Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition below.
Bus Services Campaign Update
I recently met with Torbay Council’s Executive Lead for Transport, Cllr Mark King, to discuss the latest position with getting Bus Services restored in areas of Torquay which lost their services in April.
The meeting followed my presenting a petition signed by 1,278 people to the House of Commons. Whilst council officers initially decided to reject it Cllr King confirmed it will now be considered, even offering to receive it personally at the Town Hall.
Cllr King also confirmed a change to the Council’s Transport Capital Programme has been agreed. This change allows community groups to bid for funds to buy a vehicle to provide a bus service, the key issue with getting a not for profit service underway.
This is welcome progress, but there is still more work to be done to get new Bus services on the road.
Fair School Funding
For many years Torbay’s Schools have lost out due to an unfair funding formula which sees our schools receive some of the lowest amounts of per pupil funding in the country.
I have been campaigning for change and last week the Government published its latest set of proposals for a new Funding Formula. I immediately asked the Secretary of State to confirm she would publish the impact these new calculations would have for each school in Torbay.
Shortly afterwards the indicative figures for each school were sent to me by the Schools Minister, these included a welcome overall funding boost of approximately 5.3% for our bay. This will not only help schools meet current costs, but ensure they receive a fairer share of any future increases in education funding. No school sees a reduction in its funding.
The new formula is a vital change as funding levels should be determined by children’s needs, not their school’s postcode. Leaving the current formula in place would be good news for London, but a blow for our bay.
Stonehenge Tunnel Plan Moves Forward
Possible solutions to the major traffic problems at Stonehenge have been debated for decades.
Last week the Government confirmed its support for a scheme to build a tunnel that will take traffic away from the famous stones, whilst widening the A303 to become a dual carriageway. This is the first time a detailed plan has been approved to deal with the delays at this notorious bottleneck.
Some have queried the £1.6bn cost of the scheme, arguing other options should be re-considered, such as cuttings or shorter tunnels. Yet the latest proposal has secured the support of English Heritage, The National Trust and Heritage England, vital given Stonehenge, plus its surrounding area, is a World Heritage Site.
After decades of talking we are finally in a position where a plan to solve this major traffic headache for our region (Including businesses here in the bay) is in place, with a Government prepared to fund it.
This is a once in a generation project for our region. It is time for the endless talking to end and the building work to start.
Anode
There was shock and surprise when local Charity Anode announced it would be closing its operations in October.
I meet with Nigel Williams, the Founding Director of Anode, on Friday to discuss the situation and what had led to it. Nigel was clear there was not one funding decision which led to the decision, there had been a significant reduction in several of its income sources. One point he did make was some public bodies had been quickly in touch after the closure announcement, having been slow to engage with them beforehand.
The clear message Nigel did give me was that even if money was now found or if a funding stream could be secured, it was too late for the Anode Project.
London Terror Attack
It was apt to attend the Annual Battle of Britain Day Service at St Lukes’, Torquay only a few days after the latest attack on the London Underground.
Seventy-Seven years ago a “few” pilots from the Royal Air Force, plus volunteers from across the world, faced the might of Hitler’s Luftwaffe. Defeat would have meant invasion and a decisive moment came when German Bombers headed to London, rather than the Airfields, in the hope of terrorising its population and hastening a British capitulation.
Only a handful of the pilots who fought the Nazis remain, but the spirit of defiance in the face of those who seek to terrorise our nation endures. DAESH and its murderous acolytes will not succeed where Adolf Hitler failed.
Surgery Times,
My next surgeries will be on Friday 22nd September from 11:30am till 1:30pm at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD and Saturday 7th October 2017 from 11am till 1pm at Paignton Library & Information Centre, Station Lane, TQ4 5AR.
Just call 01803 214 989 or e-mail me at [email protected] to book a slot. You can drop in, but appointments are recommended to avoid a long wait or disappointment. My team also run drop in surgery sessions Mon to Friday 10am -1pm at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD.