Getting Around

Dawlish is a lovely town to visit and shop. The Dawlish Water runs through the Strand down to the sea with the famous black swans posing for their many admirers along the way. For the less abled getting around is not that easy and everyday excusions to the shops from the carpark can be daunting. Help is at hand through the Shopmobility scheme and with a good crowd of local representatives, volunteers and helpers I joined the launch of "The Tardis" a new building in the corner of Barton carpark where buggies and wheelchairs can be hired by the hour or day. The scheme has been made possible by a donation of land by Teignbridge District Council and a generous grant from Devon County Councillor John Clatworthy plus local fundraising. The new building provides plenty of space for an office and ancilliary accommodation plus a much needed undercover garage store for the buggies.

New Homes - New Start

Working to provide affordable homes in South Devon has many challenges. Wages in the South West are below the national average and it is very difficult for families to find the necessary funds to afford a home. A partnership with Sanctuary Group, the Homes and Communities Agency and Teignbridge District Council has enabled 73 high quality flats and apartments to be developed at Whitelake Place , Newton Abbot providing a mixture of high quality, general rented and shared ownership accommodation, ideal for local people looking to find affordable homes in the area. I was invited to unveil a plaque at the opening of this prestigious addition to our housing stock which gives a much needed boost to the Council's housing provision in this sought after part of Devon.