General Discussion
Dawlish Town Council propose a Market in the town, or at least a trial. They require residents and traders to complete surveys but mention there is limited time.
If you're aware of the controversial Queen St, Newton Abbot changes planned by Teignbridge District Council that face overwhelming opposition from local people and traders who were furious with the sham consulation that ignores their views, then you should be aware that the chiel architect of that controversy Teignbridge District Council Lib Dem Leader Martin Wrigley (representing Dawlish NE) and 4 other Lib Dem District Councillors (Cllrs Dawson, Goodman-Bradbury, M. James and Foden) are also Councillors for Dawlish Town Council. Wrigley is the Leader of the Teignbridge Lib Dems - that party is the ruling party in both Dawlish Town Council as well as Teignbridge District Council.
In Teignbridge District Council, Dawlish Cllrs Dawson, Goodman-Bradbury, M. James and Foden have all voted alongside Wrigley in pushing through the queen St changes, despite overwhelming opposition from Newton Abbot residents
and we shouldn't be surprised when the other Lib Dem Dawlish Town Councillors - Heywood, Pyne, A. James, Graham-Ellis and Hardy are expected to vote as a pack in Dawlish regardless of the outcome/credibility of any consulation with businesses and locals in Dawlish, etither.
The Teignbridge Lib Dems have been criticized locally for guidleines obliging it's Councillors to conform to the party line or abstain if they disagree. The leadership has unsurprisingly refuted this, but it has been reported in the local press.
So don't expect true autonomy from any Lib Dem Councillors when it comes to proposing motions for debate and voting.
A market may be beneficial to Dawlish, that's not for me to debate. However the forced changes to Queen St are not democratic or inclusive, it's about a cah strapped District Council accessing Future Hight St Funding and pushing it's own agenda on areas without proper consulation with residents, traders and their representatives, whether opposition Cllrs or representatives of trade and commerce bodies.
Similarly the Dawlish Market trial survey involves Funds from the Levelling Up Budget, so you can see why cash-strapped Dawlish Town Council would be keen to access this money.
Are Dawlish businesses aware of the impact of Dawlish Councillors voting records and decision making in Teignbridge District Council upon businesses and residents in Newton Abbot?
By all means fill in the Town Council's Surveys but be aware of the tactics and misinformation of Cllr Wrigley and co and know that your views may well be totally ignored too.
Below is an article from the Mid Devon Advertiser/Dawlish Gazette - with Wrigley's misinformation highlighted and critiqued in red. Some would say they're blatant lies and what's more concerning is that he appears to belives the tangled web he's spun, despite frequently contradicting himself.
Oh and by the way, this is the man who wants to be elected as our next MP.
Be very concerned,
No-one is listening to us’ claim Queen Street traders
Thursday 29th February 2024
TRADERS who say their businesses will be destroyed by planned changes to parking and traffic flows in the centre of Newton Abbot say no-one is listening to them. The leader of Teignbridge Council (DAWLISH NE Cllr Martin Wrigley - Lib Dems) says he wants to go on talking to them even though the official consultation is over, but they claim they are still not being properly asked what they think.
Wrigley and the Lib Dem Council he leads didn't consult businesses in the first place, that's the whole issue and he cannot see it. He's in denial 'he say's 'he'll keep on talking to them' - they're furious because he and his Council haven't even met with them to talk/consult in the first place The official consultation was a sham. He can he claim to keep on talking to them - and what's the point now the 'official' disgrace of a consulation is over? He's deluded.
Work on the scheme is due to start in the spring, and supporters say widening pavements and changing traffic flows in Queen Street will make the town centre cleaner and safer, creating a better environment for shoppers. The plans dominated a meeting of Teignbridge’s full council, with a long list of questions from members of the public and a heated debate later on whether to press on. Cllr Mike Ryan (South Devon Alliance, Buckland and Milber) told the meeting: ‘I know what Newton Abbot is like. I’ve lived here all my life and I don’t want to see it ruined.’ A question from trader Ally Locker asked: ‘Why are you not listening to the local traders and residents?’
