Work begins on new traveller site - 04.12.13

acknowledgements to:
http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=20665

Clearance work has started to create a safer and well managed permanent traveller site at Haldon Ridge.

The nine-month sensitively phased programme of construction work will create a 15-pitch site next door to the current and unauthorised traveller site. It follows years of work to find a suitable and healthy solution for site residents, nearby communities, the wider Haldon area and all local authorities.

The project will give those residents who want a pitch at the new site access to suitable utilities including toilets, showers, power, bin stores and recycling facilities.

It is due for completion in July 2014. Work involves ground and tree clearance, putting in utilities, creating pitches, clearing any debris and carefully returning the original site to its natural woodland state.

People who move on to the neighbouring new site will sign an agreement to lease a pitch, pay rent and Council Tax. A site manager will be employed by Teign Housing to deal with any issues if they arise.

Cllr Philip Vogel, Teignbridge District Council's Executive Spokesperson for Housing and Planning, said:

"All the hard work is paying off and we are pleased that work has started. It's been a long and sensitive process. There will be challenges ahead - as there always are when embarking on something new - but we are confident that, through working with the site's residents and all our partner agencies, we can create a safe and sustainable that meets people's needs."

Mike Hanrahan of Teign Housing said:

"We are looking forward to making a really good and well managed site for travellers. We hope that by seeing the site take shape, it will reassure the travellers and the public that this is the right way forward and that it will restore and enhance this area of Haldon forest."

The project has been supported by the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), who have worked closely with partners and agreed an investment of around £1.1m in the new site.

Asad Butt, HCA Area Manager, said:

"We welcome the progress that has been made to start work on a new scheme for travellers in Haldon, whichwill provide improved accommodation for the people living at the current site.

"This investment is part of a wider programme that provides new and better accommodation for travellers across England. It is good news that partners have made positive steps to enable work to start."

The unauthorised site is on land owned by Devon County Council. It has long been considered unsuitable for those who live there, the local environment and surrounding communities. It will close on the day the new encampment opens.

Teignbridge and Devon County Council will work with residents who do not want to move to the new site to look at other housing options. If they remain on the unauthorised site after the closing date, enforcement action will be taken if necessary.

ENDS

Thank you in no particular order: HCA, Teign Housing, DCC, D&C Constabulary, Teignbridge Gypsy & Traveller Forum, Devon Racial Equality Council, current & former TDC Councillors, TDC Officers and especially Haldon residents.

December monthly update - A380 South Devon Link Road

http://www.southdevonlinkroad.co.uk/sites/default/files/u40/DECEMBER%20BULLETIN.pdf

#HITS Homeless in Teignbridge Support

Attend presentation of a cheque to #HITS Homeless in Teignbridge Support by Cllr. Prowse Chair of Teignbridge District Council to Bob Newton Co-ordinator for £1000.oo in the Council Chamber at Forde House today.

Cllrs were given information about HITS - Homeless in Teignbridge Support is a local registered charity and a voluntary organisation that provides help for people within the Teignbridge area, (including Newton Abbot, Bovey Tracey, Chudleigh, Teignmouth, Dawlish and all of the out-lying rural and moorland Teignbridge areas), who are homeless or in crisis and need by the provision of food packs, toiletry packs and other assistance.

Since the start of the project in September 2012, in excess of 7 tonnes of food has been distributed within the local area.

Hits also operates a 'COATS FOR KIDS' scheme with Teignbridge District Council and Widecombe in the Moor Primary School, where good quality secondhand outdoor clothing is donated abd re-distributed to those that need.

Contact details: email: hitscharity@yahoo.com or 07990515125

Dawlish landlord fined £4,000 for unsafe home - 03.12.13

http://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=20663

Council considers own homeless accommodation

With acknowledgements to the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-24889219

BUCKFASTLEIGH NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING REPORT OCTOBER 2013

BUCKFASTLEIGH NEIGHBOURHOOD REPORT OCTOBER 2013

During the month of October there have been 44 reported incidents to us from Buckfastleigh.

13 of these incidents were related to the duel carriageway.

