Residents' Update:
Friday 10th August 2018
Dear All,
This weeks Residents Update is a little different as Kevin is away on holiday.
We will therefore take this opportunity to update residents and constituents on what Kevin and his team are currently working on here in the bay, as well as one or two national issues.
Being a Member of Parliament is a full time job, and is often undertaken by Kevin seven days a week. The phones never stop ringing, and each day Kevin receives over 150 e-mails as well as two deliveries of post. On days when there is significant national news, for instance public transport issues or the EU Referendum, Kevin and the team receive up to 500 e-mails. Each of these get a response.
To carry out his work as an MP effectively, and to ensure that constituents receive an excellent service even if they do not always agree with the answer that they are given, Kevin is supported by a team of staff.
In Westminster, Kevin’s Chief of Staff Nick is responsible to respond to the hundreds of e-mails we receive weekly to the Parliamentary e-mail account – normally a mixture of e-mails from constituents in Torbay, and requests to meet Kevin from organisations large and small. Kevin’s diary is also managed by Nick from Westminster, and on days when the House is sitting, Kevin will attend 4-5 meetings in addition to speaking in the Chamber. Between 2015-2017 Kevin had one of the best attendance rates in the House, both for making speeches and for questioning Ministers. Occasionally a constituent will contact Kevin about an extremely serious matter that requires immediate action, and Kevin will never hesitate to reorganise his diary to speak to the Government Minister involved.
Union St Toilet Plan - update
Last week Kevin reported on plans to install new public toilets at the junction of Union St and Market St and that planning permission had been applied for. We are disappointed to report this week that the current toilets in Union Street have been closed due to flooding and that the planning application for the new facilities has been withdrawn. Kevin will be seeking clarification from the Council as to what is now planned going forward.
You can see and comment on the plans for yourself on the Council’s website by clicking here.
Torbay Beach Huts fiasco
Most of you will have seen in this weeks Herald Express that Kevin met with approx 100 residents last Saturday to hear from them about their concerns about a letter they had received from Torbay Council about plans to make beach hut renters buy their huts. Since then the Council has done a partial U-turn by accepting offers and describing the policy as a right-to-buy. It is understood that Torbay Council are now "re-assessing the issue after receiving customer feedback." Watch this space for further updates.
We shall remember them...
It may be 100 years after they fell but the men of the Devonshire Regiment are still remembered - at Menin Gate.
Kevin's week away included a visit to Menin Gate as part of the Royal British Legion's event to mark the 90th anniversary of the Great Pilgrimage of 1928.
Organ donation saves lives.
The Government are introducing a new opt-out system that will help people who are waiting for a life-saving transplant, saving as many as 700 lives every year. Anthony Clarkson, Interim Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We support all activity that increases the availability of donated organs for life saving transplants and we welcome the Government’s commitment to organ donation."
Working to end homelessness
Since April Westward Housing and Shekinah Mission Safe Space has helped 37 people living on the streets of Torbay to move into accommodation. 10 people were also supported to reconnect to their local area. Torbay Council, working with a wide range of other groups and organisations continue to aim to end street homelessness.
Dual carriageway plan for major road outside Torquay Asda
The main Newton Road near Torbay Hospital will go from single to dual carriageway from the busy Shiphay lights junction, but land will have to be bought under compulsory purchase orders.
Discussions have started with Network Rail to acquire the land by negotiation. But there might be a need to acquire the land through a Compulsory Purchase Order, should the current negotiations fail to reach an agreement or are unreasonably delayed.
In addition to the second lane of traffic between Shiphay Lane and Woodland Road, an additional 80 metre left turning lane for northbound traffic would be created, changes would be made to the existing pedestrian crossing, a toucan crossing on Shiphay Lane linking the new hospital cycle route to Rowcroft would be installed, as would new signage for pedestrians and drivers regards appropriate lane use.
The Torquay Gateway Scheme will open up key sites for existing and planned employment, capitalising upon the South Devon Highway reducing journey times and increasing trip journey time reliability.
The Coastguard Team
The risk of getting into difficulties on the beaches or in the sea at this time of year is always greatly increased, it is estimated 50 per cent of people don't know who to phone in a coastal emergency. We want to change that.
Be smart with your smart phone and #KnowWhoToCall in a coastal emergency - it's always dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard
Best Small Shop
Kevin is calling on the small shopkeepers of Torbay to enter the Best Small Shops Competition, celebrating the creativity of small shops and the central role they play in their local community.
The Best Small Shops Competition is open to any small shop* operating in the UK. The competition is free to enter and all shops who enter will also be promoted to consumers through an online Indie Retail Directory.
Shopkeepers can nominate their businesses until Sunday 9th September via www.bestsmallshops.co.uk.
