I saw this HGV parked outside Shapland & Searle early on Monday morning. No driver in sight –  I doubt very much that he was delivering polycarbonate sheets to anywhere in Broad Street.

This is probably why so much of our seafood gets exported to Spain!

Why do we eat so little seafood in Devon?

I think that the Town Council, or at least certain members of the Town Council, need to be reminded that the law states that the meetings of the council, its committees and sub-committees are open to the public and the press.

There are very few, clearly laid down exceptions to this. It’s also the law that members of the public are allowed to record (either audio or video), and broadcast, any meetings which they are allowed to attend. For example, if somebody from, say Clapham, wanted to attend a SMTC meeting and video it, they would have a legal right to do so.

As for standing up: I believe we should all stand up for our rights, and this doesn’t extend to having to stand up when addressing a town council.

Members of Parliament might well stand up when addressing that body, but that’s largely a matter of common sense.

With a large meeting it’s very sensible for the person talking to stand up – purely so that other people can see who’s talking and so that the voice projects better, and nowadays, so that the TV camera can focus on the right person.

People don’t stand up in Devon County Council cabinet meetings nor in the District Council executive meetings.

The important thing is that people can have their say, Public bodies at every level should do their utmost to ensure that this happens – even if they’re uncomfortable with it.

Let’s not forget that on the current South Molton Town Council there’s only one councillor who’s had any votes cast for them – Cllr Tracey Lewis – all the others are there by default.

I don’t disrespect councillors, or what they do – far from it.  I know that it’s a very,very difficult, complex, time consuming job, and, contrary to public opinion, town councillors get paid nothing at all.

But they mustn’t forget why they are there – and that’s to represent the public!

Devon County Council (DCC)  had originally pledged about £150,000 to help tide the closing youth centres over the transition period from being run by DCC to being run by other organisations.

Only about eight or nine thousand pounds of this would have been allocated to the South Molton Youth Centre but it now appears that DCC have reneged on their promise and will be providing nada, nil, nothing, zilch.

Being a techie, I watched the live webcast of the Devon County Council (DCC) Cabinet on Wednesday morning  – and was delighted that they approved the release of funds to purchase land at Exeter Gate to enable a new primary school to be built. Or, more accurately, to enable the Junior School to be relocated and expanded into a ‘through’ primary school, with both infant and junior provision.

What concerns me is that the whole process isn’t yet a done deal.  The purchase needs to be completed by the end of November to ensure that the school is actually built.

I think DCC have been disturbingly slow on the uptake, and the landowner’s agents have been somewhat greedy – a couple of acres on the edge of South Molton is worth nothing like the same area in Exeter.

Devon County Council have asked for the name of town councillors who would be willing to act as snow wardens – whatever they are.

Apparently people are unwilling to clear the snow off the pavements because they’re afraid of being sued . What absolute baloney!

You’re only likely to be sued if you’ve been negligent or have done something wilful which would be likely to cause injury. Of course I am not a lawyer, but my feeling is that failing to clear the snow/ice from the pavement in front of your premises is negligent. Clearing it is the sensible and public spirited thing to do.

Now matter what Nigel Farage might think, this is an area in which large parts of Europe are far more civilised than the UK.

For example, in Germany it’s a legal requirement for home owners/shop keepers etc. to clear snow and leaves from the pavement in front of their premises.

Not a great deal of debate about this planning application although it had been discussed at the previous SMTC meeting at the end of October. Councillors had also a meeting with the District Council’s Lead Planning Officer.  (I’ve made various objections to the application which can be seen here.)

Unfortunately I couldn’t be at that October SMTC meeting, and its minutes haven’t yet been published, so I don’t know what was decided then.  But as far as I can tell the developer has agreed to put up four bungalows, change the layout of one road a bit, and put in a layby somewhere.  Not exactly a victory for local residents, but better than nothing.

The saving grace is that the developers will have to make a substantial contribution to  the development of new primary school facilities in South Molton, and, hopefully, they will have to make a contribution to improve the bus service between the town and Barnstaple.

We shall see.

An item on the agenda about new cycle stands for the town centre – something I’ve been pushing for. Apparently six stands would only cost about £500. The issue was where to put them.

The pannier market was suggested as the most suitable place until it was eventually pointed out they couldn’t be used when the market was operating i.e.  just when they might be most needed .

I’m not quite sure exactly what was resolved, but I’ll be sending an email to the Town Clerk with a few suggestions.

Lengthy debate at Tuesday’s SMTC meeting about the scaffolding on the Town Hall.

The repair works, and more particularly the repainting, can only be done when the temperature is above five degrees centigrade and when it’s relatively dry.  Therefore the works won’t be starting until some time in the spring.

The question was: Should the scaffolding come down for the interim and be put up again or simply left in place?  Unfortunately the Town Clerk didn’t know how much this  would cost compared to the cost of leaving it up. (Surely this is basic information that should have been researched before the meeting?)

After lengthy debate, and much eyebrow raising from the members of the public, one of the councillors pointed out that the scaffolding was there for ‘health and safety’ reasons and would therefore have to stay up! End of debate.

The only thing that was decided was ‘that it might be a good idea to strip the old paint off before the spring’ and the architect would be asked about this.

I went to the Town Council meeting on Tuesday evening (11 November) and was just dropping off, when I was woken by the Mayor frantically banging his gavel.

That’s gavel as in one of those little hammers that judges are supposed to use (although in fact in the UK they don’t!) rather than The Gavel as in the place.

Perhaps the Mayor’s use of the gavel showed his displeasure! But about what? Answers on a postcard please.