Brenstock, Brentor’s very own music festival, returns after a year’s break on Saturday 29th June.  More details will follow, so watch this space!Click here to see what happened at the previous festivals

Brentor’s Mistletoe Fair at the Village Hall on Saturday 8th December attracted a large number of visitors.
Everyone enjoyed the wide range of stalls selling decorations, soap, pottery, Brentor calendars, cards and other gifts.  As always the food, which was provided all day, was wonderfully tasty and all home made.   And all washed down with copious amounts of Gluhwein.  The team of table clearers and washers-up was kept very busy!
The hall’s decorations included large bunches of mistletoe (courtesy of Glenys Mason) and huge amouts of fir and pine (from Margaret and Dave Calder).
Thanks also go to the choir from the Mary Tavy and Brentor Community School and to Father Christmas who made a special early visit!
The event raised 0ver £1,300 and all profits from the event go to help run the Village Hall and Playing Field.

Help plan for the future of Dartmoor National Park by commenting on the new draft Local Plan being launched next week.  The Local Plan sets out what type of development is and isn’t acceptable in the National Park. It is what the National Park Authority uses to decide planning applications, and sets out where future development may take place.

The Local Plan contains a broad range of policies that cover things like extensions and conservatories, conversions and new houses. It identifies land for future housing or employment development in Dartmoor’s larger towns and villages. It covers farming and other business. It also considers the natural and historic environment and resource issues like energy and quarrying.

In order to ensure that planning works for everyone with an interest in Dartmoor the National Park Authority is asking for your comments on a new draft Local Plan.  This means reading the draft Plan and sharing your comments with them.  It’s important to tell them what you like, what you don’t like; whether you think they should change any of the policies, and why.

Dan Janota, Head of Forward Planning and Economy, Dartmoor National Park, said:
‘We have carried out a lot of research and community engagement to reach this point. Over the last two years we’ve held 23 public meetings or events, meeting with around 750 people, and we received a lot of written comments and views which, alongside the research we’ve published, have shaped this draft Plan. At this stage we now need people to take a look at what it says, and share their views with us in writing. This is the first draft so there is still plenty of opportunity to influence, but it’s important people share their views with us.’

‘The policies in the Local Plan could affect your home or your neighbours’, the businesses and services you use, and the places you like to visit. Commenting on a planning application is an important way of influencing planning decisions, but those decisions are made based on the policies in the Local Plan – if you really want to influence what happens in the future take a look at what it says, and give us your comments. Importantly you need to tell us what you do like, as well as anything you might like to see changed, and how. ‘

The Local Plan is available on the Dartmoor National Park Authority website or at libraries, parish councils and National Park Visitor Centres.  The consultation runs until 4 February 2019.   You can complete the online form on the Dartmoor National Park Authority website (go to the link below) or download the form and return it by email or post.

The consultation process begins with a series of local drop-in events, held over the next few weeks:
South East Dartmoor: Ashburton Christmas Fayre – Thursday 6 December 2018, 4pm – 7pm
South West Dartmoor: Meeting Room, Yelverton War Memorial Hall – Tuesday 11 December 2018, 3pm – 6pm
North Dartmoor: Whiddon Down Village Hall – Thursday 13 December 2018, 3pm – 6pm
East Dartmoor:  Moretonhampstead Community Club – Tuesday 18 December 2018, 3pm – 6pm
The National Park Authority is holding a number of other awareness-raising events and workshops aimed at a variety of audiences, with further details on their website.

Join the discussion and help the National Park  plan for the future of Dartmoor:
Click here to go to the Dartmoor National Park Authority local review page
Twitter: @DartmoorPlan
Facebook: /DartmoorPlan
Email – forwardplanning@dartmoor.gov.uk
Tel 01626 832093

Last December Brentor village residents were invited to fill in a survey asking for comments and suggestions for the future of the Brentor playing field. 
Disappointingly, only 20 responses were received.    The results of the survey were as follows:

50% asked for the field to have more of a community feel with seating, barbeque and toilets installed
35% suggested relocating the field closer to the village hall (if possible)
5% suggested selling the land for affordable housing
5% suggested leaving it as it is
5% wanting the committee to decide.

Over the last few months this has led to some lengthy deliberations by the committee,  to discuss the way forward based on the results.

What happens next?
Based on the results, the committee has been looking at external shelters, compost toilets and seating to enable it to take things forward.  It will require some fundraising and looking into grants available.

How can you help?
Would you like to get involved in making our playing field a more usable, sociable place?  If you have ideas for fundraising, can help with applying for grants, or have further suggestions/comments or even wish to make a donation, please contact Sheryl, tel 870554, email sheryl_burroughs@hotmail.com or Clare, tel 810322, email mrsclarep@gmail.com .

The Parish Clerk was contacted on 27 November concerning the broadband user survey being conducted by Connecting Devon and Somerset.  The deadline for completion was Sunday 9 December.
The survey aims to find out people’s broadband needs and compare whether these needs are being met by the service they receive. The survey was open to all residents and businesses within Devon and Somerset and in addition to determining the impact from the new infrastructure (this must mean Airband in Brentor), it could help Connecting Devon and Somerset identify the broadband needs across our counties and the data ought to influence their future Digital Strategy.  For Brentor, where we still hope to get a superfast fibre connection to the Mary Tavy exchange to serve those properties not able to be reached by Airband, the survey could be very important in highlighting the patchy coverage here.
The Broadband User Survey asked questions about current available speeds, what homes or businesses can and cannot do with their existing broadband and the levels of satisfaction with their provider.
Connecting Devon and Somerset was apparently keen for the survey to be completed by as many local residents and businesses as possible – so it’s a pity that it wasn’t advertised more widely!