Scams - Be on the alert

With Christmas on the way there will be certain individuals who are out to make a quick "quid" at your expense. For example check your change whilst out shopping. The Elderly are an easy target.

During October councillors were alerted by Consumer Direct to Scams around the country. For our area one scam was an alert at Race Courses. The British Horse-racing Authority alerts punters and tries to ban phoney tipsters from courses. Most scams are short-lived and the perpetrators move on and change details.

Prize Draws, we are told do not participate and on no occasion send money for your prize to be "processed.

Phony Psychics and Spanish or Canadian Lottery were another two examples of what is there to take our money under false pretentions.

For the full story click here for the link

Fairer Funding for Schools

In my capacity as a school Governor of Rydon School I am particularly interested in this piece of news to pass on to my readers.


It has just been announced that from Monday 19th October 2009 Devon Schools will launch a campaign to persuade Government to tackle the inequalities in funding for schools and end the post-code lottery that affects the country's young people.

A website promoting the campaign's aims, the facts about government funding of schools in Devon and the latest news about the issue is now available at this link.......

Who Are The Litter Culprits?

The issue of 'Litter' has become more than a problem for Kingsteignton, especially in the area of the Fountain. At night time youths congregate to meet their friends and unwind after college or work. What nicer venue in the fresh air to chat, eat fish and chips from our local 'chippie' or sandwiches from Tesco Express. When night time comes this little area comes alive with music from the Kings Arms Pub and lit up from the Oakford Club......AND THEN THE SCENE IS SPOILT BY THE LITTER LEFT BEHIND!!!!!!!!!
All we are asking of you is .....to find the bin to put it in. If not..... £75 fine to pay if you are caught

KEEP KINGSTEIGNTON TIDY PLEASE

Benefits Take-Up

I would also like to remind you that your local Citizens Advice Bureau is on hand in Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Dawlish open to everyone, irrespective to where you live. They give free advice but a donation is always acceptable.

The CAB do visit people who are home-bound.

Another help is the new arrangement of Credit Unions. Teign Reach Provides financial Services in Teignbridge and they are part of Plough & Share Credit Union Ltd. I noticed a lot of these credit unions were used in the smaller communities I visited around Beacon and Poughkeepsie areas north of New York, along the Hudson River.
People are asked to save regularly for 12 weeks. This enables applying for a loan three times your savings. The interest rate is 1% on the reducing balance whatever the size of the loan. (APR 12.68%)
More information here about Teign Reach.

Classic Car Show 2009

On Sunday 16th August I attended the Classic Car Show in Support of 'Help the Heroes' at Olde Forde House. My very first visit to a car show of any discription. It was a beautiful day which must have been a help to my neighbours Nigel and Jenny Preece who organise these events. At 10am there was a short service held by the Reverend Tim Woods from URC church Kingsteignton and Avenue Road. We took a turn around the stalls to Devon Air Ambulance. Also paid a visit for some advice on training dogs from the Devon German Shepherd Dog Rescue Stall. A touch of nostalgia when I remembered my Uncle Wilf Beckley from Winkleigh North Devon with his Ford and my Grandad Stanley Hearn from Devonport Plymouth with his Austin both in the 1950's.

Unfortunately I had to leave for another venue, with a promise to be back for the prize giving in the afternoon where the Mayor of Newton Abbot David Howe would be in attendance.


Stover Canal

At 12noon my daughter and I visited the site of the Stover Canal which had been cleared over the period of three years. We took a walk along the towpath which had been mown especially for this weekend. Along the towpath are information posts about the history of Stover Canal, the Templar family and the clay being transported by barge to Teignmouth Docks. We enjoyed a cream tea on our return to the exhibition area. We had been there on the previous day and had attended the tent with photos presented by the Barn Owl Trust at Stover and bought a Christmas Pudding in aid of their fundraising. I know it will be money well spent!!

An Evening with Vince Cable MP

On Saturday 18th July Teignbridge Liberal Democrat Party held a dinner in honour of Dr Vince Cable, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party and MP for Twickenham.

Grace and the Gladstonian Toast was given by the Reverend Tom Bush. A welcome speech was given by Dawlish Councillor Wally Protheroe. A speech of introduction was given by Teignbridge MP Richard Younger Ross. We then settled down to a very delicious meal in the dining room of the Langstone Cliff Hotel. Over coffee, Dr Cable gave a very interesting and encouraging speech which to a new councillor such as myself, in the middle of my first term, was encouraging to hear. He pronounced that although there was an economic downturn we should not stand still. Questions were asked about funding for new roads and Low Carbon transport.

Dr Cable who read Natural Science and Economics at Cambridge University and his PhD at Glasgow University. He has published several books on international economics, trade and the environment. His most recent book which I intend to borrow from the library, "The Storm" The World Economic Crisis (Atlantic) 2009.

Afterwards there was time to be introduced to Dr Cable where I enlisted his help for a constituent. (See photographs)

Vision of Teignbridge - 2031

A Seminar of two day workshops took place at the Racecourse on Thursday and Friday 16th and 17th July was hosted presented by: Teignbridge Strategic Partnership, Teignbridge District Council and Consultants Homes & Communities Atlas.

I went along armed with Kingsteignton Community Plan and the Ward Profile. Leader of the Council Alan Connett was there briefly and I explained to him that my idea was to try and fuse the Survey Analysis for the Kingsteignton Area to the Vision of Teignbridge .

I realised this was going to be a difficult undertaking. Alan introduced me to Mary Elkington, Growth Point Officer of Teignbridge District Council and she arranged to sit at my table next to me throughout the first workshop.

This was a thrilling exercise to try and do. The people at my table for this workshop had to make their contribution also. They were John Collier Marsh Service Lead for Development Control; Alison Galby, DCC. Adult Services; Sue Craythorne Equality officer DCC and along side me, Mary Elkington, Neil Blaney Facilitator TSP and Marie Stainwright TDC.

During the second session Roger Harding joined our table and gave his perspective from the Stover Canal and Bovey Basin including Teigngrace. Also with us was a delegate from the University of Plymouth giving his perspective from Seale Hayne.

Feedback from these sessions is promised during the month of August.