Local Parish News and Information
Casual Vacancies
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that FIVE vacancies exist in the office of Parish Councillor for the Parish of Shaugh Prior.
Unless ten or more electors of the Parish of Shaugh Prior, on or before 16th June 2026, submit a request in writing for an election
to be held, the Parish Council will take steps to fill the vacancies by co-option.
Requests must be sent to the Returning Officer, South Hams District Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Road, Totnes, TQ9 5NE.
Penny Clapham
Locum Clerk to the Council
22nd May 2026
For First Aid Emergency: Village Defibrillator Locations:
Shaugh Prior Defibrillator is on the outside wall of the Shaugh Village Hall
Wotter Defibrillator is in the Red Telephone Box in Wotter Village. (Near the Bus shelter)
Lee Moor Defibrillator is on the outside wall of the Lee Moor Village Hall.
To Access Defibrillators
The Defibs in the three villages carry the access code on the front. Enter this to take the defib to the patient.
You can ask a helper to fetch the Defibrillator.
If you know how to administer CPR, attend to the patient until the helper has returned with the Defibrillator.
When the Defibrillator arrives, open it and switch it on. It will give very clear instructions on how to use it.
At no time leave the patient unattended until the emergency services arrive.
Shaugh Prior Parish Council Meetings
Notice of Annual Parish Meeting
To be held on Wednesday 27th May 2026 at 19:15 at Shaugh Prior Village Hall
Members of the public are welcome to attend.
The following meeting of Shaugh Prior Parish Council shall take place on Wednesday 10th June, at Shaugh Prior Village Hall starting at 7:00pm.
The public are welcome to attend all meetings.
If you have any queries or have any issues you would like the Parish Councillors to take up, please contact the Parish Clerk.
clerk@shaughpriorparish.gov.uk
Local News:
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Neighbourhood Plan Update
Significant News:
Things have changed somewhat since our last update in February.
We recently heard from South Hams District Council that the rules governing the structure and the output of Neighbourhood Plans have been changed by the central government. For us this means that we have to adjust the process we were following. While the change in legislation is clear the implications of it are not, and currently we are awaiting further clarification from South Hams.
This means that the current process has temporarily come to a halt until the steering group has reviewed the changes and formed a proposal for how to progress. We are hoping that we can take that to the Parish Council in May and I would hope to provide a more informative update in June.
I would like to assure everyone that all the original checks and balances remain in place. Therefore, any draft plan will be reviewed by South Hams and it will then come back to the Parish for a further 6-week period of consultation. The finalised version would then be the subject of a Parish referendum and only become a legal document, if approved.
Should you have any questions, please email them to np@shaughpriorparish.gov.uk
Alternatively, you are welcome to ring Tim Clewer on 07701 053491
From: Tim Clewer - on behalf of the Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group.
Connected Together - Telephone Digital Switchover
All the Information to support the Community ready for TELEPHONE DIGITAL SWITCHOVER
The South-West is due to begin the switchover from Analogue to Digital Telephone Service in the Autumn.
Please use the Link Below to view BT's campaign which looks at the concerns this may have for our rural communities and vulnerable people.
Connected Together - All-IP - About BT | BT Plc
Opening of Ivybridge Police Station
This reopened station will be available to members of the public six days a week (between 10am and 3pm), so providing a much wider policing resource and support for victims of crime service for residents of Ivybridge and the surrounding area.
The Police Station is situated at Leonards Road, Ivybridge, PL21 0SL
PayByPhone
Now in use across the South Hams District
Please be reminded that PayByPhone is now in use at our South Hams District Council owned car parks.
Anyone using our car parks will need to use the PaybyPhone parking app if they want to pay for parking through their phone. They will no longer be able to use our current provider RingGo from this Sunday for cashless parking.
Residents and visitors can continue to pay by cash at one of our machines if they prefer.
