Newton Abbot is set to turn itself into a fun venue for all the family on Saturday, July 25 (put it in your diary), when the inaugural Newton Abbot Festival swaggers into town.

It’s early days yet, but what’s already in store are, amongst other things, Newton Abbot in Bloom, a Court Leet Ale Tasting, poetry readings and a big exhibition about Darwin with street theatre, and a stage full of activities right at the town’s famed and face-lifted St Leonard’s Clock Tower.

There’s even ‘the Expression Zone’ (you know, for kids) possibly named after the look on all the youngsters’ faces after they’ve been dragged around the Darwin exhibition at Forde Hall. And with a graffiti wall, skateboarding, bmx-ing and djs, this is the Air Fusion-lite section of the day, now that the music festival has disappeared.

“Enjoy a FREE day of Devon at its best,” extols the website. “Why? Because a dedicated group of folk have put a lot of effort into this Festival day.”

And you’d better enjoy yourself, too!

posted by Cptn

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Opening paragraph of the week goes to the Herald Express (but of course!) for this pearl of wisdom: ‘If squirrels were cats, one little furry Paignton grey squirrel would be down to eight lives after being rescued from an extractor fan by firefighters.’

Hmm, where to start? Well, Stan from Torbay does a pretty good job with his comment on thisissouthdevon: ‘If squirrels were cats then there would not be any squirrels and the headline would read “Cat extracted from fan after 999 call” ‘.

The terminally soppy will be pleased to know the fluffy squirrel escaped unharmed – much like in one of those old Tufty Club adverts. (His chum, Willy Weasel, wasn’t so lucky. He got twatted by an ice cream van.)

Watch commander Steve Anderson said: “The squirrel leapt on my face and on to the glass conservatory below and on to the ground. Then he was off.”

Straight into Ed Chester’s Otterton Mill cooking pot no doubt. Yum!

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You know how it is when all the cupboards are bare, and you’ve got so many projects you want to pursue but for a little lolly (that’s money to you). We know that feeling only too well. Well, here’s some funding opportunities that have come across our desk

Funding Stuff
Global Music Company supporting music education and encouragement
The aim of this foundation, set up by EMI records, is to support projects that encourage education, in particular for young people, in all aspects of music. Bursary (£5000) and general awards up to £2,500. www.musicsoundfoundation.com

Heritage Lottery funds: Young Roots; Townscape Heritage initiative; Your Heritage. www.hlf.org.uk

Arts Council – Grants for Arts. Activities that benefit people or that help artists and art organisations to carry out their own work. Minimum grant is likely to be £200 and the largest in the region £200,000. www.artscouncil.org.uk

Funding for skate park projects
Gravity Engineering Ltd, a manufacturer of concrete and steel skate parks, is looking to sponsor new skate park projects with donations towards funding of up to £5,000 per project: http://www.gravityparks.co.uk/

Free Website Offer for Your Partnership or Community Group
The Devon Towns Forum is offering all of Devon’s Community Partnerships and Community Groups the chance to apply for a free Website and Training Package worth over £600: info@devontownsforum.org.uk

The Co-operative Community Fund
Community groups, voluntary groups, self-help groups, community charities or local branches of national charities are eligible to apply for grants of between £100 and £2,000. www.co-operative.coop/membership/Community-Fund/

South West Loans Fund
The South West Regional Development Agency (RDA) has announced the launch of a new £10m South West Loans Fund which is now available to help growth-oriented business with viable business plans, as part of the drive for economic recovery. www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest

Greater Dartmoor LEAF
Greater Dartmoor LEAF is a new publicly funded organisation which has been set up to identify and fund environmental and innovative projects and businesses which will increase the future prosperity of the wider community, within the Greater Dartmoor area of Devon. www.greaterdartmoorLEAF.org.uk

The Future Jobs Fund
The Future Jobs Fund is a new initiative, which will help to generate jobs for those in greatest need, particularly young people, and also in areas of high unemployment. This aims to create 150,000 jobs providing real help for young people and who face significant disadvantages in the labour market. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/futurejobsfund

The Big Lottery Fund and Channel 4s’ The Secret Millionaire have teamed up to give viewers a chance to access funding worth £1 million in grants of between £300 and £10,000. http://secretmillionaire.channel4.com/fund_info.shtml

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This performance made me feel cooler just watching it.

