Chris Bray

Chris Bray, County Councillor for Teignmouth, is pleased with the improvement made to the George Street area in an enhancement scheme which he proposed in 2006 in an effort to rid the town of a terrible eyesore.  

Cllr Bray said, “For many years, following a disastrous fire, the area has been boarded up and has been a real eyesore in the centre of Teignmouth.  I’m sure it has been particularly unpleasant for the excellent businesses we have in the area. I thought that it could be used for a little recreation area and also, using a small area at the back, be a means of getting the large commercial bins, which are another eyesore, off the streets. I felt that there could be a potentially beneficial partnership between DCC, TDC and the Town Council.  With £2000 from my County Community budget as a start, I was able to persuade TDC to match the funding and, of course the Town Council, through the in-kind support of the Town Clerk, have also played an equally important role.  I think all those who were involved regret the severe delay in the completion of the project, especially as the whole re-development scheme is moving ahead so quickly.  However, my thanks go to Teignbridge, the Town Council and the Town Clerk for their support and I trust that the people of Teignmouth will enjoy this excellent facility for the year or so that it will exist.”  Cllr Bray has been congratulated on the scheme at the local Town Centre Management meeting, which exists to enhance the town centre and to actively promote co-operation between local councils and the residential and commercial community.

The long awaited cycle-pedestrian route between Teignmouth and Newton Abbot has been given a £330,000 boost. Devon County Council has allocated the cash towards linking up the two towns, alongside the Teign estuary.Now local councillors and cycling groups hope that the cash injection will be the start of making the ‘gem’ of a route a reality at last.The money was approved by the executive committee, and comes from the government allocation for transport.

Teignmouth county, district and town councillor David Cox, said he hoped even more funds might come from the £60million windfall from the sale of Exeter Airport.He added: “It is great news. I know it has been talked about for several years, and many people were becoming frustrated at the lack of action, but now this could kickstart the project from the Teignmouth end.“Sustrans (the sustainable transport organisation) has already allocated a large sum for the link between Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot, and officers will now be finalising the preferred route from Teignmouth.

“It will probably run behind the docks, past the rugby club, and under Shaldon Bridge towards Bishopsteignton.”

Fellow Teignmouth county councillor, Chris Bray, shared the enthusiasm, and added: “It would be a gem of a route because it so picturesque.

“It ticks all the boxes because it is flat, and would attract commuters, leisure cyclists, families, locals and holidaymakers.

“The main A381 road between Teignmouth and Newton Abbot is not suitable for novice cyclists and children because of the many heavy lorries that use it to and from the docks.

“But a safe, cycle and pedestrian path would be ideal, taking cars off the road and reducing pollution and emissions. People from the Newton area would be able to cycle to the beaches in a few minutes, without the bother of parking the car.”

And another estuary county councillor, John Smith, the deputy leader who represents Kingsteignton, was equally enthusiastic.

“It will benefit the whole area, and give a big economic boost to local businesses because it would attract walkers and cyclists all the year around,” he said.

Cllr Cox added that the final route could be held up because of objections from some landowners around Bishopsteignton, but he hoped the problems could be resolved in an amicable manner. He would now be pressing officers to work towards seeking planning permission for a route.

“I am sure public opinion is behind this scheme, and the more support we get the better,” he said.

A new Community Sports Hall is a step nearer at Teignmouth Community College. Money was allocated for advanced design work at Devon County Council’s Executive meeting on the 26^th February, when the County’s Capital Programme budget was agreed.

 Welcoming the move, local County Councillor and Executive Support member Chris Bray reminded the Executive that he and Cllr Cox had hosted the leaders of DCC and Teignbridge at a site meeting in June 2006, at which the local councillors had pressed the case for a new Sports Hall for the school. At that time the budget was not available from DCC, but Cllr Bray has continued to work with the school, DCC and Teignbridge to progress the project.Cllr Bray said, “Teignmouth
Community College are anxious to become a Specialist Sports College and yet it is one of only two Community Colleges in Devon without a dedicated Sports Hall.  I am therefore particularly pleased that the Lib Dem Administration at County Hall has set in train the process which will hopefully deliver first class facilities for our local pupils and also possibly the local community in the near future.”Executive Portfolio Holder and Kingsteignton Councillor, John Smith, who is responsible for all children’s work in Devon - including the school building programme - said,  “I am delighted that I have been able to make provision in the budget for two school based sports centres.  

Chris Bray, County Councillor for Teignmouth, has welcomed the speedy way in which Teignbridge have responded to the public consultation on the Carlton / Brunswick Street sites. He said, “I am grateful to Teignbridge District Council, not only for undertaking the recent consultation with local people, but also having three Teignmouth residents on the project panel.  I am confident that with the aspirations of Teignbridge and the views of the various parties in Teignmouth being heard, we are going to end up with attractive and useful buildings on both sites, that will substantially enhance the look of the town, provide modern facilities and yet further add to the regeneration of Teignmouth.”

