BUCKFASTLEIGH FOODBANK NEWS UPDATE - 16th MARCH

Reproduced below is a copy of the Newsletter I received regarding the Buckfastleigh Food Bank.

BUCKFASTLEIGH FOODBANK NEWS UPDATE - 16th MARCH

The Present:

The sad events of the past week at Buckfast Spinning have focused our minds on the possible future needs of our community.  It was always our intention to open a Foodbank, run by the churches and the community in the local area but, we now realise that the launch needs to be brought forward.  This will not be done in a rush but with due regard to the availability of food and a sustainable system for its distribution.  The requirement for immediate help for those families in temporary difficulty has not changed in the past few weeks.  What has changed is the possibility that the numbers might be greater within the next few months.  We thank the Trussell Trust ( www.trusselltrust.org ) for providing us with all the back up to get training, vouchers and supermarkets in place.  To understand the guidelines we shall be following, please visit their web site.  Within the next week or so, we will have our own:  www.buckfastleighfoodbank.org or if you want  to contact us info@buckfastleighfoodbank.org.  Telephone number to be promulgated soon.

Foodbank Successes:

We now have two Buckfastleigh shops with food collection points:  these are the Coop and Huccaby’s so we would wish to thank them both for their generosity.  Also, Morrisons in Totnes have one and we are in negotiation with Newton Abbot supermarkets to have collections in each of their stores soon.  Tesco are particularly supportive and have given us two dates in early July when we will be able to collect for an entire day.  We are hoping to organise date(s) before this.  Watch this space!  St Luke’s Church also has an ‘overflowing’ collection point.  Finally, we must thank the HITS Charity in Newton Abbot for giving us some of their food and, next week, we are expecting Exeter Foodbank to deliver another load of food to us.

Immediate Future:

Next week we have an ‘open to everybody’ session in St Luke’s at 7-15pm  on Wednesday 20^th when the Regional Director of The Trussell Trust will talk to everyone in the town about what a Foodbank is, how it is run and what to expect as we develop (1 hour).  We hope that this will be an opportunity for our community to come and ask questions.

Also, the next day, Thursday 21^st, at 10-00am we will have a training session for about an hour when volunteers will be given some help about how to deliver the service to the clients.  Please sign up in the church for this.  By the way, we need more volunteers so please put your names on the lists available. All skills will be utilised.

Soon After:

We realise that most are now wondering why we are collecting food and have yet to talk about how or when it might be distributed.  We are aiming to have the sustainable method of helping our friends, up and running, within a matter of weeks.

Axminster Carpets Administration

Following the devastating news for Buckfast and residents of Buckfastleigh and Ashburton and surrounding South Hams Parishes, I would like to share with you how the Teignbridge District Council Housing Options Team (in association with South Hams) is responding to the news of Axminster Carpets entering administration.

On Thursday 7th March 9am  - 1130am a Housing Officer from the TDC Housing team will be attending the Axminter Carpets building in Buckfast with the Job Centre Plus Large Scale Redundancy Team. They will be offering housing advice to those staff members based in Teignbridge whilst one of their collegues from South Hams will cover their element

Landlords and/or Prospective and/or accidental Landlords

Ashburton Buckfastleigh Community Hospital Respondents

You may wish to look at this link final paragraph:
http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/councildemocracy/decision_making/cma/cma_document.htm?cmadoc=agenda_she_20130306.html

Consultation Feed Back for Ashburton Buckfastleigh Community Hospital Future - Part2

Thank you to all residents both of Ashburton, Buckfastleigh and further afield who have told me of their, or their family experiences of our Cottage Hospital.

The consultation period may have ended, but my intuition tells me the whole process isn't going to go away, nor be forgotten.

