2025: Week 32 - Summer rolls on!

It’s been another week of being out and about, I’ve done pop up events, spent time door knocking around the area, hosted a surgery at the Alice Cross Centre in Teignmouth and visited local businesses and more.

One big issue locally is the expansion of the ball clay extraction by Sibelco in Kingsteignton, which is worrying residents.  I have had meetings with various parties about the proposed expansion of quarrying - I will be making sure that local concerns are heard and addressed.

I’ve enjoyed doing pop up events around the constituency, including Tesco at Kingsteignton, Co-op in Kingskerswell and Teignmouth market.  It was lovely seeing so many of you and having the great opportunity to chat. 

So often an MP is seen as a very formal figure, distant and unapproachable, that is a view that I wholeheartedly disagree with.  I was elected to be your representative and voice, I cannot to do that effectively if I am locked away in an office! 

We are planning more pop-up events before the winter weather arrives and please do come and have a chat if you see me.  The same goes if you see me at an event, I’d be delighted if you come over and say hello!

I had a lovely visit to Animals in Distress, a fantastic animal charity that specialises in rehoming pets, not just cats and dogs, but small animals too.  Their centre is in Ipplepen, where the staff and volunteers look after the animals in their care.  They work hard to match their animals to the right homes to ensure the best life possible for the pets when they leave the centre.  We discussed their work and how the cost-of-living crisis has seen their numbers increase dramatically, and how they are managing that. If you are thinking of adding a pet to your family, I would urge you to consider looking at the various rescue centres around the area, any animal that is rehomed by Animals in Distress will be neutered, vaccinated, fully health checked and the staff will have assessed their temperament and will be able to advise which pet will fit best into your family.  Adopt, don’t shop!

I visited Broadhempston Land Trust, a community building project run by local villagers for local villagers.  The group in Broadhempston was founded due to families and young people not being able to afford to purchase houses in the village.  Broadhempston is facing the same issues found in a lot of small villages in the country.  House prices increasing above what is affordable for most people, younger people and families having to move out and village amenities such as schools, shops and pubs closing. The Broadhempston Land Trust is hoping that their community project will help reverse this trend, and provides a great model for other areas to adopt.