Category Archives: East Devon Tories

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27 Jul 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, AONB, Blackdown Hills, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Paul Diviani

That Messianic speech from Our Glorious Leader translated for the masses

We aim to secure an outstanding and sustainable quality of life for everyone in East Devon.

Now, let’s get it straight: we are talking about developers here – who did you think I was talking about?

Where we live, work and play has a tremendous influence on our well-being. We shall seek to conserve and enhance the environment through the social and economic well-being of the people who live and work here. We must achieve a proper balance between the environment, the economy and our communities by weighing the relative merits to ensure sustainability and resultant harmony.

Of course, I am talking only about the Blackdown Hills here – the rest of you will just have to cope with whatever developments we decide to throw at you.

We want to be safe in our communities and to that end we will work in partnership with the other authorities to achieve that. We will look after the disadvantaged of all ages, to ensure that lack of finance and opportunity is not a barrier to the quality of life we all desire. With local housing for local people our top priority, we shall enable good quality and sustainable development to produce the 250 affordable homes we need every year. Then, at last, we will enable families to live and work in close proximity to each other, emulating the cohesive neighbourhoods we remember and desire.

I’m not daft: I shall be needing the police to provide me with a bodyguard if things get any worse and they cut 25-40% of our government grant AND we build a new HQ for ourselves. And we are still talking about developers: we will ensure that they never lack finance or opportunity to ensure that they have the quality of life they all desire and we will always look after them. 250 affordable homes – well, 90% of a massive average house price is affordable to our pals, what are you grizzling about.

We want our public realm to remain attractive; whether it be the award-winning parks and gardens or the pavements and pathways we traverse daily. We are fortunate that we can all share not only the nationally designated Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), but also the only English, internationally recognised, natural World Heritage Site, known as the Jurassic Coast, which together comprise two-thirds of our District. As our landscape defines our style, so we shall recognise that renewable energy will have an increasingly important part to play in the way our district looks and powers itself.

Did you really have to put parks and gardens in there (those Sidmouth people will moan about that) and AONBs and the Jurassic Coast in this bit speechwriter? Oh, well, if you must, just don’t expect us to worry too much about them if they are not in the Blackdown Hills.

We want there to be equal opportunity for work and in particular to achieve high quality jobs in the emerging high tech and green industries. No longer should our young people be forced to leave through lack of housing or employment. Those who wish to depart will always have the option to return to their roots in later years. If they do, we will be there to look after them.

High-tech jobs for rich but dim kids for whom we will buy houses or buy-to-let properties in their names from our profits or cashed-in pensions.  Er, what exactly are “green industries” speechwriter?  Oh, that’s right, industrial sheds at the Growth Point painted in Racing Green!

Recognising our foremost economic activity, we welcome visitors drawn to our stunning coastline, our vibrant market towns and villages set in our beautiful countryside, which would not be so but for the custodianship of our farmers who we will support in their efforts to maintain food security and in the process, bring delicious local produce to market. In recognition of the many small rural businesses which are the backbone of our economy, we shall continue to lobby for fast broadband which will also stop our youngsters being disadvantaged solely through location.

I will always support the Farmers Market in the Blackdown Hills and will ensure that we get broadband before everyone else in the countryside, the rest of you will just have to cope as best you can.  And any farmers out there who want to put up your land for great big developments like others have before you – come and see us very soon!

We shall communicate in a positive manner with all our residents which will ensure positive leadership and positive partnerships. We want people to feel they really can influence public decision-making but realise, in the spirit of localism, individual and community initiatives reflect responsibilities rather than rights. Truly sustainable places are about happy communities, living and working together in wonderful places.

We ALWAYS communicate with our residents in a positive manner, even when it is bad, bad news and we DEFINITELY have positive partnerships with our developers. And NO WAY are the plebs going to influence us – we have the rights, they have the responsibility to do as we say! And if our developers are happy, we are happy.

We all want to be proud to live in East Devon and when that is realised, we shall be content.”

Except that WE will build dark, Satanic mills!

