Unfortunately there have been a number of burglaries in the wider rural area over the winter period, thankfully none in our village as yet. We can credit this at least in part to the vigilance and care of our neighbours, we are lucky to live in a village that looks after others, looks out for them and that a number of residents have security measures that also protect their neighbours.

That being said, the police have provided the following guidance to ensure the security of our properties:

Advice to Residents – please click the link to see more detailed/extensive measures provided by the Avon and Somerset police:

• Please remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, and where possible provide CCTV footage, or doorbell camera recordings related to it.

• Ensure doors and windows are secure, particularly at the rear of properties.

• Consider leaving lights on timers when away from home.

Click to access burglary-prevention-advice.pdf

You can call the Police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Thank you for your support.

Hello everyone!

We’ve created a Facebook group for the village to compliment the blog, which we can use to discuss village matters, offer/request items or services, and seek local recommendations, etc. Please join us there by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/northcheriton

If you have any issues joining, or need any help please contact Pete at [email protected]

Wednesday 25 March, 10am-12pm  Wessex Water drop-in  Do you have a query about your water bill, how to save water and prevent blockages, or your water and sewerage services?   Wessex Water will be holding a drop-in session at Wincanton Library, Carrington Way, Wincanton BA9 9JS on Wednesday 25 March to answer all your water-related questions.

Minutes of last (December) meeting

Minutes of the Parish Council meeting
held at Holton Village Hall on Monday 15th December 2025

