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1. Introduction 1.1 The Parish of Combe Martin Combe Martin is a coastal linear parish in North Devon to the west of Exmoor National Park, 7 kilometres east of Ilfracombe and 14 kilometres north of the regional centre, Barnstaple.
The village of 2736 people is defined as a local centre in the Local Plan, providing services for the surrounding rural community. It is famed for the length of its main street and is situated within the Umber Valley, either side of the A399 between Ilfracombe and Blackmoor Gate. The boundary of Exmoor National Park runs along the top of the valley on the northern side of the village and the whole village is within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These national designations provide advantages in the form of recognition of the stunning scenery, which attracts tourism and enhances quality of life for local residents and additional grant support for sustainable development. At the same time they provide a challenge to ensure that development enhances those environmental qualities that we cherish whilst meeting local needs.
The local economy is based primarily on the provision of local services and facilities serving the tourist industry. Significant numbers work outside the village or are retired. As with the rest of North Devon, the average earnings and income per capita are significantly lower than Regional and National averages. There are pockets of deprivation.
Combe Martin Parish Council was the first Council in Northern Devon to be awarded 'Quality Status' in 2004, which proved that for a small, rural council, they are committed, effective and dynamic. Unusually, Combe Martin Parish Council manages many of the facilities of the areas and has the freehold title of the local beach and most of the community buildings and recreational areas.
There is also an active, well-represented Combe Martin Community Alliance whose aim is to help the community determine it's future priorities and to seek additional resources to make these happen.
1.2 Why a Parish Plan? The Parish Council carried out a Parish Appraisal in 1996, which provided valuable information and was instrumental in starting debate, discussion and development across a wide range of community issues.
However, it was recognised that as time moves on so do people and their opinions, it was therefore agreed to update the appraisal with a Parish Plan.
1.3 What is a Parish Plan? The Parish Plan sets out our vision for the future of our community. Every member of our community has had the opportunity to have a say in how they want the local area to develop over the next 5 to 10 years.
The Plan is intended to help us make things happen so, as well as setting out a vision, it identifies actions which can be taken forward by the Parish Council, local Alliance, individuals and groups within the community and by other service providers and statutory bodies.
The Plan will: be a useful guide for local projects and a point of reference when seeking funds or assistance from outside agencies; be a reference document for statutory bodies when making decisions that affect the Parish.
1.4 The Consultation Process Lots of consultation had already been carried out through organisations such as Transform and the Community Alliance so it was agreed not to repeat all that hard work. Instead several issues and aspirations that appeared to be priorities from all the previous work were identified and used as a basis for a simple questionnaire that was sent to every household in the Parish.
There was a fantastic response rate to the simple questionnaire with 813 (63%) being returned. The data from the questionnaire along with information from all the other surveys has been collated and used to inform our Parish Plan. The other surveys mentioned are available on request.
2. Issues
2.1 Housing and Housing Need Many people cite the lack of affordable housing/starter homes for local people as a major problem. The 18-21 age group (79%) being the highest proportion, believing it to be very important to allow them to be able to live where they were brought up. A third of the village feel there is a need for sheltered accommodation to allow the elderly to stay where they have lived all their lives.
a chance to buy in their home town' 'Sheltered accommodation with warden for elderly people'
Actions: Provide sheltered housing/warden assisted homes
2.2 Transport, Traffic and Pavements
2.2.1 Parking and speeding Almost everyone said that there were traffic-related problems in Combe Martin with parking and the speed of traffic identified as the main issues. The residents of the village feel very strongly that illegal parking along the main street is a major concern and that additional, legal parking provision is required throughout the whole village, especially off street parking. It was stated by many that regular Traffic Warden patrols should be introduced to help with the illegal parking problems.
'Existing double yellow lines are totally ignored, especially at night' `Free parking for residents in winter and evenings' More parking at the top of the village'
Actions: Request stronger enforcement of local speed limits and brief agencies on specific concerns Identify a site for parking at the 'top' of the village Apply for secure car park status for as many car parks as possible Lobby for improved Traffic Warden coverage
2.2.2 Traffic calming A number of people feel that the existing traffic calming measures are not very effective and in fact cause congestion through the high street. A large number of villagers believe that some sort of traffic calming is very necessary to keep the speed down and improve road safety in Combe Martin.
