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Investment Zone Bids Submitted For Torbay, More Below

Residents' Update:
Friday 14th October 2022

Dear All, 

After a wet day here in our bay it is time for my latest update.

My week started last Saturday morning with a visit to a Macmillan Coffee Morning in Preston. When my Mum was diagnosed with cancer 11 years ago Macmillan provided her with a great deal of support. I know they have done the same for many other families here in our bay, so I am always pleased to see events being held to support their annual coffee morning drive.

Afterwards I headed to Paignton Fire Station for their “Brew with a Crew” Event. It was good to not only meet the crews and share a brew with them, but also hear about an opportunity for residents to get a free fire safety check. More info in the inset story below.

Later in the evening I headed over to the Livermead Cliff Hotel for an evening event being held as part of the Western Area Conservative Clubs Council Conference. It was good to catch up with not only representatives of our local clubs, but those from across the South West spending the weekend in our bay. This was followed by their AGM the following morning.

Sunday afternoon saw me head over to Paignton Conservative Club for the 85th Birthday celebrations for Gwyn Jones, a well-known face in Paignton. The rest of the day was spent with family and catching up on both ministerial and constituency work.

Monday morning saw me getting the train up to London ahead of a busy few days in Westminster.

Monday afternoon included a briefing on a part of my new brief which is of particular interest here in our bay, accessibility. Whilst the railway has a magnificent history, sadly many of its buildings date from an era when accessibility needs were ignored and not considered, with 4 out of 5 stations (Including Torre) not having step free access to all platforms. Over recent years this has begun to change, but more needs to be done.

Tuesday saw me head up to Birmingham for the Rail Forum’s Conference. I was asked to speak about my vision for the future of our railways and the investments planned by the Government in them (Top Left). The audience of about 300 was mostly made up of those involved in supplying the rail industry.

Wednesday saw a mixture of commitments in the Department for Transport, in Parliament including attending Prime Minister’s Questions and a visit to the Spanish Embassy for events to mark their National Day. My previous role saw me work with the Ambassador and his team on migration matters, a working relationship which is very helpful to continue in my new role given Spain has the second largest high speed rail network in the world. It was helpful to talk with their transport attaché about how they have integrated it into their existing network and what we can learn from their experiences.

Wednesday evening saw my first appearance at the Despatch Box as Rail Minister, for a 30 minute debate on accessibility at a rail station in Hampshire secured by the local MP. You can listen to it here.

Thursday morning saw Transport Questions take place on the floor of the House of Commons. About every 6 weeks each department has to spend an hour answering questions from MPs, with the Opposition Front Benches having a guaranteed number of questions they can ask. I was at the Despatch Box to answer a few questions on my brief (Top Right), with a bit more on this below.  

Following further meetings relating to both my Ministerial role and issues here in our bay, I caught the train home last night ahead of a day getting out and about in our bay today.

I started this morning with a visit to Barton Hill Academy to meet the Pupil Leadership Team of the school and to presented them with their leadership badges (Bottom Left). They were each elected by their class to represent them.

Later in the morning I headed to the Torquay Town Hall Assembly Rooms to meet the team from the TDA who had organised a Jobs Fair there today and the employers advertising roles (Bottom Right). It was good to see the range of posts on offer, from tech jobs making equipment for the NHS to skilled hospitality roles, plus to note how many entry roles in sectors such as care now pay well above the minimum wage.

One employer was displaying an innovative approach they are taking to supporting staff who care for people in their own homes. Many carers can find using a car for work expensive due to insurance and fuel costs or difficult due to not being able to park near a client’s home, in addition some excellent carers may not drive or own a vehicle. Therefore, providing an electrically assisted bike can help provide rapid transport between clients' homes, without the costs of a car.

Finally, this afternoon I held my monthly meeting with Torbay Council’s Leadership and met the Rural Dean of Torbay Revd Nathan Kiyaga. I also listened to the statement by the Prime Minister and took part in a meeting via video conferencing for Conservative MPs with the Deputy Prime Minister afterwards.

This week’s update is below and includes: Investment Zone Bids In, Paignton Pedestrianisation, Still Time To Have Your Say on Torbay Council Housing Plans, Torre Station Road Works, Paignton Bus Service Changes, Digital Radio Bids In, Transport Question Time, Looking After The Grandkids?, 50+ Can Now Book Their Jabs, Bay of Lights, Kev’s Column: Housing and finally……..Downing St Bruiser Outfoxes Opponents.

