Recent Issues - Update

Dear Residents;
                      Apologies its been some time since my last update working full time and, being a councillor and PH for Environment doesn't allow me to update frequently however here we go!


We are still awaiting the result of the public enquiry for Bellway Sentrys orchard with the delay due to the Inspector having to take into account fully the new Local ism Bill it can only be to Ex minsters advantage we wait in anticipation.


Secondly lam glad to a degree at long last DCC Highways saw sense to partially lengthen the speed limit along the lane my goal is to include its full length the demand of  its residents.


Iam glad to announce my recent Community fund money went to help fund towards the recent very popular Exminster fete, summer play scheme, Allotment connection to water supply, Shillingford jubilee hall roof repairs, Ide jubilee event,Shillingford jubilee event, amongst many  and many in the forthcoming year ahead.


l  was also glad to see DCCH efficient response to clearing a mudslide from a farmers field onto Days pottles lane, and with constant  badgering Highways agency to instigate eviction order against the illegal occupants of the land adjacent to the motorway bridge by Exminster,the police recently too have been highly visible to prevent reoccupation although Highways seem slow to repair the fence and gate entrances!


I was  also glad at the extremely speedily response to my officers at TDC to install a fixed bollard at the Gissons play park entrance it has been vandalised twice but officers are trying to replace with sturdier locking device!
Pot holes have been reported to me in Ide,Dunchideok and l reported to DCCH  swiftly to instigate repairs.
A unpleasant result of earth excavations on the Milbury site resulted in a mice infestation my officers after my reporting dealt with this speedily by asking the contractors on site to engage a pest contractor which solved the problem.
Also a discovery on the Spurfield site of possible contamination was dealt with by my Officers at Environment and was dealt with and deemed safe to every ones relief.
An overhanging tree at Dryfields was dealt with  by me reporting it to Teign Housing the landowner who will prune it shortly.
Sewerage leakages at Dunchideok have now been solved with Webberton Cross in process , one at Ide has also been reported and is in process.
Planning issues have also been brought to my attention at Ide,Kenn which lam currently dealing with for the residents.
I have been busy hand delivering a survey on behalf of my Council Leader Jeremy Christophers to all residents in Kenton, Starcross, Mamahead ect and have had an excellent response many posted back thank you very much we will be assessing the results shortly and acting as a Political group  on the results.


Also delivering a survey for our MP Mel Stride in CD across the Kenn Valley and Exminster, whilst also delivering his upcoming surgery venues.
\lam pleased  to announce also the reinstatement of the second road sweeper which was cancelled by the last LD administration which will help the rural areas deal with leaf drop in the Autumn/Winter periods and prevent hopefully blocking of the roadside gulleys/drains which many rural parish Councils complain about this has been achieved in my Department by careful prudent managment thus improving forntline services.

The Berrybrook meadow brook/waterway is an area close to my concerns l brokered initialy upon my election in 08 a  goodwill gesture by the previous housebuilder Redrow Homes to clear their original side of the bank to prevent blockages and in tune convinced the then Parish council to put on a regular schedule bank maintenance their side of the bank to ensure the waterway flowed clear.
The Redrow side then in limbo as it never got signed over on completion of the estate to TDC is now TDCs responsibility and will be maintained also.
I understand both SWW and, the EA are involved into the flood aspect of the area inlc the brook also their is concern over the higher up  propertys of old design  using the brook as an outlet for their sewerage of course unacceptable and lam asking my officers to look into that currently.
I also closely liase with the EA over the Exe Estuary flood risk a model is being devised to deliver a solution to the flood risk of the Exe and l will be with my officers monitoring it closely upon its conclusions and actions suggested thereof when my Ward is affected.

I think that is all for now please contact me if any issue is affecting you that you feel l could help with.

Christmas Bad Weather.

Just a quick note to say despite  DCC delays in getting  Exminster deiced and re gritted  ( l have sent letters of complaint ) and TDC delays in refuse collections ( notices l posted of catch up dates in Tesco/ coffee on corner l hope helped)   the community spirit l saw in our village was  deserved of a mention and a thank you to all those involved!                                                                                                                                   
I helped Pridhams way residents dig out the ice up onto the main Reddaway Drive  and applied what grit l had to the pavements around Lime Grove , it was one of many such actions of Localism in action l saw thank you all it what makes our village special.                                                                                   

I also took the time to write personally to all those farmers and residents brought to my attention in my other Ward Villages like Shillingford for example for their efforts in similar circumstances.