We still have the Board Meeting due 21st March to attend. As far as I can see no venue has as yet been given, although some one there may know otherwise. The link to the Trust page about this is at:

http://www.torbaycaretrust.nhs.uk/aboutus/make_decisions/board/Pages/Default.aspx

Buckfastleigh Neighbourhood Policing report – January 2013

Over the past month there have been 58 incidents reported to us from Buckfastleigh.
We have had 13 crimes reported to us from the town which include 1 assault,  1 theft from motor vehicle offence,  1 offence for possessing cannabis, 6 criminal damage incidents,  3 thefts and 1 burglary offence.  The theft from a motor vehicle offence related to the spare wheel being stolen from  trailer that was attached to the rear of  a car.
During a neighbour dispute two males have been cautioned for criminal damage and a public order offence. One male has been dealt with by way of restorative justice for the assault a female received a warning for possession of cannabis.
We have received numerous calls from people in the Teignbridge area and further afield with regards to males travelling across the patch selling power tools from their vehicles.  Several of these vehicles have been stopped by colleagues and the occupants and items checked.  None were found to be stolen but they are being investigated by Trading Standards. If you are offered any of these power tools please be cautious prior to purchase.  Just remember if things are too good to be true (price wise) then they may be too good to be true....................................
No crimes were reported to us from the Dean Prior area.  4 incidents were reported to us, 2 related to the A38, boy racers in the area and suspicious males selling power tools.
From the West Buckfastleigh area we have had no crimes reported to us.  There were 2 incidents reported to us, one being a hoax call and the other related to a domestic incident.
From Holne we have had 1 crime reported to us which was the theft of a leaf blower. There were 3 incidents reported to us.  One was a neighbour issue, another related to the hunt and loose hounds whilst the last was in regards to an insecure vehicle.
Police surgeries will be held at Buckfastleigh Town Hall 7.30pm – 8.30pm on the following dates - 
Wednesday 27th February 2013
Wednesday 27th March 2013
We can be contacted via the central switchboard no. 101 or via e-mail – Teignbridge@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
PC 4939 Alison HOOPER,  PCSO 30577  Tamzin CAMPBELL-MOSELEY

ASHBURTON NEIGHBOURHOOD REPORT - JANUARY 2013

During the past month 68 incidents were reported from Ashburton. 10 of these concerned the A38 – including a car driving the wrong way on a slip road and a further 5 were traffic related incidents in the town itself.

4 incidents of anti-social behaviour were reported.

19 crimes were recorded which include 5 thefts offences, 2 reports of assaults and 3 criminal damage incidents.  One of these related to what we suspect to be children messing around in an old vehicle parked close to a garage.  A small fire resulted and thankfully the damage caused was minor.  Local youngsters will be interviewed over this issue. 1 burglary was reported to us which related to a retail premises where a safe containing cash was stolen.  This is being actively investigated by Totnes CID.

From  Widecombe 4 incidents were reported. These included a road traffic collision at Poundsgate on 18^th January and a report of threatening behaviour associated with a hunt just outside the village on 12^th January.  A power line down across the road meant that Widecombe Hill was closed to traffic for two hours on the afternoon on 29^th January. 2 crimes were recorded. These were a theft of a handbag from a car at Newbridge on 13^th January and a report of an assault at an address in Ponsworthy.

From  Bickington 5 incidents were reported, all were traffic related including two reports of animals on the A383. No crimes were reported.

We have been paying particular attention to issues regarding parking around Ashburton Primary School at ‘drop off’ and ‘pick up’ times. This has been an issue for a long time and the school have been worried about the volume of traffic in this area at key times and the lack of thoughtfulness exhibited by some people when it comes to parking their vehicles.  We have been asking people to not park on the double yellow lines and have done our best to keep the area clear, and hence safer for the children.  We would like to see more parents either walking to collect their children or use the car parking facilities in Kingsbridge Lane Car park.

We have also maintained our patrols of the town in the evenings to deal with the behaviour displayed by a minority of youngster.  

My next Police surgery is at the Ashburton Information Centre on Tuesday 19^th February from 10-11am.

I can be contacted at Conway House, Ashburton – please use the central switchboard no. 101 or alternatively e-mail the Neighbourhood Team – Teignbridge@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk

                                                                                                 PC 4486 Dudley