Beer parish councillors approved an increase in the precept that will go towards their budget for 2013/14. Read this and more.

PARKING PLEA: Parish councillors in Beer are looking at removing a taxi cab bay in Fore Street they say has not been used in at least five years.

They would need to get permission from Devon County Council to delicense it so it can be used for car parking, which is at a premium in the village.

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LEARNED LECTURE: The Branscombe Project’s first winter talk of 2013 will be by Neville Copperthwaite on January 28.

The marine consultant’s lecture, entitled ‘Contested Seas; the tide is turning’ is about the work of fishermen and conservationists, and what can be achieved when people sit down and talk to each other.

Entry is free for the talk in the village hall, which starts at 7.30pm.

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ARTISTIC PROGRESSION: An artist who exhibited in Beer’s Bomb Shelter has moved onto a show at a prestigious gallery in Bristol.

Beth Pearson’s work will be displayed alongside Sidmouth-based painter and sculptor Michael Gordon-Lee in the Philadelphia Street Gallery.

The artists’ work will complement each other under the title of ‘True to Form’.

The gallery will be open from 11am until 7pm on Monday, January 21, until Saturday, January 26 and 11am until 5pm on the Sunday.

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BEER BEACH COMB: Ursula Makepeace from the horticultural society in Beer is keen to have an overview of how the beach is kept clean.

She said the South West in Bloom awards are about more than just floral displays and maintaining the environment plays a large part in success.

Her fellow Beer parish councillors said several fishermen and residents volunteer, and East Devon District Council staff are involved in the efforts.

They also said that flotsam from the 2007 shipwreck of the Napoli is still a major source of litter.

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OUT OF TIME: An horologist is needed at the Beer parish church’s clock, which has been chiming at the wrong time.

Parish councillors discussed budgeting for an annual service for the timepiece to avoid being hit with a fee for its replacement. St Michael’s church dates back to the 1870s.

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PARISH PRECEPT: Beer parish councillors approved an increase in the precept that will go towards their budget for 2013/14.

The move will be in line with the CPI rate of 2.2 per cent, taking it to £15,791.

Beer’s precept had not increased in several years before.

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PANTO PLEA: Beer’s pantomime this year is Three Little Pigs and they need more performers.

The organisers are keen to get children involved in the opening chorus and throughout the show.

Anyone interested should call Tina Bishop on 07900 807950.

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FUNDRAISING BONANZA: The RNLI’s main fundraising day, SOS Day, is next Saturday (January 26), with Activities in Beer.

There will be a zumba session in the Mariner’s Hall from 10.30am until 11am, entrance £2.50.