Exminster has been awarded £50,000 for a much needed scheme to ease traffic problems at the centre of the busy community.

Devon County Council has earmarked the funding for much sought after improvements after lobbying from local county councillor Alan Connett and Exminster Parish Council.

Conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles, traffic congestion and parking problems have all combined to make the need for a new scheme to try and sort out the problems a priority for the local community.

Cllr Connett explained:” Exminster has a very busy centre, with local shops, but the pavement is only on one side of the road and is also quite narrow. There have been incidents in the past couple of years with children being hit by wing mirrors, for example, and very many residents have been asking for improvements.

“Highways staff are currently developing a scheme to manage traffic better in the village centre and also stop some of the problems caused by parking in the wrong place, creating an obstruction and stopping traffic, including buses, from getting through”

When the design work is completed, Exminster Parish Council will be asked for its comments before a wider consultation is undertaken for village residents, added Cllr Connett.

“This is a very real step forward and I am delighted for local residents that the money has been approved by the county council. Volume and speed of traffic are two of the biggest concerns reported by the police following a recent survey of views they completed in Exminster,” continued Cllr Connett.

Soon you may no longer be able to go to the local GP if you have a minor injury. Devon Primary Care Trust is considering changing the rules so that patients with a minor injury instead go to the local minor injury unit - Dawlish or Exeter if you live in Exminster, Kenton, Starcross, Kenn,Kennford, Ide and Shillingford areas.

A spokesperson for the PCT told me earlier today that the scheme was still under consideration, although I understood the new scheme was mneant to start on 01 April. I’ll keep you posted.

Earlier today I visited New Leaf, formerly Hillcrest Growers, at the top of Farmhouse Rise in Exminster. It’s really developed over the past 18 years. There’s a spread of work from the green houses where plants are potted and grown, to a print works, carpentry shop and a clothing business which puts logos and other designs onto T-shirts, fleeces and other items.

New Leaf is under the wing of Devon Partnership NHS Trust — although you would never know it. The environment is, thankfully, work and skills focussed rather than an clinical environment. Something manager Don Crispin and his team are justifiably proud of.

New Leaf provides skills and work-based training for people with mental health issues and is based on 35 acres of land formerly part of the old Exminster Hospital. It has long since closed and become a smart residential development.

New Leaf undertakes a variety of work for both NHS and commercial customers as well as printing for individuals. They also do ‘farm gate’ sales of their plants.

Why not take a look for yourself. the web site is www.newleafweb.co.uk and their phone number is 01392 823720.