Devon County Council recently held a consultation on proposed changes to the bus services that they subsidise.

As a result of these consultations there will be no summer bus service from South Molton to Barnstaple on Sundays and Bank Holidays.  So anyone living in South Molton who can’t drive will effectively be stuck there on Sundays and Bank Holidays. This measure will save the County Council a grand total of £2,175 a year!

The Saturday only service to Bampton will be closed. Apparently “although some sections of the B3227 would be left unserved, no communities would be left isolated. ” Really? These are weasel words because although they may not be left isolated, the alternative would be to go somewhere you don’t want to go to or take a very circuitous route involving several buses.

The County Council ought to be encouraging the use of bus services and shouldn’t be closing them down.

Looking at the proposed reductions it appears to me that North Devon is hit proportionately harder than South Devon.  This, along with the appalling manner that the county highways department ‘look after’ the Link Road, leads me to believe that there is very much a North-South divide in Devon. The south faring far better than the north.

It will only get worse I’m afraid. Still, you get what you vote for!

On Friday and Saturday there was a notice on the bus stops near the Square saying that buses wouldn’t be stopping there. They would be diverted via Station Road and Pathfields because of the Old English Fayre road closure.

Sure enough, when I walked into town on Friday I saw a bus turning right from New Road and going down Station Road.

About an hour later I saw two people waiting for the bus to Barnstaple at the stop in the Square. I pointed out the notice to them and suggested that they catch the bus in New Road.

Imagine my embarrassment when five minutes later the bus sailed past on its usual route.

If the bus company post notices saying that the stop is closed and the bus will be diverted, they should stick to what they say.  Otherwise people just get totally confused and don’t know where they should catch the bus.

The other issue is that if notices are posted they should be posted where they can actually be read, rather than above head height.

The notice is that white bit of paper taped to the pole.

Householders used to be able to speak to the planning office in Barnstaple for advice about planning applications for extensions and conservatories etc.

It now appears that from 1 July  a charge will be made.

NDDC say it’s:  “To bring the service in line with other councils”. In other words “some other councils charge so we’re going to as well”.

That’s a specious argument.

Some other councils collect black bins every week rather than every other week. Surely to bring themselves into line with other councils NDDC ought to collect our black bins weekly?

Similarly, other councils recycle waxed cardboard and batteries. Surely if NDDC are so keen on aligning themselves with other councils they ought to be recycling these items as well?

You can be assured that since these measures cost money they won’t happen.

No pictures I’m afraid as I was frequently ‘with dog’ and unable to handle both dog and camera phone at the same time!

Going against all tradition, this year the weather was reasonably good and it didn’t rain – or at least not much!

The Fayre Coffee Morning in the Assembly Rooms on Thursday was very enjoyable indeed (much to my surprise it has to be  said!).

The Infants School choir were very good and obviously having a great time. The Junior School waiters and waitresses did a sterling job and could teach their elders a few things about service and courtesy. All-in-all both schools did amazingly well and are to be congratulated.

I didn’t go to the Senior Citizens Tea Dance on Friday afternoon, but those who did tell me it was a great success. If only someone had a taken a video clip of the Wheelchair Waltz – apparently it was fantastically well done!

A wander round the Craft, music and food Fest in the Pannier Market on Friday night but couldn’t stay too long as Max (the dog) was tied to the scaffolding at the back.

I missed the Punch and Judy show on Saturday morning but did see the crowning of the Fayre Queen and the Floral Dance around the square. The Fayre Queen and her attendants, along with assorted local civic dignitaries adorned with chains of office, dancing around the square (or in some cases walking!)  was certainly worth seeing!

The Battle of the Bands on Saturday afternoon was very impressive, and I’m always amazed at how good the local brass bands are. How on earth do they find the time to practice and perform?

Then on Sunday there the Civic Parade across the square to the service in the parish church: the mayor, the mayoress, and their deputies, accompanied by the town clerk, the sergeants-at-mace, the mayor’s constables, all in their civic regalia, the town councillors (or most of them), the Fayre Queen and her retinue, St Johns Ambulance, the Town Band and others too numerous to mention.

After the service the procession back to the Town Hall and tea and biscuits in the Mayor’s Parlour.

There were all sorts of things that I missed.: the magician (a great hit apparently); the children’s games; the Choral Society Concert; the Fayre Lunch and the Family Fayre breakfast. Still to come on Monday evening are the children’s races at the Infants School.

The questions are: Will the sun break a long tradition and actually shine on next years’ Fayre? Should I buy an official, but somewhat boring, South Molton Town Council tie?

At least the hedge has now been cut back so it’s possible to walk along the pavement without having to step into the road.

Many thanks to whoever was responsible.

There’s a housing shortage in South Molton, so why is this house in New Road being allowed to go to rack and ruin?

It’s been lyng empty  for over three years now. The front garden is totally overgrown (it’s barely possible to walk on the pavement), you can’t get to the front door and there are broken panes of glass. The whole house is gradually just deteriorating. Why?

Over the period it’s been empty it could have housed a homeless family and brought in at least £18,000 in rental income!

I doubt very much that the wind blew this over!

This is on the ‘pink’ path between Brook Meadow and Spearfield Close.

The town centre’s looking very much better now the scaffolding has been taken down from the town hall and its newly painted façade has been revealed.

For those who’re wondering. Yes, it’s always been painted.  No, the unicorn has never been painted (apart from its horn which is covered in gold leaf).

The gates to the churchyard will also be looking great once both sides have been painted.

It’s a shame about the bent railings at the edge of the pavement and the peeling paint on the façade of the HSBC (which may be closed or renamed in the near future).  Of course once the painting’s been finished the ladder will be gone!

For the life of me I don’t understand why the railings are there.

I think that all the broadband cabinets that are going to be installed in South Molton have been installed. UPDATE: I was wrong – a cabinet’s been installed at the top of Duke Street.

It’s now ‘just’ a question of putting the electronics and wiring in each cabinet and laying the fibre optic cable from each cabinet back to the exchange.

The cabinet at Pathfields, that is now live, was installed in some time in February and went live some time in May I think.  Some parts of South Molton might therefore go live by September or October.

It appears that the Link Road will be closed overnight (19:00-07:00) between Bolham Roundabout and Ash Mill on Thursday 11 June, Friday 12 June, Monday 15 June and Tuesday 16 June. The usual lengthy cross country diversionary routes apply.

There’ll be another overnight closure on this section in July, one in September and a grand total of eight in October,

In addition the Link Road between North Aller and Landkey will be closed overnight between 19:00 and 07:00 on Thursday 18 June and Friday 19 June.

Buck your ideas up Devon County Council! This is a strategic road for North Devon and should not be subject to closures of this nature.