Alphington
Double yellows?
URGENT measures are needed to improve safety in Water Lane, according to councillor Roy Hill.
Cllr Hill has contacted the county council to see what measures can be taken and told Community News: "There have been problems since the city council put up its charges in the car park down there. People now park in Water Lane which creates a hazard as large lorries have to manoeuvre around the cars.
"I think double yellow lines have got to go down as there is a real safety issue."
Skittles league
THE Alphington British Legion Skittles League has a vacancy for the 2014/15 season.
If anyone is interested in filling that vacancy they are asked to contact the league's secretary on 01392 833672 for more information.
Beacon Heath
Slower speeds
DUBBED the fastest 20mph zone in Exeter, it seems a banner outside the primary school is finally encouraging drivers to slow down in Summer Lane.
The safety banner, asking drivers to keep their speed down and not park in front of the school gates, was put up last month by PCSOs Ed Mitchell and Rich Shelton and members of the Willowbrook Primary's school council.
PCSO Mitchell said: "Hopefully the banner, combined with extra neighbourhood police presence outside the school during drop-off times, has had a positive impact as I have only had to move on one vehicle blocking the highway at this peak time."
The officers have also been carrying out speed checks outside the school and have told Community News that, on average, speeds appeared to be down with a lower top recorded speed as well.
PCSO Mitchell added: "This is more likely to be caused by the road being busier at that time, the pedestrian crossing lights repeatedly turning red due to higher volume of people crossing, and more drivers slowing down to park in the Arena car park to drop their kids off.
"We will be gathering more data on the road over the coming weeks to get a better picture of how we have impacted the general speed of road users and clarify whether this data is anomalous or standard for this time of day."
Bike campaign
PCSO Mitchell has also been heading a campaign against anti-social motorbike riders in the local area.
Bikes have been revved at people waiting at bus stops and there has also been aggressive overtaking.
PCSO Mitchell says the campaign is continuing – and has had some success.
He said: "We are still receiving reports from concerned residents.
"Over the last two weeks we have handed out another five Section 59 warnings to riders.
"In one instance we stopped a young male riding under a learner plate with a pillion passenger who wasn't wearing a helmet.
"In another incident we stopped another young male who was riding his off-road scrambler type bike in the fields at the top of King Arthur's Road."
Two Section 59 warnings had previously been issued – this means that if caught again in the next 12 months the bike will be seized. If not collected after paying for recovery and storage costs, it will be crushed.
PCSO Mitchell added: "We are also hoping that additional focus on motorcycles and riders may help prevent motorcycle and moped thefts in the north-east Exeter area or better yet assist in catching the people responsible.
"Motorcycles and mopeds have been a regular target for thieves in this area over the past 12 months and we would advise any owners to pay particular attention to the security of their vehicles."
City centre
Byron's to open
EXETER'S newest restaurant opens in Princesshay this weekend.
Byron's, which specialises in hamburgers, is opening in the former premises of Spanish-themed chain La Tasca.
The company was founded by Tom Byng in 2007.
Explaining what attracted the company to Exeter, Tom said: "We're always looking for new places to serve up our proper hamburgers.
"People write to us and say they'd like us to come to their town or city and then we take it from there.
"Exeter is a major city with a vibrant student population and people travel from miles around to visit. We're hoping people will want to take a quick break for a hamburger."
Cowick
Here's Mark!
MEET PC Mark Oliver, the new neighbourhood beat manager for Cowick and St Thomas.
Mark has 10 years of experience as a police officer which has included experience of response, local investigation and CID. He has also previously been a neighbourhood beat manager for St Loye's. He has lived in Cowick for the past 15 years and is currently on the leadership team of St Thomas Baptist Church.
Mark has also been engaged in youth work in the city for more than 12 years.
Upon joining the team Mark said: "I am excited to work in an area I know fairly well, with two experienced PCSOs in Darren Wallis and Will Malcolm, and am looking forward to making a positive contribution to policing in Cowick and St Thomas."
See also St Thomas and West Exe for more news from Mark.
Newtown
Parking change
COUNCILLOR Richard Westlake is to ask Devon County Council where it is regarding the proposals to change parking arrangements in the Denmark Road/ Athelstan Road area.
Cllr Westlake said: "I want to find out what is going on. It was my understanding that this was going to Exeter highways committee in July, but I have heard nothing about it and the residents deserve to know what stage things are at."
Pinhoe
Have your say!
REGARDING the recent community engagement day, PCSO Ed Mitchell reports that it was enormously successful in giving the local neighbourhood team an opportunity to listen to residents' feelings on crime and anti-social behaviour in the area as well as other community issues such as parking, dog fouling and speeding hot-spots.
PCSO Mitchell said: "We received a good deal of information from residents and will be looking to address the issues raised by them over the coming weeks.
"It was also a good opportunity to work alongside local councillors, who were also involved in the event, and discuss issues raised by residents on a multi-agency platform.
"We would like to thank Sainsbury's Pinhoe and their staff for generously accommodating us on the evening and furnishing us and residents with delicious snacks, that helped a great deal in enticing passers-by.
