Town centres changes dominate the news

TEIGNBRIDGE councillors have come under pressure to do a U-turn over plans to redevelop the historic Alexandra Theatre in Newton Abbot.

Cited as an iconic building, some 4,000 supporters have signed a petition to save the building, and at a meeting held last week the District Executive were ‘put on notice’ by one Teignbridge councillor, warning what could happen if they went ahead and ignored public opinion.

NEWTON Abbot has paid its respects to leading firefighter Phil Scammells, the man who has watched over its fire safety for the past 34 years.

At midnight on Sunday the watch manager at the town’s fire station completed his last shift before retirement.

Among many tributes paid, Newton Abbot mayor, Cllr Richard Jenks, said: ‘There have doubtless been many occasions for which we owe him big time.’

MP Anne Marie Morris took the fight to save Teignmouth Hospital from closure to the Houses of Parliament.

As campaigners await the fate of their precious local hospital, the MP called for the Parliamentary debate on the issue.

She spoke to the House and Edward Argar, Minister of State for Health at the Department of Health and Social Care, telling him it would be a ‘massive shame’ if the hospital was to close.

During the Westminster Debate she questioned him on the consultation process run by the Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) over its proposed Health and Wellbeing Centre plans, which could well result in the closure of the hospital.

Mrs Morris asked Mr Argar of the consultation: ‘Was it fit for purpose and were the CCG right to exclude the hospital site from the consultation given that the proposals outlined have a direct impact on the site.’

A LANDOWNER has said he is considering legal options after a man moved a caravan onto a plot of land on the edge of Newton Abbot town centre.

Russell O’Connor moved this caravan on to the site of the former Volvo dealership in Wolborough Street that has been derelict for more than 15 years.

But Lynne-Sara Gue, who said she was speaking up for Mr O’Connor, said he wanted to turn the area into a nature reserve ‘for the people of Newton Abbot’.

Nick Pointon, director of the owners of the land Newton Abbot Developments Ltd, said: ‘It’s a private piece of land and they are not meant to be there.

‘We have planning permission to develop retail and retirement flats above.’

THE plans for Teignmouth’s new health and wellbeing centre as part of a town centre regeneration project have gone in.

The new £8 million Health and Wellbeing Centre is to be built by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust in the heart of Teignmouth and is due to open in 2022, subject to plan- ning permission.

The South Devon Health Innovations Partnership have put forward the formal planning application for the scheme which would see the demolition of redundant building on Brun- swick Street and a new health centre built in its place.

COUNCIL workers broadcast Chris De Burgh’s song ‘Lady in Red’ from their van as Cllr Alison Eden, Lib Dem district councillor for Teignmouth Central Ward, took a look at progress installing a new pelican crossing.

‘I have a school age daughter and for the last four years, I have been campaigning and lobbying for the county council to put all our safety first and make the Lidl crossing safe.

‘Residents know how hard it has been to convince the County Council to do its job,’ said Cllr Eden.

EIGHTEEN-MONTH-OLD Elijah Holt from Kingsteignton might be still learning to walk, but that hasn’t stopped him taking part in a sponsored walk next week.

Elija, who was born with Down syndrome, only took possession of his new walking frame a couple of weeks ago, but will take a mammoth 21 steps on Sunday – World Down Syndrome Day – to raise money for charity Living Down South.

TOURISTS have been banned from the only shop in one of Dartmoor’s prettiest villages.

Their ‘Lockout’ is intended as a Covid safety measure for local residents.

It was introduced at Lustleigh’s post office shop after the picturesque village was swamped by outsiders who ignored travel guidelines.

Owner Mike Brewer said: ‘It was crazy. The place was crammed with trippers, many of whom didn’t bother with safety precautions.

‘This time we decided to still keep the shop open – with only two customers inside at a time – but to restrict entry to local residents only.

‘Our main priority was keep this valley as safe as possible from the effects of Covid. It’s had unanimous support from our locals.