Let me set the scene… imagine a harsh world where the Hoodies rule and ASBOs are rife. There is only one man who can save us… The Pied Piper.

The choreography was devised by Kenrick ‘H20′ Sandy. It was a smooth mixture of Hip Hop/ Breakdancing and Martial Arts, using animal styles for each of the gangs.

The five gangs were all diverse, not only with their different fights/dances, but their costumes were simple and evoked the spirit of each gang. For example the Cobras swaying and rocking, ready to pounce were scantily clad women.

Another fantastic device was found in the Mosquito gang, all of them were wearing black but they were also wearing white gloves which are the only thing that could be seen in the dim light mimicking these flying insects

My favourite characters were The Man – four performers dressed in suits with oversized paper mache heads on (a permanent shocked expression on their faces), symbiotic in their movements, sometimes moving in canon.

These characters were so emotive with their movements, I found myself booing loudly at the stage, much to the bewilderment of the surrounding audience members (although it was the matinee so it wasn’t too bad).

The simplistic and up-to-date reworking of a classic tale is breathtaking. Ultz (the director) focuses on the beauty and strength of the dancing rather than bombarding us with extraneous speech and information to get the message across, and it works fabulously.

The cherry on this calorie-laden sundae, the piece de resistance was a snippet of community theatre. A number of local children, who had been working with the company came on in the final scene as the children saved from the oppression of the ASBO gang and they werent bad, in fact i was a tad jealous, I wished I was there layin’ down my moves!

posted by Ems

• Ems reviewed, Blue Boy Ents presents The Pied Piper – A Hip Hop Dance Revolution, at the Northcott Theatre, Exeter. She went to the matinee performance on Saturday, June 6.

To become part of our reviewing team, email info@peoplesrepublicofsouthdevon.co.uk with your details

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Katie Marie spends a week tackling spiders in her studio without resorting to her famous brews

How fantastic is all this lovely sunshine? It’s almost been worth putting up with all that yucky rain for this wonderful week of wonderful sunny stuff… we want more!

This week has been much less hectic for me and I’ve had time to do really basic stuff that most of the time I take for granted, like sitting down and eating a proper meal rather than buying crappy overpriced food from a petrol station and eating it super quick on the way to a gig!

But the best-est thing for me is that I finally have time to spend in my studio… which if you’re a fellow songwriting person like me you’ll understand me when I say that it’s more than just a room with some recording equipment, it’s your own creative space where you can shut the door and just get totally lost in music (paradise in other words), which I’ve been seriously missing.

As I’ve been gigging so much lately, yesterday was the first day I’d ventured in my studio for about a week – and in the space of seven days my biggest rivals had already started to take over. I’ll give you a clue what I’m talking about, they’ve got eight legs, spin biiiiggg webs and can make the biggest bulkiest blokes scream like a four-year-old girl… yep, the spiders had begun their mission in taking back the studio!

My studio is made up of two ex-stable rooms and were literally just shells with not much in them – with the exception of a ga-zillion spiders, most of which I had politly asked to move to the stables over the way. But a few of them refused and didn’t take kindly to my recent re-decorating efforts. So they had all set up webs in the most ‘orrible of places, such as the front door so as soon as I go wandering in I get a face full of web – yuck! But we’ve all sat down and had a good old chat and come to an arrangement about where they can hang out.

The next few weeks I’ll be spending as much time as possible working on my new album, which has been put on the back-burner for far too long, due to having to focus far too much of my efforts on boring grown-up stuff (such as paying bills), but as I’m back to doing music full time and my studio is all finished up I can really get stuck in again and *finally* get it finished up!

