Teignmouth Post and Gazette No 4880 Friday 29 August 1975

WHY DID COUNCIL DEMAND £15,000?

In its first bulletin, the Ratepayers’ Association asks why the Town Council precepted on Teignbridge District Council for £15,000 at a time when the Government was calling for the utmost economy in local government, and at a time when the ratepayers all faced massive increases. This levy is the highest in the Teignbridge District. Newton Abbot, with nearly twice Teignmouth’s population, only asks a precept of £7,250.

FIESTA CUP FOUND

Singer Val Doonican will have the cup to present to the winning children’s fancy dress competition. The raft race, re-instated by popular demand, will assemble at 1.45pm on the old Morgan Giles’ slipway and finish (for some!) at Gales Hill.

IN DAYS OF YORE

25 Years Ago: When the GI bride returned to Devon on holiday, she missed the last train to Teignmouth. British Railways agreed to specially stop the Exeter to Plymouth express to let her off at Teignmouth.

50 Years Ago. A pantry boy, who admitted he had stolen money from his employer and his fellow servants at a Teignmouth hotel, was given his fare home to Portsmouth by the Magistrates and money to buy food for the journey. He was bound over for the offence.

BUS COMPANY FARE RISE

If the Traffic Commissioners grant a new application for the Western National/Devon General for an overall increase in bus fares of 25%, it will be the third increase this year. A statement says that the application arises from the need for the Company to discharge its required statutory duty to break even. The options were to seek additional revenue through fare increases, additional finance from County Councils, or cut services.

WOODLAND TRUST

Teignbridge District Council has been among many donors who have helped purchase 175 acres of woodland in the Wray Valley near Bovey Tracey. Overlooked by Shaptor Down and Rocks, and comprising a number of separately named areas, this wood will be named Shaptor Woods.The woodland is one of the most beautiful valleys in Devon, and the road running through it has been designated a Scenic Route. The Trust has been given a three acre piece of land at Church Farm, Beer Hackett, near Sherborne. where iIt is already raising broadleaved trees.

WRVS

The organisation has been busier than ever. They have dealt with a number of emergencies during the year, including with clothes and rest centre services following the Cyprus airlift to Lynham, two rail accidents, a gas explosion, fuel crisis with teams on general standby, floods in Devon and Cornwall, and fires in Somerset and Wiltshire.

The WRVS has also provided a service such as at the Tour de France cycle race in Devon, a Civil Defence meeting when 600 lunches were needed, and at Over-Sixties rallies when over 400 were catered for. The scope of Books on Wheels has widened to serve the private homes of the elderly. Members were also active in prison welfare, escort duty and after-care work, and a hostel for visitors adjacent to Dartmoor Prison was also opened.

FOUND IN A GUTTER

In Teignmouth town centre, a large white buck rabbit. Will owners please ring Teignmouth 4632 or 2821.