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Case Studies

There are many successful projects in Devon where communities have taken action and work together to benefit their local area.

team members getting out signs before commencing work

Following the receipt of a further grant from the Highways Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund, Thornbury Hamlets has been able to purchase a new whacker plate and a variety of shovels and brushes, to speed up our work. Read more >

Road wardens, Plymtree volunteers

Following the successful pilot of minor pothole repairs, the Council has announced that the scheme is being widened. Read more >

Pothole filling trials

During 2018/19, a further 16 road warden agreements were signed.  There are now 73 agreements in place across the County. Read more >

landscape photo of Peter Tavy village, houses, church, green fields and a pink sky

Community project to provide reliable and efficient renewable energy. Read more >

traffic cones stacked behind railings

Broadclyst Parish Council applied for funding with a proposal to convert an old BT hut in Dog Village and the surrounding ground into a storage compound for the parish council, including a safe space for road signs, materials, PPE used by the community road warden along with the dry storage of ancillary equipment (cone lights,… Read more >

group of people gathered, man stood with back to camera wearing a white t-shirt that says join the local food renaissance www.chagfarm.org

One of the UK’s first community-supported micro-dairies. Read more >

Chittlehamholt country road with hedges and trees either side

Chittlehamholt, Satterleigh and Warkleigh Parish Council received funding of £2000.00 from the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF). Read more >

man cutting back weeds on devon country road

Stokenham Parish Council were awarded funding from the HMCEF to clear drains, grips and buddle holes within the parish. Read more >

Bench off of path at North Tawton

North Tawton Town Council were awarded £3,000 for vegetation management through the HMCEF.   Whimple Parish Council received a grant to purchase Personal Protection Equipment for volunteers and highway equipment. Read more >

workman in hi vis putting up traffic cone with road works sign

One of the initial issues facing local councils is access to appropriate signs and equipment. Read more >

Tackling flooding with self help funds

The parish of Colyton is active in trying to address their own ongoing drainage and flooding issues. Read more >

Front of crediton community bookshop with window display with a christmas tree and various books on show

How a collection of local people can turn an idea in to reality. Read more >

photo of the mansion totnes,modern building with large glass windows and a hand rail and path for ease of access

Transforming services through the use of new delivery models. Read more >

Pothole filling trials

Bradford and Cookbury Parish Council received funding from the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF).  The sum of £1000.00 was approved and the parish council used the money to hire equipment to enable ditch clearing to be undertaken. Read more >

hedgerow along road with muddy ditchwater, with a small white dog looking into the ditch

Southleigh Parish Council secured funding from the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund to carry out extensive ditching and culvert clearance. Read more >

concrete ditch with drain

Luppitt Parish Council were awarded funding for laying a new drain within the parish, as well as funding towards a project to create a new concrete ditch. Read more >

cars on road with pavement and hedges running alongside coming up to a sharp left hand bend with the black and white roadsigns that symbolise this

Strete Parish Council were awarded funding towards the clearance of vegetation and cleaning of roadside drains along the A379. Read more >

Blackawton Parish Council were awarded funding from the HMCEF to carry out drainage works around the Parish. Read more >

gully on a hillside amongst plants and leaves

Diptford Parish Council received funding towards the engagement of a contractor to clear blocked gullies within the parish boundaries. Read more >

workman in hi vis putting up traffic cone with road works sign

Lamerton Parish Council were awarded funding from the HMCEF for drainage works in the Parish. Read more >

Members of the Exeter Community Energy group

Community-owned renewable energy scheme. Read more >

Exe Bridges subway

Local graffiti artists have given the subway at Exe Bridges in Exeter a colourful facelift. Read more >

White road sign in the countryside

Throwleigh and Murchington Parish Council were granted funding through the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF) to enable maintenance work to sign posts within the parish. Read more >

Black multi directional fingerpost sign on pavement next to the sandy beach at Exmouth

Exmouth Town Council were awarded funding through the HMCEF to restore finger posts within the town. Read more >

footpath along roadside with greenary and trees along the path

Following their joint application to the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund, the villages of Stoke Canon and Rewe have carried out footpath improvements. Read more >

Stoke Canon Parish Council have been awarded funding for the upgrade and widening on an existing footpath. Read more >

