Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 2nd August 2023) below:
Ticket Offices
The deadline for the consultation on ticket office closures has been extended to 1st September 2023.
The original consultation deadline had provided only a very short period to give comments on major changes, so I welcome the extension. The proposals are based on the usage of ticket offices having fallen to less than 15% of tickets sold nationally and some being underused, yet here in our bay usage is much higher with 41.3% of tickets still sold at Paignton Station’s Ticket Office. Torquay Station sees 29.4% of tickets sold at the ticket office, despite the current facilities being far from ideal for passengers. Torquay’s ticket office is on the other side of the station to the platform where virtually all passengers depart from. The current proposals would see passengers having to buy tickets from a machine next to a bin, on a platform with no indoor passenger or staff facilities.
With the extra time available, I would urge Herald Express readers to back the petition being run by Cllr John Fellows and I opposing the closure of Paignton’s Ticket Office and make their views known on the proposals for Torquay. You can sign the petition by visiting Austin’s News in Torbay Road, Paignton, find it on my website (www.kevinjfoster.com) or call 01803 214 989 to be sent a sheet for signature.
Residents should also send their comments about, plus objections to, the proposals for Paignton and Torquay Stations to Passenger Focus ahead of the new deadline. You can do so via Freepost: RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 9PZ.
Baby Loss
The heartbreak of baby loss is often made harder by the lack of any official recognition of what happened.
The Government has confirmed it will introduce voluntary certificates for parents who have experienced the heartbreak of pre-24-week pregnancy loss, to be rolled-out this October during Baby Loss Awareness Week. These certificates will serve as a document acknowledging pregnancy loss and help bereaved parents with the unimaginable pain and grieving process.
Losing a baby is one of the hardest and most upsetting moments in life for any couple. Being able to have this recognised officially is something many have said would provide some comfort to them, so I welcome the moves to introduce voluntary certificates, alongside wider work to support women who experience this loss.
Trevor Staveley
Hazel and I were sorry to hear the news Trevor Staveley, someone who devoted many years of service to Torbay Street Pastors and our community, has passed away.
Trevor was a man who very much believed in a calling to serve others and wanted to help make our local community safer. He will be much missed.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Friday 4th August 10am till 12pm at Paignton Library, Great Western Road, Paignton TQ4 5AG and Friday 18th August 10am till 12pm at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD.
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. There are also drop-in sessions from 10am till 1pm, Monday to Friday at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD where a member of my team is available to assist residents with urgent queries.
