clerk.donyattpc@gmail.com Tel: +447471341433

Donyatt Parish Council

news and events from within the Parish

SOMERSET COUNCIL HAVE LAUNCHED A CONSULTATION FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR 2025/6. please submit responses using the LINK BELOW

https://somersetcouncil.citizenspace.com/comms/budget-consultation-2025-2026

PARISH COUNCIL GRANT APPLICATIONS

GRANT AID

Donyatt Parish Council aims to operate a modest grant aid system each year to Parish Voluntary Organisations

The Parish Council defines a voluntary group as a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation that benefits a majority a majority of Parish residents.

If you are involved with an organisation that fits the description above, please contact the clerk on clerk.donyattpc@gmail.com

Closing date for grant applications is 13th December 2024

VE DAY 80 - 8th May 2025 - a shared moment of celebration.

On Thursday 8th May 2025, communities are encouraged to light beacons, and lamps of peace at 9.30pm and hold street parties or community events to mark this anniversary.

Donyatt Village has always supported these events, and the Parish Council are asking for parishioner's help.

We have all the necessary contacts and will support organisers as much as possible.

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS EVENT, ANYONE INTERESTED IN TAKING PART IN THE ORGAINSATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE CLERK.

clerk.donyattpc@gmail.com

The link to the official website is below, with lots of suggestions and contacts.

VE+Day+80+Anniversary+Guide+v20.pdf (squarespace.com)

What is a Parish Council- OVERVIEW OF COUNCIL FUNCTIONS

Introduction

What are community, parish and town councils?

There are around 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales; they are corporate bodies and local authorities. They have a powerful voice to represent local people.

What do these councils do?

Community, parish and town councils are the part of local government closest to the people. They serve the smallest area and are responsible for the most local of matters. Very importantly, these councils can "precept" - raising a sum collected with the council tax each year to improve facilities and services for local people. In England they are called parish councils or town councils, if they cover a largely urban area. In Wales they are known as community councils. In both England and Wales they are elected units of local government whose activities are controlled by Acts of Parliament. There are 10,000 community, parish and town councils in England and Wales. Parish, town and community councils in England and Wales have a number of basic responsibilities in making the lives of local communities more comfortable, many of which are often taken for granted. Essentially these powers fall within three main categories: representing the whole electorate within the parish; delivering services to meet local needs; and striving to improve quality of life in the parish. Individual powers include the provision and maintenance of community transport schemes, traffic calming measures, local youth projects, tourism activities, leisure facilities, car parks, village greens, public lavatories, litter bins, street lighting, street cleaning, burial grounds, allotments, bus shelters, commons, opens spaces, footpaths, bridleways, and crime reduction measures. For a full list of powers and duties visit: http://www.nalc.gov.uk/About_NALC/What_is_a_parish_or_town_council

MORE INFORMATION About Donyatt Parish Council

Donyatt Parish Council:

Donyatt Parish Council meets bi-monthly (January, March, May, July, September, November). Often the council has to meet between the scheduled meetings mainly for planning applications. These will be held as and when required. If you need to know details of the next Parish Council meeting, please contact the Clerk. clerk@donyattpc.co.uk Meetings commence at 7.00pm (unless otherwise stated) and are held in the Village Hall. There is an opportunity on the Agenda for the public to make comments or ask questions.

Donyatt Parish Council is made up of 6 Councillors.

David Light

Chairman

Parish Path Liaison Officer
01460 259891

Mike Grabham

Councillor

Village Hall & PCC Representative
01460 52536

Julia McKenzie

Councillor

Kay Light

Councillor

Recreational Ground Representative
01460 259891

James Attlesey

Councillor

07545207959

Steven Payne

Councillor

Vacancy

Canal Way - Ilminster development.

Good afternoon, I’m David Light, Chairman of Donyatt Parish Council and Sustrans Ranger for the Ilminster to Chard section of the National Cycleway.
Donyatt, a village of around 400 people, borders the southern edge of Ilminster, the only thing that separates the two communities at present are fields off Canal Way that Persimmons are proposing to build ‘up to 400 houses’ on.
That’s possibly up to any extra 1,000 people (two and a half times the population of Donyatt) living right up against our parish boundary with no planned buffer-zone in between.
Donyatt Parish Council feel this is fundamentally wrong.
The potential for overspill into our community will be huge, with all these extra people out walking, some with dogs, and their children looking for big open spaces to play and explore and to ride their bikes. There is also the potential for an increase in anti-social behaviour.
The extra pressure on the nature reserve at Herne Hill, just a short walk from the proposed development, would completely change it from the quiet , peaceful place to walk that it has always been.
And with no buffer zone in place, all of this extra activity will spill over into local farmers fields and into our parish.
Donyatt Parish Council is totally opposed to this development, as we can’t see any way these issues can be overcome unless this major change is made to the proposals.
Ilminster to Chard Cycleway:
On a fine day, this section of the Cycleway will have scores, sometimes hundreds of people using it. Even in wet weather it is still well used.
And it’s not just cyclists, families out walking with their children, often with prams, dog walkers, joggers, children learning to ride their cycles, horse-riders as it’s also a Bridleway, it’s also a lifeline for workers as a safe route between Ilminster and Chard avoiding the busy and dangerous A358.
Because the Cycleway is heavily used, the surface is deteriorating fast, In its’ current condition it will not take the extra traffic from the housing development, increasing the likelihood of accidents and injury.
Therefore I urge you, that if this development is approved, upgrading the Cycleway is made a condition of planning approval.
Thank you.