Adam Symons News
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01237 431498 or 07786 277470
Little Footsteps Go a Long Way In
Bradworthy
Raising Money For The Children’s Hospice South West
Friday 22 August 2008
With their vision of ‘Making the most of short and precious
lives’, fundraisers from Little Footsteps stopped off at Bradworthy today to
join a fundraising coffee morning.
Little Footsteps was set up to raise money for the
Children’s Hospice South West. This year, the fundraising group is walking from
Truro to Barnstaple, picking up friends and raising money along the way.
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Cllr Adam Symons with the Little Footsteps walking team, and
helpers from the coffee morning. |
The walking group of eight, led by Councillor David Butt
walking from Kilkhampton this morning, joined local Bradworthy Councillor Adam
Symons, and Chair of the Parish Council, Margaret Coles, to raise money for the
two Children’s Hospices.
Adam said: “It is great to be able to support the Children’s
Hospices. Over £100 was raised during the coffee morning, and the support from
Bradworthy was fantastic.”
“It was really good to give all the walkers a boost when
they came to Bradworthy. Given that they walked 28 miles yesterday, I think they
appreciated a cup of tea and a chance to rest weary legs. I believe they had a
torrid time on Wednesday on Bodmin, so I think that David and his team deserved
some better weather and some local support as they crossed the Devon Cornwall
border.”
Tomorrow, Little Footsteps walks from Bideford to Barnstaple
along the last leg of its walk.
Note:
CHSW runs two Children’s Hospices, at Little Bridge House
in North Devon and Charlton Farm near Bristol. CHSW is almost entirely funded by
private fundraising, currently needing around £6 million a year to function and
provide support, and the building of a new hospice at Porthpean.
Community Sports Will Set Tavistock Up For
Future Success
New Facilities Will Give Local Children The Opportunities
To Excel
Monday 18 August 2008
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All smiles for future success as Devon County Cllr Roy
Connelly shows PPC Adam Symons and local Tavistock councillors Alison Clish-Green
and Adam Bridgewater the location of the new sports facility at Tavistock
College. |
The new £3 million community sports development planned for
Tavistock will be a “massive boost for the community” according to Adam Symons,
Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for West Devon and Torridge, and “will set
Tavistock children up for future Olympic success.” The community sports facility
will include a 6-lane running track, together with a full size synthetic turf
pitch, new changing facilities and indoor sports facilities.
Adam said: “We are all excited and thrilled that this sports
development is happening in Tavistock. We really struggle for sporting
facilities in the area, and this will be a massive boost for the community in
Tavistock and the surrounding area. Well done to all those involved, especially
to the school and local councillors who made it happen.”
“The investment comes at a perfect time given the current
interest in the Olympics. The facility will set Tavistock children up for future
sports success. Good community sports facilities is essential to encourage local
children to participate in sports, and give them opportunities to excel.”
Housing Downturn Hitting Local Affordable
Homes
Housing Needs Are Still Acute
Sunday 17 August 2008
“The housing downturn is threatening plans to increase the
number of affordable rural homes” according to Adam Symons, Lib Dem
Parliamentary Spokesperson for Torridge and West Devon.
In 2006, the Government committed to a long term target of
building three million affordable homes by 2020, with many of them situated in
the countryside. However, the Rural Services Network have reported that as more
house builders have stopped building, the supply of affordable properties may be
slowing.
Adam Symons met this week with Ian Byworthy, the head of
‘Shelter’ for Devon, a national housing and homelessness advice charity, to find
out the impact that lack of affordable homes was having in Torridge and West
Devon.
Adam said: “Affordable housing is the number one concern
amongst residents. Shelter said that housing needs in Torridge and West Devon
are still acute, and building new affordable homes is the major way of relieving
the pressure.”
“The housing downturn is threatening plans to increase the
number of affordable rural homes in the area. Less private builders are entering
the market, and therefore it is up to local authorities and housing associations
to bridge the gap.”
Could This Be The End of Postal Deliveries
in Devon?
Rural Communities Could Be Left Without a Postal Service
Friday 15 August 2008
Fears are growing that more rural communities could be left
without a postal service after Royal Mail scrapped deliveries to a remote hamlet
in the Yorkshire Dales.
Adam Symons, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Torridge
and West Devon said: “There are many similar remote hamlets in rural
Torridge/rural West Devon. The obvious precedent that this sets is that where
homes are difficult to get to, the Royal Mail will not deliver. Could this be
the end of postal deliveries to rural parts of Devon?”