There have been 7 crime reports from the town including:

4 Criminal Damages
2 Thefts of Pedal Cycle
1 Theft from Shop.

There has been no reported crime in the DEAN PRIOR area, nor in the SCORRITON AREA. There was only one reported crime in the HOLNE AREA.

Local police, with the assistance of policing students from Plymouth University, took to the streets to find out what issues were having a negative effect on people’s lives locally.  71 persons were canvassed door to door and on the street.  70% reported that they feel very safe and the rest that they feel fairly safe with only one person saying that they felt unsafe. 46% of persons asked reported that there were no issues which affect their quality of life locally. Of the remainder the main issues identified as being of local concern are anti-social behaviour from young people late at night, parking and traffic related problems. When asked what the police could do to make people feel safer, suggestions made were more police visibility specifically at weekends and in the evening. Other suggestions were improvements to street lighting and more to be provided for young people to do.

As part of a force-wide Speed awareness campaign, and in response to local concerns, speed monitoring was conducted at a location on Buckfast Road (by the Abbey roundabout). This was done at a time coinciding with the early morning school run to ascertain if there was a danger presented by vehicles to school children. Of those vehicles monitored the majority were driving within the speed limit. It appears that there is not a speeding issue in this location.

In response to concerns raised about the anti-social use of motorcycles in the town the police have launched an initiative to clampdown on this behaviour. Numerous individuals have been identified as responsible; these individuals have been subject of warnings under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act, meaning that should they be witnessed by police driving in an antisocial manner in future the police may have a power to seize their motorcycles from them.  Further to this police have deployed a plain car and enlisted the assistance of the traffic motorcycle unit, to detect traffic offences and gather evidence about those responsible. So far two individuals have been reported to court for offences of not having valid MOT, not correctly displaying L Plates, having a defective exhaust and riding without a helmet. Police will continue to monitor this and actively prosecute those found in breach of the law, we will also be liaising with Teignbridge council in regards escalating those responsible on the anti-social behaviour process. We are currently arranging with the council to get the large gate into Victoria Park locked so as to prevent vehicular access

Police surgeries are held monthly at Buckfastleigh Town Hall, the next one being Wednesday 13th November at 7.30pm

We can be contacted via the central switchboard no. 101 or via e-mail – Teignbridge@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

PC 3023 WILLIAM YOUNG. And PCSO Tamzin Campbell Moseley

Beloved Community Hospital – We Must Not Lose IT

Regular readers will remember that the Communities of Ashburton and Buckfastleigh were very involved in responding to proposals from the Torbay and South Devon Health Care Trust about the closure of our Community Hospital after 125 years.

So it is with great pride for the League of Friends Team that I copy the email below............

Dear All

In August this year I ( as a member of the CHA) was invited to enter a Project  ( on behalf of our Hospital League of Friends) into the above Awards Scheme. This was done and the Project Title was “RESPONSE TO CONSULTATION – COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT” ( our battle with the Torbay and South Devon Health Care Trust  earlier this year).  I knew we were up against similar projects from across the country. We made the short list after which, I was visited by two members of the Selection Panel ( one from Somerset and one from Norwich). We chatted at length about our Hospital and then I took them on a short tour of same where they chatted with Staff and patients.

The end result is that I have just received a letter from the Chair of the Award Selection Panel stating that “we have been chosen to receive an Innovation and Best Practice Award.” Not too much detail as yet but the award ceremony will be in Manchester at the CHA conference in May next year.

This is marvellous news for all in the Community as a whole and those  directly involved in putting the Project content together( The Hospital Action Group, the League of Friends, The Council and  The Hospital to name but a few ).  I sincerely hope this will help act as a catalyst for the same Community who helped win this award, to regroup  for the oncoming Engagement processes being instigated by the local CCG next month.

To this end I would ask all addressees to spread this news around the Community as soon as possible and hopefully they will help us once again during  the new conflicts to come.

I will keep you informed of information as I receive it

Finally Well done to the Communities of Ashburton, Buckfastleigh and all those who constitute the Catchment Area  for our:-

Beloved Community Hospital – We Must Not Lose IT

Many thanks and best wishes to you all

Kind regards

Stewart Adams

Chair
Ashburton and Buckfastleigh
League of Friends