AROUND SIDMOUTH RURAL

with Stuart Hughes CC

Welcome to the online edition of Around Sidmouth Sidford, keeping you in touch with what is happening in and around my electoral division.
Last Updated 2005

SIDMOUTH COLLEGE ALL WEATHER PITCH
This much needed facility has been completed on time and will now be available for use to both the college students and the community at large. All Day Hockey tournament Sunday 25th April 04

FLASHBACK JUNE 2003
The news broke on Monday that thanks to the prudence of East Devon District Council Sidmouth College had benefited by the tune of £550k and after a long ten year wait would at last see its All Weather Pitch being implemented. This project is something that I have personally promoted and supported at every given opportunity. The ATP which won't be fooldlit was made possible by the District Council's borrowing powers being passed to the County Council. At last the young people of Sidmouth and district will be able to compete on a level playing field with other schools in Devon who already have ATP's. The facility will also be made available to the wider community who will be able to use it during the weekday evenings until 9.00pm (during the summer), at weekends and during school holidays. This is a fine example of two Council's working together for the benefit of the community.

STAGECOACH ADMIT TO MISTAKE
Hats off to Stagecoach Devon for actually admitting that they had made a mistake by diverting the X157 service (which runs between Exmouth and Sidmouth) along Bulverton Road with a pick up point in the Triangle. They are now looking at this service again and hopefully it won't be too long before they revert to their old route along Woolbrook Road, Temple Street and Vicarage Road. I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON LINE.

SIDMOUTH INFANTS EXTENSION
The proposed extension which shall provide an additional two classrooms at the school is now in the County Council's HIGH PRIORITY list of schemes which will hopefully receive the necessary funding during the 2005/06 financial year. This is excellent news for the school and will once built go along way to providing our children with 21st Century Classroom accommodation.

LATER BUS SERVICE FOR STOWFORD RISE
Following several representations from local Stowford Rise residents I have contacted the County Council's Transportation Unit and asked if some pressure could be put on Stagecoach Devon to consider providing a later evening service to serve the estate.
At present the last bus to Stowford Rise leaves Radway at 22.10hrs, making it impossible to have an evening in Sidmouth without either taking the car catching a taxi or shanksis pony. The last bus to Sidbury leaves Radway at 23.30hrs, however the closest this bus gets to Stowford Rise is Exeter Cross. Stagecoach could however divert this last service to take in Stowford Rise and that would solve all the problems. I'll keep you posted on progress being made.

UPDATE:-
Stagecoach have now confirmed that they will look seriously at providing a later service to Stowford Rise.

IMPROVEMENTS IN PATHWHORLANDS......RESURFACING OF ROAD AND ADDITIONAL STREET LIGHT DURING 2004

ARCHIEVE 2003
SAVE OUR PHONE BOXES
BT are proposing to take four payphone boxes out of service in the Sidmouth Rural Electoral Division area as they say they are unprofitable. The payphone boxes in question are situated at:-
Byes Lane(outside village hall), Sidford, Lymebourne Park, Higherbrook Meadow and Peaslands Road (bottom of Hill View).
I do believe that the payphone boxes at both Byes Lane and Lymebourne Park should be left alone as there are many community safety issues that BT need to take into consideration.
Petition forms for the retention of these two boxes are available to sign at Sidford Post Office and from Jill Squance the Warden at Lymebourne Park.
I WOULD ALSO WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS, PLEASE email ME.

LATEST 3rd April 03 - LATEST 3rd April 03
Brilliant news Rick Thompson has emailed me today to say that having taken into consideration all the points I had raised that both Byes Lane Sidford and Lymebourne Park's Kiosks were going to be retained.
A big thank you to BT and all the residents of Sidford and Lymebourne Park who signed the petition that Marion Perry and I organised. We must now ensure that the phone kiosks.
LATEST 15th April 03
Rick Thompson has now confirmed that BT having taken on board all the concerns that I had raised regarding the kiosk at Higher Brook Meadow, have now agreed to leave the box in situ.

ARCHIEVE
KEEP THE RESCUE HELICOPTER SERVICE AT PORTLAND
I have tabled a notice of motion for the County Council meeting on the 11th July calling for representations to be made to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency requesting that they reconsider any plans they may have to relocate the Whiskey Bravo rescue helicopter from Portland to Lee-on-Solent Southampton. Any such move would put lives of those in distress at sea at further risk. (I have also raised the issue at Sidmouth Town Council)
UPDATE - UPDATE - UPDATE 20/02/03
Common sense has prevailed and the Government has now provided the £2m required to build a new hanger for Whiskey Bravo to remain at Portland. Congratulations to everyone who made representations to the MCA and Government on this issue.
Our focus must now turn to the plight of the Coastguard boat which is at present based at Torbay and which patrols the area between Exmouth and Start Point. The MCA want to cut this service as part of a cost cutting drive.

