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County Council confirms its support for Wilmington A35 improvements, and will meet Highways England with me early next month
On Thursday, the County Council unanimously gave its support to Cabinet recommendations asking for it to be a formal consultee on Highways England recommendations for safety improvements on the A35 in Wilmington. This was in response to my motion and the campaign of local residents. Right, Wilmington’s Speedwatch team on BBC Spotlight ten days ago.
I will be meeting Highways England together with County officers on August 9th.
Aristocrat who lives in Powderham Castle wins lifetime seat in Parliament after getting SEVEN votes in a hereditary peer by-election: Charles Peregrine Courtenay, the 19th Earl of Devon, will be able to vote on your laws and claim £300 a day
The story is here. And they say we are the greatest democracy in the world!
Local refugee support group backs County Council’s request for help in finding accommodation for refugees
Ottery Refugee Response have sent me Devon County Council’s appeal for help in finding accommodation:
Devon is playing its part in meeting the UK government’s pledge to bring 20,000 of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees to the UK by 2020. We are also part of the government’s national programme to look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
Resettling Syrian families
Local councils working together across Devon have pledged to house over 40 Syrian families. Since June 2016, families have arrived in Devon at the rate of just over one each month on average. Families continue to arrive when housing is ready for them. To meet our pledges, we need landlords who will rent properties to councils to house refugee families. The UK government’s resettlement programme provides funding to Councils for housing and other resettlement costs such as English classes, interpreting, cultural orientation and help into work.
Looking after unaccompanied children
In summer 2016, the government set up a ‘national transfer scheme’ so that councils across the country could share the responsibility for looking after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. These children may arrive in the UK independently or under government programmes. Devon joined the national transfer scheme from the start. We are already looking after children placed with us under that scheme and we have indicated to the government that we are prepared to receive children over the next few years in line with that commitment.
In autumn 2016, Devon hosted a temporary Home Office centre to look after children brought into the UK to be reunited with family members when the Calais ‘Jungle’ was closed.
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Contact email address: refugeesupport@devon.gov.uk
County Council asks Highways England to bring forward and implement proposals for the A35 at Wilmington ‘as soon as practicable’
I addressed Devon County Council’s Cabinet yesterday, and they gave their support to Wilmington’s campaign for crossings and traffic calming measures on the A35 through the village.I tell Health Scrutiny why Seaton and Honiton need to keep services in our hospitals – Exmouth Tory tells me I’m ‘abusing the procedure’
When Claire Wright put ‘community hospitals’ as an item on the Devon Health Scrutiny Committee today, I went along and argued why Seaton and Honiton hospitals need to stay open with all the services and clinics currently provided – and more. Then Conservative Councillor Richard Scott from Exmouth – where the hospital is safe because it’s kept its beds – accused me of ‘abusing the procedure’. Claire and deputy chair Nick Way (Lib Dem) both defended me. The Tories then block-voted against Claire’s attempt to get the Committee to protect ALL community hospitals.
More Refill stickers available for businesses willing to help people fill up their water bottles
These have gone up in many shops and cafes in Seaton. I have a new batch of stickers, so please contact me if you’d like one – cllrmartinshaw@gmail.com
I’m proposing that Devon County Council supports the creation of a Dorset and East Devon National Park
I’m putting forward a motion to the next meeting in July for the Council to support a new park, which would include the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and prepare a case for submission to the review of national parks recently announced by the Government.
Devon County Council Cabinet to discuss @HighwaysEngland’s delays in introducing crossings on the A35 in Wilmington, where people have to cope with narrow or no pavements and 1000 lorries a day
At the County Council on Thursday, my motion calling on Highways England to devote more resources to urgently address the need for remedial measures on the A35 in Wilmington – the worst situation of any community in East Devon, in my opinion – was remitted to the Cabinet where it will be considered on 13 June. Dr Philip Webber of the A35 Action Group told the Council of the conditions Wilmington people face and the new chair of the Council, Cllr Caroline Chugg, exceptionally allowed me to speak on the matter before it was referred to Cabinet. Cllr Claire Wright seconded the motion and Cllr Sarah Randall Johnson, formerly Wilmington’s councillor who now sits for another area, offered me her support.
I’m talking tomorrow at The Beehive, Honiton – alongside @ClaireWrightInd – about my campaigning at Devon County Council for hospitals, cycle routes and road safety. Still some places free!
‘TIME FOR A CHANGE IN EAST DEVON’ – the East Devon Alliance’s open conference, 10-1 (doors open 9.30). Speakers (apart from Claire and me) include EDA leader and EDDC Councillor Cathy Gardner, Geoff Jung (also on EDDC) and Pam Barrett, Independent Chair responsible for the revolution in Buckfastleigh Parish Council. The inimitable Paul Arnott of Colyton, Chair of EDA, will preside. See you there!
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 