Present: David Young (Chair) (DY), David Badham-Thornhill (DBT), Graham Boaler (GB), Jenny Chambers (JC), Janet Down (JD), Philip Bourne (PB), Douglas Hodges (DH), Julian Sincock (JS), and Max Oetley (MO). Barry Druce (Clerk) 4 members of the public
Apologies: Apologies for absence were received from Hayward Burt and Nicola Clarke (Unitary Councillors).
Electors Question Time /Comments: The Chair welcomed the members of the public and invited them to address the Council. Mrs Viney stated that they were all present to comment on the situation which has sprung up in Fallows Mead concerning the use of a lay-by. She referred to the comments that were made their neighbour Mr George Wilson at the previous Parish Council meeting (see Minute 25.88) and the actions that have been made by Mr and Mrs Wilson during this ongoing dispute. Mrs Viney continued that she and her long-term neighbour Mrs Hoare have been using the lay-by. opposite their properties for 19 and 35 years respectively without any difficulties
or disagreement, and it was only now since Mr and Mrs Wilson moved into ‘Thistledown’ that there have been any problems, with Mr and Mrs Wilson raising objections to the continuing use of the lay-by. by Mrs Viney and Mrs Hoare. Mrs Hoare agreed with these comments and explained the difficulties that she has been experiencing since the dispute started, suitably supported by her brother-in-law. It was reported that all parties had contacted the Highways officials at Somerset Council and meetings had taken place on site at which time it had been made perfectly clear that the lay-by. formed part of the highway and any suggested restriction on its use would not be
permitted. During the discussion it was suggested how improvements could be made by Mr and Mrs Wilson to improve the visibility from the entrance to their property which would remove a great deal of their concern.
Eventually it was agreed that Mrs Viney would provide Mr and Mrs Wilson with a letter explaining her and Mrs Hoare’s position with regards to their use of the lay-by., and although it is not customary for the Parish Council to become in disagreements between neighbours, DBT undertook to visit and discuss the problem with Mr and Mrs Wilson once they had received that letter.
Unitary Councillors’ Report: The Unitary Councillors’ written reports which had been circulated previously were taken as read and noted.
25.092 Declaration of Interest/Dispensations: None were declared.
25.093 Minutes of Last Meeting: The minutes of the Parish Council Meeting on the 17th November 2025 were
taken as read and as PROPOSED by PB, SECONDED by GB, were unanimously approved.
Matters Arising: (a) Referring to Minute 25.090, the Clerk reported that the two Speed Indicator Devices had now been delivered and checked, and were ready to be installed once the supporting posts are in place.
(b) Referring to Minute 091, the Clerk stated that he had reported the problem with the road marking to the Highways Department but they needed more information to locate it, and he undertook to clarify that with JC.
25.094 Planning Applications: The following planning applications had been received since the previous meeting:-.
25/02740/HOU – Proposed single storey side extension, two storey front extension to form a porch and dormer windows to existing attic rooms in the south elevation – Elliscombe Farm Gibbet Road Maperton – JC explained the background to this planning application and the intended future use of the property, and stated that the house will be greatly improved if the proposals are permitted. After a brief discussion it was unanimously AGREED that the Parish Council should register the fact that it has NO OBJECTIONS to this application.
25/00734/FUL – Demolition of existing agricultural buildings and erection of 4 residential dwellings (C3) with associated works. – Maperton Dairy Unit Maperton – GB explained that a notification had been received last week that although previously being assigned to determination by the Planning Officers, it was now being referred to full Committee due to take place the next day (December 16th) and that he and another Maperton resident would be attending to expand on the previously submitted Parish Council’s comments, and Page 1 of 2
was now seeking Council’s approval for the statement he intended to submit at the Planning Meeting. He read out his submission relating to potential flooding problems and explained that other aspects would be dealt with by the resident accompanying him. After a lengthy discussion, GB’s proposed statement was unanimously approved.
25/02944/TCA – Notification of intent to Fell No. 1 Tree and carry out Tree Surgery Works to No. 1 Tree within a Conservation Area.T1: Lime (tilia spp) Fell and grind stump. It is proposed to remove a young pollard tree, this tree growth in a very limited growing space and is in conflict with the surrounding structures. Replanting and replacing with a more suitable shrubs will be considered. T2 May tree(crataegus spp) Replicate historical pruning therefore reduce canopy radial spread by approx.1.8 metres.- Lower Farm House The Old Rectory Lane North Cheriton – This was noted.
25.095 Planning Decisions – No planning decisions had been received since the previous meeting:-.
25.096 Planning Other – The Clerk referred to the notification that had been received in respect of PA
25/00916/FUL – Land at Lower Cheriton Lane North Cheriton, and members registered their disappointment that this was being referred for determination under delegated powers.
25.097 Correspondence: All correspondence of interest received by email had previously been distributed and were taken as read, and items of potential interest were recommended for referral to local contacts in order to maximise public awareness.
(a) Referring to the email which had been received from Mr Josh Chappell concerning the problem on the old A303
with speeding traffic, JC explained that she had visited Mr Chappell and had explained the efforts that this Parish Council had tried over the past 20 to 30 years in attempts to have traffic calming measures put into place, only to have them turned down, though efforts will inevitably be made again in the future.
25.098 Financial Matters
(a) Review balances as at 30th November 2025 – The schedule was reviewed. The balance as at 30th
November 2025 stands at £19,033.48.
(b) Authorise Payments – The following items were authorised for payment:-
(i) Barry Druce – Clerk’s salary and expenses for November 2025 – £339.83
(ii) HMRC – Payment of PAYE deduction – £77.20
(iii) Lloyds Bank Charges – £4.25
(iv) Wayne Pamphillion – Inv 29 – £90.00
(c) Report Monies Received – The following payments had been received:-
(i) 10th November 2025 – Bank Interest – £9.19
(ii) 21st November 2025 – Donation from Holton Village Hall Committee for S.I.D – £1,900.00
25.099 Speed Indicator Device latest update – The Chair reported that he had visited Crestmoor’s offices but the managers were not available. The Clerk stated that following that visit, Mr Higgins had contacted him and had stated that he would like to get the SiD posts in place asap and would meet with the Clerk at an agreed date. The Clerk continued that a meeting had taken place with PB and Andy Barron (Traffic Management) in Holton and North Cheriton to reconfirm and approve the locations for the SiD’s to be sited. He stated that North Cheriton’s concerns over the site for the device on the Charlton Horethorn road had been explained to Mr Barron and an alternative had been agreed. JS and MO both disagreed with the suggested location at that point and it was agreed
that the Clerk should contact Mr Barron and arrange for a further site meeting in the New Year to discuss the problem and hopefully agree a more suitable alternative. In the meantime, it was agreed that the other three locations should be marked for Crestmoors to carry out the work.
Discussion then took place on the possible need to purchase two more devices so that each village would have two each at their disposal and remove the need to move them periodically from one site to another. It was agreed that this should be discussed at the meeting in January as part of the budget discussions.
25.100 Matters of report and items for next meeting. – There being no other topics raised for discussion, it was agreed that the date of the next meeting will be the 19th January 2026.
The Meeting closed at 8:30 pm

