Saturday 21 March 2009

Cash Machine at Post Office

I'm very pleased that the ATM cash machine is now installed at Shaldon post office, I was able to get Devon County Council to contributed a third of the cost. DCC had also agreed to fund a ATM at Bishopsteignton post office; however Post Office Ltd refused to install one.

I hope the ATM will, not only contribute to the viability of the post office, but boost trade in the village.

Sunday 8 March 2009

Devon - Excellent Council


Independent inspectors say that Devon County Council is an "excellent council" and have given the authority a top 4 star rating in its latest judgement on performance. Inspectors also say that the council is "improving well".
The 4 star rating - the top mark possible - has been awarded by the Audit Commission as part of its regular Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) inspection looking at the full range of council services and overall value for money.
Praise has flooded in for the County Council since it was announced that it had been awarded four stars by the Audit Commission .
Devon Police Commander Chief Superintendent Jo Tennant has congratulated on Council on it's partnership working: "We work closely in partnership with Devon County Council and would wish to congratulate our colleagues in the Local Authority on this assessment which recognises the extremely high standards consistently achieved by them in serving the communities across Devon".
Teachers' union NASUWT congratulated Devon County Council on achieving a four star rating for their work with young people and school staff: Nigel Williams said "We share with the local authority their concerns about the low levels of funding pupils receive in comparison with other parts of the country. The positive achievements of our young people in spite of the need for better funding is testament to the hard work of the many adults who work in schools throughout the county and the positive support Devon offers to its schools."
Professor Ian Mercer CBE who chaired this year's Napoli Inquiry was equally congratulatory: "That Devon County Council is to be congratulated on achieving a four star rating in the Audit Commission's assessments, and is now an 'excellent council' in its terms, goes without having to be said, except that it does need saying by a Devon resident. On behalf of all those of us who live, breathe and work under the Council's protective and supportive wing, Devon is a splendid place to live in, not least because of the way it is governed".
Praise has also been received by Devon Conservation Forum, the Bishop of Exeter, and the Federation of Small Business.

Campaign Against Hospital Parking Charges


I have discovered that Devon Primary Care Trust (Devon PCT) plans to introduce Car parking charges at Teignmouth Hospital, I have written to the Chief Executive of Devon PCT, Dr Kevin Snee, calling on the plans to be scrapped. Teignmouth Mayor Fred Tooley and Alderman Mary Strudwick, Vice Chairman of the League of Friends, are backing me. Many people will be financially penalised when attending their local hospital. In addition many people attending Teignmouth Hospital will be tempted to leave their cars in surrounding roads – being in conflict with school traffic, and causing additional congestion and nuisance for people who live in Mill Lane and near the hospital. The PCT plans to introduce car parking charges at all community hospitals, claiming that the scheme is green: “The plan is promoting environmentally friendly ways of travelling to and from the hospitals.…and will aim to encourage better use of alternative methods of transport” (PCT website) I rejected the PCT's claims, this is not a green initiative, I believe the charges are purely designed to raise income for Devon PCT. many parts of rural South Devon have no, or very limited, bus services. Teignmouth Hospital is situated up a very steep hill so the car is vital to most people."I hope the PCT reconsider, this is really a sad move, the local community through the League of Friend of Teignmouth Hospital, raise hundreds of thousands of pounds for the hospital. Now the PCT face the prospect of alienating those communities for the sake of a few hundred pounds they will raise with parking fees."

Planting at the Station

Big thank you to Cllrs Dan Comer, David Cox and great volunteers.Shout out to everyone who is willing to help with the planting at the Stati...