Letter To Denbury Residents From The Parish Council 28/01/2021

Denbury and Torbryan Parish Council

Dear Residents,

As you are maybe aware, concerns have been raised with us regarding the increasing size of agricultural vehicles which regularly use the East Street/South Street route to access farmsteads between Bickington and Ipplepen.

Some of these vehicles are massive and last winter the narrow corner on East Street often became impassable with the farmer resorting to sounding his horn until residents had moved their vehicles on several occasions. The narrowness of the corner is illustrated by the scrape marks on the corner of No.3 East Street.

This tight corner is not the only issue. Large vehicles making the turn from East Street into South Street and South Street into East Street must also negotiate our Grade II listed Cistern, which is a much-loved local landmark.

The size and length of articulated vehicles coming around the corner in either direction must make an S-shaped manoeuvre as they snake between the Cistern and any vehicles parked in front of the Church Cottage. Vehicles which have unsuccessfully managed this, have struck the Cistern at least three times in the last couple of years and on the 9th of December a large vehicle struck the corner of the Cistern, smashing out one of the coping stones and fracturing the corner of the roof, weakening the structure which must now be repaired at the expense of the Parish Council, i.e. all of us. The tenant at 1 East Street also posted photographs online last year of the damage to the wing of her partner’s car which resulted from a large passing vehicle and not enough space between the buildings and the parked cars.

Over the last three years residents have been lobbying the Parish Council to take action to protect the Cistern and this resulted in a consultation with County Highways who were of the opinion that parking restrictions should be imposed in order to reduce obstructions to the clear flow of traffic. The public consultation revealed that the yellow lines scheme covers all street corners and not just the East Street pinch point. The decision to impose yellow lines was upheld by the County Solicitor, in spite of a request that we could have a village-led solution to this. It was noted that yellow lines would further reduce parking and subsequently impact more residents.

The Parish Council requested our County Councillor, Stuart Barker, persuade County Highways to put the yellow line scheme on hold in favour of our own local solution. This solution requires no parking whatsoever between the corner of the Church Cottage and the double gates to the Churchyard. While many felt it was annoying that parking spaces would be lost, the idea of yellow lines all over the square was clearly against public opinion.

Councillor Barker has confirmed that the final decision regarding enforcement of the yellow lines must be made before March and this leaves just one Parish Council meeting left, on the 1st February.

 One resident has chosen to ignore the decision of the Parish Council, the special dispensation from our County Councillor and the balance of public opinion by removing one of the planters (which have been made at public expense) and parking their commercial vehicle in its place (now replaced with a blue car) with no respect for the democratic decision and ‘local solution’ to the bottleneck problem.  Unfortunately, as such, it will now result in yellow lines and the signage which goes with them imposed around the whole square. This will be to the detriment of others who will need to park in other areas and also the visual impact of the Conservation Area.

The resident’s actions have led to outrage on the village Facebook page, and yet they still persist against the wishes of the parish council and the village.

It has been pointed out that no-one has a right to a parking space on the highway outside their homes. Parking on the pavement also forces pedestrians out into the road and the parking of vehicles is perpetuating the threat to the Cistern from damage.

The very large agricultural and articulated vehicles have long trailers and by the time they pass vehicles parked at this point, the tail end of their trailers, which often overhang the wheel-line come within inches of the Cistern. If a vehicle were not there, this would not be the case.

The parish council have addressed the situation with the resident but unfortunately, they are refusing to move their vehicle to allow the planter scheme to take full effect. 

We are appealing to all residents to respect our community and the historic village centre. Unfortunately, if the vehicle is not moved to allow the planters scheme to take effect then it would be with great disappointment yellow lines will be enforced. Time is of the essence.

Thank you.

Denbury & Torbryan Parish Council

It has been noted that some people are unhappy with the loss of the parking place in front of the Post box and telephone box as a further planter has been placed there. This is a temporary planter which will be changed for two smaller planters that will allow space between them for electric buggies and wheelchairs to pass through to enable those less able to access the post box. This is in place as a result of concerns from less able villagers unable to access the post box due to vehicles being parked across the front of both the post box and the telephone box.