"Thanks particularly to Julia the community relations officer who stayed on after her shift had finished to help out and went the extra mile to make us feel welcome."
Polsloe
Railway halt
FOLLOWING the very successful clean-up day last month at the railway halt at Polsloe Bridge, another is now being planned for July.
The day was organised by Councillor Richard Westlake, who has now told Community News: "The provisional date for the next one is July 12 with a start time of 10am.
"We will have to look at tackling the big bank but a schedule will be worked out."
If you are intending to pop along to help please email richard.westlake@devon.gov.uk
RD&E Hospital
Memory walk
PATIENTS and staff at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital recently took part in a memory walk to raise awareness of dementia.
The walk around the hospital grounds was part of a week-long programme of activities organised in support of National Dementia Awareness Week which aims to raise awareness of the symptoms of dementia and to encourage people to seek help if they are concerned.
Throughout the week visitors to the hospital were encouraged to write down their memories of the seasons on memory walls across the Wonford site.
A service was held in the hospital's Chaplaincy Centre where patients and guests could enjoy music from a brass band ensemble, sing hymns and listen to poetry readings. Inpatients were also entertained by the RD&E's rock and pop choir, the Rhythm of Life, during an evening performance on the wards and enjoyed a cream tea on Friday afternoon to wrap up the week.
The Devon Garden, a therapeutic space for patients with dementia which is currently under construction in the grounds of the RD&E, played a central role in Dementia Awareness Week. Patients were given the chance to plant sweet peas with Stephen Pettet-Smith from Exeter Health Care Arts to grow in the garden and participants on the memory walk finished their tour with a sneak preview of the nearly completed space.
As well as raising awareness about dementia, staff were also keen to support the Alzheimer's Society and organised a cake sale and raffle, raising a grand total of £838 for the charity.
The Department of Health has said that all NHS staff should be trained in Dementia Awareness by 2018. In order to provide the best possible care for its patients, the RD&E has already trained more than 2,500 clinical and non-clinical staff – a number that has been boosted by a further 236 staff who were trained during Dementia Awareness Week.
Julie Vale, acting consultant nurse for older people at the RD&E said: "Dementia awareness is something that is at the top of our agenda.
"We are working towards ensuring that all our staff have the knowledge, skills and confidence to ensure that patients with dementia receive the right care and support whenever and wherever they come into contact with our services."
St David's
Solar power
THE Premier Inn currently being built just off Southernhay is planning to supplement its power needs with the help of the sun.
A planning application has been lodged with the city council for 110 photovoltaic panels on the roof of the new hotel. Each panel will measure 1.6m by 9.5m.
St Thomas
Station plans
COUNCILLOR Adrian Fullam has welcomed plans for improvements to be made at St Thomas train station.
The station suffers from higher than average incidences of anti-social behaviour and First Great Western has said the refurbishment will also improve passenger safety.
It is intended to demolish and replace the existing waiting shelters and relocate the existing aluminium shelter on Platform 1.
New seating is planned for both platforms including the formation new bays on Platform 2.
There is also a plan to put new lighting into the internal staircase to Platform 1.
In addition, First Great Western is seeking to install CCTV to both platforms, ticket vending machines on both platforms and a mural on Platform 1 depicting the historic past of the station.
The station was first opened in 1846 and, although many of its original features have been removed the station building, which was designed by Brunel, was grade II listed in 1974.
The roof covering the platforms was removed in the 1970s.
Cllr Fullam said: "We are delighted to see this investment in St Thomas train station.
"The concrete shelters are a bit dingy and the freshening up of the facilities will be welcomed by passengers.
"Improved security with CCTV cameras will be reassuring on those quiet evenings."
It's purple!
THERE'S money in these purple locks!
As previously reported in Community News, Rev Anne Dowdeswell decided to help raise money for urgent repairs to St Thomas Church by dyeing her hair, with people being asked to vote for a colour at £1 a time.
More than £100 has been raised by people choosing between red, white, blue, pink and purple.
Pink and purple were early leaders but, as you can see from our picture (above), purple won out in the end.
Anne told Community News: "The response from the parish about my hair has been very positive – people have been very kind about the colour – although I am still getting used to it.
"Donations are still coming in too, which is great, and it has certainly been a talking point in Cowick street and local shops.
"My favourite comment was one from a small boy who had heard me talk in assembly about what I was going to do and, when he saw me, called "Reverend Anne, you weren't lying".
"I was less keen on the quotations from All things bright and beautiful – the purple headed mountain!"
The fundraising continues and the next major event is the St Thomas Past and Present Flower Festival which will run from August 28 to 31.
As well as the floral exhibits, there will be memorabilia of the history of the area, concerts, lunchtime recitals, meals and light refreshments served all day and a festival service on the Sunday.
In addition the church is launching a 200 club.
Anne added: "We are very grateful to the many local people who have started to respond to our leaflet appeal by making donations and offering help."
Graffiti success
SUCH was the success of the recent community graffiti clean-up there are plans to hold another at a later date.
Several volunteers turned up to help out across three days after the event was arranged by PCSO Will Malcolm.
