Honiton Town Council publishes 'projects in progress' list

Honiton Town Council has hit back at claims that it is not involved in projects to benefit the town and its residents.

According to Chair of the Council, John Zarczynski, the 'public are being given the wrong perception of the town council' and 'the truth is that they are working on a number of projects.'

He said: "I note that the public are being given a perception that the town council is not involved in projects for the benefit of the town and people.

"I therefore find the need to publish a list of projects in progress, in the interest of transparency."

Honiton Town Council Environment Projects - with progress to date:

1. Allotments

- Battishorne Way site - delayed due to virus lockdown.

1. Improvements to Battishorne Way - Roundball Lane permissive path

- Mostly part of Allotments project, remainder part of Parishes Together Ditching and Drainage project - delayed due to virus lockdown.

1. Appeal DCC delay in determining the Axminster Road - Springfield Road public footpath claim

- Same as already successfully appealed for the Sidmouth Road - Whitmore Way public footpath claim.

1. Explore dedication of High Street - King Street via Kings Mews public footpath claim

- HTC in contact with developer.

1. Dowell Street - Oaklea via missing footbridge public footpath claim

- Report showing unchallenged public use for more than 20 years before bridge was removed in 2010 by East Devon District Council.

1. Additional sections of Gissage Riverside Walk

- HTC in contact with one landowner and has been approached by another landowner. HTC made repeated representations regarding the Halse of Honiton site.

1. Signage and other publicity for the Gissage Riverside Walk

- Awaiting completion of all feasible sections.

1. Complete Footpath 22 (Ottery Moor Lane - Oaklea and Willowdale Close) to requirements of DCC

- HTC holds documents and held site meeting with DCC and EDDC.

1. Obtain power to create local nature reserves fallback position is for EDDC to create

1. New HTC bench at Tunnel Lane

- DCC licence required as has been obtained by HTC for six benches already installed elsewhere in Honiton.

1. Open Glen access to Lilley Walk

- Report prepared, HTC has approached developer.

1. Public Way signage for other routes with public access near Stout Farm

- HTC has go ahead from DCC but delayed by virus lockdown.

1. Remove obstructions from public routes near Stout Farm and install bridges

- Reports prepared and implementation subject to funding now that signage has been agreed.

1. Wadmore Lane has same highway status as other routes with public access near Stout Farm

- DCC permission sought for public way signage. Parishes Together Ditching and Drainage - project delayed by virus lockdown. Two site meetings regarding need for a bridge. Research carried out for reopening across fenced highway land.

1. Improve permissive paths at Roundball Report prepared. Site meeting held earlier this year

1. Ensure all public footpath claims reliant on historic evidence (not only the eight claims already considered by HTC) are registered with DCC well before January 2026 deadline

1. Restore mill streams and other water channels where possible with a target date of 2026

- HTC has carried out camera surveys and dye testing. Detailed report on High Street and New Street water channels prepared. HTC has discussed siphons with Railtrack and Network Rail to ensure protection. HTC members visited Chard. Channel to Holyshute Spring raised at Holyshute planning hearing. Nearly all the course of the Manor Mill stream is in public ownership and HTC has successfully obtained protection for one privately owned section.

1. Reactivate Higher Glen restoration

- Conservation Management Plan jointly funded by EDDC and HTC, Glen volunteers visited Yeovil Nine Springs completed restoration project.

1. Complete Parishes Together Ditching and Drainage projects

Improvements and camera surveys carried out at Parsonage Lane, Higher Brand Lane, Footpaths 23 and 26; Wadmore Lane - on hold due to virus lockdown.

1. Replace street map and information displays at various places in town centre and on approaches and prepare new edition of official guide

- Assess all HTC media including public rights of way and Roundball Wood information as well as TIC and virtual TIC projects.

1. New and replacement footbridges at Oaklea

- Site meetings held. See also five above.

1. Honiton Rights of Way Improvement Plan

- Footpath 26 - Footpath 17 - Farway Common Road - Wadmore Lane pedestrian route linking Otter and Coly valleys, new footbridge beside A373 giving better riverside access to River Otter. Also see three above.

1. Better signage for existing cycle ways and assess need for additional routes HTC has queried recent claim of an existing network.

1. Work towards reopening of Sidmouth branch railway line

- Non HTC petition launched. Sidmouth road traffic passes through Honiton.

Please note: The above list is limited to environment projects.