The PayByPhone app can be download at:
- the App Store
- on Google Play
South Hams District Council
We have been made aware of incidents in Devon of rogue traders knocking on doors and suggesting work needs carrying out on the owners roof. These people are giving the false impression of being a local reputable company making it difficult to instantly recognise as a rogue trader. Advice from the Local Authority, Devon and Cornwall Police and Trading Standards is not to employ anyone knocking on your door touting for business
Your Parish Needs You!
Shaugh Prior Parish Council Emergency Plan
Shaugh Prior Parish Council are currently in the process of updating their Emergency Plan (EP). The EP is something exactly as it sounds, a document that will include measures to help the Parish deal with certain emergency situations (flooding, power outages, heavy snowfall etc).
In developing a Plan, the PC would be keen to hear from anyone in the Parish who might want to be part of the Community Response Team (CRT). In particular we would be looking for people with certain skills that could be useful in any emergency for example those persons with medical training? In addition, we would also be keen to hear back from those persons in the Parish who may have access to equipment that would be useful in an emergency (such as diggers/loaders for removing snow etc). We would be pleased to hear from anyone who might be able to help.
Being a member of the Community Response Team is not going to require you to attend regular meetings or briefings so please don’t think it’s going to take up a huge amount of your time. It’s about making sure you are available to undertake a certain task or tasks if an emergency does arise in the Parish. Therefore, ideally you should be someone who lives in the Parish.
If you do feel you would be able to assist in respect of either being part of the CRT or would be willing to make equipment available then could you please let the Parish Clerk know either by email: clerk@shaughpriorparish.gov.uk or by giving them a call on 07395 839533
Moving forwards as the EP develops, we will also be seeking to compile a list of vulnerable persons within the Parish so we have a list of those persons who may require additional assistance in respect of an emergency. If you currently have accessibility issues or consider yourself to be vulnerable then again please let the Parish Clerk know using the contact details above or alternatively let Julia Sanders know by email: juliasanders941@btinternet.com
Please note that all data provided will be kept secure and strictly confidential (only being used for the purposes of developing the EP).
We look forward to hearing from you!
Report It:
Can I remind residents that if you have issues relating to dog fouling, noise nuisance, missed bin collections, pot holes etc you can report it direct to SHDC direct through their ‘Report It’ facility on their website. You can report things as they occur without waiting for the next Parish Council meeting. Similarly, Parish Councillors can do this on behalf of residents by using the same facility
Climate Emergency
Help by joining the Climate Emergency Group
Devon County Council and South Hams District Council have declared a climate emergency and many local parishes are doing the same. Now it is the turn for the villages in Shaugh Prior Parish to join in.
A group has been formed which involves people who are interested in helping plan local activities which will help address the climate emergency. Several ideas for community projects have been discussed, including Tree Planting, Hydro scheme at Shaugh Bridge, Links to Public Transport with Plymouth/Tavistock/Yelverton, Influencing Planning decisions on Dartmoor and South Hams, Design & Implement a community carbon baseline, working to reduce waste and plastic use, and Biodiversity initiatives - wild flowers and bee friendly environments.
We are looking for more people to join from all three villages and the outlying farms. It would be great to involve lots of young people of all ages.
So if you are interested please let one or both of us know by contacting us by email
Sue Burkill sue.burkill@shaughpriorparish.gov.uk
Find out about your own carbon footprint: https://footprint.wwf.org.uk
Devon County Council website: https://www.devon.gov.uk/energyandclimatechange/
South Hams website: https://www.southhams.gov.uk/climate-change
Shaugh Prior Village Hall
The Village Hall at Shaugh Prior now has its own new Website.
https://www.shaughpriorhall.co.uk
You can see what the hall can offer, check out the Gallery, view the Calendar, and make a booking.
The Newnham Solar Fund
..is continuing to offer grants to Shaugh Prior groups and individuals. If any group is particularly affected by the current situation then they can apply for a grant.
