News courtesy of Kevin Foster
(MP for Torbay)
The 60\61 Bus
Over the last week a lot of residents from the Preston, Livermead and St Luke’s areas got in touch with various people, including Kevin Foster, about the future of the 60\61 bus service.
As reported on the front page of this week’s Herald Express the current service is due to end on 16th May. You can read the full story on their website by clicking here. and the petition can be signed by clicking here.
Yesterday Kevin met with Local Link to discuss a range of issues, including the future of the 60\61 service.
Cllr Mark King, the Executive Lead for Transport at Torbay Council said that the Council is working on a solution and appreciates the impact on residents who would be affected if the service was lost completely.
St Luke’s Residents’ Association are taking an active part in canvassing. There is a meeting at Occombe Farm on Wednesday, 6 April – details here.
Parkfield Decision Due
There have been reports on plans to move The Torbay School to the MyPlace site at Parkfield and this week Torbay Councillors will make key decisions on this proposal
The proposal is being driven by the need to create more Primary School Places in Paignton as the number of school age children continues to grow. Torbay School’s current site would be used for a new Primary School if the plan is approved for the move. You can read the document that will be considered by Councillors by clicking here.
The decision will be made at the Full Council meeting this Thursday (7th April) which is being held at the Riviera Centre. The meeting starts at 5:30pm (although this item will be after other subjects on the agenda) and any resident is welcome to sit in the public gallery to listen to the debate.
Funding For Cockington Primary but Disappointment for Paignton Academy
The latest round of funding for schools from the Condition Improvement Fund was announced recently and there was mixed news for the bay
The good news is that Cockington Primary School was told its bid for health & safety work at its pupil entrance and an accessibility project had been successful.
Sadly there was bad news for Paignton Academy as its bid to fund urgently needed improvement work at its Borough Road campus was not successful.
Improvement works to the 1930’s era buildings on this campus are desperately needed, a point raised by Kevin in the House of Commons with the Minister during oral questions. Following the latest setback Sarah Wollaston (The school is a few hundred metres into her constituency) and he will be meeting with the school to discuss the next steps in a campaign to secure the work needed.
Watch Out For Fake £20 Notes
Shoppers and shopkeepers are being warned to be on the lookout for fake £20 notes after a recent incident which involved £700 of dodgy currency being presented.
The £700 worth of notes all had the serial numbers HH11227632, EA09113467 or HA03853216. The holograms, although realistic looking, were arranged in the wrong order and the ink looks slightly darker than a real £20 note. You can read more on the Herald Express website by clicking here.
Anyone with information about the dodgy notes should contact the police by emailing 101@devonandcornwallpolice.pnn.police.uk or calling 101 and quoting crime reference CR/18724/16
Heading to Paddington?
If you are planning a trip to London by train, bear in mind that there will be significant disruption to tube services at Paddington over the next four months.
Work to construct the new Crossrail link means trains on the Bakerloo Line will not stop at Paddington from today (Saturday 2nd April) until mid-August.
Rogue Landlord Crackdown
The vast majority of landlords across the bay provide a quality home for a fair price, yet a small minority of rogue landlords were the subject of a recent crackdown.
Over the past four weeks, landlords who oversee 325 dwellings in 51 properties across the Bay were targeted in Operation Vector, which involved officers from Torbay Council, Police, Fire and Rescue Service and the Home Office Immigration Service.
Eighteen properties have been closed down as a result of the recent operation until they can show improvements. Seven individuals were cautioned due to suspected Housing Act 2004 contraventions and one individual was arrested for an immigration related offence. Eight other immigration cases are also being reviewed.
Criminal activity was identified at two properties and three potential building regulation control contraventions were identified and are being investigated.
Evidence was also gathered to indicate Housing Benefit fraudulent claims, estimated to be worth £30,000 per annum. These claims were stopped and are currently being investigated.
This operation was made possible following the successes of an ongoing programme created originally with a £100,000 investment from Torbay Council and funding from Central Government.
Trust Confirms Reason For Tree Felling at Babbacombe
If you have been up to Walls Hill recently and wondered why trees were being felled the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust has confirmed the reasons behind the recent works.
The trees have been felled and cover scrubbed out to allow a much rarer type of grassland to return. Walls Hill is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in relation to a rare type of Limestone Grassland that has steadily been eroded by the growth of other vegetation.
Fire Service Training
A Crystal Maze style basement rescue and a car that crashed onto a railway line in front of a train were the subject of two recent training exercises for local Fire Crews.
In conditions similar to what they may experience in real emergency situations, the rescue teams practiced using a range of equipment and skills that could make the difference for real one day.
You can read more about the recent exercises on the Herald Express website by clicking here.
Have Your Say on 5th May
The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections and a Referendum on the future of the Mayoral System will be taking place on Thursday 5th May.
If you are going to be away that day or find it difficult to vote in person due to work or family commitments there is still time to register for a postal vote. Just click here to be taken to the relevant section of the Electoral Commission website.
Events
Easter Half Term Fun at Torquay Museum, Babbacombe Road till Friday 8th April
* FREE children’s films 11am daily in the museum’s 130 seat cinema (excluding Sundays). Contact the museum for films each day.
* FREE Fun NEW Easter trail – Barney Bunnies Egg Bother!
* NEW cat exhibition
Join the team at the Museum on Tues 5th April for lots of easter spring crafts – design your own easter egg, easter bunny and much more! The Museum has pointed out that if you PAY ONCE, you GET IN FREE FOR A YEAR making this great value for local residents
Call 01803 293975 for more details or email enquiries@torquaymuseum.org
Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust – Rockpool Ramble
6th April, 11:00 – The Seashore Centre at Goodrington Sands
£3.50 each (4 – 18 years), booking essential as spaces limited. Contact: 01803 520022