Fade out with the Monty Python film with the famous scene of the masses offering adulation to the Messiah and his mother saying

“He isn’t the Messiah, he is a Very Naughty Boy”.

Original taken from – notes in RED from The Owl.

http://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2015/07/cllr-paul-diviani-our-mission-in-east-devon.html

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27 Jul 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, AONB, Austerity cuts, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Environment (local)

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Joke of the millenium: Paul Diviani’s “vision” for East Devon!

We have had clean, green and seen – now we have the ultimate in hypocrisy. a full critique will appear after Owl has lain in a darkened room for some hours mulling on this triumphalist nonsense.

Moses and his Ten Commandments and Ed Milliband’s Tablet of Stone have nothing on this guy!

On the “Conservative Home” website today:

“We aim to secure an outstanding and sustainable quality of life for everyone in East Devon.

Where we live, work and play has a tremendous influence on our well-being. We shall seek to conserve and enhance the environment through the social and economic well-being of the people who live and work here. We must achieve a proper balance between the environment, the economy and our communities by weighing the relative merits to ensure sustainability and resultant harmony.

We want to be safe in our communities and to that end we will work in partnership with the other authorities to achieve that. We will look after the disadvantaged of all ages, to ensure that lack of finance and opportunity is not a barrier to the quality of life we all desire. With local housing for local people our top priority, we shall enable good quality and sustainable development to produce the 250 affordable homes we need every year. Then, at last, we will enable families to live and work in close proximity to each other, emulating the cohesive neighbourhoods we remember and desire.

We want our public realm to remain attractive; whether it be the award-winning parks and gardens or the pavements and pathways we traverse daily. We are fortunate that we can all share not only the nationally designated Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), but also the only English, internationally recognised, natural World Heritage Site, known as the Jurassic Coast, which together comprise two thirds of our District. As our landscape defines our style, so we shall recognise that renewable energy will have an increasingly important part to play in the way our district looks and powers itself.

We want there to be equal opportunity for work and in particular to achieve high quality jobs in the emerging high tech and green industries. No longer should our young people be forced to leave through lack of housing or employment. Those who wish to depart will always have the option to return to their roots in later years. If they do, we will be there to look after them.

Recognising our foremost economic activity, we welcome visitors drawn to our stunning coastline, our vibrant market towns and villages set in our beautiful countryside, which would not be so but for the custodianship of our farmers who we will support in their efforts to maintain food security and in the process, bring delicious local produce to market. In recognition of the many small rural businesses which are the backbone of our economy, we shall continue to lobby for fast broadband which will also stop our youngsters being disadvantaged solely through location.

We shall communicate in a positive manner with all our residents which will ensure positive leadership and positive partnerships. We want people to feel they really can influence public decision making but realise, in the spirit of localism, individual and community initiatives reflect responsibilities rather than rights. Truly sustainable places are about happy communities, living and working together in wonderful places.

We all want to be proud to live in East Devon and when that is realised, we shall be content.”

http://www.conservativehome.com/localgovernment/2015/07/cllr-paul-diviani-our-mission-in-east-devon.html


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9 Jul 2015

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Affordable and Social Housing, Cranbrook, East Devon Electoral/Returning Officer, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Local Plan

Cranbrook – over developed say – developers!

Interesting snippet from yesterday’s local plan hearing. Apparently developers were complaining that over-development in Cranbrook is depressing prices there and there is more money (sorry, better opportunities for housing supply) in other parts of the district.

Mr Thickett asked rather plaintively where the employment land was for the larger town. It appears planners had’nt really got to grips with that (though, of course, Skypark down the road and the abandoned inter-modal freight site are deserts waiting for rain),

Lower prices are better for us, not good for developers. Who does EDDC support?

Wonder what Mr Thickett thought of that?

He seems increasingly fed up with his visits to East Devon to try to sort things out – might he be ready to throw in the towel and rip the Local Plan up?

If he did the developer free-for-all will continue for years. That surely is not what East Devon Tory councillors want.

