General Discussion
Genuine questions which I hope one of them will answer.
I have their leaflet beside me, it tells me who is standing and a bit about them, there is space taken to tell us all how terrible the current council is but not much info on how they aim to improve Dawlish.
What I'd particularly like is some claification of the statements made -
"Greater promotion of Dawlish Warren as a tourism venue" - Dawlish Warren Tourism Group spend a lot of time and money on promotion, not to mention the parks themselves that invest in advertising and promotion - how about encouraging the people that actually visit the Warren to come into town to spend some of their money?
"Support for community groups as they face the challenges of spending cuts" - how? By increasing my council tax to give to them? Or by advising them how to spend their money? We're all facing spending cuts.
"Support for the young families that have made their home in Dawlish" - again, how? Will it cost anything? What problems in particular are they facing?
"Encouragement of new cultural and arts activities" - what, where and how? Not the first thing on my mind if you ask me what Dawlish needs money spending on!
Looking forwards to the answers - IVFD over to you....
Perhaps they are leafleting but I know at least one of them is a member here and others are in contact with them.
I'm just saddened that no-one will take the time to answer what I feel are quite reasonable questions.
It may just affect how I vote next week which would be a shame because I was swaying towards them.
YOO HOO! Voices For Dawlish! Anyone home..........?
The lack of interest is shameful, I wanted a sensible discussion, I wasn't out to rip shreads out of them or score points. Sad
Good job my ballot paper won't be spoilt if I only vote for 1 or 2 candidates 'cos I certainly don't want to use them all!
They will find it easier enough to make negative points AFTER the election and on who gets in!
I have no idea what the Vod want for Dawlish. apart from 'removing' those in power now, so I will stick with who I know!
Hello Hells Bells
Just taking a quick snack between canvassing and I think you were pointing a finger at me when saying 'at least one of them is a member here'. So, perhaps I should admit that my pseudonym refers to my days of scrubbing the quarterdeck of Britain's last battleship, while doing national service. Perhaps that's what drew me to Dawlish and the sea. I certianly didn't bargain for a town at war with its council.
I was saddened today to read of the death of Hazel Percy who was a Mayor of Dawlish. I met her through the activities of the regeneration group in the mid 2000's and more recently over the hiatus about the Sale of the Manor House. She was one of so many to vote against the town council's proposal to sell it and move to 34 Park Road. She was also one of three former Mayors to turn out for a photo demonstration about that 'White Elephant' of a building which was such a costly mistake.
I don't think that Hazel would have been fooled by the Conservative leaflets and advert which say that they 'will protect the Manor House'. That doesn't say continue to use it, occupy it, keep it in good repair. It could mean that they will sell it and try to enforce its preservation as a Listed Building with any new owner. That would count as protection although most people expect more of Dawlish Town Council and that is why the Independent Voices For Dawlish are motivated to gain public support for their campaign.
As for the individual questions you pose, Marketing is very important. It was the premium project set down by LHC consultants for action by Dawlish Town Council in their 'Amberline Coast' report for the council. When a sub-committee came to consider action to take over the recommendations they skipped Marketing and settled on signage and cleaning. They asked Dawlish Community Trust to champion Marketing and when we asked for a modest grant to cover our costs in this activity, they refused us. My view is that Marketing is a very high priority and it calls for all interested parties to have a conference meeting and agree how to improve on the present disparate activities. Did you know that First Great Western have been spending on big adverts in London to encourage people to come and have a cream tea in Dawlish? We have approached FGW to get them to sit around the table with Visit South Devon and other local groups and discuss how to extend their efforts for next year. That is the sort of activity that we believe the town council should engage in - drawing the public and businesses together and ensure collaborative action.
A little while ago the communtiy trust canvassed all the listed community groups in Dawlish and from the replies we received we learned that their main need was for better publicity for their activities; not for bigger rooms or more cash to pay speakers, trainers, etc., as one might have supposed. That pinpoints another huge gap in Dawlish, and that is information about what is going on, and where to find it. The town council has a website that struggles to keep up with events, and there's nothing in the Strand to tell you when meetings of the council are to take place or what they will discuss. The council needs to take a breath of air and escape from its closeted space into the community. There they will discover what the real needs of the town are. Instead of taking on 34 Park Road (to what end one might say?) they could have taken an empty shop , as the Police have, and share it with some community groups and make it the information centre for Dawlish. Perhaps that's a duff idea and some younger more media-savvy person can turn that into an electronic version that takes a corner of an estate agent's or cafe window, even in the TIC?
As far as funding support for community groups is concerned, there are ways of tapping the Lottery and charitable trusts, and with town council backing they may have more chance of success. It's ironic that the recent costly ventures of the town council have forced the budget cuts in community grants next year.
Must go out on the trail again now, but perhaps that's enough for you to get your teeth into.
Bob Vickery, candidate with Burrowes, Clayson, Petherick in Central Ward
Thank you Vanguard - Mr Vickery for taking the time to reply. I apologise for not responding to you sooner, life and family have a habit of taking over at times!
I responded to Mr Clayson before I saw this and I hope you read my reply to him too.
I've read your response and I agree with some of what you have said, not all, but enough to feel there is some common ground. This is obviously too late now to influence how I or anyone else voted but I'm still interested.
Regarding the Manor, having spoken to one of the, now previous, Councillors I understand that the purchase of the old Sally Army building was intended as a stepping stone towards a purpose built town hall incorporating Police, CAB and possibly the library. Economic downturns etc have caused the other agencies to do their own thing so in my opinion the best thing the new council can do is move that building on. I also understand that this 'project' was very much driven by the clerk!?
I had some criticisms of IVFD leaflets which are pretty much redundant now but for your future campaigns (if 4 years of council don't put you off!) what I felt lacking were your solutions to the issues your raised and that some issues were not things that a Town Council have much sway over -national problems needing national solutions.
I wish however many of IVFD that are elected luck and I hope that as a group you continue to be a 'Voice for Dawlish' - all of it not just those that shout loudest.
Hells Bells