Clearing a footway in Sidmouth

Volunteering to keep the paths clear in Sidmouth. Read more >

Ermington Parish Council were granted funding to purchase road signs and cones to use in the Parish. Read more >

a country lane in Doddiscombsleigh

Doddiscombsleigh Parish Council granted funding for assistance with road sweeping and gully clearing. Read more >

grass verge on sunny day along road at sticklepath

Sticklepath Parish Council received funding from the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF).  The money contributed towards contractor costs for verge cutting and weed spraying throughout the parish. Read more >

grass verge on sunny day along road at sticklepath

Northam Town Council have received funding through the HMCEF to clear the vegetation and carry out grass cutting across Northam. Read more >

Road wardens, Plymtree volunteers

We received a total of 44 bids in 2019/20 and approved 41 of those.  We provided over £12,000.00 of funding to enable projects valuing over £27,400.00 to be undertaken in the community. Parish Summery of Work Clyst Hydon Parish Council Pothole repair material Lustleigh Parish Council Pothole repair material Modbury Parish Council Pothole repair material… Read more >

Road wardens, Plymtree volunteers

We received a total of 50 bids in 2021/22 for HMCEF and approved 40 of those.  We provided over £26,000.00 of funding to enable projects valuing over £107,000.00 to be undertaken in the community. Read more >

country road with pot holes rapired with tarmac

A number of parishes have received funding from HMCEF and have used this to carry out maintenance works and improvements to their local communities. Read more >

Grass cutting

How Bideford Town Council have made use of the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund. Read more >

cars on road with pavement and hedges running alongside coming up to a sharp left hand bend with the black and white roadsigns that symbolise this

Ilfracombe Town Council employ a town maintenance operative, whose role includes keeping the town tidy and free from weeds, cutting grass verges, pruning trees, clearing drains and filling minor potholes.  A group of volunteers also carry out minor works under supervision. Read more >

flail cutting along pavement into Knowle

Braunton Parish Council took part in a ‘Tidy-Up Community Day’ in Knowle, which included flail cutting along the pavement. Read more >

overgrown hedges on narrow country lane

Marwood Parish Council joined the highway self help scheme and uses its funds towards a parish handyman. Read more >

Thorverton and Brampford Speke Community Access Group (TABSCAP) were award funding for Remedial works returning a highway (Hulk Lane Thorverton). This was lost to public use after a major landslip in the form of a Bridleway. Read more >

young child looking through a selection of books at library

A pilot project to test how communities can support local libraries Read more >

road covered in snow with person walking down the road, a person in the background is shoveling snow from their drive

Littlehempston Parish Council were awarded £1000 for snow and ice clearance during the winter period. The parish purchased a snow hopper attachment for a tractor to enable the parish to be gritted prior to and during snow fall. The parish is quite widespread and made up of small lanes which can easily be cut off… Read more >

Pothole filling trials

Following the receipt of a further grant from the Highways Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund, Lustleigh Parish Council have been able to purchase new PPE. This new PPE will be worn by the volunteers undertaking duties as part of the Road Warden Scheme (RWS). The PPE includes; Hi-Viz traffic coat and Hi-Viz bomber jacket. Under the… Read more >

traffic cones and tape situated along roadside at Luppitt

Luppitt Parish Council were awarded £980.00 from the HMCEF to repair a 30 metre section of road within the parish and £860.00 to carry out works to remove water off the road surface. Read more >

black railings along Mill Street, Great Torrington

Great Torrington Town Council receive funding to re-paint railings. Read more >

white hart hotel moretonhampstead and other nearbyshops

Promoting the regeneration of Moretonhampstead. Read more >

workman in hi vis putting up traffic cone with road works sign

Information about the applications for the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF) that were approved in 2016/17. Read more >

man cutting back weeds on devon country road

Information about the applications for the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF) that were approved in 2017/18. Read more >

estate road, shepherds meadow on summers day at

Beaford Parish Council received a grant from the HMCEF for a project to patch an estate road, Shepherds Meadow, within their community. Read more >

Snow Warden

To find out more about being a Snow Warden watch this short film about Peter Smerdon, Rattery’s snow warden Read more >

person filling in pothole using a spade on a road

Lustleigh Parish Council received funding for materials and equipment to fill non-intervention potholes under the Road Warden Scheme. Read more >

Kingsbridge Parish Council received funding for materials and equipment to fill non-intervention potholes under the Road Warden Scheme Read more >

raised concrete ares with steps leading to a bench and parish noticeboard in Buckfastleigh

