A very very busy week! My feet and my knees know I have been out canvassing at least three times every day. Second leaflet drops are now in progress and to this we have added a copy of a letter from our group leader in the council, Stuart Barker, on maggots and bin collection which appeared in the Daily Telegraph last week.
The fund raising continues with a number of events including a coffee morning in Bishopsteignton on Wednesday. We had a very good turnout and a number of people came to talk to me about particular problems which I shall be working with them to resolve in the coming weeks.
On Friday a team from London came down to help us with our campaign and we spent a successful morning canvassing in Bushel and College in Newton Abbot. We debriefed in Exeter over a pub lunch and began to look at how we take our campaign forward longer term.
On Saturday I traded my car in for something smaller, more fuel efficient and with lower carbon emissions - still four wheel drive though so I can still get to the hunt and to point to points without getting stuck in the muddy fields which can be more than a little challenging in the winter months.
Next week will be our first test as we get out the vote for the District and Town elections on 3 May. We will have to hold our breath over night as the count doesn't start until the following day!
Sunday 29 April 2007
Monday 23 April 2007
David Cameron visits Newton Abbot
A very busy week! Monday and Wednesday were spent in Bishopsteignton and Kingsteignton, Tuesday and Thursday in Dawlish and Newton Abbot. Some of this time was spent canvassing and delivering leaflets and some of it progressing our constituency plans and preparing for David Cameron's visit. Friday morning was spent walking around Daccombe, Haccombe and Combeinteignhead finishing off leaflet deliveries.
On Friday afternoon Mel Stride (PPC Central Devon), Stuart Barker (Group District Council Leader for Teignbridge) and I met David Cameron and his team in Queen Street by the old market gates. The public response was wonderful and David received a very warm welcome as he talked to our youngsters, our pensioners and local businesses. David was very concerned to hear about the financial crisis many pensioners are facing but delighted to see so much local enterprise - a fine display of local meat at Bakers the Butchers. David met David Austin and was most impressed by his family's long standing independent department store. David met all the Conservative candidates standing for District and Town Council seats locally and wished them well.
On Friday evening David Cameron addressed over 250 well wishers at a drinks reception in Exeter at the rugby stadium ground, Sandys Park. It was a good evening and David did not shrink from even the toughest question. Concerns ranged from devolution, affordable housing, council tax, pensions, the armed forces to top up fees for students at university.
Saturday morning I spent with prospective district council candidates in Teignmouth meeting and talking to shoppers in the Triangle, local businessmen very concerned at the level of their rates, and the local fishermen concerned at the way EU regulation was affecting their livelihood. That afternoon I was back in Kingsteignton canvassing followed by a very humorous and relaxing dinner with the South Devon Hunt at the Rising Sun.
On Friday afternoon Mel Stride (PPC Central Devon), Stuart Barker (Group District Council Leader for Teignbridge) and I met David Cameron and his team in Queen Street by the old market gates. The public response was wonderful and David received a very warm welcome as he talked to our youngsters, our pensioners and local businesses. David was very concerned to hear about the financial crisis many pensioners are facing but delighted to see so much local enterprise - a fine display of local meat at Bakers the Butchers. David met David Austin and was most impressed by his family's long standing independent department store. David met all the Conservative candidates standing for District and Town Council seats locally and wished them well.
On Friday evening David Cameron addressed over 250 well wishers at a drinks reception in Exeter at the rugby stadium ground, Sandys Park. It was a good evening and David did not shrink from even the toughest question. Concerns ranged from devolution, affordable housing, council tax, pensions, the armed forces to top up fees for students at university.
Saturday morning I spent with prospective district council candidates in Teignmouth meeting and talking to shoppers in the Triangle, local businessmen very concerned at the level of their rates, and the local fishermen concerned at the way EU regulation was affecting their livelihood. That afternoon I was back in Kingsteignton canvassing followed by a very humorous and relaxing dinner with the South Devon Hunt at the Rising Sun.
Sunday 15 April 2007
Easter Week
Great weather but hard going underfoot, especially if you are racing. The Point-to-Point at Ideford Arch was great fun on Easter Monday - and we had a good turnout to watch the races. But the ground was hard going for the horses. Most impressive perhaps were the young rider and pony events - boy do those ponies move!
The week has been spent primarily on foot canvassing and delivering leaflets - on Tuesday it was in Coffinswell and Newton Abbot, on Wednesday in Kingsteignton and Broadhempston, on Thursday Kingsteignton and Daccombe, Friday in Combeinteignhead and Saturday in Newton Abbot.
