Water Leak in Higher Metcombe
As you have probably seen, water has been pouring down the road from Higher Metcombe towards Tipton for more than a month. I know that many residents have reported this to South West Water. When I contacted SWW earlier this week to find out why it hasn’t been fixed they told me that they had been out to inspect the flow on 11th March and had not located any leak. I think it is highly likely that this IS a water leak and I have written to the CEO of SWW and requested SWW come out and re-inspect with their engineers as a matter of urgency. Not only is it a terrible loss of water but it is causing damage to the highway and it needs to be resolved.
Tipton St John Primary School
I continue to press for the release into the public domain of the Department for Education report on the possible school sites. It is vital that everyone can see what has been written. Devon County Council has also carried out its own work and this needs to be released in conjunction with the DfE report. My position remains unchanged in that I wish to see the school rebuilt on a flood-free site in the community of Tipton St John.
Footpaths
The River Otter is a very active river and it’s playing havoc with the adjacent footpaths which are enjoyed by many of us. There is erosion at multiple points which has resulted in footbridges being shut or at risk of closure, narrowing of footpaths and the total collapse of one stretch of footpath at Ottery St Mary. Whilst there are excellent footpath wardens at Devon County Council there just are not enough to deal with the issues caused by such an active river. My group (the independent and Green group) at DCC put forward a budget amendment to increase the capital spending and number of footpath wardens. Unfortunately, this was voted down by Conservative led DCC.
Roads
I don’t think I can ever recall the roads being as bad as they are now. This is the result of a decade of underinvestment by the government. Across the country it is estimated that the one-time catch-up cost has increased by 16% to a record new high of £16.3 billion and the work to address it would still take a decade to complete. This is the amount needed as a one-off at today’s prices to bring the road network up to a condition that would allow it to be managed cost effectively as part of a proactive asset management approach.
Please continue to report local potholes online via DCC’s website and notify me of any that are of particular concern and I will do my very best to push for them to be fixed.
Cllr Jess Bailey 01404 814056 jessica.bailey@devon.gov.uk
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