Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition, published on Wednesday 27th June 2018, below:
Plastic Ocean
I recently opened the British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Conference being hosted by Paignton Zoo, Living Coasts and Shaldon Zoo.
With 8 million tonnes of plastic ending up in the ocean every year the consequences for our environment could be devastating. A plastic item used for a few seconds can still be found floating in the ocean several decades later. The problem is now touching virtually every part of our planet, including remote communities such as Pitcairn Island, and geologists are debating whether it could even create a new geological era as plastic settles on the seabed.
Conference delegates were handed a jar showing what had been found in the stomachs of dead Albatross Chicks on Midway Island. This included disposal lighters, toothbrushes, bottle tops and even an empty printer cartridge. All had been scooped up from the surface of the ocean having been mistaken for food by their parents.
Plastic products are not all bad and many have produced major benefits, such as those used in life saving medical procedures and others which have allowed a range of technological products to be developed. Yet increased recycling and better waste disposal is only able to cope with part of the growing tide of single use plastic items, the real answers will lie in reducing their use across a range of settings.
There are no simple solutions, with many proposals requiring international co-operation, yet doing nothing is not an option.
Heathrow
The Government has announced its decision to press ahead with a third runway at Heathrow, with the House of Commons set to vote on this within weeks.
I will vote based on the needs of Torbay and what outcome, in terms of new airport capacity, would assist our economy the most. Too much of the debate on this issue has been dominated by those who live in London and can easily access several major airports, rather than the impact of this decision beyond the M25.
Torbay businesses already rely on links provided via Heathrow to access a range of markets overseas, with seafood leaving our bay almost daily to be flown out from its Cargo Port to markets in the Far East.
Alternative options such as Gatwick, Stanstead or a new Airport in the Thames Estuary are either difficult to access from the South West or would take too long to complete. Bristol and Exeter Airports are set to expand but cannot realistically provide the range of long haul connections our businesses and tourism industry need.
This combined with the dualling of the A303, the Heathrow Express link from London Paddington and the prospect of a Western Rail Access (allowing services to access the airport directly from the GWR Mainline) all point to Heathrow being the right choice for Torbay.
Frigates
The Government will soon decide where the next generation of Royal Navy Frigates, the Type 26, will be based and it will be a boost for our whole region if they head to Devonport.
There are many families living in the bay whose livelihood depends on Devonport Dockyard and Naval Base. This is not only in the form of direct employment, but the wider economic impact from this work.
Too often over the past decades our region has failed to work together and lost out to others when bidding for opportunities. I was therefore pleased to support colleagues from Plymouth in calling for them to be based at Devonport.
Police Cadets
Last week I headed to the Parkfield Centre to see Torbay's first Volunteer Police Cadets (VPC) take their oath.
Being a cadet is not just about gaining new skills and friendships but joining the policing family and serving their community. They can also assist our local Police through supporting crime prevention work and providing a presence at local events.
It was great to meet this talented group who will make a difference in our bay.
PIP Assessments
Last week Parliament discussed PIP Assessments after a Government decision not to appeal a court judgement.
During the debate several MPs queried how the Government can ensure assessments for this key disability benefit are accurately and fairly conducted. I regularly get queries from residents whose assessment reports appear very different to their own experience of what happened.
Video recording of these assessments (subject to privacy rules) would allow them to be reviewed independently to ensure they were performed correctly and the results recorded accurately in reports. A pilot is due to be undertaken and I would be interested to hear residents’ views on this suggestion.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries will be on Saturday 16th June 11am till 1pm at Torquay Library, Lymington Road, TQ1 3DT and Friday 22nd June 4pm till 6pm at Preston Baptist Church, 62 Old Torquay Rd, Paignton TQ3 2RB,
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.