There are more bike stands in South Molton than you might imagine.

The issue is that they’re all in the wrong place.

Until recently I had no idea that there were bike stands behind the library. The problem is that there’s usually a car parked in the space on the left and it’s almost impossible to get bikes to the stands (the chrome things on the right).

There are also bike stands in King Street (near the phone box and  Barnstaple bus stop).

There is a need for bike stands in the centre of the town but they are currently all in the wrong place:

• most residents don’t know they’re there, let alone visitors to the town ;
• they’re not in public view, so cyclists have concerns about the safety of their bikes;
• the locations are not at all convenient.

I suggested to the Town Council some time ago that bike stands be located on the central Enhancement in the Square:

• they would be visible, and would thus be more secure and far more likely to be used;
• closer to the destinations that most people need to go to in the town centre;
• easily approachable from whichever direction the cyclist is travelling.

Bike stands on the Enhancement would benefit those residents who cycle and would also benefit touring cyclists passing through South Molton. There are quite a large number of the latter, particularly in the summer months, and if they could be encouraged to stop in South Molton this would benefit  businesses in the Town Centre.

Apparently last night there were a series of thefts from garden sheds along Alswear New Road with power tools being stolen.

If you saw anything suspicious last night please contact the South Molton police either by using the contact form on their web-site or by ringing 101.

Someone (Margaret White?) had the inspired idea of exhibiting the kneelers. Although they’re always in the church they’re invariably hidden underneath the pews.

Apparently the Christmas Tree Festival in the Parish Church is the second largest in the country!

There were at least 79 trees. Who would have imagined that it’s possible to create Christmas trees with so many different, innovative designs?

Some of my favourites are shown:

I heard a rumour this morning that one of the remaining four Swimming Pool trustees had resigned from her post as treasurer.

I don’t know whether this means that she’s resigned as a trustee or ‘just ‘ as treasurer. In any event it’s not good news.

The Swimming Pool Trust needs all the help it can get at the moment. Let’s hope they’re not too proud to accept any help that’s offered them.

Too many Glühweins followed by an excellent roast lunch from the Garfield Girls – another superb event in the Pannier Market.

An excellent turnout for this superb event.  Queues to get into the Pannier Market and queues into the Parish Church to see the Christmas tree display.

Well done to all those responsible for organising it.

I must say that the lights in the Square looked fantastic. Putting lights, and the Merry Christmas sign, on the Town Hall scaffolding was a stroke of genius. The photograph doesn’t really do it justice.

I’m now looking forward to the Christmas Fatstock show on Sunday!

I spoke to Andy Jarvis and the CEO of the Exeter YMCA on Friday evening in the Pannier Market.

It appears that the YMCA were successful in their second attempt to get funding from Devon County Council. Although it’s not as much as they needed (£10,000 rather than £15,000), it will enable them to run the Youth Resource Centre in South Molton. So, subject to dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on the legal paperwork, they should be running the centre from January.

Apart from Andy Jarvis and the YMCA, thanks should also go to our local County Councillor, Jeremy Yabsley, who has done a great deal to ensure that  this initiative could go ahead.

Has anyone other than me wondered why Mill-on-the-Mole is in Bishops Nympton parish?

I know that historically the parish boundary on that side of town is the River Mole, but I doubt whether many of the Mill-on-the-Mole residents ever go to Bishops Nympton.

Why would they? After all, the facilities they use are literally just up the road in South Molton.

On Thursday, town councillors were out in force in the Pannier Market asking people to sign a letter protesting at the CCG proposals to possibly close beds at the South Molton Community Hospital. The  letter, and further details regarding the proposals can be found here.