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Residents' Update:
Friday 12th October 2018
Dear All,
As wet and stormy weather hits our bay it is time for my latest update.
My week started on Saturday with my regular weekly surgery, this time at the Acorn Centre in Barton. A range of issues were raised by the residents who attended, although as with many of my recent surgeries housing problems were the most common.
Later in the day I joined the congregation at St Martin’s, Barton for a service of Evening Prayer to mark Mrs Pamela Lacey receiving her formal license as a reader for the Parish. This was followed by some superb hospitality in the Vicarage afterwards.
After this I headed to the Imperial Hotel for the Grand Auction organised by the Friend’s of St Matthias. The lots included an exclusive tour of Durham Cathedral, Hampers, several bottles of Champagne and a bottle of wine signed by the Prime Minister which sold for £150.
On Monday I visited the Torbay Coastwatch Station, more on this below. Afterwards I headed into my office for a pre-meeting with the delegation from Torbay Together who will be meeting the Industrial Strategy Minister Lord Henley on Monday to promote a “Town Deal” for Torbay. A deal of this nature, like the one recently approved for Grimsby, could see tens of millions invested by the Government in our bay, hence us being keen to get our pitch exactly right.
After this meeting I got the chance to speak with the team working at the former B&Q in Torre. The four workers on site are currently engaged in clearance works and getting the site ready for the main team to arrive in about three weeks’ time. The works will mostly be internal for the moment, but later this year external works will become visible as the block is converted into flats.
Late on Monday night I headed up to London ahead of being in parliament on Tuesday and Wednesday. Whilst in parliament this week I met with the Charity “Crisis” (Top left), who have been working with the Torbay End Street Homelessness Campaign on a Housing First approach for our bay.
Yesterday I was back in the bay for the Torbay Business Forum’s Festival at the Riviera Centre. It was great to be asked to say a few words at the opening (Bottom Left) about how the bay is moving forward, but the challenges which remain. I also popped back for the closing ceremony and to present a cheque for £500 raised by the business forum to the Royal British Legion (Bottom Right).
Regeneration, housing and work to help people with disabilities was on the agenda as I visited the ACE (Action to Community Education) group at South Devon College's Centre for Health and Care Professionals in Shiphay. Plenty of questions followed in what was a lively discussion (Top right)
Today I have been helping open a new Playground in Paignton and visited Torbay Road, Paignton the scene of a major fire last night. There is more on this below in this week’s update which also includes: Storm Warning, Major Fire in Paignton, Draft MESH Guidance Published, Paignton Slavery Arrest, Fatal Crash on Rathmore Road, Torquay, Bailiff Regulation Review, Roebuck House, New Frigates Set Sail for Devonport, Toilets At Goodrington, Artsmark Award, Torquay Retains Purple Flag, Yemen, Food Labelling Questioned, Torbay Police Choir and finally……. Criminal Masterminds.
Storm Warning
The Met Office has issued a Yellow Warning for our region covering today and tomorrow (Saturday 13th October) so if heading to the Coast, or thinking of heading out onto the water, do ensure you check the weather before doing so.
As always the best place for the latest weather news is the Met Office website, you can find their latest forecast for our area by clicking here.
Major Fire in Paignton,
Earlier today I visited Torbay Road, Paignton to see the impact of yesterday’s major fire.
Thankfully no-one was seriously hurt, and my thanks go to all our emergency services who bravely fought the fire and helped keep people safe (Including local Police Cadets).
Fencing has today been erected around the damaged buildings. Torbay Road, between Parkside Road and Garfield Road remains closed and the road behind the site of the fire is shut until further notice. The shops opposite are all open for business and would welcome your custom.
I am advised Torbay Council and the Police will have security measures in place overnight to deal with any attempts at looting from the damaged buildings.
If you are a resident or a business directly affected help and advice will be available at Paignton Library from 9.30am until 4pm tomorrow (Saturday 13th October). If you are unable to drop in to see the Council’s Housing Options team you can call 01803 550405.