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4 Jun 2015

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Budleigh Salterton, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Exmouth, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury

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Beach Huts

Exmouth beach huts could go to rich under highest bidder plans
(And Beer, Budleigh Salterton, Seaton & Sidmouth)
From: Exeter Express and Echo
By Anita Merritt
Hundreds of families could face losing beach huts they have enjoyed for years under plans to let them to the highest bidder.
East Devon District Council wants to scrap the current system for renting out huts and chalets in Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth, Beer and Seaton.
Until now they have been hired by people who automatically get to rent them every year until they choose to give them up, when they are offered to those on a waiting list.
Instead, five-year leases on the sought-after huts and sites would in future be offered on the open market to the highest bidder – which could push up prices.
Under the proposed changes, non-domestic rates of up to £90 per year will also be paid by the
occupiers of the beach huts rather than by the council, which currently picks up this charge.
Concerns have been raised that the new system would allow those who can afford it to jump the queue, while pricing out people on lower incomes who have enjoyed using the beach huts for years.
Steve Gazzard, Liberal Democrat councillor for Exmouth Withycombe Raleigh ward, said: “Obviously I am very concerned. The beach huts have always been a vital part of Exmouth seafront. I’m one of those traditionalists where if the system isn’t broken, why change it? It has always appeared to work and it’s quite clear this new proposal is about generating more income, and I think it’s a backwards step.
“The rich will get in there first because they have the money. I don’t know how the council will administer it, but will anyone in the country be able to apply? I think the beach huts should be for local people. Some people do manage to hire them for the holidays which is fine, but I hope once people hear about the proposal they will partake in the consultation and give their views.”
The Tory-controlled district council is responsible for managing and maintaining 237 beach huts, 20 beach chalets and 241 beach hut sites in Budleigh Salterton, Seaton, Beer, Sidmouth and Exmouth. The huts are currently rented out for between £480 and £650 a season, with the Exmouth chalets costing £1,023 a season. Sites hired without huts are cheaper.
More than 300 people are on waiting lists for huts, chalets or sites.
Consultation has begun on the proposed changes, which would take effect next year if approved, with an online questionnaire open until Monday, July 13.
The council has said it is “looking for ways to enable more people to have a chance to lease a beach hut, chalet or beach hut site”.
But it also admitted it wants to generate more income in the face of government funding cuts.
A council spokeswoman said: “We think it is only fair that everyone – from East Devon residents to visitors – should have the opportunity to hire a beach hut, site or chalet. This consultation is a great opportunity for people to give us their views on the service they would like to receive from us.
“It’s time that this special service, which we offer, becomes a viable self-supporting asset and not a burden of luxury. We strongly believe that these changes are for the better.”
The spokeswoman added: “We have a responsibility to make sure that public money is spent in the best way possible. If we can collect more from this enterprise than it costs us to provide it, we can also improve our beach hut, chalet and beach hut site service. Any surplus funds would be re-invested in other council services.”
It is not yet clear how any auction of beach hut leases would work.
On the reasons for the proposed new system, the council has said: “The funding that we receive from Government to run all our services is reducing, so we need to find better ways to use the assets that we have.
“The beach huts, beach chalets and beach hut sites service is not something we have to provide.
However, it is a service that is valued by residents and visitors alike so we would like to keep
providing it.
“Currently some of the costs are absorbed by the local authority (council tax payers). These
expenses include the cost to the council of huts rented in Budleigh Salterton and Seaton being
dismantled by us, stored over each winter and re-erected each spring. We also pay the non-domestic rates of between £21 and £90 a year for each of the 498 beach huts and beach hut sites. We feel it is reasonable that users of the service pay these costs.”
In some locations, the council is proposing other changes. Where sites are leased without huts, it will be up to the person leasing the site to purchase and look after the hut.
The person leasing the site will also have to put up the hut at the beginning of the season and take it down and store it at the end of the season. Contractors are available to do this for about £220.
People leasing the sites that previously housed beach huts will be given the option of purchasing the existing hut for about £250.
An additional 70 beach hut sites are provided through formal leases with individuals, who then operate them as a business. These 70 sites will not be affected by these proposals.
People who already either hire or are on the waiting list to hire a beach hut, beach hut site or beach chalet will receive a copy of the proposals and questionnaire by post.
The questionnaire can be found at:

