RESIDENTS should respond to the public consultation documents about planned library closures, Hennock Parish Council's rescheduled annual parish meeting was told.

Hennock councillors discussed the proposed closures, and county Cllr Francis Brook liked the possibility of combining a shop and a library. The chairman, Cllr Bill Stanyon, said it was important that all residents should respond to the public consultation documents about libraries. A resident said the library service must be accessible to both the young and the older sections of the population. A highway problem at Slade Hill was reported by a member of the public and the poor state of minor roads in the northern part of the parish was pointed out. Councillors agreed to send a letter of appreciation to the editor of the Knighton News. The question of the purchase of £76,000 worth of bottled water by the county council was raised at this meeting. Cllr Brook reported that he had asked the council leader about the amount spent on corpor ate entertainment. At every county council meeting councillors are given lunch, but Cllr Brooks now refuses to take lunch because of the cost involved. As a volunteer he does not expect payment. District councillor Ray Frost explained how the community warden service worked, in answer to a question asked by a member of the public. Wardens are employed by Teignbridge. They work in corporation with the police but are not controlled by them. Community wardens work specifically within the community in which they are based. Cllr Stanyon confirmed that only 15 more houses could be built at Chudleigh Knighton without the sewage works being upgraded. The parish council would like to produce a quarterly newsletter and set up a website to improve communication, and is looking for someone to help with this. A small salary would be paid.. Residents voiced concern at the traffic close to Chudleigh Knighton Primary School. A one-way system was requested, but the chairman said one-way streets increased the speed of traffic, but a 'village gate' road marking of 30mph could help. Traffic calming and other ways of reducing the speed of traffic near the school were discussed. The matter has been debated with the county council's traffic engineer, and 20mph speed limits were a possibility.