Row likely as Independents claim credit for Conservative projects

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Row likely as Independents claim credit for Conservative projects

A POLITICAL row was looming in West Somerset after Independent district councillors elected only in May tried to claim credit for a series of economic development projects – all of which were started under the former Conservative administration.
A number of the now-trumpeted projects were bitterly opposed at the time when Independents and others on the council sought to attract newspaper headlines criticising the Conservative leadership in the months leading up to the elections.
Now, district council public relations officer Stacey Beaumont has issued a press release pointing out that West Somerset had secured more funding from Objective 2 transitional European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) than any other district Westcountry despite being the smallest council.
It followed the start of work on the development of the Barle Enterprise Centre, near Dulverton, and a £203,193 funding award for Minehead’s new Visitor Information and Interpretation Centre (VIIC), bringing the total of European money for West Somerset to more than £6.7 million.
The council’s economic development and tourism portfolio holder, Councillor Michael Downes, claimed: “We have completed, or are in the process of completing, 15 projects thanks to this funding.
“It has benefited a broad range of projects from developing local workspace, ICT provision and food links support through to tourism development via the organisation of events and festivals and the provision of the new VIIC.
“In all cases, the money needed to complete the project has to be at least doubled by the council and its partners so total funding in the district is much higher.
“For example, we have helped access £1.4 million for the New Horizons project but the actual investment by the council and its partners is in the region of £50 million.
“We know that businesses and tourism in the area need our support and we are doing our best to provide sustainable economic and tourism initiatives.
“We are also ensuring that local people’s social, health, and learning needs will be met by assisting with the provision of the new hospital, health complex, and skills and learning centre through New Horizons.”
The present leader of the council, Councillor Keith Ross – considered to have been an architect of many of the previous attacks on the development projects - said: “In the past we have been criticised for not delivering, but as this list shows, our staff have worked hard to deliver a substantial number of high-quality projects to help improve social and economic conditions for people and businesses across West Somerset.
“The workspace in Williton is nearing completion and work on the Dulverton workspace is now under way.
“Our staff are also putting a major amount of work into the provision of affordable housing for local people which is another area in which we are genuinely starting to deliver.
“We intend to build on our successes and prove ourselves as community leaders who deliver meaningful projects which bring social and economic benefits to the whole district.”
The list of projects for which credit was now being claimed included:

Exmoor & Quantocks Foodlinks (£151,688) – project ongoing
Exmoor Events & Festivals (£112,500) – project completed
Rural Learning & Early Years Centre (£636,488) – project completed
Williton ICT (£51,084) – project completed
Stage 2 feasibility study into New Horizons (£25,000) – project completed
Crisis loans for small businesses that suffered as a result of foot and mouth disease (£120,850) – project completed
South West Wood Fuels (£81,450) – project completed
Williton Workspace at Roughmoor (£788,672) – project ongoing
Dulverton Workspace at the Barle Enterprise Centre (£806,711) – project ongoing
Somerset Broadband (£180,960) – project ongoing
Technical Assistance for the Broadband project (£84,349) – project ongoing
Watchet Esplanade Enhancement (£138,380) – project ongoing
Minehead Visitor Information & Interpretation Centre (£203,193) – application approved
New Horizons (£1.4m) – application approved

The VIIC on the seafront at Minehead will replace the existing Tourist Information Centre in Friday Street and will be equipped with high-tech interactive touch-screen displays and will provide a centre of excellence for the delivery of tourism information, with the aim of attracting and developing potential and existing customer markets to support the tourism industry of the whole area.
Bridgwater-based H Pollard & Sons has been selected as the preferred developer and contract details are currently being finalised with a view to work starting shortly and being completed by the summer of next year.

Our photograph taken at the start of work on the Barle Enterprise Centre shows (left to right) Councillor Keith Ross, Councillor Michael Downes, and site manager Jake Carless, of building contractors CS Williams Ltd. Photo submitted.

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BREAKING NEWS

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a car crash which happened in Washford on the night of Sunday, August 5. Two Rover cars were involved in the incident, which happened at about 9.20 pm. Two people were taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, but it was not thought they suffered any serious injuries. The road was closed at Carhampton and Washford Cross while the vehicles were recovered. Anybody with any information about the incident is asked to contact the police and speak to members of the collision investigation unit by telephoning 0845 4567000.

The Post Columnists

From the Pen of 'Deadly' Dudley YOU may have noticed the editor has printed a letter in response to my column last month in which I mentioned Councillor Michael Downes. I am pleased Councillor Downes has cleared up the fact he was a Lib Dem in his last position, a political one. I also accept he was an Independent on a parish council. As most have no political bias, I think that is a red herring. I was not part of the last council, and, unlike some of the present councillors, not responsible for what went on. I have to say, unlike his leader Councillor Keith Ross, he admits what he was and is. Councillor Ross has still to state his political position, unless he is there for himself. I was pleased to see his complaint to the Press Complaints Commission about my comments, like the complaints also of Arthur Phillips and Mrs Holden, was rejected. I also accept that the Independents with help from others won the election. Some of the things that went on were far from what I would have found acceptable, but they have gotten away with it. The Independents were to change everything, yet, we still have a cabinet system which they all loudly shouted was undemocratic. Now, we find Council Tax will rise. This is because their backers said Vulcan Road car park must be saved. However, being Independents they cannot all agree, as, if, after they put up the tax, they may have to sell Vulcan Road anyway. The truth is, it will be sold and they will blame the Tory administration who are no longer there. Last weekend, I spent time with my colleagues on the railway station with Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends. This was in my capacity as a St John Ambulance volunteer. Like many who work there, they are also volunteers. I have to say Paul Conibeare and his staff really are Minehead’s tourism officers. They brought thousands into Minehead over two days. They laid on a carnival that was enjoyed by all. The problem was, I became very embarrassed when people asked what was there to do in Minehead? Do I tell the truth and say ‘nothing at all’, oh, yes, pubs and arcades, or tell them they can visit the filthy toilets in the main town centre car park. I heard so many people going back on the trains complaining about the standards of the toilets. There should be no need for complaints like that. If the town is busy, could not somebody put on enough staff to check them? The leaders of the area need to get a grip and do something for tourism in this area. In my 30 years here, I have seen so many projects ditched at the last moment. Land sold that was the right place for tourist-type projects, and promises which will never be fulfilled. Why do we leave it to the railway and Tropiquaria to do the job the local councils should be doing? Minehead is becoming one of the worst places I know for parking. No, not car parks, just people parking. From the chaos in town to the need for one-way systems in places like Hillview Road and many roads in Alcombe. I have given up with the delivery wagons which park on double yellow lines half on the pavement and half off, as the police do not want to know. I was told of a case of a person who collapsed at home at five o’clock in the morning. One of the family rang the out-of-hours number and eventually a doctor came. However, he was the other side of Bridgwater at the time of the call. When he did arrive, he was a German doctor who had flown in that morning to cover the weekend. What if that person could not have waited to be seen? This is a ludicrous situation. There are many young doctors just qualified and desperate for work. Why not tie them to a local practice and they cover nights and weekends. It would cost less and the service would be better. I would like to thank anyone who has decided to help with the St Michael’s Church tower. I know Monty, from Morris Carpets, raised money in the Beacon to Beach run, for which I am sure the tower supporters will be grateful. Please help if you can. Just remember, you can close your eyes and shut out the world, or shut them and let it in. Be healthy and happy ’till next time. Dudley Seale

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West Somerset Post - formerly The Crier

Wednesday, July 25, 2007