One New Planning application

Dear All,   Just one application this week, any comments etc to atoms@cornwall.gov.uk or 01503 264823  Thanks Armand

Looe

(Looe East Electoral Division)

The Coddy Shack Great Tree Widegates Looe PL13 1NX

Retention of North and South walling to enclose restaurant

seating - Mr M Peacock -

PA13/04991 (Case Officer -Jonathan Luker)

Education thoughts to ponder

Approaching the age of 60 my thoughts turned to the possibility of retirement and a life without work, not something i'm looking to as for me having something to get up for every morning is very important. Yet even if i thought i was going to retire at 65 like so many of my generation these were dashed because i received a letter saying i need to work another year. This means that i will work another year before getting my pension but it also means that i will take a job for that extra year. This is great for me but not so good for someone that may need work and especially for the youngsters that are leaving school and hoping for work. Last year i held an apprenticeship event in Looe with the local Job Centre Plus trying to get youngsters into work to give them a career and a great start to their working life. Currently there are a million OAPs working and 2.5 million unemployed the problem is that about a million of these are youngster who are not gaining experience in the jobs market. They sit at home without purpose, a future and more importantly the lack the self esteem of being part of society gaining respect and contributing to the country. The following are only my thoughts from my experience with apprenticeships and my children's education.
My fathers generation left school at 14, my generation left school at 15, the current generation leave school at 16 and the next generation it will extend to 17 then 18. With the adage of you get out what you put in it's clear that most will put in 50 years of work to get a pension, except the current generation because they have limited choices either take further education or for a great number of them life without employment. Ambition seem to have gone for so many of our youth or is it the way we treat them, for so many they will vote before they take up paid work. Think about it your 16/17/18 what future have you got, for some it's an opportunity further education and a degree. But for so many they find education a bind don't want to be at college but want to get on in life. Do we give them that opportunity of a careers maybe not, but we will fund education for two extra years.
I would challenge the way this country is going with the education system, making our youth stay in education longer is not always best for the individual student. A career for life and the opportunity for skills for life is what many of them want, we teach maths but it's arithmetic that many employers say is needed. Should we be teaching for employment and life skills not for education sake giving a student the right skills for the job or career they wish to take. With the new eduction system we will pay for a student to go to college until they are 18 (about 4k per year average) why not use this in a different way. Allow employers to take on youth at 16 and give them an apprenticeship or career skills with the 4k a year bursary the costs to government are the same but the difference is that the country gets someone with skills. Employers are always saying that the youngsters leaving school are not equipped for work why not allow them to build the skilled workforce they need. A construction worker, engineer or care worker with the right skills will have a job for life contribute to society and the country. You get what you put in and the younger they contribute the more goes into the pot for their retirement. Also the most valuable lesson is getting up and having a purpose in life and being a valued member of the community.
Now for my thoughts on further education and university especially when i see my children's generation coming to the workplace with debt that affects them for many years. Having spoken to many of them it appears that the education does not meet the costs incurred, some degrees have tuition for only a few hours per week, but have a 9k cost. The cost per hour is expensive and if these were paid weekly the true costs would be counted by the student but these just amount to debts to be paid later in life if at all. Even when most get their degree many of them still need to be moulded by employers to fit the needs of their industry.
This idea is just a thought, why not look at starting University schools courses would be shorter because they would have a 9 to 5 lesson plan but cost the same in tuition fees. The students would be in school for 37 week year with 10 weeks working with employers and 5 weeks holiday, just like being in work. Give the student less debt an employer chance to snap up good skilled graduates and people who know what to expect when the complete the course. The country needs skilled graduates to put it ahead of others, getting the right skills for the job and work ethic is good for them and the country.
These are my thoughts, sorry if you do not like them but i am happy to receive comments.

