Christmas Bazaar: 19 November 2011
October 28, 2011 in News
Monthly Archives: October 2011
Ben’s Column
October 14, 2011 in Ben Bradshaw, Latest, News
People in Exeter and across Britain are facing the worst peace time decline in their living standards since the Great Depression. That’s the grim verdict of the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies. Worst hit are families on middle and low incomes with children. The reason: the Government’s policies are destroying economic growth and failing to get to grips with the aftermath of the global banking crisis. They are also penalising families most with cuts to tax credits and childcare while food electricity, gas and electric costs are soaring. With my Labour colleagues in Parliament we are working to persuade the Government to change course. If you have examples of how you or your family is being hit please contact me.
Many of you have told me you are deeply worried about the impact of the Government’s upheaval of the NHS. It is madness to embark on the biggest re-organisation in the NHS’s history when it faces its tightest spending ever. The result will be longer waits and a worse, more fragmented service. Labour is still fighting the plans in Parliament and I’m grateful to all of you who have contacted me to express your support for the NHS.
Rogue private car park operators have made life a misery for people in Exeter who have had their cars clamped or been fined unfairly. With fellow Labour MPs I supported a move in Parliament to give people a right of appeal against unfair treatment. Unfortunately Tory and Lib Dem MPs voted the plan down.
“Vision Project” Consultation for new Belmont Park Hut
October 27, 2011 in Newtown
As you are probably aware there is a community hut in the centre of Belmont Park, this valuable community resource is a left over military building from World War 2 (along with the Scrap Store). The hut is an invaluable meeting place for the community and is very well used. Unfortunately the facility is so well used and is not accessible to many disabled people it can no longer properly meet the needs of the community. On 24 October 2011 I attended a public consultation meeting put on by the Newtown Community Association in the Belmont Hut to discuss the “The Vision.” Unlike most consultations where developers are only really willing to make minor tweaks, this was a true public consultation to include the community into the design. There were very basic early proposals, but these were in a fairly raw concept form. When the public entered the Hut they were greeted by a range of existing modern community facilities from around the country and people were asked to comment on what aspects they liked and what they didn’t like about each one so the architect could get an idea of the “feel” of building that the public wants as opposed to specifics. After this people were asked for ideas on floor layouts of the building which were discussed with the architects to discuss the pros and cons of each idea that was put forward. Following this the public were asked to make 3d models of their ideas. The models were not intended to be true representations of the final product but so that concepts could be explored, they were then given the opportunity to explain their concepts. Most of the models included many environmentally friendly concepts as well as giving the feelings of openness. – Cllr Roger Spackman
Cricket club development?
October 27, 2011 in St James
Devon County Cricket Club has had a rent-free lease on the County Cricket Ground since 1902. The present lease expires in 2014.
The club is presently in discussions with the owners of the land about the renewal of the lease and the future of the site. One option being considered would involve development of part of the site which, although it would not be welcomed by everybody, would safeguard the long term future of the club.
Bishop Blackall
October 27, 2011 in St James
The refurbishment of the old Bishop Blackall school building has now been completed and from all accounts has been very successful. The owners, Campbell Properties, have been listening to local residents’ feedback about issues such as toning down the brightness of the external security lights.
At present the student accommodation is approximately 60% occupied. The owners are hoping for full occupation in the next academic year, when they will have more time to market the properly than they had for this autumn.
Next door work has stalled on the development of the tennis courts site, since the work was carried out on the trees and the creation of an entrance off Thornton Hill. The site is owned by Motionarch and we understand that the St Loye’s Foundation is still in discussion with Motionarch over the possible use of the site for accommodation for disabled students.
St James Forum
October 27, 2011 in St James
The latest meeting of the Exeter St James Forum took place on 20 September, involving those who had indicated that they wanted to play an active part in the Forum. The meeting heard about the success of the recent application for a government grant of £20,000 which will support the Forum’s work on the neighbourhood development plan.
Four task groups were formed to draw up a database of St James, including its population, services and facilities. This information will be used to formulate ‘The Vision’ document for St James, which will be presented at a meeting in the late autumn to which all residents of St James and also local businesses will be invited.
Taking into account the views of residents, the aim will then be to decide on priority projects for St James by the summer of 2012. Local people will be able to vote in a referendum to ensure that all important decisions are made democratically.
More information can be found on the Exeter St James Forum website at www.exeterstjamesforum.org .
St James traffic concerns
October 27, 2011 in St James
Residents of St James are becoming concerned about the effects on part of the ward of the proposed road changes around the New North Road/Sidwell Street/High Street junction.
The proposals were explained to residents by officers of the County Council and City Council at a meeting held at Sidwell’s School on 4 October. The main driver of the changes is the desire to improve the area around the new John Lewis site, which the councils believe will have a beneficial effect for other shops in Sidwell Street.
The plan is to extend the existing one way traffic system across Paris Street into New North Road as far as the junction with Longbrook Street. All traffic except buses and taxis would be removed from Sidwell Street between High Street and Cheeke Street.
The problem is that the traffic (including buses from the Cowley Bridge direction) would instead be principally routed along either Blackall Road or Longbrook Street and then into York Road. It was this issue which raised the most concern from the residents at the meeting. As was pointed out, York Road already carries a great deal of traffic and it should not be expected to take additional vehicles (perhaps up to 150 an hour more).
Residents (including parents of school children) were worried about the traffic pollution in York Road, particularly outside St Sidwell’s School. Although officers explained about other measures designed to lessen the impact of the extra traffic, they failed to convince the residents there of the wisdom of the proposals.
