Blog
Date
24th September 2007 Wow that's got the weekend out of the way,
the organising of Sidmouth carnival has really taken its toll on me
this year and I've ended up with a bad back, sore throat and sore bum
and am aching all over, it feels as though I've got the flu without
the flu if you know what I mean. Anyway with a bit of luck will be
able to get blog back on daily basis. My Communications Think Tank
members will have the privilege of being the first to see the proposed
design of the East Devon website. I have seen it and believe that it
is at the cutting edge of web design and if adopted will lead the way
with other local authorities following our lead. Date
21st September 2007 Road Closures under the Special Event
Act comes up for debate at next weeks Executive at County. There can
be no doubt that many smaller community events will go under, unless
the administration fees are drastically reduced from the £160 that
has been mooted. A nominal £10 or better still FREE would be the
way forward on this one. Paying the AA, RAC or SWH to put out
diversion signs will also be extremely costly. The problem is only a
person with Chapter 8 accreditation is allowed to sign Road Closures
and the Diversion route. The WDEG (West Devon Emergency Group) will
carry out this function at a fraction of the cost. Date
20th September 2007 Two days to go to Sidmouth Illuminated
Carnival and I've been working my butt off putting the finishing
touches to the Royalty float which has been completely transformed
by a colour change. Very interested in hearing that the CRPE are
kicking up a fuss about what they claim is the over proliferation of
signs along the highway. Many of these are required for road safety
info to drivers. Devon has for many years been reducing the amount
of signs along corridors such as the A3052 so that there are just
those in situ that are required for road safety purposes.
Date
19th September 2007 Attended the opening of the extension
to the Lymebourne Park Social Hall where Bill Lankester and Jill
Squance who both had done so much to raise the necessary funding that
was required. The extension has almost doubled the size of the floor
space and will I'm sure be well used. I contributed £1,500 from my
County Councillors Locality/Community budget towards the purchase of
the new furniture required. Date
18th September 2007 The residents of the top end of Stowford
Rise between Chambers Close and Bakers Close will be delighted to hear
that at long last the provision of two table top traffic calmers and a
raised pedestrian ramp at the top of Lock Close have finally cleared
the final hurdle with the East Devon Highways and Traffic Orders
Committee which I chair unanimously agreeing to the scheme. The scheme
was part of the planning permission granted for the affordable housing
development which addresses the concerns residents had regarding the
speed of traffic along this stretch of road leading to Waitrose. Date
15th September 2007 Very short blog today as trying to
get the Tango Carnival float ready for Axminster tonight however I
should like to thank all those who contacted me yesterday supporting
my notice of motion on the future of local ITV news here in Devon,
Cornwall and parts of Somerset and Dorset. It is important that this
important communication should remain and I would urge everyone who
shares my concerns to write to Ofcom, the Government and to ITV
itself.....hopefully someone there will listen to common sense. Date
14th September 2007 Having heard that the local Westcountry
news is being axed by ITV in 2008 and as Communications portfolio
holder, I have requested that the following notice of motion be put
on the next agenda of the Executive Committee:-
Following reports that ITV is planning to reduce its regional news
service operation in 2008, that this council make
representations to Ofcom, the LGA and to ITV, with the
following message.
We deplore the proposal to close ITV's news operation in Plymouth
and to operate a regional service from Bristol, with the inevitable
impact this will have on an important communications channel for
residents of Devon, Cornwall and several other western counties.
This is especially lamentable at a time when the Government is
seeking to give local communities more say in their own affairs,
with the need for as many news outlets as possible. We consider that
ITV is failing in its responsibilities to Public Service
Broadcasting and should reconsider this decision.
I have also requested that a similar notice of motion be placed on
the Town Council agenda. It is I feel so important that this local
news service continues.
Date
13th September 2007 Just when the farmers thought the
Surrey foot and mouth crisis was over and normality had
returned...back with a vengeance comes another f and m case in Surrey
and a possible outbreak in Norfolk this time pigs which I believe if
founded could create even more problems for our farming community.
Surely there must be a good case for vaccination to be introduced as
this is widely used in other parts of Europe. What do you think? Date
12th September 2007 Good news for those eagerly awaiting work to
begin on phase two of the Sidford to Sidmouth ( Sid Park Road) cycle
track. The scheme will be going to a future Executive Committee
meeting at County on either the 16th October or 6th November and then
once approval has been given it is intended to carry out the scheme in
two parts. The first Primley Road south direction to Sid Park Road and
the possible link onto Fortescue Road (commencing in January 2008) and
the remaining section in the 08/09 financial year. As I'm sure you are
aware this is a scheme that I have been promoting for many years and
will be delighted to see its implementation. Date
11th September 2007 Watch out for notices attached to
street light columns advising those concerned about either non
illuminated lights or those on all the time that the fault has been
reported and is being attended to by Devon County Council's
contractor Western Power Distribution. This was a suggestion that I
made at the meeting of the Environment Economy and Culture Overview
Scrutiny Committee and which will hopefully be taken on board by WPD.
