Blog

 

Date 28th May 2008

Well done to all the truckers who made a stand against the ever increasing diesel costs which are forcing many transport firms into selling up..... its going to get worse and this Government are holding all the cards so why don't they reduce the cost of fuel?? Why are they hell bent on introducing the car tax bands which are going to impact and hit families really hard? It really does begger belief. Now we hear that the Government are trying to switch the County elections to the same day that the European elections are taking place..... this government are clutching onto anything they can in order to cling onto power.... my advice CALL THE ELECTION GORDON.

Date 27th May 2008

Well what a glorious weekend rain and more rain gale force winds and oh yes according to the experts this is what we can expect to see more of over the next three to four months.
Received two interesting calls over the weekend from residents concerned that the local bus company may well be trying to rip us off. They had both boarded the bus at the Three Cornered Plot Sidmouth heading for Sidford. The bus company issued the ticket but quite clearly stamped on it was Heathpark Honiton.
Have you had a similar incident if so please let me know.

Date 25th May 2008

Petrol and Diesel prices are going up everyday as is the cost of food, the weather forecast is lousy for the weekend, a hit list of post offices earmarked for closure has been issued by PO Ltd....... Is there any good news? Yes the weekend will soon be over and we can all get back to work to earn some money after giving the best part of it to Gordon Brown..... PLEASE CALL THE ELECTION MR BROWN WE NEED A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL LISTEN.
 

 Date 24th May 2008

I have been heartened by the texts, emails and calls received from those Sidmouth Herald readers who learnt of the purported way that I was ousted (Sidmouth Herald words) from the Tourism and Publicity Chairmanship. It was unfortunate that I couldn't attend the informal meeting of the Town Council where this decision was taken as I would have at least had the opportunity to have my say on the matter. I am led to believe that several Town Council members were gunning for me..... WELL I'M USED TO IT.... To be honest I couldn't give a monkeys about their petty pea brained little games as I was elected by you the residents of Sidmouth to do my best and give you the representation that you so rightfully deserve. ONWARDS and UPWARDS we go.
And yes you had guessed right the reason that I wasn't at the meeting is because I was sorting out the issue on the route of the 157 Coastlink bus service.

Date 22nd May 2008

Attended the Sidmouth Vision Group meeting last night and gave a presentation on issues affecting Sidmouth such as the Sidford to Sidmouth Cycleway, the Feniton to Sidmouth Cycleway, Park and Ride and of course either partial or full pedestrianisation. It was a very positive meeting and hopefully laid the way to take these important issues forward so that they can be included in the next Local Transport Plan which will take us from 2012 - 2016.
I plan to load my full presentation notes on the Hughes Report so log on and take a look.

Date 20th May 2008

Expect delays in the near future along All Saints Road by kind courtesy of the developers at Cedar Shade.. the County Council will be issuing a Clearway Order which will prevent cars parking anywhere in All Saints Road 24 hours a day. A start date is yet to be arranged as talks are still taking place with EDDC to overcome some outstanding issues.... this work could be a long and protracted however the County are insisting that it is done asap with work also taking place on Saturday and Sunday. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED and heard about it here first on the Hughes BLOG.

Statement:-

All Saints Road - as part of a planning condition at Cedar Shade, they have to make improvements to their access. This will require two way traffic lights to be put up to enable the works to be carried out. To prevent problems occurring with westbound traffic queuing at the lights, it will be necessary to restrict the parking on the south side of this road. If parking were to be retained, then there would clearly be a problem with eastbound traffic not being able to get through. The restriction will be done by means of a Clearway Order on this road and will have to apply 24 hours a day for the duration of the works. We have yet to get a start date from the contractor as they are still resolving some issues with EDDC.

Date 15th May 2008

Wow that was some storm last night with a high level of rainfall and the drop in temperature is certainly noticeable. Anyway if the few days of dry and sunny weather is a taster of what is to come this summer then bring it on.
Yesterday I received a copy of the Folk Week programme and it certainly looks good there was also some good news for the organisers of the event as I had made some enquiries as to whether the County Council would be able to give some support and they have agreed to helping to the tune of £10,000 making them one of the major sponsors in 2008. This is brilliant news and the cheque presentation will be taking place next week. We must not lose Folk Week it is so important to our local economy and attracts visitors to Sidmouth from all over the world.
 

Date 13th May 2008
 

Date 12th May 2008 

The Sidford Road PUFIN CROSSING (Pedestrian User Friendly Intelligent) adjacent to the rear access to the college moves a step closer with the design brief being prepared. The crossing will be installed later on this year.