Graffiti cleaning kits were provided by the city council's anti-social behaviour officer Steve Stewart, who told police officers that in two days they and the volunteers had managed to clean more than the council could do in several years.
PC Mark Oliver explained: "I think this is because in general people don't do anything about it, but when they are asked if they want something done about the graffiti then they respond.
"We are hoping that we can do this again."
Topsham
Defence wall
A FLOOD defence wall at Bowling Green Marsh, which was damaged by storms at the start of the year, has been repaired.
Contractors working for Exeter City Council began work on April 28, and have now finished on schedule.
A large section of the coastal defence alongside the River Clyst frontage was severely damaged during the high tides and storm damage in January and February.
The high tide overflowed raised defences which provide protection to the RSPB reserve at Bowling Green Marsh and a number of nearby properties and businesses.
The city council owns the land the defences stand on, and leases the land at Bowling Green Marsh to the RSPB. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and has European status as a freshwater marshes habitat.
Cllr Rachel Sutton, deputy leader of Exeter City Council, said: "It's great that these works have finished. Although we're heading into summer, you never know what weather is around the corner and I'm sure that those living nearby and visiting the site will be relieved to know the defences are back in place."
Tony Whitehead, speaking for the RSPB in Devon, said: "I'm delighted that the works have gone to schedule and been carried out with the minimum of fuss and disruption. In fact, we've even had some rare overseas visitors to the reserve during the work, like a purple heron, a Ross's gull and a spoonbill."
Rob Sanders, who lives next to Bowling Green Marsh, said he was pleased with how the works had been carried out.
Coffee morning
THERE will be a coffee morning plus many stalls at St Margaret's Church on Saturday, June 14, from 10am until noon.
The event is being organised by the Rotary Club of Exeter Enterprise to raise funds for the work they do with local projects, such as giving dictionaries to the leavers of a local school, the young chef competitions, plus 20/20 cricket for under-13s.
Treasure hunt
1ST Topsham Sea Scouts have organised a walking treasure hunt and cream teas afternoon for Sunday, June 15, from 2pm to 5pm, starting and finishing at St Margaret's Church rooms.
The cost of the entry form is £2.
If the treasure hunt is not your thing – then pop in for a cream tea. All proceeds to the Scout Hut Regeneration Fund.
West Exe
Signage change
TWO years ago, Councillor Heather Morris was successful in getting the signage changed within the Exe Bridge Retail Park car park.
Prior to Cllr Morris contacting the company responsible for managing the car park, its users were prevented from leaving the retail park in order to go to the toilets, post office, bank etc.
However, on visiting the car park recently, Cllr Morris noticed new signs have been put in place which state that, once again, you are not permitted to park and then leave the car park.
Cllr Morris told Community News: "I appreciate retailers within Exe Bridge Retail Park would like the car park to be available to customers visiting their stores, but many of their customers probably also need to pop along to the bank, the post office etc. It seems to have worked very well over the last couple of years so I don't understand why new signage and restrictions have once again been put in place, and I shall certainly be taking this up again."
Safety issues
CLLR Morris has also recently attended a site meeting with fellow councillor Rob Hannaford and Devon County Council officers at the Cowick Street/Exe Bridge Retail Park exit, to discuss the various complaints residents have brought to their attention.
The complaints include buses blocking the exit to the retail park when two buses arrive at once, drivers still turning right out of the retail park, although this is not permitted, and buses allowing passengers to get on and off the bus from the island positioned in between the entrance to the retail park.
Cllr Morris said she had brought this to the attention of the county council previously, but there was no satisfactory resolution and she is therefore grateful to Cllr Hannaford for arranging the site visit.
County council officers are to present a report with possible solutions to Exeter's highways committee.
Let's meet up!
THE local neighbourhood policing team has organised a special conversation evening with tea, coffee, cake and biscuits to discuss issues affecting the communities of Cowick and St Thomas with the aim of identifying priority needs to be addressed and ways to address them.
The event will be hosted by St Thomas Baptist Church in Dorset Avenue and will run from at 7.30pm til 9pm.
Items included for discussion will be the future of the West Side Youth Centre, policing issues affecting the area, ways of meeting the needs of the community as well as issues raised by residents and others present.
This is a public meeting and is open to all and has been organised by neighbourhood beat manager PC Mark Oliver.
Councillors will also be present.
For catering purposes the police would like to know rough numbers.
If you are intending to pop along please let them know by emailing one of the following –
darren.wallis@devonand cornwall.pnn.police.uk
william.malcolm@devonand cornwall.pnn.police.uk
mark.oliver@devonand cornwall.pnn.police.uk
Whipton Barton
Petition in
THE petition started to try to stave off the closure of day care centre at Bodley House in Wayside Crescent, after many anxious phone calls from clients to local councillor Olwen Foggin, has been handed in to Devon County Council.
The petition was started by Cllr Foggin who has told Community News: "I would like to see Bodley House become a centre of excellence for the east of Exeter – after all we don't have anything else this side of the river.
"I would also like to thank everyone we took the time to sign the petition and I really do hope that now the county council listens to us."
