Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 30th March 2022) below:
Kev’s Column:
Bridge
With no prior notice, on Friday Network Rail (NR) sent me a letter telling me the work to replace the bridge on Torbay Road would not now be completed until late May.
This is not just frustrating for nearby residents, but will mean a key arterial road is closed over the Easter weekend, the first without Covid related restrictions on our hospitality sector since 2019.
Having previously spoken directly to the senior executives at NR responsible for the works, I immediately contacted them again, in view of the further delays, to request the following:
1. Urgent consideration of alternative diversionary routes for vehicles and pedestrians
2. Consideration of compensation for lineside residents worst affected
3. A public meeting at the site or nearby, where senior execs from NR can answer residents’ concerns directly.
I appreciate these are major works, but it is immensely frustrating to see how this project keeps having its completion date put back significantly.
Shared Goals
Parliament can often be dominated by arguments between political parties. Yet last week there was a moment when the other side of parliamentary life, where MPs work together across the political divides, became very visible.
Prior to last Wednesday’s session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs), I had spent a lot of time working with Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Leader at Westminster, as we organised the travel of a group of 50 Ukrainian children supported by a Scottish Charity from Poland to the UK. With a lot of effort needed to get the required consents from Ukrainian and Polish Authorities.
Ian gets a guaranteed chance to speak at PMQs and he started by publicly thanking me for the work we had done together. He did not need to do this, I did not expect or ask him to, but it was a welcome reminder of how we can put our political differences aside and work together in the common good.
Afghanistan
Whilst the world’s attention is on Ukraine, the Taliban have taken Afghanistan a further step back towards darker times in its history.
Their move to close Girl’s Secondary Schools left students who hoped for a better life through learning upset and dismayed, along with their families who supported them. It is not just morally wrong to do this, but totally illogical in a country which desperately needs more people with skills to rebuild it, only for its rulers to then shut out half the population from learning them.
These armed men of violence are once again showing the thing they appear to most fear is a girl with a book.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Saturday 2nd April 11am till 1pm at Preston Baptist Church, 62 Old Torquay Rd, Paignton TQ3 2RB and Friday 8th April 10am till 12noon at The Windmill Centre, Pendennis Rd, Torquay TQ2 7QR.
For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989, surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with, such as housing or welfare, rather than a wider policy debate. There are also drop-in sessions at my office 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD between 10am & 1pm Monday to Friday where a member of my team will be available to help with any queries.
