Monthly Archives: May 2018

The new phase of balance at EDDC is good news for East Devon, and a healthy situation for District Council Leader, Ian Thomas, as he takes over from Paul Diviani this week.

Independents are now the main Opposition Group at the District Council, thanks to the shockwave of votes in 2015 (next election due 2019). Independents now represent Exmouth Haldon; Feniton, Gittisham and Buckerell; Newton Poppleford and Harpford; Ottery St Mary, Town (2) and Rural; Raleigh; Sidmouth,Town (3), Rural (1) Sidford (2): and Woodbury and Lympstone (2) . And in 2016, the first East Devon Alliance of Independents (EDA) candidate , Martin Shaw, was elected to Devon County Council where he is a strong voice alongside Claire Wright. Martin represents Seaton,Beer, Branscombe, Colyford,Farway, Northleigh, Offwell, Southleigh and Wilmington, see https://seatonmatters.org 

Come and find out more about why and how local politics is changing, and what it means for YOU,  at a free event on Saturday 26th May , 10-1.30, at Honiton Beehive. Speakers at this ‘TIME FOR A CHANGE’  people’s conference, will include County Councillors Claire Wright and Martin Shaw; and Pam Barrett, Chair of the Independent Buckfastleigh Town Council and regional expert on transforming democracy from the bottom up (‘Flatpack Democracy’) .

Reserve your place (as spaces limited) via this link https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/east-devons-time-for-a-change-peoples-conference-tickets-45482525458 or on the eastdevonalliance.org.uk website.

Seaton and Honiton Hospitals may be at risk, local GP and chair of the NEW Devon CCG’s Eastern Locality, Dr Simon Kerr reportedly revealed at a meeting with health campaigners last month.

Dr Kerr was apparently speaking of the long-awaited Estates Strategy, which will list all the assets held by the local NHS and what it plans to do with them.

My request to the chief executive of Lloyds Bank for a meeting with the South West Area Manager has been met with radio silence since I sent the email last Thursday (26 April).

I asked for the meeting following the news that Lloyds Bank in Ottery St Mary is to close in October.

It’s very disappointing that not only were councillors not informed of the closure before it was announced in the media, but that my attempt to get in touch has been ignored.

But I can be pretty difficult to ignore!  I have just sent him another email…

Here’s the background…https://www.claire-wright.org/index.php/post/lloyds_south_west_area_manager_asked_for_an_urgent_meeting_to_discuss_plann