Councillor Chris Bray has written to the managing director of First Great Western demanding a better service for the people of Teignmouth.  Chris said “I wrote to complain about the appalling rail service that is presently being providing for the residents of Devon and in particular the people I represent, Teignmouth.”  Chris’s family use the railways on a regular basis, one going to Exeter daily and the other to Plymouth weekly.  He said, “They tell me there is a chaotic service, with cancellations and delays as a very regular feature.  To get a train to Sowton in Exeter arriving by 9am, Teignmouth residents already have to get up by 7am. Any cancellations or delays are more than frustrating.”  Chris, who is Devon County Councillor for Teignmouth, has heard some of the rolling stock being used described as, “like a cattle truck.” He argues,  “Devon have an ambitious plan to be the greenest county in England, which involves getting people out of their cars and onto public transport, where convenient. This cannot happen where the quality of service is poor and it is not convenient to use because of time involved, or cost.”  Cllr Bray is asking to be told what positive plans the train companies have for the future, to both improve reliability and rolling stock. In addition to writing to the train companies, Chris has written to the Director of Environment, Economy and Culture at Devon County Council to find out what the County Council is doing to put pressure on the companies to improve matters. He is pleased with the response, with the leaders of Devon County Council due to meet First Great Western’s Managing Director before the end of February, so that the County Council will have the opportunity of expressing its concerns directly to him then. 

Plans for a new Fish Quay have had a welcome boost from the South West Regional Development Agency. The agency has agreed to part fund, up to £10,000, a feasibility study into the potential for such a project. Matched funding, from other sources, will also be required to complete the report.   The feasibility study will consider the replacement of the existing Fish Quay with modern improved facilities for fishermen, with a dedicated access to the quay. It will also consider better access to the river for the general public and seek to maximise the viability of the local fishing community.  Initial outline plans envisage providing replacement fisherman’s stores as well as the provision of a small ice making plant.   The proposals are being lead by the Teign Fishermen and Watermen’s Association, Teignbridge District Council, and Teignmouth’s two Devon County Councillors, David Cox and Chris Bray. Likely to cost in excess of £1million, the project is being assisted by Stephen Bailey, Fisheries Funding Officer, whose expertise is in accessing EU fisheries grants. Stephen is hopeful EU money will be available, though match funding from the UK will have to be found. David Cox said, “This project is first and foremost to meet the needs of the Teign’s Fishermen; however there are real economic and leisure spin offs for Teignmouth and Shaldon. I ‘m really pleased we are making progress”  Chris Bray added, “I am very grateful to Barry Wilson and the Teign Fishermen and Watermen for bringing this proposal forward.  All the interested bodies are keen for it to happen and if it does, it will be yet another aspect of the continuing regeneration of Teignmouth that has happened in recent years and is still scheduled to continue.”

New Road, Teignmouth, is to be resurfaced this year reports Councillor Chris Bray. Cllr Bray said that following many complaints to him on the poor state of New Road, he had contacted the local Highways Department on a number of occasions. He was delighted that when he had raised it again last week he was told that the complete length of road would be resurfaced.   Cllr Bray commented, “There have been some very bad pot holes in the road for some time now and a patching operation near Ashleigh Way was done a few months ago.  I am really pleased that the County Council now see the real need to improve the surface of this well used road.” Cllr Bray concluded by saying, “I would appeal to motorists to keep their speeds down, once the road is resurfaced, as speed on the road is another concern that many residents have voiced to me.”

Councillor Chris Bray is pressing both Teignbridge and DCC to provide more parking spaces in Teignmouth.  Chris, who is County Councillor for Teignmouth, said, “Over the course of a day last week I had two very productive meetings with officers trying to improve the parking situation in Teignmouth.” In the morning a DCC officer and myself went round the town and I passed on suggestions on where we could get extra on-road parking.  We had a very productive discussion and I am very hopeful that we have identified well over a dozen extra on-street parking spaces.”

 “In the afternoon I spoke with a senior Teignbridge officer and shared my ideas on how we can improve the parking provision in town.  In particular I am very keen to see the £406, 000 that Teignbridge currently holds for parking in Teignmouth, put to good use.  I have already proposed to the Town Centre Management committee that the money should be used to make the Teign Street car park multi storey – possibly being accessed from the dual carriageway.”   Cllr Bray added, “I will be asking the Town’s Regeneration organisation to support this idea.  For too long the money has lain in Teignbridge’s coffers and the town has not spoken up for its use. The beauty of the Teign Streetsite is that unlike others, it has very little visual impact, a great consideration as we constantly seek to make the town more attractive. In addition the high dual carriageway wall could act as one wall of the car park, so reducing costs.” Cllr Bray concluded, “Everyone who lives in Teignmouth knows the problems with parking we face.  I hope these ideas may help to overcome the very real problem that presently exists.”