News courtesy of Kevin Foster
(MP for Torbay)
Formal Opening of the South Devon Highway
On Monday, the Roads Minister was in Devon to formally open the South Devon Highway.
Unlike the real opening in December that happened at 3:55am, this ceremony took place at 09:30am with an impressive selection of Civic Chains on display. A ribbon strung across one of the new slip roads was cut and the most significant infrastructure project in our area for a generation was formally declared open.
Future of Parkfield Debated
Recently there has been mention of plans to move Torbay School in Paignton to the site at Parkfield.
These plans were discussed by Councillors yesterday and some last minute changes were unveiled ahead of a vote on them. The Herald Express reported on the discussion at the council meeting which you can read by clicking here.
Planning a Train Journey?
If you are planning a train journey this weekend or next then bear in mind there will be significant delays due to work at Teignmouth.
For the next two weekends (Starting 27/28 February) Teignmouth Station and the track that runs through it will be closed for maintenance work. This means travel will only be possible from Exeter to Plymouth using rail replacement buses. You can read more on the Herald Express website by clicking here.
If you are planning a journey by train over the next two weekends it is easy to check ahead on the National Rail enquiries website by clicking here.
Council Tax Rise Decided
Councillors met yesterday to decide on the annual budget for Torbay Council, with a rise in Council Tax included for the first time in five years.
Torbay Council’s share of the Council Tax we pay each year has been frozen since 2011 following a Government grant being offered to those Councils who kept their rises low. This year the Council has decided to increase Council Tax by 3.99%, with half of that rise being the creation of a new Social Care levy to meet the increasing costs of providing these vital services.
The rise means that when Police and Fire Authority precepts are added, someone paying the average Band D rate will see their bill increase by £55 next year. You can read more on the Herald Express website by clicking here.
What Was That Ship?
Looking out to sea this week you might have wondered if a Bond Villain was building a new undersea headquarters as a rather odd looking shop arrived off our coast.
Whilst looking like something out of a Bond film the strangely high craft had a much more simple purpose. It was transporting a piece of drilling equipment.
You can read the full details, and see a photo on the Herald Express website by clicking here.
Note: See what ships are in the Bay using our Web page here.
Sweet Taste of Success For Ministry of Pudding
The sweet taste of success is in the air at the Ministry of Pudding based in Watcombe.
A £500,000 investment has bought new equipment and helped create 25 new jobs. The investment is based on increased demand for its products and new ranges being introduced. You can read more on the Herald Express website by clicking here.
This investment is welcome news and the original decision to move to the site by the company was supported by an investment from the Mayor’s Growth Fund, created by Torbay Mayor Gordon Oliver.
Need a Job?
Job seekers can meet with Torbay and South Devon employers, who are actively recruiting, at a Jobs Fair in Torquay on Friday 4 March.
This free event will take place in Torquay’s Town Hall Assembly Rooms from 10am to 3pm, providing job seekers the opportunity to meet with over 50 local employers.
The fair, which is sponsored by TUC Union Learn and delivered by TDA and Jobcentre Plus in partnership, conveniently brings a range of employers from across Torbay and South Devon together in one space.
Job seekers that wish to attend the event can just turn up on the day. For more information please call Marzenna Seares at Jobcentre Plus on 01803 356184
Postcard Sale to Help Rowcroft
Julie Brandon, who runs Artizan Gallery in Lucius Street, Torquay, has sent details of a fundraising effort they are running for Rowcroft Hospice.
The information she sent is below:
We are trying to raise some money for Rowcroft and wondered if you could give us a mention in your next newsletter.
Artists have donated small pieces of anonymous original art (‘Postcards’) and we are inviting people to place bids on them up until the end of March. The highest bid gets the piece and is then told who the artist is who created the piece. Most of the work has been produced by local artists but there are a couple in there from further afield.
The postcards are currently on display in the cafe but can also be viewed and bid on online. Here is the link
Psychology for Seagulls?
It seems that scientists think they have discovered a new way to deal with seagulls – psychology.
As a layman I had always assumed that a Seagull’s psychology would be fairly easy to understand. Sleep, eat, dive onto anyone carrying food and produce more seagulls. Yet the scientists concerned believe there is more to these creatures and will be studying them in Somerset to discover exactly what makes them tick. You can read the full story on the Herald Express website by clicking here.
Whether this study is a good use of scientific research techniques or a bird brained idea is yet to be seen.
Events
6th Feb – 6th March: Made With Love (Exhibition) – Cockington Court (Kitchen Gallery), 10am – 4pm
Sat 27th Feb: Feathers & Felines Burlesque Fundraiser, Feline Network charity shop, 11 – 13 Torquay Road, Paignton, TQ3 3DU, 7:15pm, Advance ticket bookings only – no admission on the door. Tickets £10.
Sat 27th Feb: Under One Roof Princess Theatre, Torquay An evening of music and drama exploring the issues surrounding homelessness. This vibrant, one night only musical review includes numbers from the musicals Rent, Stephen Ward and a thought provoking and light-hearted narrative that puts homelessness literally under the spotlight. A community production in aid of the local Homelessness Centre, Leonard Stocks.
Age 12+ Tickets from £12 and available at the box office on the night. The show starts at 7:30pm
Fri 4th March: Torquay Jobs Fair – Torquay’s Town Hall Assembly Rooms, 10am – 3pm
