This website is run by the Bradninch Town Council and is intended to keep our community in touch with the life of our town, with each each other and with the rest of the world.  As you already know, Bradninch is a lively and interesting town, steeped in history, with a wide range of voluntary groups and clubs to suit most ages and interests;  this site has details of contacts for these groups and links to their websites.

My husband and I have lived here for 42 years during which time there have been changes in Bradninch, but its unique character is unchanged and we would not ever wish to leave this town, where we have always had involvement in the community and where our three children were born and grew up.  Now we have five grandchildren much to our delight.

I am pleased and honoured to be Mayor again and look forward to a year of working with the other members of the Town Council in this lovely community, in the hope of making a difference.  Contact details for The Town Clerk and Council Members can be found in the contacts list should you wish to bring any matters to our attention and for your interest my monthly report and the minutes of meetings can be seen here, as well as in the monthly Parish Magazine which is available at the Spar Shop.

With best wishes,
Jane Webber
Mayor

The Mayor’s Report for January 2012

It was a lively Christmas in Bradninch with the usual traditions plus some extra treats. Thanks for all the invitations, especially the Scouts for their Christmas Dinner where I had the pleasure of sitting with the Acting County Commissioner and the newly appointed Tiverton District Commissioner plus an entertaining slide show of the year’s activities – they do so much!

On 5th January I visited Mrs Joyce Lane on her 108th (!) birthday after she and her family had celebrated with a lunch. She is so interesting to listen to; she has several hobbies, many opinions, some wonderful stories and she would love to be part of the Town Council and I believe she would be a great asset. The following evening I took part in the Twelfth Night celebrations, expecting to throw the Christmas Tree off the Guildhall balcony and found myself first speaking live on Spotlight TV. The programme is obviously far-reaching, for today I received a letter from Spain from someone who was a Brownie Guider in Silverton when I was District Commissioner in the 1980s. She had seen the programme over in Spain where she now lives. She is Cicely Gooding (nee Vinnicombe) who was brought up in Bradninch. I am sure there are people here who remember her and I shall be writing back to her and will willingly pass on any messages.

The plans for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations are taking shape now, and thanks to the keen volunteers, the programme of events is looking so good. See the chart in the Reading Room, the town website and posters for details – four months to go! See you there!

The Annual Parish Meeting will be held in the Guildhall on Tuesday, 17th April at 7.30 p.m. This is the annual meeting of the town for all residents and interested persons, chaired by the Mayor and it is your opportunity to come along and hear town news, raise issues and ask questions. It is always an interesting meeting – see you there!

Continuing now with the Parish Plan updates since April 2011, the final subjects under the ‘Environment’ heading are:-

Unsightly cables/poles: The aim to continue to have overhead cables put underground has stalled due to financial constraints, but when any plans are presented for new development it is the Town Council’s policy to request undergrounding of cables. The timescale is ongoing.

Alternative energy: The policy is to consider alternative energy schemes and liaise with partners. It is noted that several dwellings now have solar panels.

Waiting list for allotments: The waiting list is almost at nil, following careful management to ensure land is not wasted, and a policy to let only half plots. Three new plots have been provided.

Energy Conservation: Supported planning applications for eco-friendly properties. Street lighting turned off late at night on non-main roads. The use of bus services supported.

Keep Traditional Values: Policy to keep the town in good repair where financially possible. Regular community litter-picks. Best Kept Village Competition entered for 2012. Items identified by judges in 2011 noted. Refurbishment of noticeboard in West End Road planned. Church gates and Town Council noticeboard to receive preserving treatment. High profile campaign against dog fouling.

Antisocial Behaviour: Aim to provide more youth activities and equipment and support existing youth organisations. Continuing work on refurbished Youth Centre. Grants agreed in 2012 to support youth organisations in the town. Churches working on facilities for use by young people.

The Mayor’s Report for November 2011

The clocks have been put back, the daylight is less and we start the winter in a quieter mood, but looking forward to many events and excitement over the Christmas period. The Bradninch Branch of the RBL have done an excellent job of keeping us all aware of the importance of Remembrance; the Poppy Day collectors have worked hard and there was a very impressive attendance at the war memorial and service on 11th and Remembrance Sunday. Thanks to all and indeed all who do voluntary work in the town. November was busy, with some stunning events which I am sure will be reported in this magazine, so I move on to the subject promised for the Parish Plan update.

Environment: litter, tidiness, recycling

Our pride in our town shows! Please see here our improved results from this year’s Best Kept Village Competition. Magazine space prevents inclusion of the Action Plan as adopted in April 2011 but it is on the town website.
Achievements since April 2011 are briefly as follow:-

Litter and Fly-tipping: Town litter-pick on 12th November well supported (litter-picks twice a year in Spring and Autumn); Public Rights of Way walked and fly-tipping reported and removed; Fly-tipping reported to MDDC and Customer Services involved.

Dog Fouling: Additional dog warden monitoring arranged; Anti-dog fouling campaign, high visibility signs etc; Additional dog-litter bins being used.

Recycling: Advertised new recycling facility at Exhibition Way in Pinhoe (plastics included in list of recyclables); Operation of paper skip handed over to Football Club – paper and cardboard welcomed and encouraged in the trailer located in Duchy School car park to benefit the Club; Guildhall kitchen refitted by Town Trust and some old units recycled by Church Warden for St Disen’s Church Ladies’ Vestry.

Tidiness: Items identified in Best Kept Village results to address and entry again in 2012; Weed spraying twice a year, thanks to J. Berry; Railings in High Street and West End Road painted, thanks to J. Berry; Repair of walls in High Street, West End Road and Hen Street, thanks to J. Berry; New flagpoles and flags now in place at St Disen’s and Guildhall; Tree management at the Cemetery, Recreation Ground and Charwell Lane; Tree replacement encouragement included in Council Planning Policy; On-going management of allotments showing results; Hele Composting initiative running successfully – see website for details; Regular working parties to manage Charwell Nature Reserve; Salt bins refilled; Millennium bench refurbished to become a decorative and useful feature; Hele Road/Westfield bus shelter considered as a Diamond Jubilee project; New caretaker for Guildhall being appointed.

As already said, our pride in our town shows, and thanks to Dr. Mary Ryan and the Climate Action Group, who entered the Community Council of Devon competition, Bradninch has received a “Highly Commended Green Community Award” for 2011. Thank you Mary for letting them know!

The next Parish Plan update in February will continue with the subject of the Environment, covering the remaining headings - cables, energy, allotments, values, behaviour.

A very Happy Christmas, and all good wishes to you all for the New Year 2012 from the Mayor, Town Councillors and Clerk.