'Speeding traffic - install speed cameras' 'Cars on the street act as traffic calming anyway' 'Maximum speed limit through village should be 20 mph'
Actions: Promote measures to reducing speeding traffic
2.2.3 Public Transport People generally feel that the village is inadequately provided with public transport and that running buses earlier in the mornings, later into the evenings and providing a full timetable throughout the year would improve this. The younger element, 18-21 year olds showed the highest proportion (57.89%) wanting the buses to run later in the evening, allowing them to get to and from Ilfracombe and Barnstaple for evenings out. The lack of transport is often cited as a reason for turning down a job or training opportunity. A high number also felt that there should be a direct bus into Barnstaple, thereby cutting down the time taken to get there.
'Night bus service to Ilfracombe for restaurants and to get people here to boost restaurant business too' 'Buses that run early in the morning to Ilfracombe and Barnstaple for people to start work at 7.30 or 8 o'clock'
Actions: Provide survey results to First Bus Company and lobby for improvements
2.2.4 Pavements 50% of the 65-74 age group feel strongly that there should be more pavements along the whole of the village. Some mentioned the need for pedestrian crossings throughout the village.
'Why are there no pedestrian crossings on the longest High Street in Britain?' 'Safe walking route e.g. off street/pavements the whole length of the village'
Actions: Continue to work with Devon County Council Highways on specific issues and lobby for support for repairs and improvements
2.3 Youth, Sport and Recreation There is a strong feeling amongst those that were surveyed (the highest being in the 22-39 age group - 74.49%) that there are not enough facilities in Combe Martin for young people. It is strongly felt that there should be more indoor and outdoor sports and the 18-21 age group (78.95%) wanted improved sports facilities at Hollands Park. It was also commented on that the older members of the village would also benefit from, and enjoy, health and fitness recreation.
Actions: Provision of a Youth Action Play Zone at Hollands Park Provision of a Multi-Use Games Area at Hollands Park Improve facilities for children's play Provision of a safe route to school Support the establishment of a Combe Martin Sports Association to further develop sports provision in the village Provision of cricket pitch and additional soccer pitch at Lime Kiln Fields or other appropriate site Encourage the development of environmental projects for volunteers and opportunities for young people to take part.
2.4 Employment, Education and Training Only 38.62% of parishioners who responded thought that more 'on the job' training opportunities were very important, and surprisingly the younger people who would benefit, the 18-21 age group (36.84%) thought it was not very important.
Actions: Carry out a business survey (cross reference community facilities section) Ensure that local businesses know where to access information Use volunteering as a stepping stone to work (see youth above)
2.5 Local Countryside and Environment
2.5.1 Renewable Energy Over half of parishioners who completed the survey thought that promoting the use of Renewable Energy was very important but many did not agree to 'Wind Farms' but suggested that 'wave power' would be more acceptable, especially as the Combe Martin area is on the coast. 'Renewable energy project would draw visitors'
Actions: Seek funding to carry out a renewable energy study for the parish Seek funding to create definitive baseline energy consumption audits and carbon emissions data i.e. 'a carbon footprint' Raise the profile and understanding of the opportunities for utilising 'appropriate scale' renewable energy technologies.
2.5.2 Protecting/enhancing the local landscape and wildlife 581 (71.46%) people in the survey considered protecting/enhancing the local landscape and wildlife was very important. It was also commented on that the village required enhancing its appearance all the way along and neglected buildings need to be brought up to scratch.
Actions: Implement habitat management at Adderstable Woods River Umber catchment project working with landowners to reduce run off into the river hence improving water quality at the beach Interpretation and safety signage at seaside
2.5.3 Dog fouling Dog fouling has been identified as a real issue throughout the village and that more 'dog bins' are needed to encourage dog owners to clean up after their dogs and that penalties should be enforced against owners who do not act responsibly.
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'Affordable shared ownership to
give young locals
'Affordable off-street parking'
'Youth projects to keep them
occupied and off the streets'
'Real penalties for owners of fouling
dogs'
'A Bobby on the beat would be a
comforting sight and probably prevent a lot of the youth crime which
blights the village'