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/consultation-and-surveys/beach-huts-service/

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/news/2015/05/tell-us-what-you-think-east-devon-asks-public-for-opinion-on-proposed-changes-to-its-beach-huts-service/

The Owl says: Seeing as how quickly this policy has emerged fully fledged so soon after the election it looks like it has long been an EDDC intention. (Didn’t they try to hike the prices up in Budleigh by 50% a couple of years ago?) Don’t remember seeing it on any Tory election pledge!

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4 Jun 2015

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Democracy, Development Management Committee, Devolution, Duty to co-operate, East Devon Alliance, East Devon Tories, EDDC, EDDC HQ, Freedom of Information Act, Freedom of Information and EIA, Independent Councillors, Knowle/Honiton/Exmouth relocation, Latest news, Misc, Skypark

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Tories of East Devon – You just don’t get it, do you?

Wednesday 3rd June

The motion to delay the Knowle Sale by 6 months was placed before Full Council by Cllr Cathy Gardner and Cllr Matt Booth.  They both presented very reasoned cases for the delay and were conciliatory in their approach.  They stressed Transparency to the residents of East Devon and in particular Sidmouth.  They did not oppose the move merely asked for more time to allow greater consultation to ensure that the Council made the right decision.

The reaction was set by Cllr Williamson who insisted that as the decision had already been validated by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (with a set of “independent” auditors) there was no need to delay – in fact he maintained that there was a need for greater speed.  Other speakers opposing the motion spoke of the need to move and how inappropriate the current building was.

Tories – you just don’t get it!  It is recognised that the current buildings are not fit for purpose AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE – but what that is and how due process is applied is the central issue in this motion.

Previous Committees and Councils sanctioned a move to Sky Park – not a mention of that! Then a sudden concept of two premises – why the change?

The appeal to the Freedom of Information request was scathing of the Council – no acceptance of that or any explanation of what was so important within the papers that they could not be released – I doubt most Tory members had even read (or been able to read) them.

Reference to election results and other “facts” but no concept of the Perception of the public – they rightly feel marginalised.

Tories – you seem to have forgotten that you serve your community – these assets are not yours – they are not even EDDC’s – they are owned by the Council Tax Payers of East Devon – you merely act as temporary custodians in the passage of time.  You MUST consult with your Community – you have failed to do this as on other occasions.  You were given the opportunity last night to make a fresh start with Openness and Transparency – you rejected that offer with your customary arrogance.

The motion was defeated by a recorded vote – this may come back to bite you!

Owl

 

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29 May 2015

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Austerity cuts, East Devon Tories, Hugo Swire, Misc

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Hugo or David

Or maybe they are the same person?  Certainly sound the same

http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/letter-Hugo-Swire-Working-brighter-future/story-26584375-detail/story.html

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8 May 2015

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Axminster, Beer, Blackdown Hills, Budleigh Salterton, East Devon Alliance, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Exmouth, Feniton/ Talaton, Honiton/ Gittisham, Independent Councillors, Lympstone, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Sidmouth/ Sidford/ Sidbury, Transparency, Voting, West End: WestClyst BroadClyst/ Pinhoe, Woodbury

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Roger Giles (Ind) polls highest vote in District Council elections

We’ve had further feedback from today’s election of East Devon District Councillors, when Independents gained considerable ground. Here are some highlights:

– The voters’ favourite was Roger Giles, the seasoned Independent Councillor for Ottery St Mary Town Ward, with 2087 votes.
– Paul Diviani, Leader of the Council) retained his seat at Yarty. He received 776 votes. But votes against him totalled 795.
– Cabinet member, Ray Bloxham (525 votes) lost in Raleigh Ward to IEDA candidate, Geoff Jung (950 votes).
– IEDA Leader, Ben Ingham successfully held Woodbury & Lympstone, where he and IEDA colleague, Rob Longhurst, defeated David Atkins (Con).
– The most significant cull of Tory Councillors was in Sidmouth, with Independents now in control:
There was a surprise defeat for Graham Troman, who ironically has often stood up alone for Sidmouth, without the backing of the other local councillors.
Stuart Hughes is the sole remaining Conservative, sharing Sidmouth-Sidford with Dawn Manley and Marianne Rixson, both IEDA.
Sidmouth Town Ward is in the hands of Cathy Gardner (IEDA), Matt Booth(IEDA) and John Dyson (Independent).

The Sidmouth Herald reporters were quick to pick this up: http://www.sidmouthherald.co.uk/news/election/eddc_independents_oust_tories_in_sidmouth_town_1_4066681

For complete election result information, go to http://eastdevon.gov.uk/elections-and-registering-to-vote/elections-2015/2015-district-council-elections-results/

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8 May 2015

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East Devon Tories, EDDC, Independent Councillors

And now for some good news … or not …

Bloxham (Conservative, Raleigh) out, Jung (Independent) IN

Drew (Conservative, Sidmouth Rural) OUT, Barratt (Independent) IN

oh yes, good news indeed!

3 Conservatives elected in Budleigh – sorry Ms Mantell!  Not good news.

Steve Gazzard re-elected in Exmouth (Lib Dem) – well done Steve!

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6 May 2015

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East Devon Alliance, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Latest news, Transparency

A “discourteous” and “unhelpful” Council….Leader sets the tone

See this exchange between Cllr Susie Bond (Ind) and EDDC Leader Paul Diviani (Con).  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEZN2L_v6Js

EDW footnote: The Council had agreed to conduct an independent inquiry once the police investigation into ex-Councillor Graham Brown (following the Telegraph’s ‘Councillor for Hire’ sting, March 2013) had ended.  Cllr Bond (who took the Feniton and Buckerell seat with 87% of the vote, after Graham Brown’s resignation from it), asks if the Council will conduct its own investigation, as decided.

The Leader’s response (with backup from Chair Graham Godbeer (Con) , heard in the background saying Cllr Bond was not asking a question ) is fairly typical of what has been regularly observed by the public at Council meetings.

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2 May 2015

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Axminster, Democracy, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Environment (local), Independent Councillors, Latest news, National Planning Policy Framework, Neighbourhood Plans, Planning System, Transparency, Voting

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Local Tories show their true colours

Andrew Moulding and Steph Jones’s election leaflet issued in Axminster, seems designed to misinform.

AxmstrLeaflet

A close look at the leaflet (above..click to enlarge) reveals some apparent misconceptions and economies with the truth:

Moulding/ Jones: Imply East Devon Alliance is centred in Sidmouth.
Incorrect: EDA Chair lives in Colyton; Vice-Chair in Feniton; vast majority of East Devon Alliance Independent candidates are from other parts of the District.

Moulding/Jones: Suggest Knowle is just adapted bedrooms and bathrooms.
Incorrect: Only the old part, which was once used as a hotel, then as flats.  No serious attempt has been made to market this individually to fund update of the newer building, which consists of purpose built offices in 1970-80s, with outside space for extension if required.

Moulding/Jones:  Move will save £6m over 20 years.
Figures are disputed ( posts on http://www.saveoursidmouth.com may explain why ‘Sidmouth’ is a painful subject for EDDC Deputy Leader, Cllr Moulding) – and some withheld documents concerning office relocation are still under legal review (Tribunal decision imminent: Information Commissioner and J. Woodward vs East Devon District Council).

Moulding/Jones: Why Honiton and Exmouth? “Because Honiton is more central, and Exmouth is the largest town.”
Then why did they previously support Skypark (which could not be less central) and selling the site in Honiton? In reality, a newbuild office at Honiton is just the fall-back plan, as the Honiton site couldn’t be sold for enough money to make a move to Skypark financially viable. And Exmouth has only now come into the equation, as space at the Town Hall has become available. The leaflet makes no mention of the issues of running a split site; nor of existing air pollution problems where the £7m newbuild HQ at Honiton would be sited (no such problem in Knowle parkland!), etc.,etc. 