Four planning applications this week

Dear All,   Four new applications this week as always your view appreciated, contact atoms@conrwall.gov.uk or 01503 264823

Regards Armand

Looe

(Looe East Electoral Division)

Jackdaw Cottage Shutta Road Looe Cornwall PL13 1HW

Provision of a parking area (Resubmission of previous

application PA12/02292 withdrawn on the 19th April 2012) -

Mr A Sinkowski -

PA13/02080 (Case Officer - Sarah

Stevens)

Looe

(Looe East Electoral Division)

Glendower Dawes Lane East Looe Looe Cornwall PL13 1JE

Construction of entrance lobby. - Mr And Mrs J Warne -

PA13/02695 (Case Officer - Sarah Stevens)

Looe

(Looe East Electoral Division)

Three Ways Pendrim Road East Looe Looe Cornwall PL13

1HX

Construction of two space parking bay (revised to withdrawn

application PA12/09954) - Mr David Mark Roberts -

PA13/03267 (Case Officer - R Baker)

Looe

(Looe East Electoral Division)

Pen Y Bryn Barbican Hill East Looe Looe Cornwall PL13 1BQ

Notification for consent to remove Fir Tree within a

conservation area. - Mr Brian McCarthy -

PA13/03286 (CaseOfficer - Sarah Stevens)

A MANIFESTO FOR ONE AND THE PRICE OF A MARS BAR

Well i can't bring you a political heavyweight like David Cameron or Nick Clegg, a host of MPs from the Cabinet ministers or shadows in opposition.   Just a hard working family who support me day in day out for FREE and happy to do so.  

The next bit is my leaflet which i will be distributing to resident of the town and parish during the election as my 'election address'.  I'm not sure that this will go onto a A4 sheet so i hope you will read this and pass the information on and call me if you have any questions.  

Dear Elector,   My name is Armand Toms a Looe man born and bred, married to Rayna with three children.   I have been very luck to represent Looe as a County/Cornwall Councillor, a Town Councillor as well as a member of other towns organisations for up to 12 years, I am currently the Deputy Mayor of the town. 

Over this time I have a proven track record of delivering for the town, from a simple footpath at the Globe, Station Road to stop people having to cross the road.  Whilst my idea of Seagull proof sacks has gone on trial county wide and has been very successful.  At a local level I work across organisations to get the best outcomes for the town and at Cornwall Council I have worked across political parties to do the same.   During the last four years I have been the portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and worked hard to raise the standards with the department improving from performing adequately to performing well.  Doing the best for Looe and Cornwall is the most important part of being a councillor.

I love the job I do and have always felt honoured to represent my home town.  Being out and about in the community helping with events in good times or when there are floods and other major events is what the job is all about.   It’s about being there for the vulnerable individuals, groups, businesses in good and bad times.   Seeing the problems and doing something about it, whilst helping when and where needed.  

Yours Faithfully   Armand Toms

ALLOTMENTS

The amount of people who want allotments in the town has always been greater then the space available for them.   I wrote to the glebe (church) committee and they allocated land at St Martins and this should be available soon to provide space to meet the needs of the town.   A lease is being drawn up between Looe Town Council and the Glebe committee solicitors in the near future.   If you wish to register for an allotment please contact the town council on 01503 262255

NHS DENTIST FOR LOOE

Over the last couple of years I have been campaigning to get an NHS dentist for Looe.   The last one closed in December 2010 and local residents now travel miles to receive dental care.    On highlights the problem recently the numbers on the waiting list for Looe increased from 8 to 300 with many local families joining.   Whilst two local practices showed an interest in coming to Looe they are businesses and a client list of 2000 to 3000 is needed to make a practice viable.   To register please call the helpline 01726 627990

FLOOD DEFENCES

During recent flooding events I have been talking to the local Environment Agency officer about the situation in Looe, as it is the most flooded place in the South West.     We talked over the problems in the past and the failed schemes of the 90s and how to bring forward a scheme for Looe now.   On his advice we have visited to Harbour Commissioners to discuss bringing together a scheme for the town.   Recently I organised a meeting with a number of the towns organisations to put the idea of a scheme being put forward by the town to meet the towns needs.    With the help of the local EA officer a bottom up approach to a scheme, funding from the EA is available to  support this and the town could bring something that not only delivers flood defences but a outer harbour/breakwater.   Thus bringing the full benefits of defences and providing a regeneration project as well, this is only the start of a long awaited scheme which needs the backing of the town and it’s resident.  I look forward to working on this project further with everyone involved.