Crablake farm / Kenbury Wood Composting Applications.

I,am hopefully soon be able to announce officially that after much lobbying of DCC and furious correspondence with officers a solution of part has been obtained!                                        
 
This is to limit the use of Exminster Hill for passage of said compost traffic by 50%, by using it only ofr outward bound journeys, inward journeys to the site will bypass Exminster by using the old Dawlish road.

Ideally l would have liked to stop it all together but the application supported by DCC was impossible on any planning grounds to stop altogether so this hard won  measure l think will help to lessen a little the   intrusion upon Exminster Hill residents.                                                                                                                  

When the route is officially passed l have maps available to  send to interested residents or copy's can be downloaded from the DCC website applicable thank you.

Sentrys Orchard

Just  a little update on the next onslaught of housing upon our community!, l attended the action groups weekday meeting where ideas were exchanged, and  they seem to making excellent progress in combating the application which has now gone into Teignbridge District Council and has been validated recently. I wish them all the good luck, and l will asssist in any way l can along with my assistant and Sentry Orchard
John Goody.           
I also have to keep one sad eye on ensuring Exminster if approved gets the maximum benefits out of the 106,s which previous  Ward Councillors did sadly fail to capitalise on when the Midas devedlopment was a\t this stage! ( those same persons who voted in favour of Midas at the TDC Development Control Meeting).  

I met today with DCC Highways who was    able to dispense very useful informations which l and the Parish Council will seek to take full advantage of, in particular to stop the rape of moneys from our village into the Countess Weir road wideninfg scheme£35 million cost  back into the village for the reopening of my long campaign to  see our railway station back in use!      I will keep you posted on developments as they happen.

Reddaway Drive Bus Stop Refuse Bin.

It was excellent once again to have had eventualy such a positive response from Teignbridge District Councils Refuse Department who after a resident kindly brought to my attention a missing litter bin from the  now reinstated Bus Stop .
I,am  pleased to say a new post mounted litter bin is now in situation, this very effiicent  repsonse is a credit to TDC department concerned and, my working relationship with them in making life here in Exminster more comfortable.

Midas Milbury Farm development Exminster

 Just an update to let residents know l have officialy written to Communitys Secretary of State Eric Pickles to revoke the Midas  Development  on the grounds that new Goverment criteria ie Localism Bill renders this unrequired, unwanted ( by all three relevant Councils), and flawed development  irelevant, l will keep everyone posted upon their repsonse.

I have also gone on record officialy with Teignbridge District Council in relation to their Core Strategy,LDF that l oppose further developments in Exminster until the issue of Infrastructure is met financially which currently it is not with paltry finance obtained from current 106 agreements!

However with the New Governments Local ism Bill hope through its suggested 106 replacement the CIL  Community Imposed levy  ( £5,000 per property!) this seems a  way forward for underfunded and, commercially  plundered Communities like Exminster to fund the necessary School. pre School. Doctors surgeries  expansions necessary with further  housing demands.

The New Convex road safety mirror is waiting for funding from my Community Fund     it will be probably January 11 when with the kind offer of a local Builder and my  loyal assistant John Goody l will be able  to install it at the troubled  Westfield area of Exminster, something  l have been campaigning for  prior to my election in Nov 08!

I will shortly be approaching Teignbridge District council to   waive my entitlement to travel allowance to all the Main District Council meetings , l feel this is only decent and, correct in these very austere times when  residents are all facing increasingly difficult financial constraints! ( saving around  £120/200er yr ), some of my Councillor colleagues already decline perhaps all will follow this example!?

Thankyou for now Councillor kevin.A.Lake.

Teignbridge District Council Recycling News!

Dear Residents,  

It was with great pleasure  after asking many questions along this issue to the team  at Teignbridge  that  they now can announce that plastic bottles can now be recycled through the green bin supplied great news for landfill!         

I know many felt it not always possible to travel distances to the nearest recycling bins  for these articles so many ended up in black bins ( landfill).    

I hope my little lobbying helped in this coming about, l must congratulate Teignbridge District Council and, its team/ Department responsible for their great achievements in this area ranking our authority amongst the best in the Country something we all should be proud of .       

Lastly l know Councillor Gordon Hook has played a key role in recycling and, its achievements  and, must be applauded for his involvement.   Lets hope in the not to distant future all plastics incl that supermarket wrapping is all accepted

Thank you.