the current Saturday morning road closures and proposed future road closures

 Mayor Statement regarding current road closures in Totnes

 

TOTNES TOWN COUNCIL PROMOTING SHARED SPACE

Totnes Town Council have contacted Devon County Council Highways requesting permission to install planters through the Town Centre and improve signage to improve the adherence to the existing 'Access Only' rules from the bottom of Fore Street and to help users of the Town to adhere to the nationally agreed guidelines of 1m plus social distancing - something which is very challenging given the narrowness of the road and the volume of people visiting. With traffic counts indicating approximately 170 cars an hour, implementing access only in the town centre is an urgent consideration, for safety reasons.

       Totnes Christmas Festival Nights 2020

After meeting with the authorities with regard to Totnes Christmas 2020, we have been advised due to the popularity of the event, the size of the High Street and the layouts that Totnes Christmas 2020 will not be going ahead in its traditional format. Unfortunately, we must cancel this great event as must Bath, Lincoln, Newcastle, and many others.

Totnes Christmas 2020 will be going ahead but on a far smaller scale. We will be running the Artisan Christmas Market inside the Civic Hall, but mostly, we will be promoting and celebrating the existing shops and premises here in Totnes.

Rogue Traders posing as Tree Surgeons

South Hams District Council has received reports of potential rogue traders operating in our area, specifically targeting vulnerable and elderly residents unable to carry out their own tree works.

Several members of the public and their families contacted South Hams Trees team recently, after they were cold-called by traders claiming to be tree surgeons. The traders offered to do garden and tree works for cash, and also advised residents they could legally carry out works to protected trees and provide a certificate to submit to the Council to avoid prosecution.

No such certificate exists - any works to a tree subject to a Tree Preservation Order or in a conservation area require permission beforehand from the Council.

For more information see SHDC press release. 

 

Communication with Local Businesses

Following comments to the Town Council about consultation prior to the road closure on Saturday mornings for a limited time, if you would like your business to informed of any future planned changes or events please see this letter from Cllr Claire Allford about how to register your details or email cllr.allford@totnestowncouncil.gov.uk                                                

   Tree Preservation Orders

Are you concerned about whether a tree in the town is protected in any way? Councils can use Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) to protect trees, groups or woodlands of significant public amenity value and where there is a likelihood of threat to the tree. For further information see the local information page here. 

 Ash Die Back Advice

You may have heard through various media outlets that our much revered native ash trees are currently at a high risk of infection from Ash Dieback disease which may affect their health and eventually the stability of the whole tree in some instances. For further information see the local information page here. 

Market Square Improvements - Designs and Comment Deadline

An exciting programme of improvements to uplift the appearance of Totnes Market Square has been agreed by South Hams District Council, in close partnership with Totnes Town Council. 

The enhancement programme designed by local architects Harrison Sutton Partnership, looks to deliver replacement bespoke steps with integrated planters and seating areas. The existing ramp will be widened and re-levelled and clad in oak sleepers with additional improvements to lighting. Mosaic art pieces produced by a local artist and school children will be included in the design, together with a new drinking water fountain.

The entire area will be resurfaced with the improvements being scheduled to avoid peak use in the summer season and during December when the Christmas Markets take place.

The timeline for the improvement projects will be phased over a 12 -18 month period starting in autumn 2019. The steps and ramp are to be completed in early 2020 with the surfacing to follow later in the year.

A tendering process will be undertaken early next year to appoint a contractor to carry out the works.

Cllr John Tucker, Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to work in close partnership with Totnes Town Council to improve an important piece of public realm to the quality and standard it deserves. We are delighted help bring this scheme forward and know the improvements will further enhance the town. We will make sure that work will be carried out around key dates for the market area and developed with community use firmly in mind.”

Catherine Marlton, Totnes Town Council’s Town Clerk, said: “The Town Council undertook a Community Budgeting exercise in 2017 which showed just how important the public realm of Totnes is to residents, business owners and visitors. As a result the Town Council has entered into a partnership with SHDC to turn the original resurfacing of the Market Square into a larger scale upgrade of that area, which is high traffic for users and is also the location of the popular markets. I am hopeful that this project can bring real benefits and prove that Councillors are willing to respond and invest in priorities the community raise.”

The designs can be found here.

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Totnes Town Maintenance Officer - Contact Details

The Town Maintenance Officer for Totnes can be contacted for any issues about the town, for example unsafe hand rails, graffiti or cleanliness, on TMO@totnestowncouncil.gov.uk 

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Problem on the Roads? 

Don't forget you can report any of the road problems listed below on this DCC page: https://new.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/

Pothole
Flooding & blocked drain
Street light
Hazardous or fallen trees
Overgrown vegetation
Trip hazard
Broken manhole cover
Public rights of way
Debris or obstruction
Ice
Defective road markings or signs
Bridge
Retaining walls
Traffic lights
Fences & barriers
Lit signs & bollards