Be vigilant Overnight on Sunday 12th / Monday 13th May a block of stables in Woolfardisworthy (Bideford) was broken into despite being well-secured and tack and tools of significant value were stolen.  If anyone offers you either, please contact the police on 101 – the Crime Number is CD/13/893.   Please be vigilant, particularly if you possess isolated barns or buildings or overlook someone else’s.   Should you see unfamiliar vehicles or people in places where they have no business to be, please note any registration numbers and/or distinctive features and report your concerns to the police.

Message from Devon and Cornwall Police: 16 May This message relates to crime ref KT/13/743. Police have received a report that badger sets within the Templeton area have been interfered with. PCSO Mel Smith would like to remind residents that it is an offence to interfere with badger sets under the Protections of Badgers Act 1992. If anyone could offer any information regarding these incidents, please call our 101 number quoting crime ref KT/13/743. Thank you.

CLEAR Advantages to being prepared for an emergency Devon County Council is one of the partner organisations of the Devon Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Resilience Forum (LRF). The LRF has produced a short film and new leaflet to help people prepare for an emergency. The film and leaflet encourage the viewer to stay safe and have a CLEAR plan by following five easy steps:   • Check the radio, television, social media or internet for weather warnings and news that might warn you that an emergency situation is likely to occur • Keep a List of important numbers and details (like insurance policy numbers and prescriptions) to hand • Have an Emergency Bag prepared with items that would help you • Know how and when to Act, should the worst happen • This will all help you to Recover better once the emergency has passed. The video and leaflet can be viewed online at http://bit.ly/LRFclr13  The effects of the recent floods have reminded us all of the benefits that taking a few simple steps in advance can have, like keeping important documents in a box up off of the floor, and the leaflet includes more helpful advice along these lines. But the campaign is not limited to helping those who could be affected by flooding. The advice applies to a variety of emergency situations that could cause people to either be confined to their homes or kept out of them for a number of days.

Advice on walking in Stoodleigh Spring is on the way and here is just a reminder to all those that use the public footpaths in and around the parish to please make sure their dogs are kept under control particularly during the lambing season. This means ideally on a lead when there are livestock in the fields. It is also important to know where your rights of way,  are so that you are walking in the correct place. The legal routes can be obtained by purchasing 1:25000 landranger maps which are available in most bookshops. Alternatively, very good scale mapping is available on the Devon County Council website at the following link www.devon.gov.uk/prow

Warning from Devon and Cornwall Police: 26 March This message relates to Log No. 497 of 25th March 2013. The occupants of a white panel, rental van, registration number YS 56 XBA have been reported as acting suspiciously in the Templeton area yesterday, 25th March 2013. They visited a farm in Templeton and were very interested in who owned certain pieces of farm machinery. They were described as being two white males in their mid 20's with short dark hair and spoke very poor English. Please be aware of these persons and if you have a visit from them please contact the Police on 101 quoting Log No. 497 of 25th March 2013. Thank you.

Please phone us with any information on 101 or e-mail general.enquiries@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk. PCSO Jonathan Sims would like to advise residents in the Mid Devon area of an increase in Heating Fuel Theft. Please review your security around your tank and report any suspicious activity or vehicles you may see in your local area to the police promptly. Thank you. PCSO Vicky Follett would like to remind residents to exercise caution when dealing with Cold Callers.There was an incident reported to the Police in the Bampton area recently,whereby a resident was approached at their home address by males in a white van, who were touting for work. Please could residents ensure that they request I.D. and check the authenticity of the company before employing their services.Please report any suspicious persons or vehicles to the police via our 101 no: or use the 999 number for emergencies).Thank you. PC Katie McMahon would like to make owners of rural properties aware of a male who has been seen driving a white transit flatbed truck cruising the area making enquiries with regards to old batteries. The male states he is from the Uffculme area, offers a card but does not let you keep it, and appears to be interested in other peoples scrap metal/Batteries. Would all farms/ rural properties owners please be vigilant and make sure all batteries/scrap metal is secure. 101 - The new non emergency number for Devon and Cornwall Police Textphone 18001 101 for the deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired Always call 999 in an emergency If you feel you have anything suspicious to report please ring the non-emergency number 101 or or e-mail general.enquiries@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk (last updated 11 March 2013)

Devon Libraries Mobile Library Service We have something for everyone! Our fleet of 8 mobile libraries visits over 500 locations in communities across Devon giving access to books, audio books, Large Print and DVDs to people who cannot easily reach one of our 50 static libraries. Membership is FREE, no ID needed. Join at any age - babies too! There is no charge for borrowing books, and there's a great choice. You may hire a DVD from as little as £1 for a fortnight. Non-fiction books, Large Print, and children's books can be reserved FREE. You can even reserve books online, and collect them from the mobile library.   Children have extra fun joining the Book Track and Summer Reading Challenge.   There is something to offer everyone on board so why not hop on and take a look? The mobile library stops in Stoodleigh at Vialls Corner fortnightly on Fridays 11.00 - 11.20 If there are residents who cannot access the mobile library through being housebound, disabled or too frail to carry items, we also work in partnership with the WRVS to provide a Home Delivery Service.

