The One Ilfracombe Town Team met on Wednesday, 19th February to discuss key updates and local issues affecting the town.

Below is a summary of the main points covered with the full meeting notes available for viewing HERE

Highways & Roadworks Updates

Devon County Council Highways provided updates on roadworks and closures:

🚧 Old Barnstaple Road – Patching work commenced, with the road closed from 17th February  to 20th.

🚧 Marlborough Road – Scheduled closure from 21st February to 26th for patching work.

🚧 New Barnstaple Road – Closed from 24th February to 16th May for structural work on a roadside retaining wall.

🚧 Killacleave (Tesco) Roundabout) – Drainage work started 18th February and will continue until 17th March.

🚧 Old Museum Road (Runnymede Gardens area) – Expected to remain closed for some time due to road instability over the open culvert. Please do not use this route—it is unsafe and a reminder that removing or moving road signs is illegal.

 Recent & Upcoming Road Patching Works:  

  • Fern Way – Recently completed.   
  • Whittingham Road & Furze Hill – Elastomac patching scheduled. 
  • Score Valley Road & Bridge – Ongoing repair work.

Local Issues Raised & Reported   

  • Anti-Social Behaviour – Reports of a group of youths causing damage across the town. Police are aware and actively dealing with the situation. 
  • Co-op Pedestrian Crossing – Request to have the crossing repainted.   
  • Drain Clearance Efforts – Thanks to funding from Councillor Crabb’s Devon County Council locality budget, a private firm was hired and they cleared some of the worst drains identified via social media. However, some drains remain blocked due to parked vehicles and access issues.     
  • Cow Lane – Reported for a clean-up.

🌼 Ilfracombe in Bloom 40th Anniversary – Update from Steve Trebble, Chair of Ilfracombe in Bloom, on planned works to enhance the town’s green spaces.

🎨 Ilfracombe Cultural Plan – Updates on upcoming initiatives including:  

  •  Street art projects   
  • Town trails & information signs   
  • Parish council noticeboards

Gull Talk Event – More details to follow on this upcoming community event which is scheduled in for 20th March 6:30pm – 8:00pm at the Lantern.

Any Other Business   

  • New Chair person options for One Ilfracombe Town Team to be explored.
  • Reminder of Ilfracombe Report It! and the vital importance of  reporting of local issues through official channels, without this these issues will be effectively remain invisible to those responsible for addressing them.
  • Old Barnstaple Road Speed Signs – Raised concerns about inconsistent speed signage.   
  • Victoria Place Tree Work     
  • ITC Equipment Funding – Whether DCC will fund equipment for tasks undertaken by Ilfracombe Town Council on behalf of the county.   
  • High Street Catenary Wires – Councillor Bert Gear highlighted the importance of finding a long-term solution to replace and maintain the high street’s festive lighting infrastructure which is currently unfit for purpose.
  • Update from PCSO Ade Drury (Devon & Cornwall Police) on community policing matters.

For further updates, stay tuned to the One Ilfracombe website and Facebook page.

Thank you to all involved in keeping Ilfracombe a great place to live, work, and visit!