I have lost count of the numerous times I have been called in the
past about the same faulty street light and I am certainly optimistic
about this suggestion being put into action. Date
10th September 2007 The agenda for today's Environment Economy
and Culture Overview Scrutiny Committee is full of interesting
topics. Western Power Distribution and the time it takes to repair
faults, Road Closures and charges, and Cycle Tracks to name just
three. If you can't get into County Hall you can always watch via
the webcast which goes out live. Several reporters write up their
stories from watching the webcasts now that is progress.
Date
9th September 2007 My gold Gucci shoes were the talk of the
town last night well they certainly appeared to be. On my way
(walking) to fellow District councillor Graham Troman's 60th Birthday
party I received comments most complimentary and at the party itself
the comments were certainly all complimentary however what surprised
me the most was the comments walking back home via the Market Place
where many of those waiting to either get into Carina's or were having
a smoke said wow those shoes are great 'where did you get them'. Well
certainly not in Sidmouth. Date
8th September 2007 My weekend will be taken up studying the
agenda papers for my Environment Economy and Culture Overview Scrutiny
Committee which meets at 10.00am on Monday morning. The meeting is
broadcast on the internet via webcasting and if you haven't already
done so check it out it is very interesting. Monday's meeting sees
Western Power Distribution addressing our concerns over the time it
takes to repair underground faults plus many other items
including the issue of charging for road closures. Should be a
very interesting meeting. Date
7th September 2007 Sidbury United FC who are based at the
Sidford Recreation Ground in Byes Lane are fighting back following a
recent break in at their club premises by holding a Family Fun Day
on Sunday 30th September. The fun starts at 10.00am and goes
right through until 5.00pm. Both Mel Coombes the first team manager
and myself have agreed to go in the stocks and let those attending
throw wet sponges at us.....needless to say there will be a small
charge for the sponges, I just hope that its a warm and sunny day. Date
6th September 2007
Woods Farm Civic Amenity Recycling Centre (CARC) went to
yesterday's Development Control Committee at County where the
recommendation was to grant it a further 10 years, however Roger
Giles moved that this should be five years which I also supported.
The issue of looking for an alternative site for the CARC has been
going on for longer than I can remember, however I have provided the
officers with details of a further possible site at the top of
Woolbrook Road and adjacent to the A3052. Part of this site has also
been flagged up for a possible 500 car Park and Ride with
Industrial. I do hope that during the next few years that there will
be a concerted effort made to move this agenda forward.
Date 5th September 2007
Well the Executive agreed that my Environment Economy and
Culture Overview/Scrutiny Committee should look at the whole issue
regarding enforcing 20mph speed limits including questioning the Chief
Constable on the issue. We shall then draw up some recommendations and
hopefully the Executive will take on board. I have also committed
£1,500 from my County locality/community fund to help kick start a
campaign being spearheaded by the Chamber of Commerce for a CCTV
system in Sidmouth. This is something that I have been calling for for
more years than I can remember. I do however remember Supt Liam
McGrath on giving a presentation to East Devon saying what a crap
system Sidmouth had in the Market Place...at last it looks as though
this may change.
Date 4th September 2007
And so it appears that Roger Giles and myself aren't going to get too far with
our notice of motion on 20mph speed limits being brought into line with 30 and
40 speed limits. The report to today's Executive has a recommendation of note
the report, which is pretty sad surely there isn't anything to lose in asking
the government to consider bringing this lower speed limit in line with the
others?
Date
3rd September 2007
Interested in reading the report on wooden external fire
escapes that I requested which is going to this Thursday's Community
Safety Committee of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue
Authority. It appears that unlike Scotland where Scottish Building
Regulations specifies that external fire escape stairs should be
constructed of non-combustible materials, the same doesn't
apply here in England. The issue and quite rightly concerns being
expressed of silted up fire hydrants in Cornwall has also reared its
head here in Devon and in Sidmouth where I was contacted by a local
resident of Lymebourne Park who informed me that the hydrant
adjacent to his property hasn't been tested for years. Needless to
say I'm on the case. Date
2nd September 2007
Another month and yet more questions coming my way at the town
council meeting on Monday. Park and Ride again, I've lost count of
the amount of times this subject has come up but one thing I do know
is that I was calling for a P&R scheme for Sidmouth 16 years ago
and was put down time and time again saying that it wouldn't work
here. Now I'm pleased to say those same people are on board (if
you'll forgive the pun) however it isn't just an issue for the
County it is also for the District Council and through partnership
working along with the bus operators a scheme could be drawn up for
future implementation. The Olympic games in 2012 with the water
activities taking place at Portland will see a greater need for
public transport along the A3052 corridor and a P&R along with a
bus interchange at Sidmouth would be a gold medal winner.
Other questions include Emergency plans for Sidmouth and the
pedestrian crossing that I called for in All Saints Road which ticks
ALL the relevant boxes and hopefully will be considered in the near
future by the Highways and Traffic Orders Committee.
Date
1st September 2007
Having seen the mess and received complaints from nearby neighbours I am
now of the opinion that both of the Bowd lay-bys on the south and north of the
A3052 should have a time restriction placed on them similar to those on the A358
near Newton Abott. Setting up a wood carving business with chain saws operating
the best part of the day is something the local residents shouldn't have to
tolerate and I shall therefore be making representations to the County Councils
eastern area office to request that a restriction be placed on these two
prominent lay-bys.
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