A General Election could quite literally be called at any time and much may well depend on whether Tony Blair's successor is Brown or Milliband. To this end I have now put together my campaign team who with me will fight the next general election. Our inaugural meeting was not only very constructive but also a lot of fun. If any of you have been watching the poles' predictions - we are on current form looking at a 4% win for the Newton Abbot seat! But we cannot and will not be complacent - even a week is a long time in politics when very much can change!
Back to the pavements for another week!
The week has been spent primarily on foot canvassing and delivering leaflets - on Tuesday it was in Coffinswell and Newton Abbot, on Wednesday in Kingsteignton and Broadhempston, on Thursday Kingsteignton and Daccombe, Friday in Combeinteignhead and Saturday in Newton Abbot.
A General Election could quite literally be called at any time and much may well depend on whether Tony Blair's successor is Brown or Milliband. To this end I have now put together my campaign team who with me will fight the next general election. Our inaugural meeting was not only very constructive but also a lot of fun. If any of you have been watching the poles' predictions - we are on current form looking at a 4% win for the Newton Abbot seat! But we cannot and will not be complacent - even a week is a long time in politics when very much can change!
Back to the pavements for another week!
Saturday 7 April 2007
Canvassing until we drop!
Well, if there were bits of the constituency I had not seen, by the end of the District Election campaign I will have seen them all - and I already have very sore feet to prove it! We started canvassing in Kingsteignton on Tuesday moving on to Newton Abbot in the evening. Wednesday was spent canvassing in Ipplepen and then Teignmouth in the evening. Thursday was spent canvassing in Kingskerswell. The only social thing I had time for last week was an evening meeting of the Women's Institute in Kingsteignton on Thursday night - we had a good evening with a very interesting talk about the evacuees during the war. By Good Friday we had our campaign literature ready - so next week it will be the same again but this time doing battle with "killer" letterboxes which chew up your fingers as you put leaflets through the door!
BT have finally got broadband to my cottage in Coffinswell - this is very welcome. For the last few weeks I have been standing in the garden to get reception on my mobile phone in the absence of a land line - great in the sunshine - not so good in the rain! IT engineers are coming to get me up and running on my computer which will be a huge relief - Blackberries are wonderful things but they do have their limitations. And best of all my car is back from the garage, all repairs successfully completed.
Anne Marie
BT have finally got broadband to my cottage in Coffinswell - this is very welcome. For the last few weeks I have been standing in the garden to get reception on my mobile phone in the absence of a land line - great in the sunshine - not so good in the rain! IT engineers are coming to get me up and running on my computer which will be a huge relief - Blackberries are wonderful things but they do have their limitations. And best of all my car is back from the garage, all repairs successfully completed.
Anne Marie
Monday 2 April 2007
Teignmouth - a new start
Last Thursday saw the first meeting for over a year of the Teignmouth branch. A new group of Conservatives has emerged to drive activities and events forward. We now also have a full slate of candidates for the Teignmouth wards for the District elections to be held in May. This is excellent news. Teignmouth is a core part of the constituency. I was delighted to welcome the team on board and begin to plan our campaign.
Last week we also held a public meeting in Kingsteignton which was very well attended with over 100 people. Joan Lambert (current and prospective District Councillor for Kingsteignton) and I, wanted to hear what issues and concerns people had with which they wanted support. The biggest issue is the so called "northern option" for new housing and industrial development proposed by Teignbridge Council. There is little evidence that proper consideration has been given to the necessary infrastructure needed to support such a development - a school, a GP practice, roads and other services, or to the funding needed to provide it. There was also considerable unease at its positioning on a flood plain. Worst of all there has been very little consultation and little evidence of any consideration of other housing options contained in the original strategic plan.
And this week - will be spent canvassing and preparing campaign material!
Anne Marie
Last week we also held a public meeting in Kingsteignton which was very well attended with over 100 people. Joan Lambert (current and prospective District Councillor for Kingsteignton) and I, wanted to hear what issues and concerns people had with which they wanted support. The biggest issue is the so called "northern option" for new housing and industrial development proposed by Teignbridge Council. There is little evidence that proper consideration has been given to the necessary infrastructure needed to support such a development - a school, a GP practice, roads and other services, or to the funding needed to provide it. There was also considerable unease at its positioning on a flood plain. Worst of all there has been very little consultation and little evidence of any consideration of other housing options contained in the original strategic plan.
And this week - will be spent canvassing and preparing campaign material!
Anne Marie
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