Archive for category: Archive

Dartmoor National Park are consulting on two planning documents and would welcome your comments:

1. Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
   This document sets out how we engage with communities on planning applications and key planning documents. We’ve made a number of updates to reflect current legislation and practice, including streamlining some processes while retaining our commitment to meaningful community involvement. We will no longer send letters to neighbouring properties to notify them of planning applications but will continue to use Site Notices to publicise each application.
2. Planning Application Local Validation Checklist
   We’ve updated the checklist to improve clarity and reflect current requirements. We are also proposing to include three new supporting documents for certain types of applications:

1. A Carbon Reduction Statement
2. An Energy Efficiency Report
3. An Accessible and Adaptable Dwellings Statement

Both consultations run until 25th August 2025.

You can view and respond both consultations via our website:

Consultation: Draft Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) | Dartmoor

Consultation: Local validation checklist | Dartmoor

The Mary Tavy Hall & Field Committee is organising an event to commemorate VE 80 Day. A jazz band, Desperate Measures, will be playing music of the era from 7pm until approximately 9pm. Ginsters have kindly donated 80 pasties which will be available on a first come, first served basis. A beacon will be lit at 9.30pm. Mary Tavy Parish Council is supporting the celebration and has made a donation towards the cost of the evening.

Many people will have noticed that cattle, including the shaggy Highland cows, are now grazing on the moor in the Mary Tavy area.

The cattle have some young calves at foot and the parish council would just like to remind local people and visitors to our beautiful area alike, that cows are very protective of their young. When walking on the moor, particularly if accompanied by a dog, be very alert and keep your eyes peeled for cattle, and give them a very wide berth. If you are in an area where there are gorse bushes, be even more careful – the last thing you want to do is to get between a cow and its calf!

These animals can move surprisingly quickly for their size and need to be treated with the utmost care and respect.

Parish Clerk, Responsible Financial Officer & Burial Clerk

Mary Tavy Parish Council is inviting applications for the position of Clerk, Responsible Financial Officer and Burial Clerk.

Mary Tavy Parish Council is an active council whose good reputation has grown in recent years. The 9 councillors strive to work together in a positive atmosphere to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of their parishioners.

Mary Tavy is a moorland parish with a thriving school, post office & stores and village pub. The council has responsibility for the parish cemetery. A busy recreation field and village hall is run by a trust with which the parish council maintains a close working relationship.

This is a part time permanent position of 12.5 hours per week (50 hours per month). The salary will depend on experience and qualifications but is anticipated to be between LC2 SCP (below substantive range) scale 18 and 23 (currently £15.21 to £16.67 per hour).

The Parish Council generally meets on the 2^nd Tuesday of each month. The Clerk is required to produce the agenda for each meeting, attend the meetings in person and record and publish accurate minutes of the proceedings. The Clerk will also be responsible for ensuring the Council conducts its business correctly and will be expected to provide independent and objective advice to councillors. You will be expected to provide the necessary administrative support to allow the Council to function in an effective manner.

As Responsible Financial Officer, the successful applicant will manage the administration of the Council’s finances, prepare budgets, track expenditure, produce accounting statements and work with auditors for annual audits.

When not attending the monthly Council meetings, the Clerk will work from home and must have an acceptable internet and telephone connection. You will be expected to be computer literate. A suitable laptop and printer will be provided by the Council.

The Council will be fully supportive of the Clerk’s career progression and will ensure all necessary training is given. CiLCA qualification, or a willingness to work towards gaining the CiLCA qualification, would be preferred

For further information please contact our current Clerk, Katherine Anness, by email at or by telephone on 01822 616047.

To apply for the position of Clerk, please send your CV, a covering letter and the names and contact details of 2 referees to the current Clerk who will forward documentation to the HR Committee. All applications will be treated as strictly confidential and referees will only be contacted following selection of the preferred candidate.

The closing date for applications is 19th January 2024. Interviews will take place, where possible, during the week beginning 22nd January 2024.

Here is a useful link to energy saving advice, available grants, etc for your home:

Energy Saving Devon

Available funding and grants change from time to time. The people at Energy Saving Devon are happy to give advice and will know which grants are available at any given time.