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Could sites like these, of post being delivered to rural
residents, be a thing of the past? |
“Universal service was what the Royal Mail was built on. We
have already seen the assault on rural post offices, and we might now see the
same to postal deliveries. Losing the post would only increase the isolation of
rural communities in Devon. I suspect that this has been driven by market forces
to reduce costs. This is another example of the market acting as king over the
public good.”
Postal deliveries were withdrawn from the hamlet of Booze,
in the Yorkshire Dales, following a health and safety assessment. Residents were
given just 24 notice that deliveries were to cease. Some 15 families must now
travel to Richmond to collect letters and parcels. Deliveries were stopped
because a track leading to the homes was in unacceptable condition, according to
a letter from delivery office manager.
It has since emerged that Royal Mail has also stopped
delivering to a number of rural homes in east Cleveland.
Consultation on Future of National Park
Members Welcomed
Potential for Direct Election of Members
Tuesday 12 August 2008
A Government consultation on the make-up of National Parks
members has been welcomed by West Devon and Torridge PPC Adam Symons.
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Adam Symons listening to a local Dartmoor Ranger about the
issues that Dartmoor faces |
The consultation, on the potential for direct elections of
members to National Park Authorities, aims to consider whether the existing
system remains the best approach. Talking to Dartmoor National Park Rangers
during National Parks Week, Adam said: “I welcome the chance to have a good
discussion on this topic. The question is whether residents from Dartmoor should
elect representatives directly to the board of the National Park.”
“I think that the current system provides a good balance.
However it is important to have a proper debate on these subjects, and not be
closed to change. The Government is not proposing one option or another, so
those interested in how the National Park Authority functions should respond
with their thoughts.”
Note:
The National Park Authorities make up a unique category
of organisation.
This is because they have both a national responsibility
to look after our landscapes, and also a local responsibility to the people who
live and work within their areas.
To reflect that challenging combination of
responsibilities, special membership arrangements were devised for them. These
ensure that they have members who approach National Parks from a national
background, serving alongside members drawn from a local background.
PPC Cuts Above the Rest
Sees the Difficulties for Upland Farmers
Sunday 3 August 2008
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Adam Symons shears his first sheep |
Adam Symons, Local Lib Dem PPC for West Devon & Torridge,
showed that he is a cut above the rest, by shearing a lamb at Greenwell Farm, as
part of National Parks Week.
Adam, a farmer’s son from Clovelly, was given a crash course
in sheep shearing from local farmer, Colin Friend.
Adam said: “I have milked cows before, but never sheared a
sheep. I am not sure who was more nervous, the lamb or me. It was fun, but there
was a serious side of this that Colin wanted to demonstrate to me. A shearer is
paid 90p per lamb, with the fleece worth 40p. Synthetic materials are so cheap
to produce these days that wool has lost its value. It makes it very hard for
upland sheep farmers to make a living.”
Adam was attending Greenwell Farm open day as part of
Dartmoor’s National Parks Week 2008 (28th July to 3rd August) which is
celebrating the year of Food and Farming.
Colin Friend, said “For his first time, he made a pretty
good job of it. I had to clean the lamb up a bit, but there were no nicks, and
he got the fleece off.”
Drake’s Safe Passage to Plymouth Assured
Crowndale Bridge Opened
Saturday 2 August 2008
A new Tavistock Landmark, dedicated to Crowndale’s most
famous son, has been unveiled by the County Council this week.
The bridge, which provides an important link in the National
Cycle Network from Tavistock to Plymouth, was opened by the Chair of the County
Council, John Rawlinson.
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Chair of Devon County Council, John Rawlinson, with local councillors Roy
Connelly and Alison Clish-Green |
Funded by Devon County Council, The South West Regional
Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund, it forms a vital
link in the development of “Drake’s Trail”.
John said: “This dramatic new bridge, our newest addition to
the National Cycle Network, will help to reduce congestion and increase healthy
activity in the town. The route, used both for leisure and commuting, gives
access to the Tavistock Football Club and Crowndale Playing Fields.”
County Councillor Roy Connelly said: “This is a welcome
addition to Devon’s growing network of cycle routes. The bridge has been eagerly
awaited by local people as it really opens up the area to local cyclists and
visitors. Drake’s Trail is being assembled piece by piece with only 1km left to
develop. This new Crowndale Bridge will help cyclists follow Drake’s example and
secure a safe passage to Plymouth.”
Local Parliamentary Spokesperson, Adam Symons, said: “It is
great to see Tavistock developing as a green transport town. Importantly, the
bridge provides a safe off road route to Tavistock College. Congratulations to
the County Council for seeing the opportunity to make Tavistock a better place
to live.”
Note:
Sir Francis Drake is believed to have been born in Crowndale, on the edge of
Tavistock, some 450 years ago.
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