There is also a need for a flood defence plan for the town in the areas most a risk with the businesses and residents involvement.

MILLENDREATH

Millendreath had seen some great changes in the last year with a number of planning applications coming forward and being approved.   The Valley has improved with the works already carried out along with the great work of “Millendreath in Bloom”.   Whilst any further developments must involve the tenants and residents of the valley to make sure that it benefits all. 

ST MARTINS PARISH

It has been a pleasure working with St Martins Parish Council over the last four years.   Although progress on reducing the local speed limit has been slow, a safer waking route from Holland Road to the shop/post office is moving forward.    A local safety scheme is being proposed which will help make crossing the road safer.  The coastal footpath is also a problem with recent landslips, it needs to be moved further up the cliff to make it safe again.   Council officers are working on the new route and proposals should be coming forward soon.

APPRENTICESHIPS

Last year I organised a day for local business to get advice on taking on apprentices or work experience with the Job Centre Plus and the local Apprenticeship Advice Service.    It was a great day and a number of businesses and organisations turned up to take advantage which made it a great success.  Working with the two agencies proved a great partnership and over 30 youngsters got the chance of work experience and apprenticeships.   I would like to do this again and work with Jane and Cathie to give more of our young people a great start in life.

ROAD CLOSURES AND LANDSLIPS

The tragic events of the last few weeks have been incredibly difficult for the town and especially the family of Susan Norman and our thoughts and prayers are with them.   I have called for a full enquiry into the events leading to this and that the reports be made public.   Whilst St Martins Road remains closed it impacts on the towns residents and businesses.   Any engineering solution must be permanent and involve the local area home owners and businesses.  

BATHING WATER QUALITY

The bathing water quality in Looe is very important to local people, tourists and businesses, with the new bathing water directive from the EU coming into force in 2015 more works needs to be done to meet the new standards.    Currently the EA are spending a large amount of money working with farmers to improve the farm waste run off for the fields in the Looe Valley.   Plus SWW are wanting to do works to the storage capacity in the area of the Health Centre to help to minimise the risks of spillages from the current containment tank.    I have been working with SWW contractors to bring together the organisation (Health Centre, Cornwall Council and Looe Town Council) so that a project to expand the tanks capacity is completed quickly and minimise any potential problems to the Health Centre.

FIREWORKS

Many of you will remember that towards the end of last year no one would take on the New Years Eve Fireworks and with Sue Pengelly and the help of the town council staff not only did we take this on but secured it for at least another year.  Two displays and a childrens fancy dress which which was fun and brought families out into the town.  Can we do better this year, we will try as this is a part of Looe's year and must remain so.

The above is just a small part of what i do and what i have done over the last four year as a councillor.  I may have become a Independent but i am the same person who loves his job and is always prepared to have a go for local people.  Oh yes the Mars Bar please ask all candidates why when the Conservative Police commissioner wanted to put up the Police precept 2% to keep officers on the beat that is ok.  Yet when the council wanted to put the precept up 1.97% that was wrong, the budget that has been set will reduce key services like Childrens and Adults Social Care and with 30% of the popuation in Looe over pensionable age i believe that they should have the respect of being given the right services to meet their needs.  Take time to speak to someone who needs social care, many of you will not know what it is but will be delighted to recieve it when you need it and for what less then a price of a mars bar extra precept each week.  When  the opening hours for libraries and call centres are reduced and you can't report something or get help please remember this.

