Kevin Foster MP on Town Centres, The Post Office, Football & Surgery Times

Town Centres

Just before Christmas I was pleased to hear details of Torbay Council’s new Town Centre Wardens team, which is being created to support work being undertaken by the Police to crack down on anti-social behaviour. The new wardens will prioritise enforcement action on issues regularly raised by residents relating to anti-social behaviour, litter and street drinking. Alongside this the Government’s Safer Streets Fund will provide £545,000 for a package of work in and around Paignton Town Centre, plus a funding increase of up to £28.3m (7.3 per cent) will be available for Devon & Cornwall Police next year.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez joined me in Paignton Town Centre last week to discuss the work being done by the Police, together with Torbay Council, on the issues raised by residents and businesses. Additional resources are having an impact, but I stressed the urgent need for a better and more visible Police facility in Paignton, including a front desk for public queries. 

Post Office

The ITV Drama Mr Bates v The Post Office highlighted the appalling treatment of sub-postmasters who were wrongly accused of theft based on flawed evidence from the Horizon IT system. 

Victims' accounts of the impact these prosecutions had are harrowing; some served prison sentences; many had their livelihoods and life savings decimated; marriages broke down; four committed suicide; whilst others passed away before being able to clear their names. The scandal occurred before my time in Parliament, but I congratulate my former colleagues, like James Arbuthnot, and current colleagues including Nadhim Zahawi MP (Who played himself in the ITV drama) who helped bring this scandal to light. The Government has already placed a public inquiry into the scandal on a statutory footing, and the Post Office (Horizon System) Compensation Bill passed the House of Commons on Tuesday December 19. 

Senior managers involved with this scandal should not retain any honours they received due to their role given the damage done to those affected. There must also be some form of reckoning for those who ignored the emerging evidence and allowed this scandal to continue, with devastating effects.

Football

2024 is set to be the year Parliament gets to vote on implementing the recommendations of Tracy Crouch’s Fan Led Review, after a bill to do so was included in the King’s Speech. The Fan Led Review set out strategic recommendations for reform including the creation of an independent regulator. The Torquay United Supporters’ Trust ensuring the views of TUFC fans were heard as part of it. 

Let’s hope 2024 brings another two boosts for fans: Torquay United going up and Torquay United Women securing their place in the National League. 

Surgery Times

My next surgeries are on: Saturday January 13 11am till 1pm at The Acorn Centre, Lummaton Cross, Torquay TQ2 8ET and Friday January 19, 2024 11am till 1pm at 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD.

Surgeries are for personal queries from residents they would like me to help them with. For an appointment you can either email me at kevin@kevinjfoster.com or leave a message on 01803 214989. There are also drop-in sessions at my office 5-7 East St, Torquay, TQ2 5SD between 10am & 1pm Monday to Friday where a member of my team will be available to help with any queries.