Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Torbay Weekly and you can read the latest edition (Published on Thursday 13th July 2023) below:
Ticket Offices
A consultation has been launched on changes which could see the closure of the current ticket offices at Torquay and Paignton Railway Stations.
Whilst nationally the percentage of passengers using ticket offices has fallen to less than 15%, Paignton Station still sees 41.3% of tickets sold at the Ticket Office, compared to 48.2% online.
The percentage of passengers using the ticket office at Torquay Station is lower at 29.4%. This is partly a reflection of the ticket office (plus staff facilities) being located on the Down Platform few passengers depart from, whilst virtually all passengers depart from the other side of the station.
Whilst an increasing number of rail passengers are happy to use online and telephone booking options, many do still need assistance at the station on the day. It is therefore vital the ability to ask someone for help to buy a ticket or to be available to answer a query about train times or ticket validity must remain during the hours the current offices are open.
I have therefore responded to the consultation calling for Paignton’s ticket office to remain open and for the current facilities at Torquay Station to be improved, this with a view to having facilities for staff and assistance with ticket purchases moved to the Up Platform where virtually all passengers depart from.
Safer Streets Funding
Round 5 of the Safer Streets Fund was confirmed recently, with each Police and Crime Commissioner given £1.4m of funding under it to crack down on anti-social behaviour in their area.
The last round of Safer Streets Funding helped support a package of works in Torquay to help tackle violence against women and girls, plus target some long standing issues in the Town Centre. This included new CCTV Cameras, extending the times CCTV is monitored and work to improve lighting. Several of these issues being highlighted in a patrol I undertook with the Torquay Neighbourhood Police team earlier this year.
I will be pushing for this latest funding to be used for a similar package in Paignton Town Centre, including works to tackle some of the longstanding issues in locations like the Parish Church’s Churchyard and Victoria Car Park.
Women Gulls
At St Margaret’s Academy’s Summer Fayre, it was great to meet Manager Steve Elswood and some of the Torquay United Women FC team who won the SW League Championship.
Alongside talking about their promotion to the national league for the first time, the event showed the greatest legacy of the Lionesses European triumph and the Women Gulls promotion: Girls coming up to the players talking about their win and how they want to do it themselves one day.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Saturday 15th July 11am till 1pm at Preston Baptist Church, Old Torquay Road, Paignton TQ3 2RB and Friday 21st July 1pm till 3pm at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD.
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.