Thank you for taking time to read my manifesto

Armand Toms

PS Promises are easy to make and hard to keep, so i make only one to work hard if elected for the people of Looe and Cornwall

New planning applications

Two new planning applications this week any comments to me on 01503 264823 or atoms@cornwall.gov.uk  Regards Armand

Looe

(Looe East Electoral Division)

9 Trewint Crescent Looe Cornwall PL13 1ET

Construction of garage on north elevation. - Mr And Mrs

Michael Jones -

PA13/02084 (Case Officer - Sarah

Stevens)

Looe

(Looe East Electoral Division)

Fairways Shutta East Looe Looe Cornwall PL13 1LY

Application to remove one fir tree within a Conservation Area -

Mr David Hill

One New Planning Application

Dear All,   Just the one planning application this week, your comments appreciated to 01503 264823 or atoms@cornwall.gov.uk  Thank you Armand

Looe

(Looe East Electoral Division)

Oystercatcher, Bay House Higher Market Street Looe

Cornwall PL13 1BS

Change of use from an A1 shop to A1 and A3 use. Selling food

and drink to eat in and take away. - Miss Laura Marshall -

PA13/01296 (Case Officer - Julie Mitchell)

Positive news

I have included my most recent town council report because i would like to share some of the work i have beed doing over some considerable time to regenerate the town.   The first major problem in the town is making the community sustainable with a development that gives something to the town as a economic regeneration and gives jobs for local people.   This will also help the local fishing fleet as that has been in decline over the last ten years as bigger boats have drifted to Plymouth to work because of the tidal nature of the harbour.   These are early stages but the town will need to get behind this and deliver a scheme of the greatest benefit for all.   Secondly the works in the Health Centre Car park will cause some disruption to the working of the centre for a period but this can be managed to a minimum with all the partners working together.    The bonus of this scheme is that the towns bathing water quality will be affected less by spills which is very good news for the town.  Let me know if you have any questions  Regards Armand

LOOE TOWN COUNCIL REPORT

ARMAND TOMS LOOE EAST AND ST MARTINS

1.          FLOODING ISSUES

On the 19^th of February, 2013 members from 3 of the towns organisations met with Nick Ely and Councillor Phil Parsons regarding the problems faced by the town with regard to flooding.    I was disappointed that West Looe Town Trust did not attend but I have since spoken to the Chairman and they have agreed to attend the next meeting.    Over the last 18 month to 2 years I have been working on a solution to the long standing problem in Looe of flooding and this I hope is the first of many meetings.   I called this meeting to bring together the towns organisation so that a bottom up approach can be taken to the problem as the plans in the 90s from the EA were rejected by the town at great cost.   So the need to bring together the town to find a solution in necessary as any scheme needs their full support.  

There were three strands to the discussion, one being flooding by wave and tidal surge, two the protection of properties and thirdly a flood plan for the town.   The first strand was discussed at length and I have suggested that any sea defences should also consider the economic benefits that would also be available.   If a breakwater was built for protection of the harbour then moorings for visiting boats should also be made available with the addition of a all states of the tide mooring to give access to the town.  It was agreed that the delivery of this first project would bring economic benefit and solve the need for protection of property in the long term, but work needs to be done in the short term to help the protection of property. 

Lastly there is a need for a flood plan for the town and during the recent meeting with the EA and others regarding bathing water quality I was able to get a copy of the procedure.   I would ask that the town council leads on this and request that there is an involvement of the community with flood leaders and wardens etc.   Can this be sent to the relevant committee for consideration.

2.          SEWAGE SCHEME AT DOCTORS SURGERY AND PATIENTS CAR PARK

Last Friday the Mayor and myself met with the health surgery manager, doctor and SWW regarding works to alleviate spills from the holding tanks under the doctors car park.    The idea is that SWW increase the size of the holding tank under the doctors car park and expand it into an area under the patients car park.    These works will be carried out as soon as possible to help with the spillages which affect the bathing water quality.  It was agreed that these works are necessary to help the town and it is hoped that plans will be available in the near future and there will be a need to consult with the town.   I was able to get an officer from the council to attend and asked questions regarding the use of the riverside car park.   When I have the full details I will share them.

3.          COUNCIL TAX

The council tax for Cornwall has been set at a zero percent increase which will have a detrimental effect on the services provided and there will be job losses.    I worry about the cuts in money to both childrens and adults social care bank and relief staff will not be available.  This will also cut services such as times for library and one stop shop opening as well as call centre staff.   Having voiced my concerns but they were not heard.