Every fortnight Kevin writes a "Kev's Column" for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition (Published on Wednesday 13th September 2023) below:
Alzheimer's
Dementia is a condition which robs many in our bay of their independence and where family members must often watch a loved one slowly disappear long before they finally pass away.
It is now estimated one in two of us will either be affected either by developing it ourselves or caring for someone who has. Often having to provide care to a loved one can mean giving up jobs or other opportunities to do so.
I recently met up with Alzheimer’s Research UK, the UK’s leading dementia research charity, to discuss their latest work and how we can start reducing the toll dementia takes on our bay. There are some very encouraging results coming out of work on potential diagnostic tests, which may not only allow diagnosis at an earlier stage before symptoms develop but enable a future screening programme.
Two close relatives have been affected by this condition, it can often leave you feeling helpless as it progresses. It was therefore great to hear of the latest research and the hope it brings of a very different future for those diagnosed with this disease.
School Buildings
There has been a lot of discussion over the last week about the impact on school buildings of a type of concrete used until the mid -1990s, Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete used mainly between the 1950s and 1990s. This issue does not just relate to schools, for example Devon and Cornwall Police rebuilt Barnstaple Police Station, after a survey of its buildings in 2019 ordered by our Police & Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez, warned there was a danger of the previous building collapsing due to the use of RAAC.
Over the last 8 years I have worked with local schools to secure funding for improvements and necessary maintenance works. I therefore immediately contacted Ministers to get clarity about whether any local schools were affected, with confirmation quickly received there are no confirmed cases affecting schools in my constituency.
Onshore Wind
The effective ban on new onshore wind generation has been lifted. This followed discussions between the Government and MPs supporting a proposal to lift it ahead of a vote which was due to be held last week.
The changes do not mean there will suddenly be new wind turbines across all parts of the country. Local communities will need to be supportive, with direct benefits able to be offered to residents living nearby, such as discounts on energy bills as already happens in parts of Wales. In looking to our future energy needs, onshore wind should be part of our future mix, alongside other sources such as new nuclear and solar.
Surgery Times
My next surgeries are on: Friday 15th September 10am till 12pm at Torquay Library, Lymington Road, Torquay, TQ1 3DT and Friday 22nd September 3pm till 5pm 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.
