Teignbridge MP Richard Younger-Ross has a week defined by water - water justice, Stover Canal, or just plain rain

By PRSD, on Thursday, December 3, 2009

Teignbridge Lib Dem MP Richard Younger-Ross has had a watery week, what with South West Water charges, Stover Canal restoration and all that rain as he was out and about meeting credit unions, Dawlish Community Transport and Transition Newton Abbot. Over to you Richard…

Dawlish Community Transport
There was a 1960s hit song by Mister Murray where the catch phrase was Down Came the Rain which for some reason kept popping into my mind over the weekend, I can’t imagine why!!! It could of course have been the rain which seems to have settled on the UK for most of the year. It was certainly raining in Dawlish on Sunday when I arrived at the opening of the new premises for Dawlish Community Transport. By lunch the photographer from the paper was held up in traffic and arrived 10 minutes late at which point the rain ceased and we could all go outside for the official opening.

John Adcock has been a driving force for years and he officiated, praising their hard working staff, Jan Green, Jenny Apps and Denise Vanstone, as well as three councils, Dawlish, Devon and Teignbridge. He gave particular credit to Councillor John Clatworthy for his work in securing the funding and it fell to him to officially open the centre, his wife cutting the ribbon. It is a great asset for them to have their own premises, tucked in behind the museum at the top of the Barton Hill Car Park. Both the Ring-and-Ride buses and Shopmobility are based here which is far better than being at the Manor House. They show what can be achieved with persistence and a bit of Bruce mentality, to try and try again.

Water Justice
The press this week picked up some good news that the cost of water would come down. Sadly it was not by as much as was expected and in a way deals with the problem of the South West having the highest water charges in the UK. On Saturday, when thankfully the rain held off, I was in Newton Abbot collecting signatures for my water justice campaign. The Walker Review of water charges should report in the next couple of weeks and it is essential we show to the Government how angry we are at the injustice of our water charges.

Two days earlier I had a meeting with the chief executive of South West Water, Chris Loughlin. We went through a number of issues and of course one of his concerns was the cut in water charges which means a cut in revenue to SWW and delays in their work programme. So schemes to reduce the smells at Buckland Sewerage Works may now be at risk. Of course as I have argued in the past, perhaps they could reduce the dividends to their shareholders?

Stover Canal
Work on the restoration of the Stover Canal is progressing steadily but it should get a major boost soon when the Stover Canal Society obtains the leasehold. This will enable them to apply for major grants to help with the work. They asked me to join them for a couple of hours on Saturday to help clear some of the growth blocking the towpath. So after a quick change into a pair of jeans, I drove over to WBB East Gold Works where I was met and taken up the towpath to join the team. It was good fun and they are making great progress. It you want to help call George Whitehead on 01626 775498.

Credit Union
Earlier on Saturday I had popped into the new Scouts Hall in the Wolborough Street Car Park with Councillor Gordon Hook to see the Credit Union team. They apparently have 253 members in Teignbridge which is great progress. The Credit Union movement is a non profit making bank run by volunteers. It provides small loans and is an easy way to save. It is of particular benefit to people on low incomes and you are certain of a real person to talk to, well worth looking into.

Transition Newton Abbot
The Transition Town movement is growing fast as groups of people join together to affect change, not by campaigning for new loans but by leading by example and helping people to be more self sufficient and less polluting. I met the Newton Abbot group twice in the last week, firstly in my office when they came to see me and secondly in Courtenay Street on Saturday when they had a stall in the shadow of the Clock Tower. A great idea that we should all support. The Newton Abbot group can be contacted on 01626 337642 and the Teignmouth group on 01626 870964.

Surgeries
Friday, December 4: Exminster Victory Hall, 5pm-5.45pm
Monday, December 7: The Manor House, Old Town Street, Dawlish, 9.30am-10.15am
Friday, December 11: Bishopsteignton Community Centre, Shute Hill, 5pm-5.45pm