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Response from Musbury Parish Council

Musbury is a parish, together with Shute & Whitford, Dalwood and Kilmington, in the Newbridges ward of East Devon. Newbridges has one councillor, an electorate of 1955 and a variance of 12.2% from average numbers.

Musbury Parish Council’s view is that the Newbridges ward should remain as it is now for the following reasons: a) Electoral Equality

At the recent briefing meeting held by the BC in Sidmouth on 28 September, Mark Williams , CEO of EDDC said the overall aim of the Review is to achieve between 1900- 2200 electors per councillor for representative balance. With 1995 voters in Newbridges the current figure falls well within this range and will allow for the expected growth in population over the coming years. b) Interests and identities of local communities

The communities of the 4 parishes have all changed over time welcoming many new in-comers from other parts of the country and taking account of economic and technological developments. They have grown in size and in resident profile but they remain at heart resolutely rural, with common challenges and opportunities.

 Shared hub The parishes look to the town of Axminster as their nearest commercial and service hub.  Travel There are established bus routes to Axminster which has the train station for routes to Exeter and London Waterloo.  Health Axminster also offers a local hospital and the GP surgery (Axminster Medical Practice) whose catchment area extends to include these parishes (but excludes neighbouring Uplyme, Combpyne & Rousdon, Axmouth etc – parishes within Axminster County Division). The Axminster Care Service offers a volunteer car service to patients registered at the Medical Practice to transport them to medical appointments if they have no other ready means of getting there.  Leisure Musbury has a particular affinity with Shute and Whitford. Whitford has no pub or shop of its own but residents see the Golden Hind pub and the Spar in Musbury as their ‘local’. Next year the Musbury and Whitford branch of the WI celebrates 70 years since it was formed; members hold regular meetings of their Food, Craft and Skills cross-branch groups in the new Baptist Hall in Kilmington. There are shared audiences for the events happening in the Musbury and Whitford village halls and there are Whitford residents tending allotments in Musbury. Sport, including darts and boules teams, is another area of shared interests and alliances. Mention should also be made of the extensive network of footpaths that link neighbouring parishes and offer circular routes for walkers  Education Newbridges residents are lucky to have a choice of pre- and primary schools offered for their children in the parishes.  Shared Challenges Musbury recently joined with Dalwood through the Parishes Together funding initiative (DCC/EDDC) to work together to complement the work of the lengthsmen in the

1 respective parishes following DCC budget reductions . Shute and Musbury can experience similar flooding issues arising from the commonality of the antiquated drainage systems. Local volunteer teams of residents from both parishes tackle the plant invasives species at Whitford Bridge, as both parishes see this as an important beauty spot. c) Effective and convenient local Government

These parishes lie next to each other in a ribbon. They are linked by good major and minor roads making it easy for the Ward Councillor to attend the different Parish Council meetings. From the Parish Council perspective the arrangement works well with the current Councillor able to bring the experiences of our neighbouring parishes to Musbury’s attention often saving unnecessary instances of reinventing the wheel.

Jane Bishop Clerk, Musbury PC

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