Blog
Date
30th June 2007
The last day of June and what a wet and miserable one it has
been and so tomorrow a new month and the SMOKING BAN takes
effect.....I expect everyone will be holding a smoking party this
evening and so if you are going out on the town make sure you take
your gas masks.
Date
29th June 2007
I wonder just how many of you were aware that
it will be a requirement of the County Council to provide NO SMOKING signs in
all bus shelters that are semi enclosed and it will be the responsibility of the
District Council to police the ban as from the 1st July. Well I can assure you
all it is not an early April Fool joke....It's a fact. What I want to know and
I am going to ask the question at the next County Council meeting is just
how much is this exercise going to cost the council tax payer?
Date
28th June 2007
Held an interesting meeting with the residents
representative of Fortescue regarding their concerns over speeding motorists
and other related safety issues. It was quite clear that the removal of
street lighting to enable 30mph repeater signs wasn't an option. Speed checks
will however be carried out to gauge the level of speeding and horse riders warning
signs are to be erected. The residents are also concerned and quite rightly so
over the amount of HGV's that are using Fortescue/Sid Road to the town and
I do believe that a weight limit should be introduced at the earliest opportunity.
Fortescue is actually signed from the A3052 as it is a hamlet, I am therefore
seeking the erection of Fortescue signs with "please drive slowly' these
along with rumble strips should at least draw drivers attention to the fact that
they should slow down and take extra care.
Sidford Playgroup were delighted
to receive their cheque for £725 from my Community budget and will be winging
their way to the computer shop for their laptop and blow up bricks for the children.
Date
27th June 2007
Having fought
tooth and nail to save Primley Library located at Sidmouth Community College it
is sad to see that it will be closing its doors to the public for the last time
next Thursday 5th July. It will be deeply missed by those in the community who
regularly used the facilities it had to offer and the children from Sidmouth Infants
who also visited weekly to loan books. This will prove to be a very big mistake
as it fulfilled all the extended school criteria. Now members of the public will
have no alternative other than to travel to the town library....so much for reducing
the carbon footprint.
Date
26th June 2007
Sidford Playgroup will be the last to receive funding
from my Community/locality budget. I shall be arranging with Janice May who is
the groups Chairperson a time when I can present the cheque for £725 which will
provide a laptop computer for administration and inflatable building bricks for
the children who attend the sessions at Sidford Social Hall. This funding has
already helped so many organisations and groups in Sidmouth and I would calls
from others who believe that they too could benefit from some of this funding.
Date
25th June 2007
Well what happened to flaming June? Here we are with
6 months to go until Christmas Day and I actually had to wear a sweater...so much
for global warming. I was actually thinking about 1987 and the Loony Christmas
Party we held on the beach with turkey and all the trimmings and yes our own loony
Santa. The reason behind it was we wanted to celebrate as the Australian's do
by having Christmas on the beach. This used to be an annual event followed by
the loony Boxing Day Swim, well not so loony was it the water was actually a lot
warmer. Well you wouldn't have caught me sitting on the beach today.
Date
24th June 2007
Well just getting over the mud mud glorious mud of
Glastonbury, I wouldn't have missed the experience for all the world although
my legs feel like they are made of concrete. Did see a novel way of sorting what
folk claim is the lack of toilet provision in East Devon and have included a photo
on the District page.....do take a look.
Date
23rd June 2007
The Alma bridge is at last undergoing some maintenance
work which I called for and is starting to look quite splendid. Work has almost
been completed on the top of the bridge and then work shall be carried out underneath
to ensure it is sound and ready to withstand whatever the elements throw at it
this winter....which I'm pleased to say is several months away. The Alma bridge
is so important as it is not only the gateway to footpath 120 SW Coast Path but
is also the lifeline for those who live on the eastern side of the river Sid.
Anyway off to Glastonbury today with the Devon and Somerset Fire Authority is
see what safety arrangements have been put in place and of course will be taking
my wellies.
Date
22nd June 2007 And so the Sidmouth Millenium Walkway Group have ruled
out looking at a crossing and footway on the south side of Peak Hill and announced
their intentions to go with the bridge from the Manor Road Car Park to Connaught
Gardens. They seem to think that the County Council should fund the crossing scheme,
however this hasn't been identified in the Local Transport Plan and as there haven't
been any accidents involving pedestrians it wouldn't qualify for funding. Either
scheme would be providing pedestrians with access to and from East Devon amenities
(Car Park/Gardens) and therefore it is they who should help with funding. I believe
that the bridge scheme will run into planning difficulties however I have provided
£500 from my Community budget to help with the planning application and I wish
Freddy and his group the best of luck. I only hope that if the bridge isn't successful
that the crossing and footway scheme will be revisited.
Date
21st June 2007 The first of the EDDC meetings with the town council's
threw up few surprises with all representatives identifying affordable housing
as the number one priority. We are of course fortunate enough in Sidmouth to have
recently seen the completion of phase one of the new affordable/shared equity/rented
scheme at Stowford Rise which has been a god send to locals in getting their feet
on the housing ladder. There is of course further development land and both myself
and my fellow District ward members Christine Drew and Graham Troman have been
successful in calling for a development plan to be drawn up......lets hope that
we don't have to wait too long as this housing is needed like yesterday.
