Simon Bowkett together with Saxon Spence and Moira MacDonald attended the recent consultation events about the proposed new Link Road for Exhibition Way that were held by Devon County Council at Pinhoe and St James Schools.

Now that planning approval has been given for the development of the Ibstock brickworks to provide 230 much-needed homes and a 72-bed care home for our vulnerable elderly residents, a new road is essential. Added to this development, there is additional housing proposed for the Monkerton area, and of course East Devon District Council’s development of the eastern border with the city. All of this adds up to a huge extra strain on our road infrastructure. “No road” is simply not an option.

The question for the consultation was which proposal was best for local people, trying to achieve a balance between the needs for viable transport, open and green space, and cost to the local tax payer. Four options for the road were put in front of people, each with its merits and drawbacks; and similarly there were four choices for the style of bridge needed in Exhibition Way.

Simon, Saxon and Moira talked to many people over the two days, and reported that the vast majority were entirely pragmatic about the need for the road. Exeter – despite the national gloom under this government – is a growing, prospering city. More people means more homes, but more residents will also mean more traffic. The full outcome from the consultation is expected in later in the year.

Simon Bowkett said, “The consultation events were very well attended with close to 350 people visiting over the two days. It has been very interesting to hear the views of local people as together we seek to balance the needs for homes, viable transport, and open space.”

Saxon Spence, Simon Bowkett and former Labour councillor Val Dixon attended the recent AGM of the Friends of Pinhoe Library. Despite deep cuts to the Libraries Service that resulted in the job losses of many library staff, Pinhoe has managed to stay open with just one librarian, and with the support of the Friends.

Despite a very tough year financially, the meeting heard that the library is needed more than ever, and that both the numbers of registered users and the numbers of items borrowed were up on last year – showing just how important it is that our community retains this valuable service.

Simon Bowkett said of the scheme, “Pinhoe library is a vital community resource. More people are coming to realise the importance of local libraries and I hope Devon County Council will think again before more cuts are made to our library services.”

Your local Labour team of Saxon Spence, Moira MacDonald and Simon Bowkett attended the recent opening of the stunning new youth shelter in Arena Park. It has been created by a partnership between James Bond of the social enterprise Carving Community and volunteers from the local area. However to simply call it a “youth shelter” does not do justice to the unique way the piece came about. It is a truly impressive piece of work, and well worth a look.

This shelter represents hundreds of hours of valuable youth and community work, as young people and their families worked with James in shaping the project. The project has brought the community together, and together they invested their ideas, time and labour into this wonderful community resource. The project has benefited from the tireless support of Cllr Saxon Spence who was described at the opening as “the fairy godmother” of the project!

The shelter project is being followed by another commission in the park. Simon Bowkett said, “I am delighted that Carving Community has a new commission underway in the area too, and the logs we are sat on in the picture will be turned into outdoor family and community seating for the park. This is in addition to the new MUGA which is currently under construction, together they will soon become a new community focal point and play area.”

The Pinhoe Labour team is taking a close look at local transport, particularly transport that can help to take more cars off our roads. Labour will be working with the County Council and with transport operators to ensure that Pinhoe gets a better service, more affordable service.

Simon Bowkett, said, “Like many city centre workers I used to drive to work in Exeter. However living in Pinhoe, and particularly so close to the station, I try to use public transport whenever I can. Yet outside of peak times, trains stop far less frequently at Pinhoe. Cost is a factor too. Public transport is fine for a single person travelling, but for couples or families, the calculation is often that driving is cheaper than the bus or train.”

Labour believes we need to find viable solutions to make using sustainable transport the best choice for local people. Pinhoe is growing fast, and the strain on our roads will increase unless more of us use public transport or other means of travel. Cycling will play a big role in this and we welcome the new Station Road foot/cycle path which is currently being constructed.

With a Labour team of city councillors, together with your Labour county councillor, and Ben Bradshaw MP we can fight for solutions that are affordable, practical and reliable.

