Great Torrington Town Council

Management of Weeds:

We have continued to try and minimise the use of harmful chemicals to control weeds heading into this summer, whilst balancing this with maintaining a tidy town and not allowing self-seeding plants to damage pavements and walls.

There are things that we can all can do to reduce the need for the use of harmful chemicals to keep the town looking tidy and welcoming, and minimise damage to buildings and structures:

· Outside Your Own Home:

1. If you are able, keep the area outside your own home free of self-seeding plants & grasses by pulling up visible weeds by hand, and sweeping away debris which provides the ideal environment for seeds to grow.

2. If you are able clear weeds from the area between the house and the pavement; local councils will not pull up weeds here, as this is a homeowner responsibility.

3. If you frequently park on the road, pull the weeds between the road and the pavement, near your property/car, and sweep away any debris, as local authority vehicles are unable to use their equipment to sweep and clear these areas due to the prevalence of on-street parking during the day.

4. If you have a neighbour or family member who can’t manage these activities themselves, consider doing points 1-3 for them too.

If self-seeding plants or trees are affecting the visibility on a road, please contact Devon County Council.

These relatively small individual actions can create one big community action that will contribute towards keeping our whole town looking tidy and welcoming for locals and visitors.

Great Torrington Town Council currently have four vacancies and would welcome applications from members of the community who are interested in local issues.

Our newest member Councillor Jason Isaac has now been on the council for just over a year and has made many positive contributions to meeting and committees. Jason has been working on the Regeneration Strategy for Great Torrington since September 2023 and has been a key local representative bringing some excellent ideas and a can-do attitude.

Councillor Isaac said “As someone who both lives and works in Great Torrington, I am deeply invested in our town’s success. I’m driven by a strong desire to ensure Torrington doesn’t lag behind neighbouring towns, but prospers equally.

My focus includes fostering economic growth, attracting businesses, promoting tourism, and safeguarding our unique natural environment and historic character. Together with fellow councillors and the Mayor, I am dedicated to advancing Great Torrington’s interests and ensuring our town flourishes alongside our neighbours.”

If you think you may be interested in becoming a councillor, please contact us on 01805 626135 or [email protected]. Or come along to the Annual Parish Meeting on March 19th 7pm at Great Torrington Town & Community Hall to find out more.

Howe Plate Award 

Each year the Town Council gives an award to the person or persons whom it feels has provided a local public service that has benefitted local people.  This could be something that they have done over a number of years, or something that has made a big difference in a short space of time. 

The criteria states that the time given is voluntary and the people benefiting are within the parish of Great Torrington. 

Young People’s Award 

The Town Council is keen to recognise the contribution young people in Great Torrington make towards our community.  A new Great Torrington Town Council Young People’s Award has therefore been established, and we are looking forward to receiving your nominations for this award. 

This award is looking to recognise an inspirational young person or group of young people up to age 25 who have volunteered their time for the benefit of others and have made an outstanding contribution to make our community and our world a better place. 

Nominations 

If you would like to nominate someone for consideration for either the Howe Plate Award or the Young People’s Award, please get in touch. Nominations should be accompanied by a written explanation as to why you believe the person or persons should be considered, what they have done, how long for and who has benefited.  Please limit explanations to no more than one side of A4 paper. 

Please send or drop-in your nominations to Great Torrington Town Council, Castle Hill, Torrington, EX38 8AA or email to [email protected], all nominations to be received by midday on Tuesday 25th March 2025. 

Are you concerned about speeding in your neighbourhood? Did you know you can work with Devon & Cornwall Police to set up a Community Speedwatch? Volunteers from the community use detection devices to monitor local vehicle speeds. They receive training, equipment and support from the local neighbourhood policing team.

To get started you need to have a team of 4 people, one of which will need to be the Group Co-ordinator. If you are concerned about driving speeds in a particular area in Torrington and you have a small group of volunteers, then please sign up using the following link to the appropriate website.

https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/wsi/watch-schemes-initiatives/speedwatch/community-speedwatch/

Antisocial Behaviour

Yesterday, the Mayor, Cllr Phil Cloke, officially unveiled a Scots pine tree planted on Millenium Path on the Commons in memory of His Late Royal Highness, Prince Philip. We’d like to thank the Commons Conservators for allowing the Town Council to plant this memorial tree on the Commons and to Al Mitchell, their Head Ranger for planting and watering it (which isn’t an easy job!) while it establishes.

For Information:

The introduction ceremony for the Mayor of Great Torrington Town Council will be held on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 at 7pm at Great Torrington Town & Community Hall.

Members of the public are very welcome to attend but we do need to know numbers for refreshments, so if you are planning to come along, please let the Town Council know by 5pm Tuesday 15th May 2024. Contact us on 01805 626135 or e-mail [email protected]

The commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings is on Thursday June 6th. There is a national programme of events and Great Torrington will be joining in with these where possible. The Town Crier will begin the day with a proclamation at 8am in the Town Square. The bells of St Michael & All Angels will be heard as part of the national Ringing Out for Peace initiative at 6:30pm.

We are working with the Cavaliers to organise the lighting of a beacon on the evening of 6th June and would like to encourage all members of the community to come along to this. We would especially like to invite veterans of all conflicts who are based in Torrington to attend this event so if you or anyone you know is a veteran, please do make contact on 01805 626135 or [email protected] to discuss attending. Torrington Silver Band will be playing before the beacon is lit between 8-9pm to mark the anniversary of this important date in our history.

Please see posters and social media nearer the time for further details.