Moulding/Jones; Why is Local Plan taking so long? “Because we want to get it right”
Or is it because EDDC are struggling, having got it so wrong in the past, and exasperating the Inspector, who rejected the previous one? (Remember the 53 ‘minor changes’ which the Inspector found to be ‘major’? SIN blogged the story: https://sidmouthindependentnews.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/sum-thing-amiss/)

Moulding/ Jones: Why so much new housing in Axminster? “Because you wanted it!!”
Who are ‘you’? Does it embellish the town and help it to thrive? Or is it symptomatic of consequences when deciding where to build the massive number of new houses EDDC has chosen to opt for?

Moulding/Jones:  Do you have a plan for the future of Axminster. “Yes, we have a vision.”
Who are ‘we’, and has the vision, with no neighbourhood plan yet in place, been led by speculative development?

This leaflet, along with quotes from Hugo Swire in the local press yesterday (https://eastdevonwatch.org/2015/05/02/east-devon-alliance-responds-to-hugo-swire-misinformation/), show tired tactics which are looking rather stale. On May 7th, East Devon voters may well show they’ve had enough of them.

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1 May 2015

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Axminster, East Devon Tories, EDDC, Honiton/ Gittisham, Seaton/ Colyford / Colyton, Voting

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That most dangerous of things: “a group of Sidmouth residents”! Are you sure?

Leaving aside whether “a group of Sidmouth residents” is the most dangerous thing on the planet (actually, the perpetrator of that remark may well be right!) it is how members of East Devon Alliance have been (oh-so-very-wrongly) described by Councillor Andrew Moulding, we have but one comment to make on his remark.

Why is Seaton resident and Conservative (and formerly a Lib Dem) councillor Stephanie Jones standing with Andrew Moulding in Axminster so that a Honiton resident Jenni Brown (whose address is the Monkton Court Hotel, Honiton) with no obvious connection to Seaton can stand in Seaton?

Click to access seaton.pdf

And where another candidate who is standing against former Tory Bob Buxton in Dunkeswell also lives (Colin Brown):

Click to access dunkeswell.pdf

You may be able to ask them both as the Monkton Court Hotel:

http://www.monktoncourthotel.co.uk/

Colin, Jenny and Joe are serving morning coffee, bar snacks, comfort food and afternoon tea. Come and relax in front of the fires or chill out in the sunny orchard -umbrellas can be supplied if necessary!

will be a polling station on election day:

Click to access 1505Nominations%20for%20MP.pdf

And it has been the venue for a number of EDDC and local Tory events such as the Tiverton and Honiton Conservative Association Pie and Pudding Club:

http://www.tivertonhonitonconservatives.co.uk/events/t-hca-honiton-branch-%E2%80%93-%E2%80%9Cpie-and-pudding-supper-club%E2%80%9D-3

Of course, anyone who fulfils the criteria in East Devon can stand anywhere in the district but it does seem a bit like musical-chair Tories – or perhaps pass the parcel would be a better description!

For the original article on the most dangerous people on the planet see our old friend:

http://realzorro1.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/axminster-tory-district-council.html

Anyone wanting to find out EXACTLY where independent East Devon Alliance candidates emanate from can find out here:

http://www.eastdevonalliance.org.uk/
(follow candidates tab)

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29 Apr 2015

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Claire Wright, Democracy, East Devon Alliance, East Devon Tories, General Election, Hugo Swire, Independent Councillors, Latest news, Transparency, UKIP (local)

Another hustings packed to overflowing last night, this time in Sidmouth

The third in the series of hustings organised in Sidmouth (for District,Town and Parliamentary elections, respectively), admirably had all five of the Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) there to meet the public face to face.