Paignton Chamber of Commerce has launched a crowd funding appeal for traders and residents affected by the fire. You can find it by clicking here.
Draft MESH Guidance Published,
Mesh surgery is a medical procedure used to treat incontinence and prolapse in women, often because of childbirth.
An increasing number of women have reported suffering from complications after mesh surgery including debilitating pain, infection, inflammation, loss of sex life and mobility issues. Earlier this year I highlighted one resident’s case in the House of Commons (With her express permission) and called on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to quickly bring forward planned new guidance.
Their latest draft guidance was published this week (NICE). The new draft guidance states clinicians should offer non-surgical options for stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse before any mesh operations. This change is a vindication for the many women who have spoken out bravely about their own experiences, including those living here in the bay, to try and help other women avoid what they have suffered.
This new advice, along with the Department for Health’s current suspension of mesh surgery, should mean the end of mesh surgery for incontinence other than for a handful of women for whom all other options have been ruled out.
Paignton Slavery Arrest,
Whilst the slave trade was abolished more than 200 years ago the insidious crime of modern slavery is sadly all too common.
Modern slavery can take many forms, including being trafficked into the sex industry or being required to work unpaid as a domestic servant.
Earlier this week a young local woman in her 20s was rescued by police investigating vulnerable women being exploited into the sex trade in South Devon. Numerous addresses were visited by police over several weeks and a woman was arrested in Paignton under the Modern Slavery Act. You can read more about this case on Devon Live by clicking here.
If you suspect someone is being kept as a modern slave, you can report it via the Modern Slavery Helpline by clicking here.
Fatal Crash on Rathmore Road, Torquay,
A driver has been arrested following a fatal crash in the early hours of yesterday morning (Thursday 11th October) in Rathmore Road, Torquay.
The accident saw the car collide with a tree near the seafront on the one-way road behind Torquay Athletic's Rugby Ground and in front of Torquay Station. One passenger was killed, the other seriously injured. You can read more on the Devon Live website by clicking here.
Anyone who witnessed the incident and or with information about it is asked to contact Torquay Police on 101@dc.police.uk or call 101 quoting log 90 11/10.
Bailiff Regulation Review,
Whilst the TV Series “Can’t Pay, We’ll Take It Away” may make entertaining viewing, a real visit from a Bailiff can be anything but.
This week MP’s questioned the Minister responsible about calls for the regulation of Bailiffs to be reviewed. The Government is about to launch a call for evidence on this subject. I decided to press the Minister on what engagement there would be in relation to the use of Bailiffs by Councils for the collection of Council Tax debt.
You can read my question and the Minister’s response by clicking here.
Roebuck House,
After the start of regeneration work on two long term derelict sites in Torquay Town Centre last month, Torwood Street and the old B&Q, another long-term eyesore may soon be seeing a long overdue revamp.
Roebuck House, at the junction of Abbey Road and Warren Road, has been mostly vacant for some time, with the owners allowing a local charity, PATH, to use it temporarily prior to conversion work starting. The tower already has planning permission for conversion into apartments.
Now the owner has served notice on PATH to vacate as work is due to start shortly. A member of the PATH team has already been in touch with my office to see if I can assist with finding them a new home.
New Frigates Set Sail for Devonport,
There was a major boost for our region’s economy this week as the Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson, announced HMNB Devonport would be the home port for the new Type 26 Frigates.
The eight Type 26 warships will start being delivered to the Royal Navy from the mid-2020s, with the first HMS Glasgow already under construction. The Base in Devonport employs 2,500 people, supporting approximately 400 local firms and generating around 10 per cent of Plymouth’s income.
This news is also a welcome boost for our economy given not only do many Dockyard workers and their families visit our bay (As I did with my Parents for many years), whilst some live here and commute to Plymouth each day. Torbay companies will also benefit from work generated by the basing of these vessels close to us, hence I joined Plymouth’s 3 MPs in calling for the ships to be based in Devonport.
You can read more on the Government website by clicking here.
Toilets At Goodrington,
The temporary toilet block next to the car park at Goodrington has been removed, but the toilets at both Goodrington North (by the play park) and Goodrington South (behind the kiosk) will be remaining open throughout the winter. Both of these toilets have disabled facilities.
