Hughes Report
Welcome to this the online version of the 'HUGHES REPORT' which many of you have received through your letter boxes during the last 12 months. Unlike the hard copy which concentrated on areas of the division/ward, the online version will cover all of the Sidmouth Sidford electoral division/ward and will be regularly updated on issues that I have been working on in and around the area.
10/01/10 REQUESTS FOR GRIT BOXES and locations in and around Sidmouth and Sidford has been the hot topic over the last few days and through the calls that I've received of problem areas there are now an additional 10 sites that have been identified. Higher Woolbrook Park, Newlands Close/Summerfield/Manstone Lane area, Griggs Lane and Higher Fortescue, Bickwell Valley area, Bennetts Hill, Coreway, to name a few. I shall be making some funding available from my locality budget to help pay for these boxes which will enable residents to self help and to gain access onto the precautionary salting network.
22/06/09 BUS STOP TO BE RELOCATED (update). Work is now well underway in the relocation of the present bus stop and the provision of a new stop to the east of Sidford Road adjacent to Newlands Road. Having received several representations from residents in the Newlands Road vicinity expressing concerns about safety for passengers at the present location of the bus stop. I have requested and it has been agreed to relocate this bus stop to the northern side of the Newlands Road junction on the A375..... a further bus stop is to be provided on the east side of Sidford Road which will benefit those passengers who have had to struggle with their shopping having been dropped off further away from Newlands Road.
26/05/09 COASTAL DEFENCES PENNINGTON POINT. Having taken a look at the Draft copy of the new World Heritage Site Management Plan I noticed that under the Coastal Defences section that several key points from the current Plan had been omitted and no reference had been made to this effect in the proposed response from the County Council.....I am pleased to say that having raised the issue that this has now been included in the County's response. The text is:-
In consideration of 5. above, it is considered that the core aims for coastal defences as set out on Page 14 of the 2003 Revision of the previous Management Plan are still relevant and should be clearly stated in this version. These are:
· Environmentally acceptable: natural processes should not be disrupted except where life or important man-made or natural assets are at risk;
· Technically sound: a range of options should be considered and schemes should be sustainable and work with natural processes as far as possible;
· Economically viable: the benefits of defending must be at least equal to the costs.
10/04/09 FORTESCUE will soon be put well and truly on the map when the calming scheme is implemented at either end of the hamlet. Part of the scheme is the provision of Fortescue signs with the wording 'Please drive slowly' to the north will be a priority system and the the south buff strips on the road with SLOW marked between them.
30/03/09 STOWFORD RISE COMMUNITY CENTRE At long last it finally looks as though the Stowford Rise Community Centre is going to be built. Having secured 250 thousand pounds from the proceeds of the sale of Exeter Airport and with the substantial 106 funding agreement agreed as part of the new Waitrose development by East Devon plus the 20 thousand pounds from the Town Council.....and having also made the case for the Sidmouth Childrens Centre to be sited at Stowford Rise who will also bring a substantial amount of funding to the table plus the involvement of the PCT we are looking at a total figure approaching 1 million pounds. We now need to set up a steering group/ management committee to oversee the initial build stage and to also manage the finished community centre.... interested in helping? if you are give me a call on 578414 3/03/09
AIRPORT FUNDING HELPS LOCAL PRE-SCHOOL I am delighted to have been in a position to help and support the Sidmouth Pre-school who are based at All Saints School in their efforts to provide shelter to the youngsters who attend through the County Council's local community fund scheme where every councillor was given 25 thousand pounds to help projects in their area. I have also provided funding 5 thousand pounds towards the restoration of Kennaway House which was on top of the 60 thousand pounds which I put forward and supported for the final phase of restoration works.
12/02/09 FUNDING FOR REPLACEMENT YOUTH SHELTER I have made a commitment to make available/put a bid into the County Council for a replacement/upgraded facility for our young people at the Manstone playing fields... this was discussed at the Sidmouth Town Youth Council and I am delighted that I am in the position to make it happen. Hopefully following agreement being given by the Town Council's Trustees it wont be too long before this facility is provided.
11/01/09 DROPPED FOOTWAY IN LYMEBOURNE PARK The saga of the dropped footway that was put in to help those with disabilities get around Lymebourne Park and then was removed as the local residents weren't happy with the location will be sorted with the dropped footway being put in as near as possible to the first site. Work should be carried out in February.