Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Torbay Weekly and you can read the latest edition (Published on Thursday 4th May 2023) below:
Festival Liquidation
The collapse of a Festival which it was claimed would bring “amazing” food talent to Devon left a bitter taste for many, when the company running it went bust last week.
I have already heard from several people who have lost hundreds of pounds spent on tickets for the English Riviera Food & Music Festival. I also understand Torbay Council has managed to lose a significant amount of taxpayer's money as well.
Serious questions must be asked about how a small company which appears to have no track record in successfully managing such events was chosen by Torbay Council to deliver this event.
I also wonder why a decision to pull the plug was taken this late in the day, only when the company entered liquidation, when it must have been apparent for some time the festival was not selling tickets to the level which would cover costs. This meant more people incurred losses prior to this announcement.
I plan to take this up with whichever administration is elected after the local elections, as many local people rightly want answers about what went so badly wrong.
Water Quality
Last Tuesday saw me in the Cabinet Room for a meeting with the Prime Minister about the next stage of the government’s plan to tackle sewage pollution by enshrining a target to improve sewage overflows into law.
In August 2022 the government set out its Storm Overflows Reduction Plan which requires an infrastructure programme to tackle sewage overflows which is estimated to represent £56bn of investment. In April, £1.6 billion investment was brought forward to speed up vital water infrastructure projects, cutting thousands of overflow spills each year.
During the meeting it was reconfirmed the Government will lift the cap on civil penalties for water and sewerage companies, raising them up to unlimited penalties so polluters pay for their impact on the environment, with funds raised now being reinvested into further improving rivers and water bodies.
Bathing water standards are tougher today than when I was first elected in 2015, but there is still more work to be done. This latest move is a further step in the right direction.
TUFC
Saturday saw the hopes of a Great Escape finally come to an end at Plainmoor. Whilst the Gulls earned a credible drawn against newly crowned League Champions Wrexham, relegation was confirmed at the final whistle.
Yet the next day a 1-0 win over Royal Wotton Bassett saw Torquay United’s Women secure promotion to the fourth tier for the first time.
Football has its highs and lows, now let’s get behind both teams next season so they each end on a high.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Saturday 13th May 11am till 1pm at Paignton Library, Great Western Road, Paignton TQ4 5AG and Saturday 27th May 11am till 1pm at Preston Baptist Church, Old Torquay Road, Paignton TQ3 2RB.
Surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with. For an appointment you can either email me at [email protected] or leave a message on 01803 214989. 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.