If anyone wishes to discuss whether they might be eligible please ask them to contact Katie at admin@newnhamsolarfund.com or please contact Cllr Sue Burkill who will be happy to help.
Neighbourhood Watch
The Neighbourhood Policing team currently in Ivybridge consists of:
Acting Sergeant – 17353 Rob Pike
(Usually a Neighbourhood Beat Manager covering for Sergeant Maddie Williams who is on maternity leave until December when she will be in permanent post). Rob has served previously in the Met for approx. 20 years, originally from Devon, he transferred back to Devon and was a Response Officer until he joined Ivybridge.
Neighbourhood Beat managers
PC 15860 Martin Perry – He has been at Ivybridge for approx. 20yrs, previously a Response Officer at Newton Abbot (Covers Ivybridge Town)
PC 1704 Charlotte Mathers – Again long term of approx. 14yrs at Ivybridge previously Response at Saltash ( Covers Rural South)
PC 18011 Ollie Bell – Joined the team in the last year, previously Response at Ivybridge and Totnes ( Covers Rural North)
PC 16956 Dave Tungate – Joined us in the last 2 years, previously a Beat Manager at Kingsbridge (Covers Rural North)
PCSO 30478 Jude Serpell – Joined the team 15yrs ago after being a PCSO at Newton Abbot (cover whole area)
PCSO 30318 Diana Summers – Joined Ivybridge 19yrs ago (cover whole area)
Although all the team have their own areas, they actually tend to cover all the patch and the Beat Managers will back up Response when needed.
Email monitored daily at our station: ivybridge@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk (non-emergency queries only).
To report a non urgent crime visit www.dc.police.uk/reportcrime or the contact section of Devon and Cornwall Police website for more options – www.dc.police.uk/contact. You can complete an online crime report which is a quick and convenient alternative to calling 101. If you need information relating to a crime or have any other query please email 101@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk, alternatively you can call 101.
In an emergency always call 999.
Will 999 calls be answered?
Answering calls to the 999 number is a priority and we are making sure that we have additional resilience through training student officers to support our call handlers. Please continue to dial 999 in all emergency situations.
What is the best way to contact the police at this busy time for non-emergencies?
If possible we would ask that you use the following options before dialling 101 at this busy time.
- Click before you call – go online at devon-cornwall.police.uk
- Check if you can find the answer yourself on AskNed
- Use the online crime reporting form
- Webchat live with the 101 service (link to this facility at bottom right of Devon and Cornwall Police homepage)
- Email the 101 service at 101@dc.police.uk
- Calling 101 phone line
If you do need to call 101 about a non emergency, please be aware that it may take longer than normal to answer your call. Perhaps consider calling at a quieter time of the day, like late evening if it is not time critical.
I have intelligence about a crime – who should I contact?
Please continue to contact the police on the details listed above. If it is an emergency call 999 or for non emergencies use the online contact options where possible.
You can also report crime and intelligence anonymously via Crimestoppers either by calling 0800 555111 or by using their online reporting system at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Report an injured or dead animal
Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society: 07873 587561
Please continue to contact the police on the details listed above. If it is an emergency call 999 or for non emergencies use the online contact options where possible.
You can also report crime and intelligence anonymously via Crimestoppers either by calling 0800 555111 or by using their online reporting system at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
Directdial: 07525617850
Email: diana.summers@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.co.uk
ivybridge@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Fraud Advice. Requests to move money:
A genuine bank or organisation will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, full password or to move money to another account. Only give out your personal or financial details to use a service that you have given your consent to, that you trust and that you are expecting to be contacted by.
Clicking on links/files: Don’t be tricked into giving a fraudster access to your personal or financial details. Never automatically click on a link in an unexpected email or text
Personal information: Always question uninvited approaches in case it’s a scam. Instead, contact the company directly using a known email or phone number.
Police ( Direct dial: 07595 011193)
email police on 101@dc.police.uk