Date
20th June 2007 Good news may well be winging Bill Petterson and his
disabled wife's way who live in South Africa but holiday here in Sidmouth. Last
year the Petterson's say that their holiday was ruined as neither the police or
county council would recognise their disabled sticker/badge. The Sidmouth Information
Manager wrote to me and asked if I could raise the issue. Being only too pleased
to oblige I submitted a notice of motion to council which stood referred to Executive
and yesterday afternoon they agreed that Scrutiny should look at the anomaly that
at present exists with the findings and recommendations being taken to a future
Executive Committee.
Date
19th June 2007
Well another busy day, having rearranged the meeting
place to Littlemoor House for Sidmouth Traffic Management Group. Discussions were
focussed around the feasibility of introducing a 20mph zone throughout the town
and also the Esplanade. This is something I have been pursuing for several years
although I still believe that the town would benefit from pedestrianisation. I
would welcome any views on this suggestion. See my contact page.
Date
18th June 2007 Up bright and early this morning and took part in the
safety audit for a future walking bus from Sidford to St Nicholas School in Woolbrook
Road. I found the experience most useful and through this walk several issues
were identified along the route that are at present compromising the safety of
those walking to school. As we are all aware the need from a controlled crossing
is desperately required at the rear entrance to the college near Clayhangar Lane.
Hopefully this walking bus and the possibility of a another to Sidmouth Infants
will help in the implementation being fast tracked and you can bet I shall do
everything I can to reach that goal.
Date
17th June 2007 Problems always arise when either the County or District
decide to mess with email. In this instance its East Devon and whilst members
including myself have carried out the instruction to the letter we haven't been
able to access email. An email to someone in the know from one of my other accounts
receives a fast reply. 'The guys are working on it today and it should be up and
running tomorrow' Well hopefully without the SPAM, I must say with the amount
I have received just recently I was actually thinking of going into the recording
studio and doing a cover of the Monty Python classic. Ah well that's the weekend
over with and three cheers for Lewis Hamilton what a star.
Date
16th July 2007 The new slabbed/pavier footway in Woolbrook Road was
completed today and the floral Fire Engine and flower baskets for which I provided
the funding through my community fund are now in situ outside the Fire and Ambulance
Station. I have put two photo's on the Online 'HUGHES REPORT'. I am sure that
Sidmouth will be picking up another floral award this summer as it is representing
the Coastal Towns.
Date
15th June 2007 Was elected Chairman of the Community Safety and Corporate
Planning Committee on the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority. This
was the first meeting of the Committee since the two Fire and Rescue Services
amalgamated and it was a very informative agenda. The Committee agreed the consultation
plan for the consultation exercise for Dual Crewing of Aerial Appliances in Torquay,
Exeter, Plymouth and Barnstaple which will be carried out during the next 12 weeks.
Date
14th June 2007 Helped Annie Chatham finalise the submission for Sidmouth
Infants School Travel Plan. This year the school are going for their Silver
award and if successful will receive £100 of book tokens. I am pleased to say
that all the schools in my electoral division have completed travel plans which
also help to identify highway pedestrian safety improvements which are carried
out by the County. The school would like to set up its own walking bus however
this is dependant on adults walking with the children and with busy working life
styles it is difficult to find volunteers.
Date
13th June 2007 Had a very interesting day with a visit by members of
Cornwall County Council who met up with all the Scrutiny Chairs and Deputy Chairs
to share information and this evening attended the inaugural meeting of the new
Scrutiny Committee at East Devon which was chaired by Roger Giles.
One piece
of information I did hear today and which will if it is true have an impact on
the East Devon AONB as well as the other four areas of Devon, is that all the
project money that had been earmarked has now been diverted to prop up Morwhellam
Quay.
No doubt there will be more on this in due course.
Date
12th June 2007
The enhancement works in Woolbrook Road are progressing
well and I really appreciate hearing the compliments from local residents. The
Fire and Ambulance Station will soon be a blaze of colour when the flower baskets
and floral Fire Engine which I provided funding for through my community fund
are put in place later this week.
Date
11th June 2007 Delighted to have been unanimously re-elected as Chairman
of the East Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee. Only item of interest
for Sidmouth was Peak Hill On Street Pay and Display. This will brought into line
with off street rates and shall be rising by 20p to 80p an hour. (This is in fact
5p more than the East Devon Car Parks).
Date
10th June 2007 It was an honour to attend the Royal British Legion (Sidmouth
Branch) service of Dedication for the New Standard at the Parish Church. The old
Standard which Dave O'Connor handed to Branch President Eileen Hodges who in turn
presented it to the Rector asking him to accept it in safe keeping had been
in service since 1953. The first Standard which dates back to 1921 and had been
kept at the Parish Church will now be presented to the Museum. The address given
by Rev Robin Laird was excellent.
Date
9th June 2007 Well what a street party Hayman's (celebrating 100 years)
and John Hollick (40 years) of providing service to Sidmouth in Church Street
put on. It was a real community effort bringing people together, and I'm sure
many new friends were made.
I believe that there should be more street
party's such as this one to celebrate special occasions and whilst I am only too
well aware of the costs involved I do feel that this is one area where I could
help with my County Council community fund budget.
Get in touch and
let me know if I can help.
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