Peoples Republic of South Devon

Devon news round up: GOOD WEEK/BAD WEEK

Lundy Island - good week or bad week for the marine reserve?

A look at the winners and losers in this week’s news from in and around the People’s Republic of South Devon

GOOD WEEK
Lundy: The island off the North Devon coast is to be featured in the new layer of Google Earth Outreach, which will include video streams, photo galleries and stories from marine protected areas around the world. Lundy Island is England’s only statutory marine reserve.

Torquay Railway Station: Network Rail has unveiled plans to upgrade the grade II listed building by converting 16 rooms, including the former first class ladies waiting room, booking room, boiler house and coal store into office and retail units.

Young drivers: Eighteen-year-old Aidan Barratt has become the youngest bus driver in England to qualify in his profession. Aidan, who will shortly finish his training, will soon be on routes around the Plymouth area.

Nosy neighbours: In a Truman Show-type publicity twist, bosses at the Princesshay development in Exeter have set up an Unfold Andy website, for people watch and make choices for ‘Andy’, who will be living in Unit LS6 in Romany Walk of the shopping precinct.

BAD WEEK
Seaton Primary School: The headteacher of Seaton Primary School is disgusted with the SATs and will have to wait until later in October to have the results. He told the Midweek Herald: “We feel let down by the system. I didn’t think it was good before, but it’s been worse this year.”

Exeter: The city has been cited as having the worst traffic problems outside London. National traffic information provider Itis claims only central London is more congested.

Dartmoor Ponies: The global economic downturn and new regulations on transport, export and animal passports could mark the end of Dartmoor Ponies as farmers are finding it economically unviable to keep them.

East Prawle Phonebox: BT removed the South Devon town’s red telephone kiosk despite the town’s weak mobile signal and a standoff with the town council, a tractor and a local farmer. Despite the removal the town is adamant it will buy back the box, minus the phone equipment, ‘as a symbol of what village life used to be like’.

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October 12th, 2008

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Fighting fund for Exeter unitary bid

posted by Cptn

Hyperbolic quote of the week goes to Exeter City Council leader Adrian Fullam, who said of the authority’s bid for unitary status: “We all love Exeter and if we don’t get this decision, I think it will be the death of us.”

Strong words indeed, but to be fair, it was only he who opposed spending all of the £100,000 the council has jangling around in its coffers (despite their Icelandic investments - £5 million, with £28 million in other financial institutions) on the battle for a change in the council’s powers.

With £37,000 already earmarked for a human resources person to humanely resource the council’s human resources department, he said: “I don’t believe £63,000 will make an incredible difference [to the decision of the Boundary Commission] and the services that will have to be displaced do need that money.”

Strong words indeed…

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October 12th, 2008

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