AN appeal for volunteers to help with road maintenance in a Blackdown Hills village has seen five people step forward.

But, Clayhidon Parish Council said more were needed to help ‘share the load’ and is asking anybody interested to meet councillors in the village hall at 7 pm on Monday (February 9) before their monthly meeting.

Former parish chairman Cllr Alison Weekes launched the appeal last month because the council had run out of money to pay for the work and Devon County Council did not rate the village roads high enough to do anything about their condition.

Cllr Weekes said: “Since Christmas, our poor lanes have gone from dire to disastrous.

“We can all see how they get worse day by day because basic maintenance has not been done for years.

“And there is absolutely no prospect of work being done.

“The Government are planning to abolish Devon County Council and all the district councils as soon as they can and nobody thinks things will be better afterwards.

“Our roads remain in the lowest category in the lowest lists and will never be prioritised.

“The only way for improvements is self-help.

“I know we pay for this work to be done, but even when Devon highways do come along, the work is bitty, disorganised, and not much help.

“Urban areas get their roads swept, gullies cleaned, debris cleaned off, etc.

“But we do not.

“And we pay the same.

“Please help and let us set up our own road maintenance team.

“We want ideas, suggestions, and real offers of help, please, and let us know where you think the worst areas are.”