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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Councillor
Christie's Weblog
From your Torridge District Councillor Peter Christie
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14th June '09
The latest copy of ‘Torridge Matters’, the newsletter of the local Voluntary Services has been sent to me it being the last one to be issued under the direction of Jane Whittaker. As usual it is packed with fascinating details about grants and equipment available to voluntary groups - which include redundant computers from North Devon Plus and free energy saving light bulbs from E.ON - which the company will actually pay groups to distribute to over 70s or those on low pay/disability allowances. The most interesting page is all about the new Jigsaw project based in the old greenhouses at Victoria Park in Bideford. Some years ago now the gardening contract for the Park was let out by Torridge and the greenhouses became redundant. Since then they have steadily deteriorated and been the target of vandals. Jigsaw’s parent group the Community Projects North Devon has now taken out a long lease on the site and with grants from various bodies like the Bridge Trust and Bideford town council have secured the area with a new fence, reglazed one of the greenhouses, provided potting benches, cold frames and a work shed as well as purchasing hand tools. Volunteers have helped clear the site and prepare it for growing – with the eventual aim of selling vegetables and flowers in the Pannier Market. The project will offer care and training for various disadvantaged groups in our local community but CPND are now looking for people with horticultural experience to help with day-to-day planting and growing as well as supporters to help run the market stall. If you feel you can offer help to this valuable initiative then contact CPND on 01271 322013 or e mail info@cpnd.org
At a recent district council meeting we were given a ‘terrier’ or list of property owned by Torridge which also identified when we (or the old Borough council) purchased it – and how much we paid for it. Thus Westcombe depot was bought in 1935 for a very precise £812. Part of the town hall and library site cost £1300 in 1868 whilst £500 was spent in 1921 in purchasing Chudleigh Fort as a park and war memorial. The land at Pollyfield was bought in five lots from 1935 to 1962 at a total cost of £6450 and if this seems a bargain what about the houses in Willet Street, Providence Row and Pimlico Place, all demolished as being substandard in the 1960s, some of which went for just £25 each! The biggest bargain of all, however, must be the promenade and putting green at Westward Ho! which cost Northam town council just £36 – though that was in 1915 when there was no sea wall present and the land was just open space.
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