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Next Meeting

All members of the council are hereby summoned to attend the meeting of the North Vale Parish Council to be held at

7:00 pm on Monday 19th January 2026 at Holton Village Hall

All members of the public and press are invited to attend.

Barry Druce – Parish Clerk

__________________________________________________________________________________

AGENDA

Electors Question Time/Comments

Unitary Councillors’ Report

1) Members Present and Apologies.

2) Declaration of Interest/Dispensations

3) To receive and approve the minutes of the Parish Council Meeting held on 15th December 2025.

4) Matters Arising from Minutes.

5) Planning Applications. Planning Applications received since the last meeting, plus any received by 19th January 2026 :-

25/03027/TCA – Notification of intent to Fell No. 1 Tree within a Conservation Area. – T1 – Ash – It is interfering with electricity and telephone cables and also rubbing against hardware on a telegraph pole by the garden wall. Proposed works: A tree surgeon has advised taking it down to ground level so it doesn’t cause future problems. – Upper Hook Cottage Lower North Cheriton Road North Cheriton

25/03062/HOU – Erection of single storey side and front extensions to dwelling. – 1 Tomlins Higher

North Cheriton Road North Cheriton

6) Planning Decisions. Planning Decisions received since the last meeting, plus any received by 15th

December 2025:-

25/02740/HOU – Proposed single storey side extension, two storey front extension to form a porch and dormer windows to existing attic rooms in the south elevation – Elliscombe Farm Gibbet Road

Maperton GRANTED

25/00916/FUL – Construction of four dwellings with associated access, parking and landscaping

(revised scheme) – Land At Lower Cheriton Lane North Cheriton GRANTED

7) Planning Other :

8) Correspondence

▪ Safety Defect Completion Monthly Review (BKMV 02-01-2026)

▪ Wessex Water Drop-in poster

9) Financial Matters

(a) Review balances as at 31st December 2025

(b) Approve Payments

(c) Report Monies Received

(d) To review Clerk’s Salary from 1st April 2026

(e) To Decide the Precept for the financial year 2026-2027.

10) Speed Indicator Device latest update.

• Consider purchase of battery chargers for new SiD’s.

11) Other Matters of report and items for next meeting.

_____________________________________________________________

Date of the next meeting – Monday 16th MARCH 2026

Flat 17, Mulberry House, 2 Canon Woods Close, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6FH

email: [email protected] Tel: 01935 726073

http://www.northvaleparishcouncil.wordpress.com

I am enquiring if there is a kind person who could take me and my cat Kitty down to Longmead Vets in Wincanton for a blood test this afternoon. I have booked an appointment for 2.45pm. (I am due to order more medication for her but they will not allow me to have it without her having a blood test first.)

Many thanks

Sue F – 07508 965566/01963 824582

Happy New Year from the craft group!

This month’s group will meet this Wednesday, 7th January. Belinda has created a craft she’s calling paint on, paint off. To have a go at this intriguing subject, come along to the village hall from 2pm – 4pm. £2 per person please, to include a hot drink.

For more information, contact Belinda on [email protected].