Andrew Chapman (UKIP), Hugo Swire (Cons) , Stuart Mole Lib Dem), Claire Wright (Ind) and Steve Race (Labour) gave their views clearly and characteristically, from their various standpoints, showing that politicians are NOT all the same!

The evening began with an element of almost high comedy, as a phalanx of Tory supporters arrived half an hour early, having been informed in an e-mail from the party office of the wrong start time…rather conveniently enabling them to claim the front row seats.

There was not enough time to cover all the questions submitted, but topics were wide-ranging. They included Trident,and defence spending; decarbonising the energy sector; provision of mental health services; and housing figures in East Devon’s latest draft Local Plan.
The audience was clearly strongly divided, but for the most part listened attentively to the speakers.,although there were outbreaks of heckling when the Party lines were rolled out,  as when Hugo Swire (Con) said repeatedly that Labour + the SNP would make a chaotic combination in government; and UKIP’s Andrew Chapman insisted our housing shortage was caused by EU immigrants. There was also applause, as when Claire Wright declared, in her closing speech, that as an MP she would never belittle people who were poorer than herself.

At the end of the meeting, VgS Chair, Dave Bramley, praised the courage of the five PPCs, for being prepared to stand on their platform in front of the large audience (about 200 people), and answer questions in person. Regrettably, the bulk of the District Councillors representing Sidmouth, sitting in those front row seats last night, had not been so keen to do so themselves, having boycotted the previous two Sidmouth hustings as “too political”, we hear. Last night all that was required of them was to clap in unison, on cue.

EDW note: If the hustings in progress right now, at St Martins School, Cranbrook, is equally well-attended….is it a sign of the times?

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27 Apr 2015

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East Devon Tories, Hugo Swire

Extra, extra: East Devon Conservatives change their home page!

It doesn’t seem to have changed since at least 2014 but today we have this WONDERFUL NEW IMAGE ON THE HOME PAGE!

Seems they haven’t yet heard about the stupendous fisaco with postal votes in East Devon (see posts below) but then it is a safe seat for our former MP and our currrent councillors isn’t it!

gotpv

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26 Apr 2015

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East Devon Tories

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Anyone spotted any EDDC Cabinet members canvassing?

Or are they so sure they will be re-elected they aren’t bothering much?

We haven’t seen any pictures of Hugo Swire and Paul Diviani together either …

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26 Apr 2015

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East Devon Tories, General Election, Hugo Swire

You want to know what the Conservatives have planned for East Devon? You have to give them your email address and postcode AND opt in to receive propaganda!

Hugo Swire has a link on Twitter so you can find out what his party has planned for our area:

https://www.conservatives.com/yourarea.aspx

Unfortunately it forces you to put your postcode and email address – you can’t search for “East Devon” or “Sidmouth” anonymously so the data collected knows where you live within a few yards AND it signs you up to receive Conservative Party propaganda and fundraising emails until you opt out!

We chose not to use it! East Devon Watch likes its privacy!

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24 Apr 2015

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East Devon Tories, General Election, Hugo Swire, Voting

Major Tory donor benefits from Government advertising and Tory election visits

The Independent – JCB and its billionaire owners donated more than £1 million to the Conservative party in the financial year 2014-15, Electoral Commission records show.  The company was subsequently featured prominently in Government-sponsored and promoted advertising.  The Independent states

…”JCB’s headquarters in Staffordshire has been used by the Government as the location for several prominent speeches, announcements and PR visits.

Downing Street chose it as the location for David Cameron’s long-awaited speech on immigration last November, which generated a large amount of media exposure for the construction and equipment firm.

George Osborne visited the company immediately after delivering his 2013 Autumn Statement, again attracting media coverage for JCB. 

Transparency data revealed that the firm smoothed the trip for the Chancellor by providing a helicopter, meaning he did not waste too much time travelling up north for the PR stunt.

Other UKEF publications that feature JCB include the promotional brochure ‘How UK Export Finance is Helping UK Business: Making Exports Happen’ and another document titled ‘Competitive export finance for growth’.

JCB and the Bamford family have donated nearly £6 million to the Conservative party. 