Investment Zone Bids In, .

Earlier today, Torbay Council, with the support of Anthony Mangnall and Myself, submitted an expression of interest for 4 sites in our bay to be considered as part of the investment zones initiative.

The sites submitted were:

1. Paignton Town Centre - Focused on Victoria Square and Crossways Area. (The proposed area does not include Victoria Park or the Seafront).

2. Torquay Town Centre -  Upper Union Street, plus some surrounding streets which form part of the Town Centre, eg Lower Union Lane.

3. Photonics Park, Paignton -  A site previously identified for industrial\commercial development.

4. Brixham Marine - The proposed area relates to parts of the Harbour facilities.

A fifth site suggested by Torbay Council, at Edginswell, was dropped after I objected as local MP to a large greenfield area being included in such a bid. Whilst it has previously been identified for development, I believe the focus should be on reviving our Town Centres, rather than offering incentives for out-of-town development.

The submission of these bids followed Anthony and I receiving an email from Torbay Council at 10:32pm last night (Thursday) asking us to endorse their suggestions. We both expressed concerns about the proposed inclusion of a large greenfield site and the need to have ambitious Town Centre bids, which were expanded before submission in response to our feedback.

Despite some claims being made about how Investment Zones might affect local wildlife sites and woodland by organisations not based here in our bay, update readers will see the list of sites are areas which clearly do not include such locations. Any Investment Zones is for a specific area, selected locally, meaning any sensitive sites where development not appropriate, eg a neighbouring park or historical site, can be excluded. Investment Zones can offer time limited tax incentives and planning flexibilities to drive regeneration.

We should hear the outcome of our bids later this year.

Paignton Pedestrianisation,

A few people have been in touch about the changes made in Torbay Road, Paignton’s “Golden Mile” recently.

Torbay Council recently implemented a temporary scheme to remove most vehicles which previously passed along Torbay Road. The temporary scheme has been designed to copy vehicle access and movement restrictions which are proposed to be introduced on Torbay Road and nearby streets as part of a permanent pedestrianisation scheme. It follows a consultation earlier this year.

The changes mean vehicles will generally not be permitted to drive along Torbay Road and are limited to access, service, and delivery vehicles at agreed times of the day. The section of Torbay Road over the level crossing and up to the junction with Hyde Road will is also pedestrianised with no vehicles permitted except emergency vehicles.  The railway is not affected. You can read more on Torbay Council’s website by clicking here.

I understand the impact of the changes will be reviewed before permanent changes are made.

Still Time To Have Your Say on Torbay Council Housing Plans,

Last week Torbay Council published its latest consultation document on where it proposes building new homes in our bay.

As mentioned last week the new plan is much closer to a genuine plan for new housing in our bay than an initial publication earlier this year which included sites which were not serious suggestions.

I would therefore encourage update readers to take part in the consultation, especially as an online map allows comments to be “pinned” onto sites and to easily see what is proposed in your area. You can find the consultation by clicking here.

Torre Station Road Works,

Works to replace an ageing set of traffic signals in Torquay is due to start on Monday (17 October) 2022 for nine weeks, with work scheduled to be finished by Thursday 15 December.

The signalised junction at the A3022 Newton Road/Avenue Road near to Torre Railway Station is being upgraded with new traffic signals and improvements will also be made to the existing pedestrian crossing.
Temporary traffic lights will be in operation at the junction while the works are underway which is, likely to result in traffic delays. Do take the potential for congestion into consideration if planning an important journey over the coming weeks.

Train Services from Torre Station are not affected.

Paignton Bus Service Changes,

Recent changes to the 22 bus service in Roselands have caused residents to speak out after losing a valued service.

The 22 is a frequent service, making it popular with passengers, however following recent road changes on Brixham Road it has now been rerouted away from Roselands Estate. You can read more on Devon Live by clicking here.

If you have been affected do let me know so I can pick up residents concerns with Stagecoach.

Digital Radio Bids In,

Just after I was first elected in May 2015, I spoke with local radio stations about the prospects of them going digital and broadcasting on DAB.

At the time it was very difficult for a radio station to make the transition from being an internet only service to broadcasting on either FM or DAB. Even those commercial stations who were on FM in our area did not look at going onto DAB as they would have to sign up to a county wide broadcasting multiplex due to outdated legislation. This would mean them paying a significant sum relating to broadcasting into areas where their advertisers would not wish to promote their products, eg a Torquay garage is unlikely to attract new MOT customers from North Devon.

