George Nympton & Queen’s Nympton Parish Council

Email:

Tel:

Re: Boundary Commission Draft Recommendations Concerning George Nympton & Queen’s Nympton.

Dear,

At the recent meeting of George Nympton & Queen’s Nympton Parish Council, the above draft recommendations were discussed.

In 2002/3 the last review of boundaries affiliated George Nympton and Queens Nympton with Bishops Nympton and we do not understand what has changed. If anything we feel that this affinity is now even more important.

During the past fifteen years our rural community spirit has grown beyond all recognition. The community is working hard to enhance our village hall to the highest standard. Our local pub is thriving, having been saved from demolition in 2005/6 by the community working closely together with the rural District Councillor who was able to draw on previous experience and local knowledge.

If the draft recommendations are ratified the three councillors looking after the 5340 electors in South Molton and 176 in George Nympton & Queen’s Nympton will naturally be more likely to concentrate on the former to the detriment to George Nympton and Queens Nympton. The problems we experience are so different from those of South Molton. We have no mobile communications, actually the government has deemed us a ‘NOT SPOT’. Broadband is extremely poor generally less than 2 megabits/s. The only Transport for the village is the school bus. These are common problems shared with other rural villages in the vicinity, but not with South Molton.

Although George Nympton & Queen’s Nympton may not historically have had a close relationship with Bishop’s Nympton Village per se, we have enjoyed sympathetic and real support from the district councillor, who is in support of our parish remaining part of Bishop’s Nympton Ward.

The relatively easy access to South Molton from George Nympton seems an unfair argument for placing us in the same ward. South Molton town is the hub used by all villages in the area for schools, shopping etc. and many of these villages have similar direct access, and yet are not being placed in the same ward.

We understand that the findings of the Peer Challenge Group, published in October 2017 recommended that North Devon Council concentrated on economic development. At the subsequent council workshop on 15th January 2018 there was an overwhelming consensus that South Molton was the prime location for growth because of its direct access to the link road and nearness to the M5. Therefore, it seems very likely that the projected numbers of electors in South Molton will be significantly higher than currently projected in 2023.

Relationships between South Molton & George Nympton have been tested in recent times: for example, over the anaerobic digester and the impact it has had on our parish. South Molton Town Council supported the planning applications with no regard for the very strong views of our parishioners. This is just one of many issues that illustrate the differences in priorities for our communities. We would argue that the disparity between South Molton and George Nympton supports the case for us to remain part of Bishops Nympton Ward. While one of the objectives of the boundary changes is to even out electoral numbers, the other is to represent the needs of the communities. In the case of George Nympton & Queen’s Nympton the latter should take precedence and we should remain in a rural grouping with Bishops Nympton.

Regards

Nan Maxwell

Clerk to George Nympton & Queen’s Nympton Parish Council