Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

“Conservative Policies are good news for Council Tax payers” says Streeter

Conservative candidate for South West Devon, Gary Streeter, says that concern over council tax levels is the biggest issue raised on the doorstep in this election campaign.

“I have been on hundreds of doorsteps, and voters are raising this issue again and again,” says Gary.

“Many people report that they are close to breaking point on council tax bills and are fearful that the revaluation of homes in England will push their council tax bills up even higher,“ says Gary Streeter. “The Conservative policy of scrapping the revaluation and saving people up to £300 a year is proving very popular.”

The Conservatives also propose a discount for pensioner households of up to £500.

“Council tax rises in recent years have particularly hurt those on fixed incomes, especially pensioners. The Conservative Party has listened and will help all pensioners to pay their bills,” says Mr Streeter.

posted by Nigel on Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

STREETER LAUNCHES RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN WITH PLEDGE ON ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Conservative Candidate for South West Devon Gary Streeter today launched his bid for re-election pledging to put action against anti-social behaviour at the top of his personal priorities in the next Parliament.

He was speaking just before chairing his last meeting as an MP before Parliament was dissolved, a meeting with shopkeepers and others to discuss constant problems of vandalism and anti-social behaviour at the Broadway shopping centre, Plymstock. “Problems caused by underage drinkers in Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge have grown steadily worse in the past four years,” Gary said.

Mr Streeter advanced a three point plan to tackle the problem:

• More police on the beat. The next Conservative government will provide an extra 971 officers in Devon and Cornwall
• Impose Dispersal Orders to break up groups of intimidating youngsters
• Slash the red tape that is sending the police force out onto the streets with one hand tied behind their backs

He strongly criticised the Council in Plymouth for voting recently against a draft Dispersal Order brought forward by local police for the Broadway.
“That would have given more tools to the police to break up disruptive groups of trouble makers,” he said, “but it has been rejected by Labour Councillors, sending all the wrong signals to the underage drunks and bullies.”

Mr Streeter has recently been on patrol with Plympton and Plymstock police to see for himself the problems caused by antisocial behaviour at local shopping centres.

“The extra 971 police officers that would be funded by a Conservative government and our proposals to axe some of the stifling bureaucracy would make a big difference,” he said.



Promoted by Patrick Nicholson on behalf of Gary Streeter both of Creaven House 26 Huxley Close Plympton Plymouth PL7 4JN.

posted by Nigel on Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

CAMPAIGNS

South West Devon is a great place to live. It does us good from time to time to count our blessings. Yet part of my job is to identify and articulate the problems that need solutions and bring pressure on those who have the power to make things even better.

Here my top five priorities right now:

1. Fighting for a level playing field for Devonport Dockyard to make sure that we get a fair share of refit work in the face of massive Scottish lobbying for the rival yard in Rosyth. The Dockyard employs 4,700 people directly, but its activity puts food on the table in 15,000 homes in Devon and Cornwall. We need to make sure that contracts are not being awarded elsewhere just for political reasons. That battle will dominate all others in the next 2 years.

2. Making sure that Derriford Hospital gets the go ahead on its plans to build a new hospital for general medial use, to take the pressure off the existing over stretched facilities. Doctors, nurses support staff and management are all working as hard as they can, but without the new project, known as Vanguard, we will not see the first class health service this region deserves. At the same time we have to solve the crisis of no access to NHS dentistry in this region – a running sore of discontent to many.

3. Ensuring that the new town at Sherford, and other giant developments, such as the Westbury proposals for the Blue Circle site do not ruin existing communities and overwhelm local roads. No one wants these massive developments – they are being forced upon us. My job is to make sure they create as little damage as possible.

4. Making sure that our police get the resources and backing to combat growing anti-social behaviour. I was disappointed that the application to the Plymouth Council for a dispersal notice recently was turned down. We need both extra neighbourhood officers and to give them the tools to do the job if we are to make inroads.
5.Fighting for better bus services. Eighty five per cent of us have at least one car in the family. Fine. But for the minority that does not, getting around these parts is a real problem. I am constantly on to the bus companies to improve their services.
I could easily double the list. A wonderful area, but the fight for better services goes on.

posted by Nigel on Saturday, April 02, 2005

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

YOUNG TALENT

On Saturday morning I spent three hours at the hotel at West Hoe (formerly the Mayflower Post, then the Holiday Inn) now apparently known as the Quality Hotel. It may have changed hands regularly but it still boasts an amazing view of the Plymouth Waterfront, one of the best sights in Europe.

I was privileged to be one of the judges at a debating competition organised by the Rotary Club, called Youth Speaks, and I heard eight teams of teenagers from all over the region strut their stuff.
I came away feeling very positive about the next generation. They often get a hard press; they sometimes deserve it; we all often pull our hair out at the worst of modern culture.

But we should not doubt the creativity, confidence and sheer talent that is poised to burst onto the scene. They debated the injustice of holding detainees at Guantanamo Bay for so long without trial; they poked fun at Reality TV; they railed at the pace of modern life, they addressed the thorny issue of family breakdown. They made us laugh, they moved us almost to tears; they informed us, they impressed us.

They came from all different backgrounds and types of school. Perhaps you could spot the public schools, more polished, smarter uniforms; but they did not have a monopoly on imagination or talent, far from it.

I enjoyed the fact that so many parents were there egging on their youngsters. I could imagine the hormone charged atmospheres in those homes in the days leading up to the competition, the endless rehearsals, the tears and the hugs. But the parents were there, showing their support in person. Warts and all, is there anything remotely as important as family?

I was impressed at the way that schools had prepared their pupils and supported this off-curriculum competition, underlining also the difference that so many hard working teachers make.

In the end we backed a team that did not perhaps have a standout advocate as some teams did. But they were obviously a real team; their ideas clearly came from them and were the most original by far. I wish them well in the national finals.

posted by Nigel on Saturday, April 02, 2005