I worked with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to change this and introduced a Private Member’s Bill (PMB), which became the first piece of Broadcasting Legislation to be created via a PMB. It allowed the creation of small-scale multiplexes covering individual areas, like our bay.

Currently a licence for a small-scale multiplex in Torbay is being competed for and two bids have gone in, with Devon Live covering one this week. You can read more about it here.

Torbay’s digital radio multiplex is expected to be operating in 2023.

Transport Question Time,

As mentioned above yesterday saw me at the Despatch Box answering questions as Rail Minister.

Whilst some questions focused on policy issues, such as future plans for modernisation of the railways, many MPs will ask questions directly related to rail services and stations in their constituencies. In most cases the MPs concerned will raised the specific issue they are concerned about and ask for a meeting to follow up on it with the Minister. As a backbencher Transport Questions were a favourite one for me as I often took the opportunity to raise getting funding for the new Edginswell Station, Dawlish Resilience and Crosscountry Services to our bay.

You can watch the session, which lasts an hour in total, by clicking here.

Looking After The Grandkids?,

If you look after your Grandchildren regularly, you might want to check out a little-known benefit for Grandparents who look after their Grandchildren while their parents’ work.

If you are a parent of a child aged under 12 and if your parent (ie the child’s grandparent) do childcare so you can work, you can apply to get them what is called "Specified Adult Childcare Credit". This means they get the National Insurance years that normally go to a parent who is off work looking after children (as you're working, you'll usually be getting from work). This can add literally £1,000s to a future state pension entitlement.

You can find out all the details on the Government website by clicking here.

50+ Can Now Book Their Jabs,

Millions of people aged 50 and over will be able to book their autumn booster and flu vaccines tomorrow, as the NHS Covid-19 and flu programmes continue to protect the country ahead of winter.

Online and phone bookings opened earlier today to around 12 million people aged between 50 and 64 to book their Covid jabs. For the first time, the service will allow some people who are eligible for a flu vaccine to book an appointment online under a new pilot with more than 200 sites across the country. If eligible you can also book flu vaccinations through your GP practice or by visiting a participating community pharmacy.

More than 7 million people have already had their autumn booster in just over a month, following a bumper week last week of almost 2 million jabs being delivered to people aged 65 and over and those most at risk from Covid.

Getting your flu and covid jab is one of the best ways to help our NHS this winter. You can find all the details and book your flu jab by clicking here and your Covid Booster by clicking here.  

Bay of Lights,

An exciting new light trail is set to illuminate Torquay this Christmas.

From Saturday 19 November residents and visitors can enjoy the 1.5-mile route with glittering and unexpected surprises along the way. Organised by Torbay Council using funding secured through the Government Towns Deal Funding and supported by SWISCo and the English Riviera BID Company, the dazzling Illumination Trail will bring some Christmas magic to Torquay.

Light installations will guide people along the route between Torre Abbey, Torquay seafront, Fleet Street and into the town centre.

The trail, created by local company Future Technical Solutions (FTS) using low-energy LED bulbs, will allow people to stop and enjoy impressive light and sound displays.

Highlights include a light tunnel along Torquay seafront that works in co-ordination with the digital festoon lighting and a series of 16 prisms lighting up the ‘Banjo’ area. There will also be a 12-metre-high pixel mappable Christmas Tree that will provide a spectacular digital sound and light show.

Along the route, additional lighting will add some glittering Christmas magic to the town and around the harbourside, as well as in the trees and sunken gardens – even the pond in Abbey Park. There will also be lighting on the curly bridge at Abbey Sands.

The first of its kind trail for Torquay will officially launch on Saturday 19 November and will run daily from 4.30pm, with sound elements until 9.30pm and the lighting until 11pm. The display will run until Sunday 8 January 2023.

Kev’s Column: Housing

Every fortnight I write a “Kev’s Column” for the Herald Express and you can read the latest edition by following the link below:

https://www.kevinjfoster.com/news/kevs-column-housing-1

and finally……..Downing St Bruiser Outfoxes Opponents.

Ending on a different note some Westminster commentators had recently suggested one veteran of 10 Downing St had lost his spark and might be facing retirement, yet this week he hit back at his critics by outfoxing a cunning opponent.

