Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 30th August 2023) below:
Ticket Offices
Time is running out to have your say on proposals to close the ticket offices at Paignton and Torquay Railway Stations.
Whilst usage of ticket offices national has fallen to less than 15% of tickets sold, the levels of passengers still using a ticket office in our bay is much higher than the national average, with Paignton having one of the highest percentages in the GWR region of passengers still using the ticket office.
I have replied to the consultation objecting to the proposals for Paignton and making clear any changes at Torquay must include works to create more appropriate facilities for passengers on the Up Platform. You can give your response to the consultation by emailing [email protected] or via Freepost: RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, London TravelWatch, PO Box 5594, Southend-on-Sea, SS1 9PZ. The deadline for comments is Friday 1st September.
Oldway
The latest news about the East Tower confirms the urgent need to identify a long-term plan and sustainable funding streams for Oldway Mansion and its surrounding buildings.
Claims a single lottery bid would deliver all the funding required were unrealistic as the overall regeneration bill is estimated to have hit £30m. Torbay Council’s Cabinet is due to discuss a detailed report in November aimed at identifying a credible way forward. I have offered support in working with Government to a secure funding, especially via the new levelling up partnership, as part of a package
The Paignton Picture House, after 2 decades of being closed, is an inspiring example of what can be done where a group of volunteers, Torbay Council and experts dedicated to its heritage developed a realistic business plan and secured funding from several sources, including over £4m from Government. It is set to fully re-open in 2025, with the frontage having already been restored. A similar approach is needed at Oldway.
Prigozhin
No-one should shed a tear for Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Wagner Mercenaries have terrorised civilians, committed war crimes and carried out brutal executions of deserters. His public death intended to confirm there is one thing you cannot do in Russia without being punished: Betray Putin.
Whatever deal or discussion prompted Prigozhin to call off his march to Moscow did not protect him or those who followed him. Putin’s message was simple and brutal, you don’t cross him and live. It should also be a reminder to anyone in the west who thinks Ukraine should strike an appeasement deal with Putin to end the war, exactly who they would be dealing with.
Any deal with Putin which divides Ukraine, would just be a delay to his plans to conquer the country not an end to them, guaranteeing more bloodshed in future.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Saturday 2nd September 10am till 12pm at St Martin’s Church, Barton Hill Road, Torquay, TQ2 8JA and Friday 8th September 10am till 12pm at Paignton Library, Great Western Road, Paignton TQ4 5AG.
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.
