Kevin was recently asked to provide a 1,000 word pitch to the Torbay Times stating why residents should support him:
I will be an accountable, approachable and accessible MP working to deliver a long term plan for our bay, our region and our country.
From having a shop front drop in centre for queries, running regular surgeries and continuing my weekly e-mail updates, residents will easily be able to see what I am doing, raise queries and hold me to account for the decisions I take.
I believe in increasing transparency so my expense claims will be available for any resident to inspect at my drop in centre. I will not employ my relatives at the taxpayer’s expense with permanent jobs in my office advertised in the local press to ensure those with the relevant skills have a fair opportunity to apply for them.
Living in Abbey Road at the Heart of Torquay Town Centre, I see first-hand the challenges that face our area. The need to regenerate our Town Centres, our weaker year round economy, families living in unsuitable housing and the problems caused by dependency on substances like Legal Highs. A fresh approach is needed to tackle these issues and that is what I will deliver if elected.
I have drawn up My Plan for Torbay, a 6 point plan of action to deliver on the issues that will make a difference to our bay:
BETTER ROAD AND RAIL LINKS – Improving our infrastructure is vital for our tourism industry and wider economy, in particular increasing the resilience of our rail links with the rest of the UK.
Conservatives at a local and national level worked together to deliver the Kingskerswell Bypass, with plans announced to dual the key A303 route and build the first new rail station in the bay for decades at Edginswell. My focus will be ensuring these projects are delivered and that a plan is put in place for delivering a resilient rail connection from the bay to the rest of the UK.
GIVING OUR CHILDREN THE BEST START IN LIFE – Good schools and quality further education is vital so our children can choose the right path for them and secure higher paid jobs. Our grammar schools provide an excellent education and I support retaining them, but we need to have a variety of options available to ensure our next generation reaches its full potential.
The new studio school in Shiphay is an example of how to deliver a quality education and provide skills in the Health and Social Care sector ready for employment. The South Devon UTC in Newton Abbot will take students from the bay that wish to specialise in engineering providing talented employees for hi-tech businesses in our area.
INTEGRATED AND ACCESSIBLE HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE FOR ALL – Torbay is leading the way with integrated care, however I want to see it go further for those who go into hospital and subsequently need looking after in their own home.
It is fantastic to see community led initiatives such as the Purple Angel Dementia Awareness Campaign and the Memory Cafes being run to support those who need a little bit of extra help. The Torbay Community Development Trust secured £6m of lottery funding for their Ageing Well scheme to help our older residents. As your MP I would work with local groups to support such initiatives and ensure our bay is the best place to retire in the UK.
My party increased the NHS budget by £12.9 billion over this Parliament and we will raise the budget in real terms over the next Parliament. In the 2014 Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced £2 billion of additional funding for frontline NHS services every year in England from 2015/16.
REVITALISING OUR TOWN CENTRES – I want to bring new life into our Town Centres, with more year round employment. I worked alongside traders in Torre to secure funding to reverse the traffic flow.
The introduction of the Retail Rate Relief has helped reduce Business Rates bills for many small traders across the bay and is now worth up to £1,500 per shop or Pub. A key role for the bay’s next MP will be using their position to bring inward investment into our town centres to create year round employment opportunities.
TORBAY TO BECOME KNOWN AS A HI-TECH SILICON BAY – The Business Parks at Whiterock and Edginswell are great examples of development creating better skilled, well paid, jobs in the bay. I want to create more opportunities for our hi-tech companies to expand, making us the “Silicon Bay”.
There are already 1,000 people working in the electronics and photonics sector in the bay with companies like Gooch& Housego expanding to meet demand for their products from across the world.
The key to ensuring hi tech businesses can succeed in the bay is having the right skills and opportunities available. Since 2010 5,140 young people have started an apprenticeship in Torbay, giving them the chance to earn a salary and gain a qualification whilst gaining valuable workplace skills and experience.
I want to encourage more young people to take up the opportunity of an apprenticeship and make it easier for employers to offer them. Abolishing employers National Insurance Contributions for employees aged under 21 and raising the Minimum Wage for Apprentices by 20% will both help towards this.
AFFORDABLE and ACCESSIBLE HOMES FOR LOCAL PEOPLE – Many families are struggling to afford a home with the facilities they need and the average age of a first time buyer is now well over 30 due to increasing prices.
I want to see clear targets for delivering more affordable and accessible homes in the bay. The Help to Buy ISA will support first-time buyers by giving them up to £3,000 towards their deposit, in addition to government support for help to buy mortgages.
If you want to find out more about my campaign you can follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KevinforTorbay .You can also call me on 07985 446803 or pop into my Campaign Centre at 201 Union Street, Torre, Torquay, TQ1 4BY.