Annual Town Meeting 2025 -

Annual Town Meeting 2025

The Annual Team Meeting 2025 took place at The Lantern on Wednesday 30th April.

Mayor Ilfracombe – Annual Report 2025

Chair of Finance & General Purpose Committee – Annual Report 2025 – To follow

Chair of Planning Committee – Annual Report 2025

Chair of Staffing Committee – Annual Report 2025

Ilfracombe Police Report – Inspector Richard Preston Devon & Cornwall Police

The following questions were asked either during the meeting or raised using the online survey. The answer can be revealed by clicking on the question.

There were several other questions that were raised directly with Inspector Preston, the answers to which were all covered in the Ilfracombe Police Report.

If you require a hard copy of these Q&As please contact itc@northdevon.gov.uk, 01271 855300 or pop into the Ilfracombe Centre Tues-Fri 9am-1pm & 2pm – 5pm

Thank you to everyone who attended.

Q1. The string lights around the capstone/ seafront area have apparently been repaired but are still not working, why is that?

These lights are owned by NDC and should have been repaired. The PO will get in touch with NDC to investigate.

Q2. Can we have an update on derelict sites, especially the Premier Inn site?

A representative from Premier Inn is scheduled to attend the June IRB meeting to provide an update on the site. However, it is our understanding that progress has been delayed due to the necessary figures not yet being finalised.

There are no further updates regarding the Montpelier site at this time.

The Grosvenor Hotel continues to face the same challenge as before—each room is individually leased, making it difficult to identify the owners and proceed with any necessary work on the building.

Q3. How long will Marlborough Road traffic lights be there?

We have been made aware that the road will be cleared immenently, however, there is no indication when the wall will be repaired.

Q4. When will the collapsed wall at seafront windy corner be repaired?

Starting on the 12/05/2025 Abcas (UK) Ltd will be conducting works to the cliff protection systems on capstone. These works will run for four weeks until 13/06/2025. Abcas will be using rope access to install new systems on the area above the footpath leading to windy corner (which has temporary barriers at its foot at the moment). Abcas will also be maintaining the rest of the systems across capstone. Abcas and DCC public rights of way are liaising to plan the closures required to facilitate the works. Their brief is to maintain public access as much as possible, especially over the half term.

Q5. There is a large amount of empty shops on the High Street, what has ITC done to encourage new businesses to start up in Ilfracombe?

As we’re all aware, high street trading continues to be extremely challenging, with pressures from online shopping and rising costs such as rent and staffing. To help address this, ITC has been working in partnership with the IBTA to improve the promotion of Ilfracombe in an effort to increase footfall in the town and support local businesses. Additionally, we have the Work Hub based in the Ilfracombe Centre, offering small and affordable office spaces to help new businesses launch or existing ones stay afloat. It may also be beneficial to re-engage with the Ilfracombe Independent Traders group to collaborate further on this issue.

Q6. The volunteers working in our shop on the High Street are having to pay large amounts of money on parking every week to come and help give back to the community. Can anything be done about this?

ITC is currently in the process of purchasing the High Street Car Park. Owning the site will give us full control over pricing and ensure it remains a car park rather than being redeveloped for other purposes.

Other car parks and parking bays in the area are owned by either NDC or DCC, which means we have no authority over the pricing set for those locations. However, if any changes to pricing are proposed, a public consultation is usually held, giving you the opportunity to share your views and feedback.

Q7. Will the fairground be down at the seafront clapping circle this year and does the money made from it come back into the town?

As far as we’re aware, the fair will not be returning this year, although this could still change. The site is owned by NDC, and any rent generated from the fair is returned to the council, which does reinvest in the town in various ways. While opinions on the fair were mixed, the intention behind it was to attract families to the seafront and help boost footfall for local businesses.

Q8. Do we still have Tourist Information centre?

This initiative is not led by ITC. We did offer our support, but the offer was declined. The TIC went into liquidation for a year and subsequently operated from the box office at the Landmark for a period. However, it soon became clear that this model was not sustainable. They have since developed a new approach and will now operate as a pop-up service using a gazebo. This will be set up as needed—for example, when the Lundy boats arrive at the harbour.

Q9. Is there an update on a Banking Hub for Ilfracombe?

At this current time, Ilfracombe still does not qualify for this service. We do not fit the criteria due to having both the Post Office and Nationwide.

Q10. After doing some voluntary garden work and being offered a bag for disposal by ITC, I found it odd that we could not put any soil in this. It’s difficult to avoid – is there anything we can do to get around this so that others can volunteer too?

We could look at the possibility for some community garden wheelie bins as they will take soil if it can be wheeled off rather than lift in a bag.