The aim is to have it all ready for my next German Tour (which is in October) and most of the tracks are all recorded and finished, but as there’s been a bit of a gap between when I originally started putting it all together I’ve written a few new tunes which I’d like to add. I can’t wait to have a finished CD and start promoting it!

The radio show is still loads and loads of fun and I look forward to it every single Saturday. This week could be highly amusing as I have to fit a four-piece band into the tiny weeny Soundart studios – could be interesting! Papa Fernando are popping into the studio to play a few tunes live on air – so do tune in if you can as it’s sure to be a laugh!

One shocking thing that happened to me this week… are you sitting down? I’ve gone off tea (**gasp!!**) I know! I’ve no idea what is going on, but I think I’ve only had one cup of tea in over seven days, baring in mind that I usually can drink anywhere between three and seven cups a day!! I just don’t fancy it at all. “So what on earth are you drinking instead Katie??” I hear you cry.

Well… this:

Which in case you don’t know, is essentially fake coffee – it tastes like coffee, but isn’t coffee… kinda like coffee for kids (lol) which is really weird as I *hate* coffee and I’m not grown up enough to drink the stuff. So will I ever go back to the utterly brilliant, super-dooper hot drink that is tea? I’ll letcha know next week!!

• Check out Katie Marie on MySpace, or on her website.

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There’s a fear of low turn outs at the June 4 election, and that local politics are getting tainted with that anger at shenanigans of national politicians.

Cllr Mike Walters (Conservative), who’s been knocking on doors in the Kingsteignton area, told the PRSD: “There’s a lack of trust in politicians at the moment. All that goes when I say I’m concerned with representing people at a local level.”

He cites development, traffic, roads and highways, and travel to and from surgeries as the doorstep issues he’s been facing.

Jim Knight, Seaton Conservative Coastal Candidate, told the PRSD: “On the doorstep there are many different issues, especially since the MP expenses came to light. Roads, education, vandalism, police and lack of youth facilities.”

Both county council candidates believe their role, if elected is to fight for their area at at county council level, to claim resources that say have been missing from their prospective areas.

“We cannot continue as we have in the past – it is time for change, for fresh ideas,” said Jim.

But will their local argument get people out to vote?

In terms of turn out, Mike said: “We had 26 per cent turn out last time, I don’t think we’ll get as much as that this time.”

The reason? An angry public.

posted by Cptn

• The PRSD has emailed all the main parties (Conservative, Labour, Lib Dem, Greens and UKIP) for comments on the June 4 elections. And we have emailed all the district councillors in Exeter, Teignbridge, and the South Hams twice, and East Devon once. We also asked that the messages be passed on that the People’s Republic of South Devon is keen to stimulate debate and involvement in Devon politics. We have only had two direct responses from councillors: Jim Knight (Seaton) and Gordon Hook (Teignbrige).

The Conservatives 4 Devon email bounced back

Are local politicians out of touch? Comment below

• Luke Pollard and Labour will be out again in Ivybridge today, for yet another round of leafleting. Find out just how much has been going on in that stomping ground of South Devon. And he’s calling for volunteers.

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The PRSD caught up with Plymouth-based alt-rockers Crazy Arm ahead of the release of their debut elpee Born To Ruin and the Broken by the Wheel single. Here’s what frontman Darren Johns had to say for himself.

Describe the band in under 140 characters so we can Tweet about you.

Hard-twang, punk rock country boys doing their level best to marry the earthy lilt of Murder By Death with the hardcore blast of Hüsker Dü.

You’ve got an extensive summer tour, with only a few spare nights and have had five UK tours, how important is touring and live performances?

All important. Playing live is the first point of communication. It’s the only time a band is vulnerable, which is why so many bands don’t last the duration. Everything else – albums, singles, videos – is past tense by the time anyone hears or sees it, and is easy to perfect.

How do you keep that energy when you’re recording?