Date 9th May 2008 

Despite giving plenty of notice that this years Sidmouth Carnival will be the last one that I shall be organising and requesting that anyone interested in taking over the reigns next year should get in touch and get involved in both the run up and the procession day on Saturday 6th September....there still hasn't been any interest shown. This is a shame but totally understandable as it is apparent that no one wants to give up time to help organise any events in the town.
It looks as though this years carnival will be the last ever seen in the town because once its gone I don't think it will ever come back.
This weekend in the town generates well over £700,000 of income and so perhaps the new Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Town Council's Tourism Committee will take it on, the town councils in Newton Abbot and Dawlish help run their events.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED CALL ME ON 578414
 

Date 8th May 2008

I get very concerned when those wonderful people at BT keep on sending out removal programmes for kiosks and especially when every time its the same kiosks they put forward for removal.
Below is a copy of my response to their latest proposals to remove two kiosks in my East Devon Ward (Sidmouth Sidford) I only hope that BT will take notice as they say 'Its good to talk'.

I am very concerned to see that the pay phone in Byes Lane Sidford is once again on BT's HIT LIST. This same box has appeared in two previous BT's removal programme lists and both times I raised Community Safety issues as it is adjacent to the children's play park... Sidbury Football Club (who don't have any phone facility) Sidford Social Hall which hasn't got its own phone.
Soon the Sidmouth to Sidford cycle track will be completed which will attract many more to this particular area. Not everyone has a mobile phone and the nearest box to this one is at Exeter Cross.
I therefore would request that this be left alone.

As for the Salcombe Regis phone, if this is either the one situated in the village itself or in Fortescue Road then once again I would ask that they are left alone as there are no other kiosks in the nearby vacinity.

Date 7th May 2008

Isn't it amazing how someone can run into a stone pillar completely destroying it and then drive off without even reporting it and then the tax payer has to pick up the bill to carry out the rebuilding work. That is exactly what has happened at the Station Road end of Knowle Drive and County Officers who are almost certain who caused the damage have been stone walled (if you will excuse the pun). The local residents keep asking when the work will be carried out and the answer is basically within the next two to three weeks.

Date 3rd, 4th and 5th May 2008

Well the day after the Government got a big kicking at the polls and Gordon Brown and his chums were seen saying that they had to start listening.... they gave their response to the Petition that had been running on the cost of fuel (which I linked to on my Home page) and surprise surprise they are not listening at all. Below is the answer given by the Minister. Just take note of the final paragraph.... 

CALL THE ELECTION NOW GORDON YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE IN OFFICE!!!

The Government's policy is that fuel duty rates should rise each year at least in line with inflation. This supports the Government's effort to reduce polluting emissions and assists with the funding of public services. In the Chancellor's 2008 Budget fuel duty rates were announced for future years, through to 2010-11. These increases are expected to result in carbon savings of 0.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year by 2010-11.

However, in the 2008 Budget the Chancellor also announced that the planned duty increase would be deferred for six months until October. The Government believes that this decision shows that it be responsive to short-term economic conditions.

Even after these changes duty rates in 2009 will still be 11% lower, in real terms (i.e. by making an appropriate adjustment to discount for inflation), than they were in 1999 - equivalent to a 7 pence per litre real reduction - and at the time of the Budget the real cost of motoring was still 13% lower than in 1999.

It remains the case that the retail price of fuel at the pump is ultimately a matter for retailers and their suppliers, and fuel duty is just one of a range of factors which determine the price paid by the motorist.

Date 2nd May 2008

With the Labour drubbing yesterday at the polls you would now think that Gordon Brown would start to see a little bit of commonsense and kick this unnecessary Boundry Committee review of Devon that is currently taking place into touch. It is a costly exercise and the two tier system works well. It was his Exeter Labour members who set this whole pendulum in motion seeking Unitary Exeter and now they run the risk of becoming nothing more than a glorified Parish Council. 

Date 1st May 2008 

It was a wise decision for the District Council's Executive to kick into touch expensive measures to try and reduce the number of Seagulls and pigeons, you could throw umpteen thousands of £'s away and still end up with more of the wretched things.
The best way to get rid of them is to give them away to folk who take holidays in East Devon after all many of our holiday makers actually come here to see and hear the birds squawking. Stay two weeks and we'll give you a pair to take home.... what a solution. 
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