I am advised Torbay Council made the decision to remove the temporary toilets now due to the damage they received during last winter’s storms. They didn't want to take the risk of this happening again.
The new toilet block due to be built in the car park, which will replace the one knocked down due to the Premier Inn development, has been ordered and will be in place by Easter 2019. This new toilet block, which has been part funded by Premier Inn, will also include the Beach Managers Office.
On a side point the Council has advised the new toilet block for the bottom of Market Street in Torquay Town Centre is the Council’s next project. It is on order and will hopefully be installed and opened by the end of November.
Artsmark Award,
This week is Artsmark Celebration Week and Preston Primary are the latest to achieve the Silver Artsmark award.
Artsmark is the creative quality standard for education settings accredited by Arts Council England. It provides a clear framework for teachers to plan, develop and evaluate arts, culture and creativity across the curriculum.
Oldway Primary is a Platinum award school and, as lead school of Torbay Teaching School Alliance has been instrumental in supporting fellow schools in engaging with the programme.
Upton St James Primary holds a Silver award and Priory Primary, St Margaret’s Academy, Abbey School, Barton Hill, Shiphay Learning Academy, Homelands Primary, The Spires, Roselands Primary and St Cuthbert Mayne are all currently on their Artsmark journeys.
Torquay Retains Purple Flag,
A partnership of local organisations and businesses are celebrating after retaining the prestigious Purple Flag accreditation for the evening and night-time economy in Torquay.
Like the Blue Flag for beaches, the purple flag accreditation aims to raise the standard and broaden the appeal of town and city centres between the hours of 5 pm and 5 am. Torquay is the only town in Devon and Cornwall to receive this award.
Areas awarded the Purple Flag are recognised for providing a vibrant and diverse mix of dining, entertainment and culture whilst promoting the safety and wellbeing of visitors and residents.
Yemen,
The situation in Yemen is appalling with millions facing starvation and preventable disease.
On Wednesday MPs questioned International Development Ministers about this appalling man-made disaster, especially what efforts are being made to bring all parties to the current conflict to the table. The main rebel Houthis did not attend the last round of talks.
You can read my question and the Minister’s response by clicking here.
Food Labelling Questioned,
The deadly consequences of selling food contained items customers were allergic to have been much discussed in the media recently following two tragic cases.
On Tuesday MPs challenged the Minister responsible as to what changes the Government would make to food labeling laws in response. Whilst many aspects of labeling laws are set under European Single Market rules, such as the requirement to display certain allergens in bold on the label, there is an opportunity to go further post Brexit.
My Father was diagnosed as a Coeliac, allergic to gluten, 30 years ago. The only way at the time to identify products he could eat was to consult a book published once a year by the Coeliac Society. Times have changed, but the development of bar scanners for smartphones and i-pads could allow a wealth of allergy information to be recorded without needing a very large label on the product itself, a point I made to the Minister.
You can read his response by clicking here.
Torbay Police Choir,
The Torbay Police Choir is a male voice choir which exists to raise money for charities and it is looking for new members.
They sing everything from musical to grand opera. Whilst originally made up of police officers and staff, over time it has accepted many without a Police connection. They do not receive nay funding from the Police and are totally self-sufficient.
The choir rehearse every Tuesday evening at St Johns House, Montpellier Road, Torquay at 7:30pm between September and late July. There are no auditions as all who want to sing are welcome. You can find out more on their website by clicking here.
and finally……. Criminal Masterminds???
Ending on a lighter note one criminal showed he was far from following in the footsteps of America’s great criminal masterminds like Al Capone.
His seemingly fool-proof plan was going well as he broke into a local restaurant, armed with a brick to smash the glass around the cashiers’ counter. One problem, the glass was bullet-proof.
You can see what happened next to the man now branded the world’s dumbest criminal and see some more local examples of criminal stupidity on Devon Live by clicking here.
That is all for this week and enjoy your weekend.
Best wishes,
Kevin
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