The quote from Cllr Susie Bond comesĀ from this post on her blog: https://susiebond.wordpress.com/2015/02/12/local-plan-update-well-sort-of/
But strangely no mention of the Local Plan (nor of the precise costs of EDDC’s planned move from Knowle ) from Cllr Bond’s colleagues representing Sidmouth, in their current leaflet to residents (mentioned on our website yesterday) . EDWatchers can view the leaflet’s two pages here: In Touch Feb 2015 and here In Touch East Devon residents’ survey. Feb 2015
Two thorough articles in today’s Midweek Herald, on some burning East Devon issues, in case readers missed them in our earlier posts:
Interesting editorial from the Editor of the View from newspaper titles, who seems to have come under criticism for reporting the creation of the East Devon Alliance support network for Independent councillors wishing to stand across the district.
It appears some people (wonder who?) think that could be seen as partisan and not “news”. We beg to differ – this is, as the Editor says, probably the biggest LOCAL AND ENTIRELY EAST DEVON ORIENTED NEWS to come out of the district for many a year.
Some suggestions here, from the new lively publication, Devonshire Magazine:
More thoughts from the public on EDDC landgrab at the Knowle are here: https://www.streetlife.com/conversation/3w1f67nozab7/
Info and how/ where/ to object, at this link: http://saveoursidmouth.com/2015/02/04/fact-file-on-knowle-plan-and-land-to-be-appropriated-reminder-deadline-for-objections-20th-feb-2015/
In two of East Devon’s towns today and what a buzz about East Devin Alliance! People seem overjoyed to have a real local alternative the former major parties with much spleen vented! Absolutely the talk of the towns.
Seismic changes ahead, one feels.
Save Clyst St Mary Notice of meeting 12 Feb 15 (1)
Thank you to everyone for your support over and attending the meetings. A lot has been achieved in a very short space of time.
The Parish plan is progressing well and there is another meeting(Sorry!) on Thursday 12th February at 7.00pm this is to discuss the draft proposals of the village plan the venue is in the village hall. Once this plan becomes adopted it should help to stop our village from the continual threat of further large scale planning applications from developers!
Many of our residents have asked what our local MP is doing about all these planning applications and why Clyst St Mary has had so many in such a short space of time. Mike Howe has convinced Hugo Swire to come and talk to us on Thursday 19th February in the School Hall at 6.30pm (Sorry we couldn’t get the village hall it was already booked) I would really like to fill the hall to show how much support we have behind us and to ask what he is doing about it! Please Please come if you can.
Message sent in to EastDevonWatch:
FIND OUT HOW CLAIRE WRIGHT WOULD REPRESENT YOU AS OUR NEW MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IF EAST DEVON ELECTS HER IN MAY. She’ll be at a PUBLIC MEETING IN SIDMOUTH, WEDNESDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2015,
7PM, UNITARIAN CHURCH (AT THE JUNCTION OF HIGH STREET WITH ALL SAINTS ROAD).
The public meeting scheduled for 7 pm on Wednesday 11th February in Sidmouth’s Leigh Browne Room has been moved around the corner to the larger premises at the Unitarian Church on the corner of the High Street and All Saints Road.
A spokesman for Independent Candidate Claire Wright said: “Claire lives in West Hill, Ottery St Mary. Sidmouth was chosen as the first venue in her planned series of public meetings throughout the East Devon constituency as she bids to become our next Member of Parliament.
āSince the meeting was announced last month, Claire has been overwhelmed with messages of support from Sidmouth residents. She has therefore decided to move the event to a larger venue to accommodate the likely numbers.
“Another public meeting is scheduled for Woolbrook on 1st April and Claire will also be attending several events and taking part in election hustings with other candidates in Sidmouth during the run up to May 7th’s General Election.”
When Claire Wright first announced her candidature the bookmakers gave odds of 66-1 against her winning. The odds have shortened week after week since then and she is now seen as the front-runner to displace the current MP.
As the General Election approaches, Hugo Swire MP will be holding a meeting in Woodbury Village Hall on Friday, 20th February from 6.30 till 8.0 p.m. to discuss planning issues. Is this a first? There could be a full house!
Just a reminder that this evening there is a meeting in the village hall at 7.30pm to discuss the planning proposal to demolish no 16 Clyst Valley Road and build 40 new houses on the land sandwiched between the football ground and the back gardens of houses on Clyst Valley Road. Charlie Hopkins (Expert planning consultant) will be there.
Should anyone need transport please ask. We have several willing volunteers that have offered to ferry residents to and from the meeting.
Hope to see you all later on.
