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The Bradworthy Wind Turbines
Councillor
Christie's Weblog
From your Torridge District Councillor Peter Christie
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1st October '06
Torridge has a policy of not allowing any free parking in its car parks no matter what the event – but this is to be overturned for Remembrance Sunday. The town councils and British Legion branches in Bideford, Torrington and Holsworthy all applied to Torridge to have free parking for those taking part in services and the associated march past. When it was discussed at a recent Development and Trading Committee meeting Councillor Phil Collins moved that no exception be made – and was seconded by Pat Ferguson. Support for this view came from Alasdair Gould who thought the council was ‘being blackmailed by the British Legion’. Remembrance Sunday is, of course, an emotive occasion especially when our forces are involved in various wars around the globe – but this charge upset some councillors who quickly responded with some powerful arguments against. Two entrenched views quickly developed and as a compromise I suggested making the car parks free for the duration of the ceremony plus half an hour either side to allow for arriving and departure. Even this compromise generated a fierce debate and when the vote was called it was a recorded one which is just as well as the motion was only passed by 7 votes to 6. Those voting for charging were Cllrs.Boundy, Clarke, Collins, Ferguson, Gould and Isaac; those against Cllrs. Allen, Christie, Ford, Hicks, James, Rawlinson and Shadrick. I always walk to the service so I hope to see you there.
Councillor Steve Clarke recently tabled a motion to Torridge District Council that owners of listed buildings be allowed to insert plastic windows in their properties. His arguments were based on perceived energy saving, safety and what he saw as an ‘acceptable’ appearance of new-style upvc units. As might be expected there was a lot of dissension from these views. Des Shadrick thought it reckless to challenge existing Government policy and quoted the very detailed report by the council’s Conservation Officer which was completely opposed to the use of such items in listed buildings. He was followed by Phil Collins who raised the issue of sustainability using the simple dictum ‘Wood is good’ and pointed out that secondary glazing saved energy without the destruction of ancient windows. Len Ford, an ex-fireman, then quoted some very sobering figures about the dangers of upvc units in fires. I added my three ha-pence when I suggested that replacement of old windows with new would create a historical pastiche lacking in integrity – and that people who purchased listed buildings knew the restrictions on them when they took them on. The vote went against the motion by 8 votes to 0 with 5 members abstaining.
The debate over car parking charges in local car parks is still getting people agitated. At a recent joint meeting between the town council and Torridge local councillors came up with much anecdotal evidence about the car parks being half empty now whereas before they were full – none more so than Honestone Street. Dave Ratcliff the deputy Mayor reckoned that traders had lost business because of the charges – a ‘kick in the teeth’ as he put it. Sales of tickets and income from the car parks have, however, risen, possibly because of the abolition of free parking after 4 p.m. Indeed Councillor Bewes produced figures for the Honestone Street car park where income had risen from £25,000 in March-August 2005 to £29,000 over the same period this year. Of course parking between 4-6 p.m. last year was free but 1971 tickets have been purchased for these hours this year. Councillor Bewes, as Chairman of Torridge’s Scrutiny Committee looking into parking charges is still keen to hear from members of the public about the impact the rises have had – although he does ask that any letters to him at Riverbank House be accompanied by proof of any assertions.
Seemingly Tony Blair has decided on behalf of us all that nuclear power is the way forward for Britain. That argument has still to be won but the greatest problem is what to do with the nuclear waste. Already we have nearly half a million cubic metres of the stuff stored in various surface vaults across the country. The Government is now looking for a site where they can excavate a mile deep concrete bunker to hold current and yet-to-be-generated waste. Intriguingly we are told there is to be ‘a country-wide contest in which regions bid to become home to the hole.’ I await the political suicide of any local councillor foolhardy enough to put forward any site in North Devon - and before you dismiss this as scaremongering let me remind you that the Tory MP for North Devon in the 1980s suggested Exmoor or Lundy could provide suitable sites. Nuclear waste loading on Bideford Quay anybody?
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