Chittlehampton Parish Council.

Severe Weather Emergencies

The Parish Council is signed up to the Devon County Council snow warden scheme, under this scheme we are supplied with 5 tons of salt which is stored in a secure location and it’s distribution is strictly controlled.
This will not have any effect on the existing salt bins which will still be serviced by the county council.
We have also purchased a number of snow shovels which have been placed in various locations, including the pub and the shop, these are for the use of whoever may need to use them.
Although the distribution of the salt is restricted, anyone that is in desperate need of salt or are in need of help should contact the number listed below, but please remember that resources are limited and everyone helping is a volunteer.
If we should have bad weather anyone that is willing to help should again contact the number below, but please be warned that this could be at your own risk.

SNOW WARDEN.
Martin Ives - telephone 01769 540886

The Census 2021

The census is coming. By taking part, you can help inform decisions on services that shape your community, such as healthcare, education and transport. The census is a unique survey that happens every 10 years. It gives us a snapshot of all the people and households in England and Wales – the most detailed information we have about our society.

It’s important that you fill in your census questionnaire. Without the information you share, it’d be more difficult to understand your community’s needs and to plan and fund public services.

In one way or another, your information touches the lives of every single person living in England and Wales, whether it’s through using census information to plan new schools, doctors’ surgeries or bike lanes.

Because these things matter to us all, everyone needs to complete the census. Do not worry, government officials dealing with applications you’ve made or payments or services you receive cannot see it.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) runs the census in England and Wales and is independent from government. Your details are protected by law and information published is always anonymous.

Census Day is Sunday 21 March 2021. You can fill yours in online as soon as you get your access code in the post. If your household circumstances change on Census Day, you can let the ONS know.

Everyone should have the support they need to fill in the census. If you, or anyone you know, needs help, there’s a wide range of support services available.

These include a contact centre that can give you help over the phone and guidance in a range of languages and accessible formats, including paper questionnaires and large print.

If you need help or have any questions, visit www.census.gov.uk

Avian influenza (bird flu): latest situation

Avian Influenza is still on the increase and to try and prevent the spread the Government will be introducing new housing measures in England, Scotland and Wales as from the 14 December 2020.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/avian-influenza-bird-flu-national-prevention-zone-declared

The Chief Veterinary Officers for England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to bring in new measures to help protect poultry and captive birds, following a number of cases of avian influenza in both wild and captive birds in the UK.

Government Chief Veterinary Officers are encouraging bird keepers to use the next 11 days to prepare for new housing measures, including taking steps to safeguard animal welfare, consult their vet and where necessary put up additional housing.

Whether you keep just a few birds as pets or thousands, from 14 December onwards you will be legally required to keep your birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds. We have not taken this decision lightly, but it is the best way to protect your birds from this highly infectious disease.

Poultry and captive bird keepers are advised to be vigilant for any signs of disease in their birds and any wild birds, and seek prompt advice from their vet if they have any concerns. They can help prevent avian flu by maintaining good biosecurity on their premises, including:

housing or netting all poultry and captive birds

cleansing and disinfecting clothing, footwear, equipment and vehicles before and after contact with poultry and captive birds – if practical, use disposable protective clothing

reducing the movement of people, vehicles or equipment to and from areas where poultry and captive birds are kept, to minimise contamination from manure, slurry and other products, and using effective vermin control

thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting housing at the end of a production cycle

keeping fresh disinfectant at the right concentration at all points where people should use it, such as farm entrances and before entering poultry and captive bird housing or enclosures

minimising direct and indirect contact between poultry and captive birds and wild birds, including making sure all feed and water is not accessible to wild birds

Register your birds

We encourage all keepers to register their birds with us so we can contact you quickly if there is a disease outbreak in your area and you need to take action.If you have more than 50 birds, you are legally required to register your flock within one month of their arrival at your premises. If you have less than 50 birds, including pet birds, you are still strongly encouraged to register.

Find out how to register your birds.

Poultry and captive bird keepers and members of the public should report dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 (option 7), and keepers should report suspicion of disease to APHA on 03000 200 301. Keepers should familiarise themselves with our avian flu advice. Public Health England advise the risk to public health from the H5N8 and H5N2 strains of bird flu is very low.

The Food Standards Agency has said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs, are safe to eat.

Nicola L J Pearce

Trading Standards Officer

e-mail nicola.pearce@devon.gov.uk

Mob: 07971950919 Tel: 01392 383000

From Rev. David Coleman.

Good Morning everyone.
After Boris Johnson's announcement, and having delivered leaflets to tell you that the church was open for as long as it is allowed, I have to tell you that time has run out.
It's with a genuinely heavy heart that I have to tell you that the church doors are now locked, until such time as we are informed that it is allowed for us to use the building again.
Please be assured, that even if the building is closed, the church community is still active in prayer for our whole parish, and will continue to be so throughout these difficult times.
May God keep you in his care, and give you the grace and courage to face whatever this virus throws at us.
Amen

North Devon MP's Surgery Poster.

Play Area Update.

As much as the Parish Council would love to renew the whole of the play equipment and the surfacing of the play area the costs are so great that we feel even with grants the chances of managing to achieve this are more or less impossible. However we are endeavouring to resolve the difficulties with the existing equipment. One of the main problems is complying with the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act 1995) part of the Equality Act 2010 which raises many issues with the whole area within the fencing and the access from the village hall car park. We are seeking advice on how to resolve these as much as we need to so that the area can re-open and then replace items as the finance becomes available. Again we apologise for any inconvenience caused but our main priority is the safety of the children.

Pesky Potholes!

Due to the recent cold and wet weather there has been an increase in the number of potholes in the area. The parish clerk regularly reports potholes that he discovers but did you realise that you can also report potholes that you find yourself? This can be done via the following Devon County Council website:
https://www.devon.gov.uk/roadsandtransport/report-a-problem/report-a-pothole.
Alternatively you can just Google "Devon potholes" and follow the first suggested link.

You can then report the pothole by clicking on its location on an interactive map. There is even an opportunity to upload a photograph of the pothole to show how bad it is and help identify the one you are reporting.
However, not all potholes qualify for a repair. In order to be repaired a pothole must:
1. be over 40mm deep
and
2. be wider than 300mm
and
3. have a vertical rather than a shallow edge.
Once you have registered your pothole, DCC aim to have it investigated within 3 days. If the investigation confirms that it qualifies for repair, it will be added to their list of repair work to be undertaken.

Air Ambulance Landing Lights.

The Parish Council jointly with Devon Air Ambulance have installed lighting on the playing field behind the village hall to enable the air ambulance to land during the hours of darkness. They are now flying until 2 O'Clock in the morning and this is likely to be extended even further. The lights are turned on by mobile telephone signal should a landing be required. Due to the remoteness of the village this could be life saving or in case of a serious incident could be used to take patients to a distant specialist hospital. The funding for this project has come from money given to the air ambulance by the UK Treasury from the LIBOR Bank Fines, council grants from Councillor Richard Edgell, Councillor Walter White and a very kind donation from Grenville Buckingham. Just to prove it was money well spent, the site was used in earnest less than two months after being completed and commissioned on the evening of Sunday 17th. March to take a patient to a specialist burns unit.

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