Best wishes
Letter in today’s Exmouth Journal:
I live in a big old house that costs a lot to heat and maintain, and with my budget tightening, I certainly won’t plan to move.
I don’t think East Devon District Council should move either. Not to Exmouth. Not to Honiton.
To waste Ā£700,000 of our money ājust thinking about itā (Cllr Ben Ingham’s letter, January 29) while at the same time drastically cutting services seems not the wisest of moves.
We need more common sense voices like the Independent Claire Wright to urge sense and sensibility on our council.
Rather than expensive vanity projects, they should stay in their old home in Sidmouth (even expensive to heat) and concentrate on spending our money more wisely.
May I make a moving plea to our council: Don’t Move!
JED FALBY
Budleigh Salterton.
From today’s Exmouth Journal:
New group āa breath of fresh airā
David Beasley
A brand new alliance for independent candidates is vowing to change the political landscape across East Devon.
On Tuesday, just 93 days before the national and local elections on May 7, the campaign group East Devon Alliance (EDA) revealed that, as far as the Electoral Commission is concerned, it is now a political party, unveiling a website and manifesto.
However, in reality, the EDA is a broad, umbrella group for similar-minded activists – and now more independent candidates are set to contest district council seats in East than at any point since 1973.
At the launch at the Axminster Heritage Centre, its leaders urged residents – tired of the old political parties – to rally to their cause.
Its leader is Woodbury and Lympstone’s independent district councillor Ben Ingham, with freelance BBC documentary maker Paul Arnott as chairman and Ian Mckintosh, founder of the EDA, and retired circuit judge, its president.
Councillor Ingham said: “For years the three main national political parties have been telling us what they want to do instead of listening and then delivering what we need to have.
“People are so fed up they have even been voting for the nationalist parties as an alternative, but these alternative parties prey on people’s gravest fears… they preach division and separation instead of unity, respect and understanding.”
He said it did not have to be like that and insisted that prospective parliamentary candidate Claire Wright, EDA’s council candidates and other independent councillors had a ‘very definite set of ideas.’
“Our campaign is like a breath of fresh air in a stagnant room,” said Cllr Ingham.
“So, over the next few weeks, all of us in East Devon should open the windows to change, breathe in deeply and take part in the most exciting political event to happen in East Devon for decades.”
Their policies range from ensuring that East Devon District Council (EDDC) is more open and accountable, supporting local businesses, preserving the environment, keeping local hospitals open and backing new developments – but only if they are `sensitive’ to what local people want.
Mr Arnott said: “We will allow vulnerable independent candidates to stand as independent East Devon Alliance candidates in May
“We know how hard it is for independents to stand without the help of a party machine.”
He said that the EDA had heard many complaints from residents about the way things were done at EDDC ‘because of national parties first standing in local elections 40 years ago, it has led today to an atrophied one-party disaster…’
“There’s no point just moaning from the sidelines…the only way to reform our council is through the ballot box,” he said.
“In May, the people of East Devon will be offered independent candidates across the district on a previously unknown scale.”
The following headlines and story relating to the same council, , from only a few years ago, may have some bearing on our own District Council’s office relocation extravaganza.
Ā£9.9m bill to equip Rotherham Council’s new offices
Published date: 26 August 2011 | Published by: Gareth Dennison
Bill: Rotherham Council’s new offices.
ROTHERHAM Borough Councilās multi-million pound new offices will cost Ā£9.9 million to furnish.
The Ā£3 million-a-year rent paid to regeneration group Evans for Riverside House does not include kitting out the buildings.
The first staff will begin moving in before Christmas and the authority insists the total cost is less than staying put in its ageing existing buildings.
See update on http://www.sidmouthdrillhall.com/
Intense media interest in the new East Devon Alliance of Independent Candidates for the 2015 elections, has begun with reports of yesterday’s press launch.
Radio Devon was the first to pick up the story on its news bulletins on Monday, and prominent coverage was given in today’s editions of Pullman’s ‘View from..’ in Axminster, Colyton & Colyford, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Seaton & Beer and Sidmouth. Here’s a sample:Ā AxminsterViewLaunch
Independent Councillors, Susie Bond and Claire Wright, wrote enthusiastic accounts on their respective blogs: Ā https://susiebond.wordpress.com/2015/02/03/eda-offers-assistance-to-independent-hopefuls/
And needless to say, the Real Zorro, too, gave rave reviews, and has this especiallyĀ useful postĀ http://realzorro1.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/eddc-its-time-for-change-its-time-for.html
EDWatch will keep you updated on any further reporting this week….and up to and beyond the May 2015 elections…
And so, we’re sure, will http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk
East Devon Watch 