Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 28th September 2022) below:
Investment
Following Friday’s announcement of 38 Investment Zones, I have called on Torbay Council to apply for Torquay and Paignton Town Centres to be part of the next wave.
Torquay Town Centre is already set to benefit from the Government’s £21.9m Torquay Town Deal, whilst Paignton Town Centre is seeing a £13.4m government funding package for its Future High Streets Fund. Yet with the pandemic having accelerated long term changes in shopping habits radical action is now needed to revive our Town Centres.
Investment Zones will benefit from streamlined planning rules and time limited tax cuts to boost growth in areas that need it most. I quickly met with Ministers from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to confirm applications can soon be made for zones in addition to the 38 unveiled last week.
The DLUHC team also confirmed each investment zone bid should be based on a defined geographical area. We do not need to bid based on the entire area covered by Torbay Council or a set acreage. This means we can bid for the Town Centres, whilst excluding locations around them where development would not be appropriate or desirable, eg a neighbouring park, conservation zone or greenfield site.
Our Town Centres have great potential for the future, but now need radical change to halt the decline of recent decades. The funding on offer from the Government will make a big difference, but an investment zone could help turbo charge job creation and regeneration at the heart of our communities by unlocking investment into them.
Not since the reconstruction period after the Second World War has the need for radical change in Town Centres across our nation been more urgent. An investment zone offers the chance for just this, Plymouth City Centre will be one, so Torbay Council should seize the chance to apply for Torquay and Paignton Town Centres to have one of their own.
Ukraine
Recent weeks have seen welcome news of major advances by the Ukrainian Military, with many Towns and Villages being liberated.
As they advance an all too familiar scene of devastation and evidence of war crimes is being encountered, reminding them and us of what they are fighting for. In an act of desperation, last week Putin ordered the biggest Russian mobilisation since World War 2.
Whilst Ukrainians queued to join their nation’s military or travelled home from abroad to defend their nation, many young Russians are now queuing at Russia’s Borders to leave and avoid fighting Putin’s war. The contrast is the clearest demonstration possible of Ukraine having right on its side and deserving victory.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Friday 7th October 10am till 12Noon at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD and Saturday 15th October 11am till 1pm at Preston Baptist Church, 62 Old Torquay Rd, Paignton TQ3 2RB.
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, 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.