ARCHIEVE
HIGH SPEED FERRY LINK FOR SIDMOUTH?
Sidmouth is being investigated as one of the link resorts on the East Devon/South Devon coast for a HIGH speed ferry service.
I have been in contact with the company behind the proposal Protec Research Limited of Fareham and their initial investigations centre on the area between Sidmouth and Falmouth with links to Salcombe, Dartmouth, Brixham, Torquay, Teignmouth and Exmouth, with the possibility of extending the service as far as Southampton.
The prospect of having a high speed ferry operating along our coastline is an exciting one and would certainly be one way of avoiding the busy roads during the summer as well as boosting our short break market.
It would also afford passengers the opportunity to view the 95 miles of the World Heritage Jurassic Coast.....Lets hope that the initial findings are positive.

photo:-
Sea Cat High Speed passenger ferry, which could soon be operating off of our coast.

SIDBURY NEWS
The 40mph speed limit on Sidbury Hill has now been implemented.
Its implementation will help improve safety by slowing motorists down, and help local residents access and egress their properties.

GATEWAY MARKINGS
The gateway and repeater (echo's) markings have now been relaid throughout the entire length of the village in the environmentally acceptable buff colour.

BUS STOP
The bus stop in Church Street has been lengthened. This was picked up during a safety audit around the school when it was noticed that buses were dropping passengers (including children) in the middle of the carriageway having been too long to fit in the dropping off/picking up bus stop bay.
Drivers are reminded that it an offence to park in a marked bus stop bay.

SIDFORD PEDESTRIAN/ENVIRONMENT IMPROVEMENTS

£100,000 has been included in the 2004/05 local area programme to carry out some of the pedestrian/environment improvements in the village. This is besides the £125,000 which formed part of the agreement with Persimmon Homes from the sale of the Relief Road Land.
This money will pay for the creation of a new footway between Stevens Cross and Harcombe Lane. Work on this scheme will start in September 2004

SIDMOUTH GATEWAY TOWN TO THE EAST DEVON & DORSET JURASSIC COAST
for more information
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2002/03 Footways/Pavements resurfacing programme

ALL PROGRAMME COMPLETE

I am delighted to see that many of the area's which I identified and reported to the County Council's Local Service Officer, have been included in this years programme for resurfacing.
The following roads are included in the programme:-
Barnhayes.......Yardelands.(slipped from 01/02).....Coulsdon (slipped from 01/02) Road.....Livonia Road and Winslade Road.
WORK WILL COMMENCE:-
Winslade Road 9th September (complete)
Barnhayes October (completed)
Livonia Road 7th October (completed)
Yardelands (completed)
Coulsdon Road (completed)

STOWFORD GATE/CROSS, SAFETY SCHEME COMPLETED

A scheme has been drawn up and approved by the Partnership Committee to improve safety on the A3052 at Stowford Gate (or Stowford Cross), where there have been several shunts involving vehicles turning right into Woolbrook Road.
The scheme which involves improved lining and signing will be implemented before the end of the current 2002/03 financial year.
THIS SCHEME HAS NOW BEEN COMPLETED

Sidford Traffic Management and Enhancement Scheme (Update)
One of the first aspects of the scheme to be implemented will be the introduction of a 20mph speed limit zone which will cover the centre of Sidford on all four approaches, and will also include Drakes Avenue, Byes Lane, Warrens Mead and Frys Lane which local residents requested should also be included and which was agreed by the East Devon Partnership Committee.
The 20mph speed limit came into force on the 14th April 03 and a remarkable decrease in the speed of traffic through the village has already been acheived.
21st MAY
One of the two Speedvisor signs is now in situ at the Warrens Mead/Church Street A3052 junction.

The existing "gateway" feature at the eastern approach to Sidford on Trow Hill
will also be enhanced.

Further investigations are taking place on the provision of a new section of footway on the west side of Sidford Road between No's141 and 139 Sidford Road.

SIDFORD ROAD
I have been successful in securing further funding for the re-surfacing of the remainder ofSidford Road. This work will be carried out during the current financial year 2004/05.

AROUND SIDMOUTH RURAL is regularly updated, keeping you in touch with issues in and around my electoral division

GETTING IN TOUCH

If you have an issue that you wish to raise then please don't hesitate in contacting me by:-
Telephone (01395) 578414
Fax (01395) 578414
or email: shughes@devon.gov.uk

BYES CYCLE TRACK PHASES 2 and 3

A scheme to provide the second phase of the Byes Cycle Track between Sid Park Road and Sidford has been designed and will shortly be going out for consultation and all being well, will be constructed in 2005/06.

I shall of course be pressing for the early implementation of this much needed scheme which will be of benefit to walkers as well as cyclists.

HAVE YOU A VIEW THEN LET ME KNOW.

HOME FIRE SAFETY CHECKS

A Home Fire Safety Check scheme has recently been launched by the Devon Fire and Rescue Service, which is available to everyone living in the Sidmouth Rural area.

Afirefighter from Sidmouth Fire Station will offer free advice on fire safety in your home including checking/fitting smoke alarms.
To arrange a check in your home either call me on 578414 and I shall forward your details to the local Community Fire Safety representative or call Exeter 01392-872288
BE SAFE IN YOUR HOME GET IT CHECKED!

FOOTWAY RESURFACING PROGRAMME 04/05

Primley Gardens
has been identified for inclusion in the 2004/05 footway resurfacing programme.

Since 2nd April 02