Focus. Studios are pretty static places so you need to draw inspiration from a different well. Thankfully, we’re all pretty used to it now, and the studio where we recorded the album (Peter Miles’ Holne Bridge Studio, Ashburton, on the edge of the moors) is an amazing place. Huge vegan curries, night-time Seinfeld sessions and leaps into the nearby river also helped keep spirits up.

You mention Ennio Morricone and Kurt Vonnegut in your influences – does that show through anywhere in your music?

We love the eerie drama and cinematic imagery of Morricone but we’ve only utilised it to a very small degree. The Vonnegut thing is more a personal influence as he’s probably my fave writer/satirist. I think that anything you hold close to you rubs off somewhere along the line.

Your debut album ‘Born To Ruin’ is out on June 8 – what can we expect?

To be pleasantly surprised, hopefully. Loud stuff, quiet stuff, acoustic stuff, melodic stuff, rock stuff, punk stuff, country stuff, folk-rock stuff, socio-political stuff. Lots of stuff.

How did you come to the decision to release the limited vinyl edition of Broken By The Wheel?

We were forced into it by our tyrannical publisher. He knew the label (Seven Inch Records) and kept on at us to get our shit together and do a single with them. So we went along with it and it’s been really great. Our album deal with Xtra Mile came along a few weeks later so they ended up doing the digital side of the single release.

What’s coming up after June?

July. Comedy was my Plan B. We’re hoping to do a mainland European tour in August but I haven’t heard anything about that for a couple weeks. It looks like we’re playing a few festivals in summer and we intend to release Still To Keep as a single in September, which means recording a couple new songs for B-sides, maybe turn it into a four-song EP? After that, more UK tours, try and get some good support slots, start planning the next album… We’ve got enough new songs for it.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Please don’t give the BNP any room to campaign in the European elections. They’re neo-Nazis and they need to be stamped out .

Please support Dave Mahoney – a friend of ours who’s facing imprisonment and a huge fine (on ludicrously trumped-up charges) for his part in an anti-Republican demonstration in the USA.

Please go vegan and keep an eye on the police. Many thanks.

Posted by Cptn

Interview questions answered by Darren Johns (vocals/guitars/words). Other band members are: Jon Dailey (bass); Simon Marsh (drums); Daniel Couling (guitar/vocals/keys).

• Watch the Broken by the Wheel on D+CFilm, where it’s the Something For the Weekend Music Video, with an interview with filmmaker Chris Southern of GET Crucial Productions

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Looking to a smaller party to demonstrate your dissatisfaction with the political classes? Disenfranchised traditional Labour voters should bear in mind that the BNP are the most unBritish of any party – and UKIP, who have a stronghold in South Devon, have already been sullied by expenses issues. Which could mean The Greens pick up a growing support from both camps.

For some, the Greens are the natural choice of a smaller party. But they are not so small, they have a fairly sizeable standing in the Devon County elections, 42, as opposed UKIP’s 33. And they also have a full contingent standing in the European Elections.

So far we’ve heard of no Green being embroiled in an expenses issue or other scandal.

And according to one citizen of the republic, Benjamin A’Lee: “They have pretty sensible policies all-round, including things like abolishing the constitutional role of the monarchy and replacing the House of Lords with an elected body, and nationalising the rail network.”

Of course, the Lib Dems are pushing their environmental creditials. Apparently, Graham Watson South West MEP, was declared the UK’s greenest MEP during the last election by Friends of the Earth during the last election, and has been crowing about their carbon offset of their campaign.

Which is all very well, but doesn’t escape the fact that even the Lib Dems have been sullied in the expenses row.

Another factor that may be in the Green’s favour is the proliferation of small fry right wingers.

Back to Benjamin: “The wingnuts aren’t really a concern, though, since there’s only so many right-wing loonies who can vote for them; all it’s going to do is split the vote.

“What I’d like to know is why are there so many different small parties all with the same goal? Do they not realise they’re shooting themselves in the foot, competing with people who have ostensibly the same goals?

“Certainly there don’t seem to be any redundant parties other than the right-wing anti-EU types.”

