I thought the rollout of superfast broadband cabinets in South Molton was over.  I was wrong.

Another cabinet has been installed at the top of Duke Street. For a geek like me what’s interesting is that BT have also installed a new standard cabinet close by. What that could mean is that houses  close to the telephone exchange, which might have been directly wired to the exchange i.e. without going through a cabinet, might now be rewired so that they get to the exchange via a cabinet.

The reason that’s important, is that telephone lines which are directly wired to the exchange can’t get superfast broadband. Lines which go via a cabinet can.

The offending house is ringed. Notice how obtrusive that house and its neighbour are compared to the others in the development.

Why I don’t like planners  or developers:

Five years later:

These photographs were taken about five years apart. The first comes from Google Maps Steeetview and the second was taken by me a few days ago.

It wouldn’t have taken much to remove that one house from the development to significantly improve the visual amenity (a planning term!).

What we see around us each day is very important and contributes significantly to our well-being. Planning and design are very important to us whether we realise it or not.

This is a good example of bad planning. But certainly not one of the worst.

I think developers should be obliged to produce 3D computer models of all their developments to ensure that they harm the visual landscape as little as possible.

You may think you’ve got problems if you’ve got to spend several thousand pounds on maintenance on your house.

South Molton Town Council may not like the fact that it’s got to spend a couple of hundred thousand pounds on repairs to the Pannier Market and Town Hall.

It all pales into total insignificance when compared to the cost of repairing and renovating the Palace of Westminster!

A report published today reveals three options. ‘Do Nothing’ is definitely not an option

The first option involves doing the minimum work needed with Parliament remaining in occupation. This would take around 32 years and during that time the Lords and the Commons would have to close for between 2-4 years.  The cost estimate for this option is approximately £5.7 billion.

The second option involves a partial move out. First the Commons, then the Lords, would move to temporary accommodation outside the Palace.  This approach would take around 11 years and would cost about £3.9 billion for a ‘do minimum’ project.

The final option would involve both Houses fully vacating  the Palace for around six years. The cost estimate for some improvements is approximately £3.5 billion and about £3.9 billion for significant improvements!

Yepp – those are billions of pounds!

Of course if proper maintenance work had been routinely carried out the costs would doubtless have been less.

The unemployment statistics for May were published yesterday.

The good news is that in North Devon (the parliamentary constituency)  the claimant rate was only 0.6%.

The total number of claimants dropped by 43.9% compared to the previous year – from 659 to 370.

The claimant rate for youngsters (18-24) dropped by 46.7% – from 150 to 80.

Less good news for older claimants though. For people aged over 50 the claimant rate dropped by only 26.7% over the previous year.

Better news for the long term unemployed though. The number of people unemployed for more than 12 months dropped by 50% from 140 to 70.

Devon County Council recently held a consultation on proposed changes to the bus services that they subsidise.

As a result of these consultations there will be no summer bus service from South Molton to Barnstaple on Sundays and Bank Holidays.  So anyone living in South Molton who can’t drive will effectively be stuck there on Sundays and Bank Holidays. This measure will save the County Council a grand total of £2,175 a year!

The Saturday only service to Bampton will be closed. Apparently “although some sections of the B3227 would be left unserved, no communities would be left isolated. ” Really? These are weasel words because although they may not be left isolated, the alternative would be to go somewhere you don’t want to go to or take a very circuitous route involving several buses.

The County Council ought to be encouraging the use of bus services and shouldn’t be closing them down.

Looking at the proposed reductions it appears to me that North Devon is hit proportionately harder than South Devon.  This, along with the appalling manner that the county highways department ‘look after’ the Link Road, leads me to believe that there is very much a North-South divide in Devon. The south faring far better than the north.

It will only get worse I’m afraid. Still, you get what you vote for!

On Friday and Saturday there was a notice on the bus stops near the Square saying that buses wouldn’t be stopping there. They would be diverted via Station Road and Pathfields because of the Old English Fayre road closure.

Sure enough, when I walked into town on Friday I saw a bus turning right from New Road and going down Station Road.

About an hour later I saw two people waiting for the bus to Barnstaple at the stop in the Square. I pointed out the notice to them and suggested that they catch the bus in New Road.

Imagine my embarrassment when five minutes later the bus sailed past on its usual route.

If the bus company post notices saying that the stop is closed and the bus will be diverted, they should stick to what they say.  Otherwise people just get totally confused and don’t know where they should catch the bus.

The other issue is that if notices are posted they should be posted where they can actually be read, rather than above head height.

The notice is that white bit of paper taped to the pole.

Householders used to be able to speak to the planning office in Barnstaple for advice about planning applications for extensions and conservatories etc.

It now appears that from 1 July  a charge will be made.

NDDC say it’s:  “To bring the service in line with other councils”. In other words “some other councils charge so we’re going to as well”.

That’s a specious argument.

Some other councils collect black bins every week rather than every other week. Surely to bring themselves into line with other councils NDDC ought to collect our black bins weekly?

Similarly, other councils recycle waxed cardboard and batteries. Surely if NDDC are so keen on aligning themselves with other councils they ought to be recycling these items as well?

You can be assured that since these measures cost money they won’t happen.

No pictures I’m afraid as I was frequently ‘with dog’ and unable to handle both dog and camera phone at the same time!

Going against all tradition, this year the weather was reasonably good and it didn’t rain – or at least not much!

The Fayre Coffee Morning in the Assembly Rooms on Thursday was very enjoyable indeed (much to my surprise it has to be  said!).

The Infants School choir were very good and obviously having a great time. The Junior School waiters and waitresses did a sterling job and could teach their elders a few things about service and courtesy. All-in-all both schools did amazingly well and are to be congratulated.

I didn’t go to the Senior Citizens Tea Dance on Friday afternoon, but those who did tell me it was a great success. If only someone had a taken a video clip of the Wheelchair Waltz – apparently it was fantastically well done!

A wander round the Craft, music and food Fest in the Pannier Market on Friday night but couldn’t stay too long as Max (the dog) was tied to the scaffolding at the back.

I missed the Punch and Judy show on Saturday morning but did see the crowning of the Fayre Queen and the Floral Dance around the square. The Fayre Queen and her attendants, along with assorted local civic dignitaries adorned with chains of office, dancing around the square (or in some cases walking!)  was certainly worth seeing!

The Battle of the Bands on Saturday afternoon was very impressive, and I’m always amazed at how good the local brass bands are. How on earth do they find the time to practice and perform?

Then on Sunday there the Civic Parade across the square to the service in the parish church: the mayor, the mayoress, and their deputies, accompanied by the town clerk, the sergeants-at-mace, the mayor’s constables, all in their civic regalia, the town councillors (or most of them), the Fayre Queen and her retinue, St Johns Ambulance, the Town Band and others too numerous to mention.

After the service the procession back to the Town Hall and tea and biscuits in the Mayor’s Parlour.

There were all sorts of things that I missed.: the magician (a great hit apparently); the children’s games; the Choral Society Concert; the Fayre Lunch and the Family Fayre breakfast. Still to come on Monday evening are the children’s races at the Infants School.

The questions are: Will the sun break a long tradition and actually shine on next years’ Fayre? Should I buy an official, but somewhat boring, South Molton Town Council tie?

At least the hedge has now been cut back so it’s possible to walk along the pavement without having to step into the road.

Many thanks to whoever was responsible.