Curries help create happier New Year

A recent evening of curries combined with conversation, cash sales and charitable contributions organised in South Zeal's Victory Hall by Dr Tom Bell and his wife, Sarah, raised £1000 for the Salt of the Earth registered charity that was founded in 1988 to raise money to help the rural poor in southern India through its partner Organisation Social Change and Development. SCAD works with the poorest of the poor amongst the low caste Habjans, snake catchers and saltpan workers, from whom the charity gets its name; and it is they who benefit most from the money the charity raises.

From a film and talk given during the evening villagers and visitors learned that saltpan workers suffer sight problems and blindness, stomach disorders and body sores through working in the pans. Only able to work for eight months a year, workers easily fall prey to unscrupulous employers and moneylenders who charge exorbitant rates and exploit the malnourished and often hungry workers whose life expectancy is low. Many of their villages have no drinking water due to salt contamination of the local water table and infant mortality is high. Villagers often have to walk many miles to get and bring back drinking water.

This pre-Christmas, eye opening, presentation prompted the salt of the earth in Devon to give generously to the Salt of The Earth charity, for which Organisers Tom and Sarah Bell express their sincere thanks.

Garden Club's New Year meeting

Members of Drewsteignton Gardeners' Club final meeting of 2004 was a convivial gathering for the annual Christmas Dinner held again by popular request at the Red Lion, Tedburn St. Mary where last year's dinner was enjoyed and it so much that we decided to go there again. The club's next meeting will be held on Monday, 10th January at 7.30pm in Drewsteignton's Church Rooms when Jacqueline Page will be guest speaker and talking about the gardens of New Zealand. A week later, on January 17 th , Cheriton Horticultural Society has invited Drewsteignton gardeners to take part in their annual quiz. the 17th. More details of the Drewsteignton Gardeners' Club coming year's programme of meetings and events can be obtained from the Chairman, Philip Evans, 01647 281285, or Hon. Sec: Daphne Greener, 01647 281256.

New Parish Clerk

As from the 1st January, Mrs Brenda Lunt has taken on the role of Parish Clerk for Drewsteignton and can be contacted at Drascombe Barton, Drewsteignton, EX6 6PF, Tel: 01647 231463 or by email via theluntsdevon@aol.com

Merrymeet Junction Improvements

There will be an exhibition open to the public on the 14th and 15th January in Whiddon Down Village Hall regarding the proposed improvements to Merrymeet Junction, which is the first roundabout encountered by motorists travelling south on the motorways from the Stirling area in Scotland, some 471 miles away. The severity of accidents at the junction over a 5-year period is significantly higher than the national average for a roundabout. The majority of these occur on the A30 approaches. Congestion problems occur during holiday periods when traffic flows increase by over 100% on a typical August Saturday.

The design contract for the preferred route layout has been awarded to Interserve and Parsons Brinckerhoff. The first phase of the contract involves the development of the design to a sufficient level to allow draft orders to be published under the Highways Act. Interserve and PB are carrying out the design work, and producing the Environmental Statement, for the publication of the statutory draft Orders. There will be a period of 6 weeks from the date of publication of the draft Orders during which any comments can be submitted.

The Secretary of State for Transport will then decide whether or not there is to be a Public Inquiry. Further information is available from Peter Heron on 01823 424438.