What’s your perspective?
Torbay Council, in collaboration with the NHS, is today launching an initiative to help drinkers across the Bay to consider their perspective on how much alcohol they drink and to take small, positive steps to improve their long term health.
As part of the initiative, residents are being encouraged to visit locations in Brixham, Torquay and Paignton between Tuesday 28 and Thursday 30 August. The locations include Union Street, Torquay (outside Primark); Victoria Street and The Esplande in Paignton; and Brixham Harbour. Here residents will see simple and eye catching 3D floor graphics and drinkers will be asked by staff trained from the NHS to consider their perspective on alcohol.
A recent study, jointly commissioned by Torbay and ten other local authorities, revealed that 1 in 3 adults in the South West are unaware they are drinking too much alcohol and don’t recognise the health risks they are taking. 8 out of 10 ‘at risk drinkers’ underestimate their drinking and see themselves as moderate or light drinkers. Participants in the study were also shocked to understand the clear link between even low level, regular alcohol consumption and seven different types of cancer.
Kate Knight, Director of Public Health Action, part of NHS South Central & West Commissioning Support, said: “The results of the study we conducted into alcohol consumption in the South West showed a clear need for action. This simple but powerful initiative will help people consider how much they drink but far from telling anyone off, we want to encourage people just to stop and think about alcohol, and give them the tools they need to make small but positive changes that can improve their long term health.”
By visiting www.torbay-whatsyourperspective.nhs.uk people can find information on simple and achievable changes to help reduce their alcohol intake and find local support services.
Don't lose your vote
Look out for a form asking you to check you’re on the electoral register. They’ll be dropping through letterboxes soon!
Universal Credit Full Service Roll Out in Torbay
Universal Credit Full Service (UCFS) rolls out in Torbay on 5th September. It will apply to new claimants and those who have a change in circumstances that would usually mean they make a new claim to one of the six benefits UCFS replaces (JSA, ESA, IS, WTC, CTC and housing benefit).
All UC claims must be made on line and The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have contracted with Torbay Council to deliver Assisted Digital Support for customers needing help with making a claim on line. This will be delivered in Brixham, Paignton and Torquay Libraries.
In addition, DWP have contracted with the local authority to deliver Personal Budgeting Support for customers needing help to manage UCFS monthly payments. This will be delivered via Torbay Citizens Advice Bureau - contact number 01803 297803.
For the most vulnerable customers who cannot make a claim on line and have no other support they can ring the service centre on 0800 328 9344, who can help them on line, make the claim for them or refer to DWP Visiting for a home visit.
DWP have worked with many external support agencies (see below) who can support customers with their UC claim. DWP also keeps a record of available services in Torbay which Jobcentre staff can access to sign-post customers appropriately.
Kevin will have a specialist UC Caseworker in the Constituency Office from 5th September who can help advise, signpost and liaise directly with the DWP should constituents have problems in making a UC claim or with an ongoing UC claim.
PLEASE CONTACT KEVIN'S OFFICE ON 01803 214989 OR FOR URGENT ENQUIRIES CALL IN TO THE OFFICE (open to the public between 10am and 1pm every week day) - WE CANNOT DEAL WITH ENQUIRIES VIA TWITTER OR FACEBOOK.
Bowel Cancer
The Secretary of State Matt Hancock has this week accepted the recommendation of the UK National Screening committee that screening for bowel cancer should start 10 years earlier.
Following a comprehensive review of the evidence, the committee advised that screening for bowel cancer in England should be offered from the ages of 50 to 74 using the faecal immunochemical home test kit (FIT).
The evidence shows that screening people at a younger age would enable more bowel cancers and abnormalities to be picked up at an earlier stage, where treatment is likely to be more effective and survival chances improved.
FIT is a new bowel cancer screening test due to be rolled out into the national bowel screening programme from the autumn and will initially be offered every two years to men and women at the current age range of 60-74. FIT is easier to use than the current test and is more accurate in detecting potential cancers. Please be assured that the latest recommendations will not delay the roll out of FIT in our existing programme, which remains a top priority.
We are determined to make our cancer survival rates the best in the world. With the implementation of FIT - a much more convenient and reliable test – we have a real opportunity to reshape our bowel screening programme and potentially detect the stages of bowel cancer much earlier.
The Government have asked NHS England and Public Health England to work together to start to produce an implementation plan. The plan will look at ensuring the NHS has adequate diagnostic and endoscopic workforce capacity to allow a smooth transition towards lowering the screening age in England over time and ensuring we have the best bowel screening programme possible. The important recommendations will be carefully considered as part of the development of the NHS Long Term Plan, which will set out ambitious improvements in cancer prevention and care for the decade ahead.
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