Larry the Cat has been Chief Mouser at Number 10 for 11 years, serving under 4 Prime Ministers. Given his advancing age a few political pundits had speculated his best days might be behind him, yet this week he confounded his critics when a fox invaded Downing Street. You can watch Larry outfox the intruder on You Tube by clicking here.

That is all for this week and enjoy your weekend.

Best Wishes,

Kevin
Brew With A Crew

As mentioned above on Saturday I was at Paignton Fire Station for the “Brew With a Crew” event in aid of the Firefighter’s Charity.

It was organised by the Station’s White Watch and saw the station open for a range of activities, plus some vital fire safety advice as the winter approaches. This included ensuring you check your smoke detectors regularly, at least once a month.

The crews who are based at the station lie at the heart of our local community, with many having served for several years. It was good to catch up with several of them who had been involved in the sucessful campaign three years ago to protect Fire Cover at the Station.

 
During the event there was the classic demonstration of what can happen when water is used in an attempt to put out a chip pan fire!!

One point the firefighters were keen to highlight was how many fires or incidents at home could be prevented by taking simple steps, with a free home fire safety visit available for the most at risk in our community. You can find out more on the Fire Service website by clicking here.
Advice Surgeries

Holding regular surgeries is a core part of my role as Torbay's MP and one I will continue to undertake, including offering face to face appointments for constituents.

Please note these surgeries must prioritise urgent personal matters, such as welfare, immigration, problems accessing support and benefits, rather than to discuss policy or the wider situation at this time. Please note given recent events the Police or other security staff may be present when you arrive. We will also ask people attending to respect social distancing.

To book an appointment you can either email me at  kevin@kevinjfoster.com or leave a message on 01803 214989 and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.
 
Events

Do let me know if your community group, sports club, church or charity is arranging something as I am happy to promote them in my update.

The usual restrictions apply of the event should not be commercially focused (Eg A business running a special offer) or politically motivated.


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Under One Roof 3
The Big Platinum Homeless Musical 
Sunday 16th October - For One Night only.
Princess Theatre, Torquay.
Unleashed Theatre Company

 
Unleashed Theatre Company present the third Big Homeless Musical to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Come and support this epic night of music and comedy to raise funds for their work with the ex-homeless and recovery communities in Torbay. Curtain up at 7:30pm and you can buy you tickets by clicking here.

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Wednesday 19th October 2.30 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Talk by Wendy Richard Wood on “Women of the RNLI” at Brixham Rugby Club, Astley Park, Rea Barn Rd, Brixham TQ5 9ED
Tea and biscuits included – £5 per person.

For more informstion click here 

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Warm Space
Main Hall, Upton Vale Baptist Church
Fridays 11am - 4pm.


Hot drinks, snacks and activities available as Upton Vale Baptist Church offers a warm welcome to anyone who may be worrying about the cost of their heating this winter.  

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Libraries unlimited and the 4 Bay libraries invite you to join The Adult Reading Challenge ‘THE BAY BOOK BIMBLE’. 

*bimble :  (n.) a leisurely walk or journey   (v.) walk or travel at a leisurely pace 

The BAY BOOK BIMBLE is created for you to take time to read, to read out of your box and just to enjoy the diversity of books.  Local libraries want to give you the opportunity to find new reads, to discover new authors and enjoy our wide range of books. 

They will present  (until February 2023) 10 exciting challenges. You will find the monthly challenge in your local library. 

You can choose 6 of those 10 challenges, read and hopefully enjoy your book and then record it in your personal journal. 

When you finish the challenge, you take your journal back to the library and immediately get one free reservation for your next read. You will then enter the free prize draw and have the chance to win some amazing, locally sourced prizes.  

The prizes will be revealed during the ongoing challenge. 

‘THE BAY BOOK BIMBLE 2022@’ will end on the 28th February 2023.  

You have plenty of time to bimble and enjoy the second ‘BAY BOOK BIMBLE’. 

To get started just pop down to your local library and get your own personal journal, the overview of the 10 challenges and more information from our staff. 


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Copyright © Kevin Foster, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Kevin Foster MP
5-7 East St,
Torquay,
TQ2 5SD
Telephone: 01803 214 989

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Promoted by Hazel Foster on behalf of Kevin Foster both of Torquay Central Conservative Club, Hill Gardens, 226 Union Street, Torquay, TQ2 5QS
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