Whitestone Parish Council
Minutes of Whitestone at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 15th January 2026
Attendance: Chair – Cllr T Baird
Councillors M Belt, M Frankum, C Lang, E Purser, P Stott, T Taylor,
District Councillor J Parrott
Mrs P Vaughan, Clerk to the Council.
Ms M Gibbard, Mr P Mingo, Mr D Brewer
Apologies:- County Councillor A Connett,
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Mr Brewer spoke to the meeting regarding the planning application for Stoodleys Farm and his comments were duly noted.
89. Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 11th December 2025 having been circulated were taken as read and signed by the Chair.
90. REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLOR
District Councillor Parrott reported on the current situation regarding re-organisation of the District Councils.
91. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIR
Cllr Baird noted that thanks had been given to Whitestone Parish Council for arranging the taxi scheme in operation for the Parish due to the road closures.
She also gave thanks to Mr Mingo gritting on the last lot of bad weather and for taking on the job of Snow Warden for the Parish and he indicated that although he has not as yet undertaken any training he has arranged for delivery of grit for the roads and Cllr Baird indicated that she would be sending him a list of the grit bins within the Parish.
92. PLANNING - Applications can be viewed on line by going into the public access system at Teignbridge Planning following the directions giving the application reference. The following applications having been received from Teignbridge District Council with a request for comments were examined and responses will sent which can be viewed on Teignbridge District Council Planning site.
92.1 25/01848/FUL/25/01849/FUL25/01850/FUL25/01851/FUL25/01852 Erection of agricultural building to house rotary dairy parlour at Upper Kingswell Farm.
The Council reviewed this application and no concerns were raised.
92.2 26/01986/FUL Retention of earth works at Stoodley Farm, Six Mile Hill.
The Council received significant concerns from the community regarding this proposal:-
- Environmental concern around moving soil
- The makeup of material that is creating the levelled area being structurally unsound
- Concerns about the track
- Compromised drainage due to impact on the ditch in the hedge
- Visual impact fro the A30 and Fingle Glen Golf Club
- Concerns about stability of the retained earth woks, slippage, land slides etc.
- Concerns about the proposed agricultural building and demonstrable agricultural impact.
- Furthermore, there is a lack of information regarding the application in terms of drainage environmental assessment, bi diversity impact etc.
There was no support from attendees at the Parish Council meeting for the development and clear opposition from the local parishioners.
Refusal of Planning Permission
25/01661/AGRFDR Agricultural building for storage of vehicles, hay and fodder on land at Ngr 283487 94080, Heath Cross.
93. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION
93.1 Signage: unsuitable road access for HGV for minor roads off the C50.
Discussion took place regarding this issue and investigation will take place regarding prices for A3 signs being placed on the roads affected.
93.2 Improvements at bus stop area
Cllr Belt reported on this area.
93.3 Crossway Park
Cllr Taylor reported that the slide has now been repaired.
Cllr Taylor to make enquiries for a rules and regulation sign for the playpark.
93.4 Quotation for pruning of walnut tree and other trees at bus stop area.
To be left until next financial year
93.5 Donation to Parish Hall Committee for kitchen refurbishment
This had been decided at December meeting but will be paid at this meeting.
93.6 Legal costs for Lower Hare Farm
Cllr Stott reported on the current situation and a decision was made by the Council that the outstanding sum of £5,031.06 (solicitors costs from the Judicial Review) should now be paid.
94 FINANCE
94.1 Bank balances at Nat West Bank as at 31st December 2025
| Current Account | £200.00 |
| Business Reserve Account 1 | £23.490.54 |
| Business Reserve Account 2 | £3,555.64 |
| £27,246.18 |
Income
94.2 1 School Houses rental to 2nd January £950.00 - £114.00 (includes £19.00 VAT) = £836.00
94.3 2 School Houses rental to 7th February £1,100.00 - £132.00 (includes £22.00 VAT) = £968.00
Expenditure
The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour and the cheques were signed by Councillors Baird and Belt
94.4 L Blades – £220.00 (Lengthsman works)
94.5 T W Woodley (Allsorts) £80.00 (5 weeks cleaning of Whitestone Park Toilets)
94.6 Whitestone Parish Hall (hire of rooms for meetings/Park facilities) £101.10.
94.7 Whitestone Parish Hall £100.00 Donation towards kitchen refurbishment
95 REPORTS
95.1 Cllr Taylor reported that she will liaise with District Councillor Parrott regarding potholes within the Parish.
95.2 Cllr Belt reported that she had to get a road sweeper out regarding mud on the road going out of the village. Also that the Hall Committee are in talks regarding a banner to advertise the Parish Hall.
95.3 Cllr Lang reported people having a BBQ in the playpark and this is not permitted.
The meeting closed at 9.15pm