Buckfastleigh Town
Fore Street in winter
The historic mill town of Buckfastleigh and the neighbouring abbey village of Buckfast, can be found nestling on the southern edge of eastern Dartmoor in Devon just off the A38, midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth.
The name "Buckfast" means "stronghold" – traditionally a place where deer and buck were held, and "Leigh" would have been the pasture belonging to Buckfast – hence the meaning deer held in a pasture (buck-fast-leigh). Buckfast probably existed before Buckfastleigh as it is mentioned in the Domesday Book and in 1018 a Benedictine Abbey was founded and endorsed by King Canute at Buckfast.
Read more about the town here...
Local Plan Review and Greater Horseshoe Bat Consultation
The Dartmoor National Park local plan is a very important document which guides the response to planning applications. It is currently being reviewed in light of the many changes that have occurred since the last plan was adopted. You can read the latest update on this process here.
Another important factor in responding to planning applications is whether they will affect the bat population in the area. The planning authorities are currently consulting on these guidelines. More information here.
Get on Your Bike – assisted cycle trips
The Town Council are organising cycle trips out with the 'Bike Bus', which will take you up to the start of the ride and pick you up at the end - what could be easier!
The second trip - to the Exe Estuary - takes place on Sunday May 6th.... just one ticket left! Click here for more
Clean Up After Your Dogs!
Th
ese dog fouling posters are now up and about around town. If you would like a poster near your area or one to put up in a window please contact the Town Ranger.
We are still seeking volunteers to help with the campaign. If you would be willing to have a can of spray to highlight dog mess in your area, then we would love to hear from you also. Let's work together to rid the Town of this mess!
If you would like to be involved please contact the Town Ranger at Ranger@nullBuckfastleigh.gov.uk or 642576
Make every scrap count!
Please help Teignbridge District Council to increase the amount of food waste recycled by making every scrap count!
You may not think that you produce food waste but some waste like banana skins, tea bags, egg shells and plate scrapings are inevitable and these can all be recycled.
And now it’s now easier than ever to recycle your food waste as any plastic bag can be used to line your kitchen caddy or blue food waste container, including any of these listed below;
- supermarket carrier bags
- pedal bin liners
- bread bags
- Remember by recycling your food waste in your blue container it will be collected every week.
Once collected it is sent to a facility in Devon where it is used to create electricity and a liquid fertiliser.
For out more at www.teignbridge.gov.uk/recycling 
Heart of Buckfastleigh Community Awards – Nominations Now Open
The Town Council is organising a summer celebration of the wonderful work done by the town's voluntary and community groups called The Heart of Buckfastleigh on Saturday 16th June 2018 in the Town Hall. Nominations for awards are now open and everyone is encouraged to think about who they'd like to see honoured and send in their nominations. Find out how to do it here.
The day will start with an opportunity for all the groups to network, find out about each other and share ideas and plans for the coming year which will help the Council's planning for the next financial year.
The doors will then be open to the public and we will be offering food, entertainment and activities alongside voluntary and community group stalls.
The day will finish with an Awards Ceremony to honour some of those who have been working tirelessly to make life better for the residents of Buckfastleigh.
Invitations have been sent by email to those groups we have contact details for, but if you are involved with a voluntary group in the town, you should be part of this! If you have not received an invitation, please send a contact email for your organisation to: office@nullbuckfastleigh.gov.uk and we will send you all the details.
Buckfastleigh Neighbourhood Plan is now ready
The Buckfastleigh Neighbourhood Plan for 2017-2027, a development guide for the parish for the next 10 years, is finally ready and available HERE. Please download and read it...
Copies of the Plan can also be viewed at Buckfastleigh Library, Buckfastleigh Town Hall and at the Teignbridge District Council Offices at Forde House Newton Abbot.
All feedback has been received and a referendum will be held in the near future to ratify the Plan. Watch this space...
Note: It is a fascinating read, reflecting the hard work put in by all involved, but if you don't have time to read all 107 pages, the main proposals are from page 27 to 51.
Additional Documents here:
Strategic Environmental Assessment: bknp-reg-14-environmental-report_v0-1_191116
Devonia Site Development Brief: 160429-buckfastleigh-dev-brief-low-res
Citizen’s Advice comes back to Buckfastleigh!
Thanks to Town Council funding, Cllr. Linus McCloskey (who is our qualified volunteer advisor) and the Buckfastleigh Medical Centre (who are providing a room), Citizens Advice will now offer a drop in service in Buckfastleigh every Friday.
Citizens Advice provides free, confidential advice – whoever you are, whatever the problem. They can help with issues including money and debt, benefits, housing and employment. Their goal is to help everyone find a way forward, whatever problems they face.
Drop in at the Medical Centre any Friday morning between 10am – 12.30pm. Ask at reception for a registration form and take a seat. You will be seen in turn.
If you can’t make Fridays, you can contact Citizens Advice on 03444 111 444 or visit their website at citizensadviceteignbridge.org.uk.