Welcome to the Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council Website

Next Council Meeting

A virtual meeting will be held Tuesday 2nd March 7.30pm It was hoped that Network Rail representatives would be attending this meeting to discuss the opening of the rail line between Okehampton and Exeter, but this is now had to be delayed until the March meeting. Members of the public and press are welcome to attend, details of how to log into the meeting are included on the agenda. The agenda can be viewed in the Agendas and Minutes section of this website.

Beating the Bounds

This event was due to take place in August 2020, however due to the Coronavirus situation it regrettably had to be cancelled. It is very much hoped to hold the event in August 2021 instead.

Coronavirus

All face to face meetings have currently been postponed. The Council is however still operating, please contact The Clerk, The Chairman or Councillors in the usual way. Monthly meetings are taking place via Zoom.

About the Parish

The Parish of Okehampton Hamlets is a rural parish situated in beautiful countryside in West Devon. It is made up of the hamlets of Brightley, Southcott, Meldon and Stockley. The parish occupies 15.48 square miles and has a population of over 500.

The hamlet of Southcott is predominantly agricultural with a number of small agricultural enterprises having merged into one larger agricultural unit to secure a sound base for an industry which has experienced significant problems in recent years.

The hamlet of Brightley lies to the north of Okehampton. The River Okement runs through the hamlet dividing Abbeyford Woods from flat farmland. Farming and forestry are the main commercial activity along with Brookite. The leat which once powered Brightley Mill (now a kite factory) can still be seen and just inside the hamlet at Brightley Farm stands a wall, dating back to the 12th Century, on the site of an ancient Abbey, hence the name Abbeyford Woods.

The hamlet of Meldon is rich in industrial archaeological remains. There are stunning views from Meldon Dam across the ravine towards Meldon Viaduct which is now part of the National Cycle Route and a network of paths around Meldon Quarries, now a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest, and through the ancient woodlands at Meldon Woods which, in May, are carpeted with bluebells.

Meldon Woods belongs to Okehampton Hamlets Parish Council and the Council is working with the Dartmoor National Park Authority to reintroduce traditional coppicing techniques to increase biodiversity and as a result the woodland now supports a variety of wildlife including roe deer, foxes, wrens and tree creepers.

Download the Parish Map as a pdf.

Useful points of contact during this Emergency

For local residents requiring practical help and support e.g. shopping, collecting medication etc, contact the local Okehampton Support Group

Other local support can be found on a document 'Coronavirus Support' which can be viewed from the Documents page on this website.

Other sources of help are:

HMRC Coronavirus Helpline

0800 015 9559

HMRC Self-Assessment Payment Helpline

0300 200 3822

Helpful information can also be found on the Devon County Council website