Q11 I noticed that cars are parking very tight to the entrance of Bicclescombe park not only does this make turning out of Bicclescombe Gardens on to Bicclescombe Park Road. Hazardous but it is extremely dangerous for children and other pedestrians who want to cross by the park

The enforcement of on street parking restriction is the responsibility of Devon County Council. This has been reported to Devon Highways via Ilfracombe Report It! DCC Reference Number W251854869. DCC have subsequently responded that an enforcement Officer has visited this area but could not find any evidence of inappropriate parking.

Q12 Is there anything that can be done to encourage residents to pick up the litter if the bin men do not take it, containers that are seagull proof and when it is windy?

Scarab Crew usually follow waste and recycling trucks on collection days although there are items that do get blown around. Gull guards are available by contacting North Devon Council Customer Services. There was a recent trial for nets to be placed over recycle bins. Over 100 of these were issued from the Ilfracombe Centre. There is no current update on whether the trial would be made permanent.

Q13 What is the position regarding the removal of the benches on the high street?

One bench has been removed from the High Street as part of a joint Police and NDC initiative to address ASB in the High Street. As recently reported at a One Ilfracombe Town Team meeting early indications are that this has been effective however the situation will be reassessed in approx 6 months.

Q14 Dog mess - It's everywhere. Every street. Every park. There is no improvement. There is only poop to tread on. If you are lucky you notice before you walk in the door or hop in your car.

One Ilfracombe Town Team continue to work with our partners at NDC to increase enforcement and signage.

Q15 We have witnessed blocked drains and gulleys for decades. This results in flooding & damage to property such as subsidence. The odd pepperpotting of a few cleaned out every couple of years is not sufficient nor acceptable, 80% are still ignored and left ram packed with silt & debri, the majority have not been cleaned out in well over 10-15 years plus. It is not acceptable

Devon County Council are responsible for the cleaning of drains and gulleys. This has been passed onto the Ilfracombe representative on DCC.

Q16 Drunks on the high street and by the theatre are causing visitors to turn away. It is unpleasant for everyone to have drunk hobos lying around on the street and beach. Proper laws and supervision need to be put in place. There should be a no public alcohol drinking law in place and regular spot checks. Premises need to be accountable for the litter left outside doors. Waste needs to be properly disposed of or fines should be imposed.

Drinking – Public Spaces Protection Order has been in place since 24th July 2024 and will run for 3 years.

Litter outside properties – Regular follow ups via One Ilfracombe Town Team plus forms part of the One Ilfracombe High Street Regeneration project.

Q17 Would the council be able to contact the relevant parties in regards to overgrown weeds/shrubbery/trees along Slade Road from the parish church, upto the woolacombe road, Slade valley road where the footpath is barely 1/2 the width in places, particularly the corner from community centre and further along where the public footpath crosses over to the fields, a very large hedge plus others along the road both up and down. Also St brannocks road where gardens have been neglected and allowed to grow into the footpaths and into the roadway. Often making larger vehicles straddle the centre line to avoid damage or knocking wing mirrors out.

This remains an ongoing task. ITC and One Ilfracombe have worked with North Devon Homes to clear areas which included a joint clean up involving volunteers from Perrigo.

A clean up also took part to remove bushes and vegetation that was masking street lightning and line of sight in an area of Slade that had seen attacks on women.

Establishing who owns what in certain areas of Slade has also slowed down any work. NDH do have areas of Burnside Road planned in for clearance Apr 25-Apr 26.

DCC Highways have been approached about the Road and Pavement elements but they have made it clear that they will only take action if it fulfils the requirements laid out on their website, For example if a pavement has 1m of clear passage this is acceptable.

DCC will not undertake any aesthetic work in Ilfracombe

If vegetation is coming from a private residence then DCC will contact the homeowner to take corrective action however this remains a long and drawn out process.

ITC do not have the resources to undertake this work on behalf of DCC.

Q18 Drunk homeless on the streets. impose a no alcohol rule for the high street quay and beaches and enforce it. Families don’t want to visit or holiday in ilfracombe when there are drunken men sitting on benches shouting and swearing or lying comotose on the beach. We need to clean up this town. Equally visitors don’t want to walk around the town with speeding cars coming around. Souped up speeding yobs playing in the roads on Sundays and early evening. Taxis running 40mph in 20mph zones. No speeding restrictions enforced. Unclear signage and traffic calming inadequate. If we want visitors for our economy we need to clean up!

Drinking – Public Spaces Protection Order has been in place since 24th July 2024 and will run for 3 years, this now incorporates Wildersmouth Beach

Speeding Cars – From the question it is unclear which areas this refers to. The speed signage and potential calming systems will form part of the One Ilfracombe High Street Regeneration project and will also be raised at the One Ilfracombe Town Team.