Poundstock Parish Council – Summary of Minutes January & February
Ordinary Meeting 13 January 2026
Planning Matters
Sear Reach, Widemouth – demolish two houses and garage and replace with one self-build home. After lengthy discussion - no objection.
Sedum House, Poundstock. Remove shed, LPG and fence and install garden room. No objection
New Hall for Poundstock (see Chair’s Update)
Sewage Concerns Widemouth. The clerk will write to Cornwall Council expressing concerns about sewage capacity constraints and request that no further residential planning consents are agreed until the matter is resolved.
Ordinary Meeting 29 January 2026
Planning Matters
Pengallic, Poundstock. Demolish storage building and erect a replacement. No objection.
Community Hall – funding. An expression of interest will be made to the Community Infrastructure Levy fund in the sum of £100,000 towards the Project.
2026/27 precept (the element of Council Tax levied on behalf of the Parish Council). This has been set at £54,341. Editors note: the 2025/26 precept was £39,185, representing 38% increase.
Ordinary Meeting 18 February 2026
Correspondence: the Chair noted that the Council’s accounts had been challenged by the same resident for four consecutive years. The external auditors have confirmed that there are no matters needing attention and support the Council’s financial management arrangements. The Chair noted that the additional external audit work has cost approximately £3,000 – funds that may otherwise have been available to support alternative priorities.
Planning Matters
Ty Gwyn, Long Park Drive, Widemouth Bay. Extension and alteration works. No objection.
Outdoor Adventure Ltd. Change of use from holiday accommodation to single private dwelling. No objection.
Widemouth Fields Holiday Park – extension of park. Resolved to object due to lack of clarity whether the units are for holiday or permanent use.
Land East of Swelle Cottages – permission in principle for up to 9 dwellings. Resolved to object due to over-intensive development.
Cllr Chopak report. Noted that the Bude Park and Ride trial may be expanded to include Widemouth Bay in 2026.
For the full Parish Council minutes and future agendas, visit poundstock-pc.gov.uk
Council meetings take place at 7.00 pm on the first and third Wednesday of each month. In the summer, meetings are typically held at the Gildhouse, Vicarage Lane (EX23 0AU), in the winter, they are usually held at the Beach House, Widemouth Bay (EX23 0AW).
Contact Lynn Pluess 07768 100560 Website: www.poundstock-pc.gov.uk
Updates from the Council Chair
Progress on the new community hall
The work for a new community hall for Poundstock progresses and in February Poundstock Parish Council completed on the purchase of the field at Bangors Cross which will provide the site for the new hall as well as a considerable outside space for the enjoyment of residents.
In addition, all the conditions for the planning permission granted last year have been met and the architects are now working on the technical drawings that will allow construction to be put out to tender.
Widemouth Bay car park changes
As part of the Making Space for Sand project Cornwall Council is improving the upper car park (south end) at Widemouth Bay and closing off most of the lower car park. This will allow the sand to accumulate and form a natural dune to protect the road and houses behind from the sea and of violent storms.
The upper car park is being smoothed out to create more useable space and a mesh system will be employed to provide more stable parking.
Once the works are completed, the whole area will be seeded with a combination of coastal grasses and wildflowers to restore the current natural appearance.
This work has only been authorised following a detailed survey to ensure valuable plants and wildlife will be protected. Public areas have also been maintained to ensure the car park can continue to be enjoyed as an outdoor space as before.
The project is weather dependent but it is hoped that work will begin shortly with completion planned for the end of June. Please note, the car park is owned by Cornwall County Council and Poundstock Parish Council is not involved in any way.
Widemouth Bay public toilets improvements
Further substantial work is being carried out on the toilets in the Widemouth Bay car park which will include a completely refurbished baby changing room, new showers for surfers and bathers, improvements to the cleaners’ room and structural repairs to the wall where the old meter box was located. The roof is also being surveyed and a report will be prepared outlining what work is required. Once all this is done the toilets will be completely redecorated.
Mrs. Lynn Pluess Clerk Poundstock Parish Council