Parish Councillor Vacancies

We’re still looking for 2 parish councillors to bring us up to a full compliment of 9. If you’re interested & would like to find out more, please contact our Clerk or any MT Parish Councillor – contact details are on our website under the “Parish Council” drop down menu.

Now for the official bit:

MARY TAVY PARISH COUNCIL

  Notice of Co-option of 2 Councillors

NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to the Local Elections (Parishes and Communities) Rule 1986, the Parish Council will fill 2 casual vacancies by co-option.

The council may co-opt any person who is legally qualified to hold such office, and who is willing to serve, provided they are a British citizen, or a citizen of the Commonwealth or the European Union, and are neither the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order or interim order or have, within five years before the day of the election, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and been sentenced to not less than three months’ imprisonment (whether suspended or not) without the option of a fine (for a full list of disqualifications, please contact to the parish clerk).

A person is eligible to be a parish councillor if they are at least 18 and:

  • is and thereafter continues to be a local government elector in the Council’s area; or
  • has during the 12 months preceding the day that they are nominated as a candidate occupied as owner or tenant any premises in the Council’s area; or
  • their principal or only place of work during the 12 months preceding the day that they are nominated as a candidate has been in the Council’s area; or
  • during the whole of the 12 months preceding the day that they are nominated as a candidate resided either in the Council’s area or within three miles of it.

Applicants are asked to contact the parish clerk for further information and an application form.   Closing date for applications: Friday, April 3, 2026.  

Amy Christie, Parish Clerk

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Mary Tavy Parish Cemetery Biodiversity Project

Visitors to our cemetery may have noticed a strip of black matting running along a section of the fence. Please see the attachment below to see what we’re up to.

Mary Tavy Parish Council & Biodiversity

Biodiversity – what does it mean I hear you say and why do you need to know?  A definition from the Oxford dictionary says it is…

“the variety of all life on Earth, encompassing all the different plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, as well as the ecosystems they form and the genetic differences within them”.

Also, under the 2021 Environment Act, Parish Councils must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity,

so here at Mary Tavy we are now beavering away with plans to do this!  In the spring, we plan to engage the community to help

with, bio-blitzes, planting and animal homes to name just a few of the projects we shall be starting.

We have a policy, that can be found on the website, where our aims and actions are set out.  Hopefully, if you are reading it, you

will notice that some of our projects have already begun.

If you are interested in taking part in any of our projects, please

do look out on the website and social media for more information

on how to get involved!

 

 

 

Christmas Waste and Recycling Collection Dates

Christmas waste collection

PARISH COUNCIL MEETING: Cornonation Hall, Tuesday 11th November

Mary Tavy Parish Council’s next meeting is on Tuesday, November 11th at the Coronation Hall. The meeting begins at 7pm. Members of the public and press welcome. The agenda for the meeting will be on the Parish Council website and on the noticeboard outside the Post Office & Stores a minimum of 3 working days prior to the meeting.
PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE OF VENUE: With the closure of the Reading Rooms, all future parish council meetings will be held at the Coronation Hall unless otherwise advised.
PLEASE ALSO NOTE that the planning application for the development of the Down’s Garage site will be discussed at this meeting and a decision taken on whether the parish council supports the application. The planning application can be found at: https://dartmoor-online.tascomi.com/planning/index.html…
Members of the public can comment on the application using this link and/or can attend the parish council meeting to give their views there.

Have your Say: Dartmoor National Park Partnership Plan 2021 – 2026

The Partnership Plan (also known as the management plan) brings together a range of organisations and individuals to consider and set the future goals that will help protect and conserve Dartmoor, allowing people to value and enjoy its special places.

The plan is a statutory document meaning, by law, it has to be produced. While we are responsible for guiding the plan’s preparation, review and delivery, the actions are shared by many. It is a plan for the National Park as a whole, not just the Authority. Like much of our work, it relies on co-operation, collaboration and a willingness to make transformative changes that benefit Dartmoor now and in the future.

Visit the Your Dartmoor site to view the Partnership Plan and the Vision for Dartmoor.

Partnership Plan Review

The Partnership Plan is undergoing a review, a process which started in late 2024 and is expected to last until early 2027.

In May 2025, a new Partnership Board was formally established and will be responsible for steering this vitally important work. Read more in our announcement

Many people feel passionately about protecting our National Park and want to improve it. The review will include public consultation where people will be able to have their say on issues they feel are critical for Dartmoor’s future. We will keep you informed as we go.

Have your say

Help shape the future of Dartmoor National Park with the Partnership Plan Review public opinion survey

Partnership Board membership

Local authorities: Devon County Council, South Hams and Teignbridge District Councils, West Devon Borough Council.

Statutory organisations: Environment Agency, Natural England, Forestry Commission, Historic England.

Environment: Represented by the RSPB, Devon Wildlife Trust.

Charitable: Dartmoor Futures.

Access and recreation: Represented by South West Lakes Trust, British Mountaineering Council, Dartmoor Access Forum.

Farming, commoning and land use: Dartmoor Commoners Council, Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, Dartmoor Common Owners’ Association, Duchy of Cornwall, Ministry of Defence.

In preparation for the review an updated State of the Park report was produced. Both the 2017 and 2025 reports are available on the Your Dartmoor site.

Our ambition is to act as a powerful and effective enabler and advocate for Dartmoor National Park. Our Business Plan, which sets out what this means in practice, supports the delivery of the Partnership Plan. Learn more about our Business Plan.

Notice of Casual Vacancy Mary Tavy Parish Council

There is a vacancy for a councillor on Mary Tavy Parish Council. For more information please see the attachments or contact Amy Christie, Parish Clerk by email ()

How To Report Livestock In Danger Or Distress On Dartmoor

Please follow this link to report livestock in danger or distress on the Moor

https://www.dlps.org.uk

 

 

Hedges & Ditches

Devon County Council has produced the attached information relating to responsibility for hedges, ditches, etc.