WELCOME
Welcome to my latest newsletter. Please forward it to anyone else who you think would like to receive it, and they can sign up at my website (www.peterheatonjones.org.uk).
In the last few weeks we've delivered thousands of new residents’ surveys across North Devon. Hundreds of people have replied and given us their email address, so it may be that you’re receiving this newsletter for the first time.
You may not be a Conservative supporter, but rest assured I try to avoid party politics as much as possible. This newsletter is more about the campaigns I'm running and the issues I'm fighting on – many of which cut across party lines. I hope you enjoy receiving and reading this newsletter each week, and please do contact me at any time with your views.
Ilfracombe Special
Yesterday was Carnival Day in Ilfracombe. I spent the day meeting people, knocking on doors, visiting businesses and generally soaking up the atmosphere. It was good to see thousands of people – locals and visitors alike – in town to enjoy the day.
Because it’s such a major part of our tourist economy, what happens here matters to North Devon as a whole. So, with the bank holiday weekend such a vital time for our tourism industry, this week’s newsletter focuses on Ilfracombe.
Southern Extension
Many of the conversations I had on the doorsteps yesterday were about the new southern extension which was given the go ahead a few weeks ago. This huge development – one of the biggest in North Devon – will add 750 houses and various local facilities to Ilfracombe.
I am broadly supportive of this scheme, but when I spoke at the public meeting at the Landmark Theatre earlier this year I stressed a couple of points which remain important.
Firstly, the infrastructure and facilities must be provided in a timely fashion. This is particularly so with school places, which must be available when they’re needed and not delayed until a certain number of houses have been built, as sometimes happens.
Secondly, the road system must be fit for purpose to cope with all the new vehicles. This is true not just in Ilfracombe itself, but on the roads beyond as well. For instance there are particular concerns in Braunton about the extra traffic generated by the development.
For that reason I’m about to send a local survey to thousands of households in Braunton asking for your views on the village’s traffic problems. Look out for it soon, but if you don’t receive one personally, please do let me know what you think.
Ilfracombe: Arts Capital of Devon?
The Southern Extension is being backed by Damien Hirst, but his influence is already easy to see. His statue Verity dominates the harbour, and the whole area is becoming something of an artists’ colony. There are now around a dozen art studios, shops and galleries within just a few hundred yards. This is attracting many new visitors to Ilfracombe and having a positive effect on the local economy.
Yesterday I was invited to visit one of the new galleries: Echo Beach in Broad Street. Its owner, Nina Lording, has been at the forefront of Ilfracombe's art explosion in recent years. Nina and I discussed ways in which the town could capitalise on some of the new visitors it’s now attracting, and I will look at those closely.
At Echo Beach, I met Barnstaple artist Mark Woollacott, who is exhibiting at the gallery this month. He told me that North Devon’s arts and crafts community is now making a big difference to the local economy and is recognised at a national level. For instance, Mark believes the country’s best manufacturer of artists’ canvas is a local company based at the Mullacott Cross industrial estate – who knew?!
The photo above shows me meeting Nina Lording and Mark Woollacott at Echo Beach Gallery. It’s local businesses, artists and entrepreneurs like this who are really making a difference to Ilfracombe and North Devon.
I want to do everything I can to promote the area and bring more visitors here. That’s why I'm preparing another survey which will go to thousands of residents and businesses along the coast and beyond, asking your views about how we can grow this vital part of North Devon’s economy. Again, if you don’t receive one directly, please do let me know your views by email or letter.
Don’t Tell the Bride
Finally, a mention that Ilfracombe and many other North Devon attractions were featured in this week’s episode of the BBC Three programme ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’. Barnstaple, Baggy Point and Castle Hill in Filleigh were all on screen, although the episode centred on Lundy; of course the MS Oldenburg serves the island from Ilfracombe. It’s an enjoyable trip which I made myself last autumn to see what effect the Atlantic Array would have had on the coastline.
‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ will still be available on the catch up services for a few days yet. As I said on Twitter, it was like a visitors’ guide to North Devon. I'm supportive of anything which boosts this area and will continue working hard to promote North Devon.
Keep in touch
I am active on social media, which is a good way to keep up with what I am doing so please:
Follow me on Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/PeterNorthDevon
Like me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PeterNorthDevon
Many thanks.
Until next week......