Could be we’re all facing a greener future?

posted by Cptn

To Green or not to Green? Will the Greens pick up support and seats in the coming elections? Comment below

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The free bus passes debacle, is due to continue in Torbay tomorrow when under secretary for transport, Paul Clark comes to town to face criticism of the shortfall of government grants to provide the service.

The council says it will be £2 million out of pocket, the Government says oh no it isn’t.

Torbay MP Adrian Saunders, who organised the meeting, told thisissouthdevon: “The Government says it has adequately compensated the council for the bus passes, the council is saying it is much more expensive than the Government has calculated.”

In terms the local shortfall, Torbay mayor Nick Bye told the site: “We do not doubt the Government’s word that overall they have put enough money in the UK pot, and it is a tremendous scheme which we fully support.”

posted by Cptn

(image: a Devon bus)

• Public transport for all! Got any thoughts, leave us a comment.

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An Autism Education Trust conference in Exeter aims to bring together council representatives, health professionals, adults and young people with autism and their parents and carers to share experiences and learn more about the trust.

Sean Murphy, from Socops, an Exeter group for high-functioning children with autistic spectrum disorders and their families, told thisisexeter: “Education is a real concern for many of the parents who attend Socops.

“Many feel there are gaps in provision for their children and are now accessing services outside the county to meet their child’s need.

“The work that the trust is doing is invaluable. We feel that something is being done to address the current and future difficulties that our children face.”

The event will take place at the Thistle Hotel, in Queen Street, Exeter, on Thursday, May 7, from 9am-3pm.

Places are free but limited and must be booked in advance. For details and to book tickets visit the Autism Education Trust site, call 0115 9113367 or email conference@nas.org.uk

.

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Morale is pretty low at Torbay council at the moment because of the pay evaluation the staff are going through, according to Mayor Nick Bye. It probably didn’t improve when the £150,000 wage of chief executive Elizabeth Raikes was published.

The TaxPayers’ Alliance have a run down of South Devon public servant wages, as well as their pay rises. They list Elizabeth Raikes’ salary for 2007 to 2008 as £150,041, with expenses and allowances of almost £2,340.

They also claim Teignbridge Council chief executive Nicola Bulbeck received £112,500 in 2007/8, but Teignbridge says she earns less than £100,000. And South Hams councils says no one on their staff earns more than £100,000.

Meanwhile back in Torbay, the council confirmed that three other top officers are each paid about £100,000 per year.

To quote the TaxPayers’ Alliance: “As workers in the private sector face the prospect of tough pay deals or unemployment, it is increasingly clear the rewards for senior staff in councils remain sky high.

“Generous remuneration for senior staff is difficult to square with complaints from councils that their resources are stretched, and may make it more difficult to control pay for other council staff.”

posted by Cptn

• Fair pay? Or do council executives take home too much dosh?

.

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Redundancy has been on the increase lately, and the TUC is calling for the government to amend statutory redundancy in a move which could benefit nearly 2 million employees in the South West.

At the moment you need to be over 18 and in a job for more than two years to qualify for your statutory redundancy pay (SRP).

The TUC is acalling for this to be cut to one year, as well as increase to amount of earnings which counts towards the redundancy, from £350 t0 £500.

Nigel Costley, Regional Secretary of the South West TUC, said: “We are seeing a return of mass unemployment to the UK. And the situation will get worse before it gets better, as unemployment always persists even after a recovery starts.

“Many employees will be facing redundancy and unemployment for the first time in their lives.

”There can be no assumption that the people who are losing their jobs will find it easy to get new ones, and they will need all the help they can get with redundancy pay, retraining and personal advice.

“Many decent employers, especially those that recognise unions, already offer their staff more generous redundancy packages than the statutory entitlement. The qualifying period for statutory redundancy pay should be cut to 12 months to help more employees across the UK cope with the financial costs of losing their jobs.”

posted by Cptn

Shoots of recovery or dire straits? What’s your experience of the ‘current economic crisis’? Leave your comments

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