Council leader Martin Wrigley (Lib Dem, Dawlish NE) said while the consultation had ended, he still wanted to discuss issues that could be ‘fixed’. (How can anyone end a consultation than never truly took place? And why does he want to discuss issues now? This is pure tokenism. Again it shows how contradictory his thinking is. He's losing the plot)
‘The whole scheme is a travesty,’ said town centre resident Gail Anderson, while Hazel Trethewey added: ‘It is beyond belief.’ Claire Quelvennec, of Jacksons Fishmongers and chip shop, asked how businesses would be compensated for the losses they would suffer. She told councillors: ‘You have lost the confidence of this town. This street will end up being closed down. ‘Why on earth are you not engaging with us to come up with a plan that will enhance our town rather than kill it.’ Carmen Hanif, who is development manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Devon, said the organisation is extremely concerned, given that no similar schemes elsewhere in Devon had been successful. (N.B. No similar schemes elsewhere in Devon had been successful) ‘Businesses know their customers better than anybody else,’ she said. ‘This is going to have a terrible impact.’
Cllr Wrigley said pausing the scheme for more consultation was not an option. For more consultation??? There was no consultation. It was carried out under covid, the Queen St changes do not have widespread support. Wrigley admit his so-called 'consultation' was inadequate on BBC Spotlight a couple of weeks ago He added: ‘The reality is that this scheme has come out of a long consultation with the town. Absolutely incorrect - This is misinformation. ‘It is broadly wanted by residents, although I can see it is difficult for the traders on the street. ‘There is a desire for this. It is still wanted. By whom Cllr Wrigley? He even believes his own misinformation. There is overwhelming opposition. Any level-headed, reasonable human being can see that. It is wanted and desired by Lib Dem and Tory District and County Councillors, most of whom do not live in or represent Newton Abbot. Trade will increase, and shops will prosper. ‘It will be beneficial. How the hell does Wrigley know the future - This hasn't worked in Paignton and other Devon towns - Does he have a crystal ball? He arrogantly believes that he knows best. ‘The scheme is not destroying Queen Street. It is enhancing it.’ This is just his personal opinion - it is not shared by the residents and traders of Newton Abbot. Nor is it based on any evidence. The sheer arrogance of these statements is bewwildering. He is so out of touch.
Cllr Wrigley said town centre retail is changing and high streets have to adapt, (He constantly refers to this line in numerous reports, comuniques, etc But he cannot explain what this means - Queen St is doing very well as it is as evidence by the Save Queen St Campain, Federation of Local Businesses, etc but Cllr Liam Mullone (South Devon Alliance, College) said the plan was ‘an act of civic violence’. Later in the meeting, members decided by 18 votes to nine, with seven abstentions, to reaffirm the council’s support for the Queen Street pedestrian enhancement scheme.
It is hard to argue that it is not an act of 'civil violence' - although Wrigley and co fail to see it. It is likely that the Queen St plans will be rejected as Wrigley and his Lib Dem run Council, with support form the Conservatives in TDC and DCC have failed to meet the criteria set out by the Future High Streets Fund - it will not enhance Queen St, it will not increase prosperity, in fact the opposite would occur - David Austin (of Austin's dpt. store which has just celebrated 100 years in business) warns Queen St will become a retail desert, traders wil lose out to out of town retail parks with ample, free parking.
Traders, residents, opposition Cllrs and trade and commerce representatives are united in voicing their concerns that Wrigley and his District Council will ruin Newton Abbot.
What do local people and traders think about all this?
Have you seen the Queen St disaster on the BBc, ITV? Read about it before?
Should we be concerned in Dawlish?
Should Lib Dem voters in Dawlish be ashamed of voting for Wrigley? Same for Foden, Dawson, Goodman-Bradbury, M. James?
Are they abusing their positions?