Buckfastleigh Town Council successfully applied for a grant of £700.00, through the HMCEF to enable the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and a shed for the storage of tools and personal protective equipment. Read more >

drainage cover in road full of leaves

Ugborough Parish Council received funding over two years under the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF). Read more >

Many local communities have applied for funding in order to gain the necessary tools and equipment, along with the relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) in order to carry out their own maintenance works. Read more >

Pothole filling trials

In response to demand to fill potholes, Devon Highways Materials Laboratory identified a product, that would provide a robust fix. Read more >

man in hi vis jacket with wheelbarrow and spade filling in pothole

Since joining the Road Warden Scheme early in 2018, Thornbury Hamlets has been proactive in logging and addressing the non-intervention potholes in the parish.  The response from residents and the grant received from the HMCEF has been very positive, with volunteers of all ages, who are keen to ‘do their bit’ to make our roads… Read more >

Halberton Parish Council received funding and used this to purchase equipment to enable the Road Warden and a team of local volunteers to carry out highway related maintenance. Read more >

Parish Lengthsman

Highway Self Help scheme gives town and parish councils and community self-help groups the opportunity to do small maintenance tasks. Read more >

Shobrooke Parish Council were granted funding under the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF). The funding helped with the purchase of a towable gritter and replacement of two finger posts. Read more >

Drewsteignton Parish Council received funding through the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF) towards the replacement of 4 sign posts and the repair and cleaning of several others within the parish. Read more >

road closed sign at road in bideford with road closure barriers

Bideford Town Council successfully applied for a grant of £943.68, the grant enabled the town council to purchase Chapter 8 signage to safely undertake minor highway related works and to arrange road closures during local events. Read more >

direction road sign

North Bovey Conservation Group received funding through the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF) to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), signage and materials to enable maintenance throughout the village. Read more >

tractor in field covered in snow trying to clear snow

More than 250 towns and parishes in the county have snow wardens in place in case Devon is hit by prolonged severe weather. Read more >

road covered in snow with person walking down the road, a person in the background is shoveling snow from their drive

Parishes signed up to the Snow Warden Scheme are free to decide how they use their free salt in their area Read more >

surface dressing of road at Sheepwash with traffic cones

Sheepwash Parish Council received two funding allocations, totalling £1152.86 in order to carry out works on the road from Sheepwash Bridge to Highampton. Read more >

brightly colours mural in a subway

Tavistock subway gets a new mural painting Read more >

Front of the Mansion Totnes,

Developing a central space for co-use and a prominent ‘shop counter’. Read more >

REconomy centre

A resource supporting the development of the local economy. Read more >

two young people stood on ladders next to green tractor mural on a colourful background

Taking on a youth centre and creating a hub for wider community use. Read more >

side of road, with tools and a drrainage pipe

Clayhidon Parish Council received funding over two financial years through the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund (HMCEF). Read more >

people clearing branches on side of road in Beer

Beer, Bovey Tracey, Buckland Tout Saints, Modbury and Yealmpton parish councils have all successfully applied for grants through the HMCEF, in order to purchase tools and equipment to enable works within their local areas. Read more >

Upton Pyne self help - sign cleaning

The Parish of Upton Pyne are actively carrying out self help works to keep their area looking good. Read more >

wall on side of road cleared from weeds bramble and earth

North Tawton Town Council received funding through the HMCEF to clear a wall and hedge free from weeds, brambles and earth accumulation to make the road safer for pedestrians to use. Read more >

wooden shelter with seating on grass verge at side of a road

Talaton Parish Council have secured funding through the Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement Fund to assist with general highway related maintenance throughout the parish. Read more >

Grass cutting

Bridestowe Parish Council were awarded funding towards the employment of a contractor to undertake grass cutting, weed spraying and hedge cutting within the parish and to fund the purchase of equipment for highway maintenance work. Read more >

road leading into Hennock

Hennock Parish Council were awarded funding from the HMCEF towards the cost of employing a contractor to undertake lengthsman duties within the parish. Read more >

salt spreader

A Highway Maintenance Community Enhancement grant was awarded to Shillingford Parish Council, for the total of £820.00 to purchase tools and equipment such as the salt spreader shown to grit roads in the parish which are not treated by Devon County Council. Read more >


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