Latest News
Totnes Christmas Tree with Pom Pom Decorations
Statement of Persons Nominated for 12th December General Election
For details of the candidates standing for election on 12th December 2019 to represent the Totnes Constituency, please see here.
Check the Grit Bins on Your Street
Winter is coming. If you have a grit bin in your street,
please give it a check and if it needs to be refilled you can contact Devon
Highways direct at https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/
and click on the grit bin option to request a refill.
Community Budgeting 2019 - Your Chance to Comment
What should the priorities be for our community? Please complete our Community Budgeting questionnaire by Thursday 5th December 2019. To complete online with Survey Monkey please use this link. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/JG6LLK6 Hard copies will also be circulated through the Totnes Directory in November. Any queries please email Catherine at clerk@totnestowncouncil.gov.uk
Adopt a Phone Box - Ideas Invited
Totnes Town Council has agreed to adopt two red telephone
boxes that are being taken out of use by BT. The telephone boxes on Plymouth
Road and at Swallowfields have had low usage rates and there is the opportunity
for the Town Council to adopt them for £1 each. However, the question now is
what could be the new role for these iconic structures?
Councillors are inviting the community to come forward with ideas of what these small spaces could be used for. The Town Matters Committee will consider the ideas at a future meeting before the adoption agreement is finalised. If you have any ideas please email administrator@totnestowncouncil.gov.uk or call the Council Offices on 01803 862147 by 20th December 2019.
he terms of adoption with BT means that the telephone box cannot be sold, cannot be used to run a business, and cannot be moved from the existing site; in return, Totnes Town Council will take on the insurance and maintenance for the structure of the telephone boxes, and hope that they can be used for community-led projects.
Draft Totnes Neighbourhood Plan Public Consultation
The public consultation for the draft Totnes Neighbourhood Plan will run from 16th November until 2nd January 2020. Details of the events and documents can be found at the following link: http://totnesneighbourhoodplan.org/public-consultation-on-the-draft-totnes-neighbourhood-plan/
Christmas Tree Lights Switch on Tuesday 26th November from 3.30pm
Notice of Election for the Totnes Constituency
Please follow this link for information
https://www.southhams.gov.uk/generalelection
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.
Public Session for all Full Council meetings
Don’t forget that following the adoption of new Standing Orders, public question time will be held for the 30 minutes before Full Council (from 6.30pm), not the formalised 15 minutes during the meeting as before.
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 Ranger - Contact Details
The Town Ranger for Totnes is now in post. if you have any issues about the town, for example unsafe hand rails, graffiti or cleanliness, please contact him on townranger@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