Keith Owen, who attended the meeting, says: ‘I share other residents’ concerns over the effect of the extra traffic on St James. I have relayed these concerns to both county and city councillors.’
The meeting was one of a number being held by the two councils with interested parties before a final decision is made. This decision is likely to be taken in due course by the cabinet of Devon County Council.
City Councillors attend the opening of Mosque and Cultural Centre
October 27, 2011 in Latest, St James
The official opening of the Exeter Mosque and Cultural Centre was attended by the Lord Mayor Cllr Stella Brock, Cllr Pete Edwards, Cllr Rachel Sutton and Cllr Ian Martin and many other distinguished guests from across the world.
We heard how the local Muslim community has grown from a small group meeting at Exeter University in 1978 through the growth of the community and use of 14 York Road for prayers and other cultural activities and the decsion to build a new centre on York Road starting with Planning Permission in 2000 and undergoing years of patient fundraising and hard work to reach today’s official celebration event.
Guests were given tours of the building which as well as the Prayer Room has offices, Meeting Rooms and a large social space with kitchen downstairs. We also enjoyed a lovely lunch. A number of speakers told of the ups and downs along the way and recognised a number of generous financial benefactors and community leaders. The final two speakers were a young man and a young woman both born in Exeter who talked about the importance of the Mosque and its community in influencing their own lives with fond recollections of religious and community events.
The work done with other faith groups in the city and St Sidwells School next door was recognised and celebrated and a warm invitation and welcome to drop in at any time extended to all Exeter residents.
Winter Bus Service
October 20, 2011 in Whipton Barton
Cllr Olwen Foggin was disappointed to learn that Bus Route G, which serves Hamlin Gardens, will not be gritted by Devon County Council this winter. During the last spell of severe weather the service was stopped for two weeks, preventing some residents from travelling into the city centre.
Olwen said, “This is very worrying, especially if we have a winter as bad as last year. The service is very important to the residents in the Hamlin Gardens area. I have asked the joint Exeter and Devon highways committee (HATOC) to review the decision when they next meet.”
Meet your Councillors: 5 November 2011
October 20, 2011 in Mincinglake, Pinhoe, Whipton Barton
An opportunity to meet your Labour Councillors from
Mincinglake, Pinhoe and Whipton.Come along and tell us about the big issues affecting you in your neighbourhood.
Take a Seat
October 20, 2011 in Whipton Barton
Following requests from residents, your Labour councillors asked for benches to be reinstated on Whipton Barton Road.Two new benches are now in place, near the end of Hillyfield Road and on the corner with Vaughan Road.
Cllr Rosie Denham said, “I am really pleased to see these benches in place. I hope it will make getting around Whipton a little easier for older residents and those with mobility difficulties.”
Local School goes Green with New Composter
October 20, 2011 in Whipton Barton
Whipton Barton Junior School recently celebrated the success of their Big Hanna Composter.
All the school food waste goes through the Big Hanna which turns the food into a lovely compost to be used on school gardens. This saves the waste going to landfill, is good for the environment, helps the children learn outdoors about food, compost and growing their own vegetables and saves money – a big win-win all round!”
Whipton Barton Junior School are currently fund raising for a new play area at the school, which will be used to support outdoor education and health and wellbeing amongst pupils. Cllr Olwen Foggin recently joined the governing body and is looking forward to promoting this project.
Pinbrook Recycling Centre
October 20, 2011 in Whipton Barton
The new recycling centre on Pinbrook Road is up and running. The Centre accepts a wide range of recyclable materials and household items.
Cllr Wardle, who recently visited the centre with County Councillor Olwen Foggin, commented “Exeter City Council is committed to recycling and I am delighted to have this facility in the east of the city. Exeter is already one of the leading cities for recycling but it is vital we continue to increase recycling rates in Exeter.”
As well as being good for the environment, recycling provides better value for tax payers – the cost of recycling can be partly offset by the income gained from the sale of recycled materials and this means that it is cheaper to recycle than to dispose of waste by landfill.
Rennes House Heating Success
October 19, 2011 in Whipton Barton
During the summer we reported that the old electric space heaters in Rennes House were to be replaced and new water heaters fitted. The new heaters will be more efficient and less costly to run.
We can now say that this process has taken place with all the new heaters installed and working just in time for the cold weather. Although the fitting is complete we would welcome feedback from residents on how the heaters are working.
Tories Plans Mean More Bureaucracy and Less Police
October 7, 2011 in Latest, News
Under the Tories over 16,000 police officers are being cut with 30,000 police jobs cut altogether
In our area, Devon & Cornwall Police are having to cut 1200 jobs. An extra threat are Government plans for Police Commissioners. This has led to concerns, expressed by the Devon & Cornwall Chief Constable, that all the hard working and effective Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) may have to be cut to balance to the budget.
You Can’t Trust The Tories with the NHS
October 7, 2011 in Latest, News
This Tory Government is cutting nursing, medical and other staff from the NHS Frontline. They’re making a £1.2 billion real cut in funding for England’s NHS services next year. On top of this they are wasting £2 billion on a reckless top down re-organisation which will open up all parts of the NHS to free market competition.
Welcome to our New Site!
October 7, 2011 in Latest, News
Hello!
Exeter Labour Party is in the process of making it’s website much much better. You are looking at some of the results of that work, but over the next few months you will start to see a wealth new content here, crucially that content will be updated faster than before, so that it is more relevant to you.