Peter
Peter Heaton-Jones
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate
email:[email protected]
http://www.peterheatonjones.org.uk
Welcome to my latest newsletter. Please forward it to anyone else who you think would like to receive it, and they can sign up at my website (www.peterheatonjones.org.uk).
In the last few weeks we've delivered thousands of new residents’ surveys across North Devon. Hundreds of people have replied and given us their email address, so it may be that you’re receiving this newsletter for the first time.
You may not be a Conservative supporter, but rest assured I try to avoid party politics as much as possible. This newsletter is more about the campaigns I'm running and the issues I'm fighting on – many of which cut across party lines. I hope you enjoy receiving and reading this newsletter each week, and please do contact me at any time with your views.
Ilfracombe Special
Yesterday was Carnival Day in Ilfracombe. I spent the day meeting people, knocking on doors, visiting businesses and generally soaking up the atmosphere. It was good to see thousands of people – locals and visitors alike – in town to enjoy the day.
Because it’s such a major part of our tourist economy, what happens here matters to North Devon as a whole. So, with the bank holiday weekend such a vital time for our tourism industry, this week’s newsletter focuses on Ilfracombe.
Southern Extension
Many of the conversations I had on the doorsteps yesterday were about the new southern extension which was given the go ahead a few weeks ago. This huge development – one of the biggest in North Devon – will add 750 houses and various local facilities to Ilfracombe.
I am broadly supportive of this scheme, but when I spoke at the public meeting at the Landmark Theatre earlier this year I stressed a couple of points which remain important.
Firstly, the infrastructure and facilities must be provided in a timely fashion. This is particularly so with school places, which must be available when they’re needed and not delayed until a certain number of houses have been built, as sometimes happens.
Secondly, the road system must be fit for purpose to cope with all the new vehicles. This is true not just in Ilfracombe itself, but on the roads beyond as well. For instance there are particular concerns in Braunton about the extra traffic generated by the development.
For that reason I’m about to send a local survey to thousands of households in Braunton asking for your views on the village’s traffic problems. Look out for it soon, but if you don’t receive one personally, please do let me know what you think.
Ilfracombe: Arts Capital of Devon?
The Southern Extension is being backed by Damien Hirst, but his influence is already easy to see. His statue Verity dominates the harbour, and the whole area is becoming something of an artists’ colony. There are now around a dozen art studios, shops and galleries within just a few hundred yards. This is attracting many new visitors to Ilfracombe and having a positive effect on the local economy.
Yesterday I was invited to visit one of the new galleries: Echo Beach in Broad Street. Its owner, Nina Lording, has been at the forefront of Ilfracombe's art explosion in recent years. Nina and I discussed ways in which the town could capitalise on some of the new visitors it’s now attracting, and I will look at those closely.
At Echo Beach, I met Barnstaple artist Mark Woollacott, who is exhibiting at the gallery this month. He told me that North Devon’s arts and crafts community is now making a big difference to the local economy and is recognised at a national level. For instance, Mark believes the country’s best manufacturer of artists’ canvas is a local company based at the Mullacott Cross industrial estate – who knew?!
The photo above shows me meeting Nina Lording and Mark Woollacott at Echo Beach Gallery. It’s local businesses, artists and entrepreneurs like this who are really making a difference to Ilfracombe and North Devon.
I want to do everything I can to promote the area and bring more visitors here. That’s why I'm preparing another survey which will go to thousands of residents and businesses along the coast and beyond, asking your views about how we can grow this vital part of North Devon’s economy. Again, if you don’t receive one directly, please do let me know your views by email or letter.
Don’t Tell the Bride
Finally, a mention that Ilfracombe and many other North Devon attractions were featured in this week’s episode of the BBC Three programme ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’. Barnstaple, Baggy Point and Castle Hill in Filleigh were all on screen, although the episode centred on Lundy; of course the MS Oldenburg serves the island from Ilfracombe. It’s an enjoyable trip which I made myself last autumn to see what effect the Atlantic Array would have had on the coastline.
‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ will still be available on the catch up services for a few days yet. As I said on Twitter, it was like a visitors’ guide to North Devon. I'm supportive of anything which boosts this area and will continue working hard to promote North Devon.
Keep in touch
I am active on social media, which is a good way to keep up with what I am doing so please:
Follow me on Twitter:http://www.twitter.com/PeterNorthDevon
Like me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PeterNorthDevon
Many thanks.
Until next week......
Peter
Peter Heaton-Jones
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate
email:[email protected]
http://www.peterheatonjones.org.uk