There will be two Public Consultation events held to show the various alternative plans being considered regarding options for a link road between Exhibition Way and Harrington Lane, including a route via Chancel Lane. The consultation will also include the upgrading the existing Exhibition Way bridge, and improving safety on Chancel Lane.

The first of these events will be on Monday 20^th February at Pinhoe School, Harrignton Lane, EX4 8PE between 3pm-9pm.

The second event will be on Wednesday 22^nd February at St James High School, Summer Lane, EX4 8NN between 3pm-9pm.

These events will provide local residents with the opportunity to view each proposal and to raise their issues and concerns with council officers.  These events are just the start of the consultation process, which runs until 11th March. The information will all be available online for some weeks after the events, and responses can be sent in via the website, email or post, meaning that decisions don’t need to be made at the event.

For further information, or to send a response, email transportplanning@devon.gov.uk or visit www.devon.gov.uk/exhibitionway. Letters can also be sent to: Transport Planning, AB3 Lucombe House, County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QD.

Your local Labour Exeter City and Devon County Councillors  are listening to arguments on all sides. It is vital that there is dialogue about the various proposals.

Arena Park is benefiting from over £80,000 of investment. The “dugout” is now finished but it is to be joined by a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) and sports coaching for local children. Work on the MUGA should start as soon as possible with the sports coaching to follow after completion.

Pinhoe Labour Candidate, Simon Bowkett, said, “This is great news for the children of Pinhoe.  When local children were asked during the consultation a MUGA came top of the list so it is brilliant that this is going ahead, especially when there will also be sports coaching available as well.”

 

School places are always a concern for parents so it is good news that Pinhoe School is to be extended.

Pinhoe Labour Candidate, Simon Bowkett, said, “This is great news for local parents and children. We need more investment like this in our communities”

Both the Knight Club and the Vibes Club are looking forward after a tough time last year.

The Vibes Club is attracting more young people to its sessions at the Pinhoe Church Hall. While the Knight Club has returned to its usual programme after a period of closure due to flooding, though it is still suffering with staff shortages.

Funding for Exeter Youth Services remains a worry and we will be campaigning against any cuts in local provision.

As in other parts of Exeter, there are competing demands for land in Pinhoe. The Tory-led government has thrown the country into the biggest crisis in house-building in the last 50 years. Here in Exeter there is an enormous unmet demand for housing.

There is a lot of public interest in how to divert the traffic which will be generated from the housing estate planned for the old quarry and development being proposed for the former brickworks site though as of yet no roads plans have been finalised. The Friends of Eastern Fields have applied to Devon County Council for ‘Village Green’ status.

Labour city and county councillors Moira Macdonald and Saxon Spence are listening carefully to the arguments on all sides. There may need to be some give-and-take to reach the best answer for Pinhoe as a whole, so it’s important that you let them know your views.

In the last newsletter Moira and Saxon promised to follow-up on the ongoing  problems of speeding traffic and the hazards for pedestrians and cyclists crossing Chancel Lane bridge.

There should soon be some good news. City Council officers have been working with Taylor Wimpey, the builders of Chancel Park, to release £70,000 to Devon County Council Highways. It’s money earmarked for road safety improvements. Moira and Saxon are pleased this will include a Toucan crossing across Chancel Lane from the foot/cycle path link with Wilcocks Road.

Moira commented, “When you see how many HGVs and vans go up and down Chancel Lane you can appreciate how the crossing will be a huge benefit. Importantly, it will help make the journey to and from Pinhoe Primary School a lot safer.”

Councillor Saxon Spence has allocated £20,000 from her delegated capital budget from the sale of Exeter Airport by the county council for Arena Park. This will fund James Bond of Carving Communities to work with local young people to create a “dug out” and a playground for local children at Arena Park.

There has been great support from the local residents and Seddons, a local company, who have joined the process, by painting and improving the play area. Exeter City Council has been very supportive with help from the Moira MacDonald’s City Councillors’ local community budget.