Lord Bamford, chairman of JCB and his brother Mark are long-term supporters of the Tories and together with Lord Bamford’s son George, the three of them have personally donated more than £2 million to the Conservative party since the Electoral Commission obliged parties to disclose donations over £7,500 in 2001. 

Donations from three companies owned by the family – JC Bamford Excavators Ltd, JCB Research and JCB Sales Ltd – total £4 million.

Labour said government ministers had “serious questions to answer”. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Jon Ashworth said: “This smacks of cronyism. It seems taxpayers’ money is being spent promoting a major Tory donor.

“The Tories are ramping up advertising spending in advance of the election, looking after their mates and their electoral interests in the process. People expect better and will not accept public funds being used in this way.”

A Conservative party spokesman said: “We are proud to be backed by a great British success story, a British company that employs thousands of people here in the UK and operates around the globe.

“Unlike Labour, donations to the Conservative party do not buy our policies, our leader of our candidates.“

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/generalelection/cash-for-adverts-major-tory-donor-benefits-from-governments-advertising-spending-spree-10197056.html

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24 Apr 2015

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Democracy, East Devon Alliance, East Devon Tories, General Election, Hugo Swire, Independent Councillors, Latest news, Transparency, Voting

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When is a Tory not a Tory?

When standing for a town council, of course: http://eastdevon.gov.uk/media/1051007/sidmouth-north.pdf
Confusing for voters, though, when the very same Stuart Hughes (or a different one?) was the proposer for Tory PPC Hugo Swire. See  http://eastdevon.gov.uk/media/1050699/spn-nop-sps.pdf
EDW note: The second link, above, has a useful list of polling stations…which voters are sometimes unsure of. 
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21 Apr 2015

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East Devon Tories, General Election, Misc

It gets worse for Tory Chairman Grant Shapps/Michael Green!

A parliamentary candidate for the Welwyn Hatfield constituency of Tory Party CO-Chairman Grant Shapps (aka “Michael Green”) has changed his name to Michael Green to stand agaInst Shapps.  

Shapps admitted last month that he did work as a web marketer under the alias Michael Green after entering Parliament and, when challenged said that he had been “over firm” in his denial!

Here is the official list of candidates:


On his website 


“Mr Green” (rumoured to be a famous comedian) says:

“Tory chairman Grant Shapps has been pretending to be ‘Michael Green’. Well my name really is Michael Green. And I’m pretty pissed off.

So I’ve decided to embarrass him by standing against him in his own constituency. That’s right: his secret pseudonym will be joining him on the ballot paper.”



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21 Apr 2015

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East Devon Tories, General Election

Conservative Party Chairman “has Wikipedia account blocked” after investigation into “sock-puppetry”

Wikipedia has blocked a user account on suspicions that it is being used by the Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps, “or someone acting on his behalf” to edit his own page along with the entries of Tory rivals and political opponents.

The online encylopedia, where pages are edited and created by readers, has tracked the changes made by a user called “Contribsx” who has systematically removed embarrassing references on Shapps’ Wikipedia page about the Tory chairman’s business activities as Michael Green, the self-styled millionaire web marketer.

A Guardian investigation found about a third of the contributions made by this user were to Shapps’ own Wikipedia entry while the rest are made up largely of unflattering changes to the online pages to senior political figures – including prominent figures in the Tory party such as Philip Hammond, Justine Greening and Lynton Crosby.

Wikipedia says that “sock-puppetry” – creating a fake online identity “for an improper purpose, such as to mislead other editors, disrupt discussions, distort consensus or avoid sanctions” – is not permitted.

It added that it had banned Contribsx and said any evidence of future attempts to cover the user’s tracks would be investigated immediately.

The site’s administrators, selected Wikipedia volunteers who patrol the site, told the Guardian that they “believe that the account Contribsx is a sockpuppet of Grant Shapps’ previous accounts on Wikipedia … and based on the evidence the account is either run by Shapps directly or being run by someone else – an assistant or a PR agency – but under his clear direction.” …..