Torridge and West Devon Liberal Democrats
PeopleLiberal Democrats Representatives and Prospective Candidates at all levels of government. Adam Symons PPC
|
Adam Symons NewsFor more information on any of the news items below contact Adam Symons on 01237 431498 or 07786 277470
Rural Ageing Concentrated in TorridgeA report from the Cabinet Office Social Exclusion Task Force shows that rural ageing will happen fastest in Torridge.Tuesday 21 July 2009 The study, of how fast rural elderly populations will increase of the next 20 years, was published to highlight the need to develop services for older people, and to identify innovations in public services that address the exclusion experienced by older people in rural areas. Rural areas are ageing at a faster rate than urban areas and this growth is particularly pronounced among the oldest old (those aged 85 years and over). One of the areas ageing the fastest is Torridge. Lead member for Health, Cllr Adam Symons said: “The percentage of elderly in Torridge is increasing faster than almost anywhere in the South-west. The key drivers of rural ageing are internal migration and rising life expectancy. The most rural districts have received a significant net inflow of older people and out-migration of younger people. Life expectancy, as well as healthy years and disability free years at age 65 are all higher in rural areas than urban. “We really need to gear up our services to deal with this. Our Northern Devon Sustainable Communities Strategy identifies the need to promote health and personal wellbeing for all so that people are as healthy as possible. This is going to become increasingly important as the proportion of elderly people increases. “We will be working with our strategic partners, the PCT and Devon County Council to make sure that the complex care teams that cover the area provide an integrated service model around health and social care for elderly people.”
Note: Ageing increases taken from Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion (2009) study: Mapping the level of need: Assessing the social exclusion of older people in rural areas. Report for Cabinet Office, Social Exclusion Task Force.
Torridge Residents and Businesses Get Further Boost from RenewablesProposed Feed-in Tariff for MicrogenerationMonday 20 July 2009 Businesses and residents in Torridge could be in line to earn £1000 a year just by installing solar photovoltaic systems on their roofs. The Government has announced the details of the proposed feed-in tariff for microgeneration from systems like small wind turbines and solar photovoltaics. The new tariff will pay for all energy generated by your system, irrespective of if you use it yourself or sell it back to the grid. The amounts paid are in addition to any saving you will make by purchasing less electricity from your supplier and any income you earn from selling your surplus power to your electricty supplier. Torridge and West Devon Prospective MP, Adam Symons, said: “I welcome the Government’s encouragement to home owners and businesses in Torridge. However, I believe we need even stronger incentives to get people to generate their own electricity.” “This announcement is a key victory for the ‘Support Solar’ campaign that we have been running. Torridge is especially well placed for microgeneration using small wind turbines. In these difficult economic times it is a real boost to know that through installing these systems you will be earning money in the long-term.” The new scheme will be available from April 2010, but will cover systems commissioned from now on. Adam, who is a trained environmental scientist said: “A typical home solar photovoltaic system of 3kW, generating approximately 2,300kWh per annum will therefore earn around £1,000 per annum, which is an additional £600, dramatically reducing payback times.”
Note: The key points of the announcement are:
Devon Should Invest in Shared Taxi SchemesFor Rural People in Rural AreasFriday 10 July 2009 The Government's rural watchdog, the Commission for Rural Communities, has welcomed proposals to provide subsidised taxis as public transport for rural residents. The rural taxi idea was floated locally last November by Lib Dem Prospective MP for Torridge and West Devon, Adam Symons. He highlighted the fact that bus operators were focusing on more lucrative markets, and services were gradually being withdrawn from places like Bradworthy, which Mr Symons represents on Torridge District Council. He is calling for Devon County Council to replicate the success of other TaxiPlus schemes, as they are known, such as the one operated by Cumbria County Council. 
Cllr Adam Symons talks to taxi driver Celia from Quay Cars about the possibility of TaxiPlus in Devon. He said: “With increasing fuel costs and declining revenues, rural bus services are becoming less viable. The bus companies focus on the more lucrative routes. Lack of transport options for residents is compounded by loss of local services such as shops and post offices. We must think outside the box for how we reduce isolation for residents.” “It is a real pain for local people trying to access shops using infrequent bus services. Whenever we are out knocking on doors and talking to people, it is always raised as an issue. For some people it is simply not economical to own and run a car. We have got to try something new. More personalised transport, using taxis, works much better. Devon County Council need to grab this opportunity and promote a TaxiPlus scheme. It is a regular issue raised with me by Bradworthy residents.” The Commission for Rural Communities chairman, Stuart Burgess, said: "Many people are forced to buy a car or second car just to carry out basic daily tasks such as going to work, taking children to school or accessing medical facilities − often stretching themselves financially to do so." He added: "More efficient and environmentally beneficial ways for rural people to move around in rural areas now need to be found." Cumbria County Council operates one of the best-known shared taxi schemes, Rural Wheels, which provides cost-effective door-to-door transport using smart card technology for ease of payment. The scheme covers the entire county and last year carried over 12,000 people, charging 30p per mile. It is run and managed by the council's passenger transport team.
Note: Research by Mott MacDonald on behalf the commission assessed shared taxi schemes, known as "TaxiPlus" services, from across Europe and the UK. TaxiPlus schemes operating on a large scale are particularly successful in the Netherlands and Switzerland where sophisticated journey matching software is used to match people's trips. Because TaxiPlus services only run when requested, they are more cost-effective than conventional bus services in remote areas and at off-peak times. This enables the provision of services seven days a week from early in the morning until late at night in places where a conventional bus service would be unviable. Schemes in mainland Europe provided up to 50 times as many passenger trips as typical schemes in England, and achieved significant economies of scale. On the back of these findings, the commission has now recommended a pilot TaxiPlus scheme, running at least at county level and over seven years. It suggests offering subsidised, on-demand, door-to-door services linking to other transport modes with bookable services at off-peak times on core bus routes. The pilot would evaluate how shared taxis could improve accessibility, raise social inclusion, and offer other social benefits. It would also test potential to achieve modal shift away from the private car, bringing with it climate change benefits that would justify additional subsidy. Although there are no insurmountable regulatory or legislative obstacles to the development of TaxiPlus schemes in the UK, the framework is complicated. In the medium term, reforms to the licensing system for taxis and to the funding for public transport would help stimulate services in rural areas. |