Exe Valley Market and Community Bus The Exe Valley Market and Community Bus has been providing twice weekly trips to Tiverton Market on Tuesdays and Fridays for more than quarter of a century. It is driven by volunteers from the local area and run by a voluntary committee. The Bus is self-funded by passenger fares, donations, fundraising events and the occasional bequest. It does, however, get a reimbursement from Devon County Council for all passengers travelling free with Senior Bus Passes, under the National Concessionary Scheme. It also benefits from a regular Bus Service Operators Grant, which is a fuel allowance for miles travelled locally to provide the twice-weekly scheduled trips into town. You may have seen the Bus parked in the Car Park at Oakford. It "lives" there and this is where the journey starts. The route into Tiverton Market runs via Stoodleigh, Washfield, Loxbeare, Calverleigh and Farleigh Meadows. The return journey follows the same route. Journey time is usually around 45 minutes and the Bus departs from Oakford at 9.30am and returns from Tiverton at approximately 12.45pm (by arrangement between the driver and passengers travelling) The maximum return fare from Stoodleigh is £2.15, single fare £1.70 and a child between 5 & 16 is charged half adult fare, but prices vary at each Fare Stage. Travel is free for all passengers travelling with their Concessionary Bus Passes.   To travel on the Bus you should book in advance to ensure there is a seat available. To book, all you need to do is phone Jenny Parnell (Scheduled Route Co-ordinator) or Geoff Parnell (Community Hire Co-ordinator) on 01884 254402 and they will add your name to the list. Our passengers are our lifeblood and many are regulars but we welcome the occasional traveller - such as visitors who just want to see the surrounding area from a different vantage point. The route will take you through some beautiful countryside above the Exe Valley and sitting so much higher than in a car, you can often see over the hedges! The committee believes that the Bus provides a valuable local service for people who don't have their own transport or who just want to meet up with friends, or go shopping, or visit the Hairdresser, Doctor or Dentist, without having to drive into Tiverton. In addition to the twice weekly market trips the Bus can be booked and it is used regularly by local community organisations for trips to places as far afield as Bristol, Plymouth, Torquay and Tavistock. If you would like to travel on the Bus please contact Jenny or Geoff Parnell on 01884 254402. As a voluntary organisation we are always seeking help with driving and other duties, if you are able to help in any way please contact Ann Roberts (Bus Committee Secretary) on 01884 254501

In line with Government requirements, all National Bus Passes issued in 2008 by Devon County Council will expire on the 31st March 2013. We are therefore making preparations to replace approximately 170,000 National Bus Passes to eligible Devon residents. (this equates to nearly a quarter of Devon's population).
To ensure eligible residents are able to enjoy uninterrupted free local and England-wide travel bus travel; new National Bus Passes will need to be delivered to existing passholders before 1st April 2013. The process by which the passes will be renewed is:

· New National Bus Passes will be sent directly to registered addresses without the need to re-apply. The new passes will start to be delivered from January 2013 in alphabetical order.

· A publicity and promotion campaign will start from April 2012 to advise eligible residents to let Devon County Council know if they have changed address since they received their National Bus Pass.

· Some pictures will be out of date so we are asking passholders to contact us if they would like to update their picture for the new pass.

· Eligibility under certain disability categories will be re-checked prior to re-issue.

· Adult and Community Services will be able to offer support to vulnerable or disabled passholders.

· First-time passes being issued from the beginning of March 2012 will have a rolling date of expiry that will over time eliminate the need to renew passes in bulk quantities.

Under the terms of the Concessionary Travel Act 2007, these passes will be replaced free of charge. Replacement passes in the event of loss continue to be charged at £8.

For further information on the re-issue of the National Concessionary Bus Pass or any matters relating to concessionary travel, please do not hesitate to contact me in the first instance.

Mark Wilson
Transport Co-ordination Service
Devon County Council
Room 18, Matford Offices, County Hall, Exeter EX2 4QD
email: mark.wilson@devon.gov.uk
Tel.: 01392 383045
Fax: 01392 382904

Stoodleigh Inn Opening hours Thursday & Friday  5 - 11pm Saturday   5 - 11pm Sunday  12 - 2pm and 5 - 11pm Bingo   First Friday in the month Quiz   Second Friday in the month Curry Club  Third Friday in the month Roast Lunches  Fourth Sunday in the month Everyone is made most welcome

Stoodleigh Parish Hall The Hall with kitchen facilities is available for hire. There is also a Committee Room available for meetings. Trestle tables and chairs may be hired out. The Hall is ideal for parties, dances (there is a stage), social events, exhibitions and some sports (i.e. short mat bowls, skittles). Charges are as follows: Main Hall £6 per hour Special rates are available for sessions of 6 or more Equipment can also be hired for outside events Trestle tables £2 Chairs 25p For further information and to hire the Hall Contact Geraldine: geraldinetalbot@tiscali.co.uk or01398 351391

St Margaret's Stoodleigh  Church Services   5 May - 10.30am Family Service & Holy Communion 12 May - 11am Morning Prayer 19 May - 11am Holy Communion 26 May - 10.30am Group Rogation Service at Calverleigh

St Margaret's Church Church Wardens: John Fewings  01398 351328 Margaret Cuningham 01398 351252		CRICKET & SPORTS Peter Browne 01398 351294
HISTORY GROUP Malcolm Jones Langdale Stoodleigh		GARDEN CLUB Diana Honnor 01398 351546
SOCIAL BRIDGE Margaret Cuningham 01398 351252		POETRY   David Wotton                         01398 35121
PCC Audrey Rigg 01398 351364		STOODLEIGH INN Lizzie Isaac 01398 351357
EXE VALLEY COMMUNITY BUS Jenny Parnell or for information Ann Roberts 01884 254501		SWAG David Wotton                         01398 35121
WALKING GROUP Pat Aplin 01398 351242 SOCIAL BRIDGE Margaret Cuningham 01398 351252		PARISH HALL COMMITTEE Geraldine Talbot 01398 351391 To hire the Hall Geraldine Talbot 01398 351391

Home Safety Visits Free Home Safety Visits are available to anyone concerned with improving safety within their home. They can be arranged by phoning  FREEPHONE 0800 7311 822 The visits provide advice to occupiers on fire and home safety needs  and assist with the development of an emergency and escape plan.