Derek Davis, Ganges ward (Shotley & Erwarton)

Holiday Activity Funding 

Regular readers will know how pleased I was in my Communities Cabinet re to see the introduction of holiday activities, including free lunches or picnics, across the district.

It was especially pleasing to see a Family Day being held in Shotley, which was open to all children, with their parents, from the peninsula able to come along.

I have said it before, and will say it again – no child should go hungry or feel lonely, during school holidays. 

Armed Forces Champion

I attended my first Armed Forces board meeting at the beginning of July in my role as the Babergh Armed Forces Champion. It was enlightening and I was greatly encouraged to see it is a group that gets things done for our service personnel and their families, and more is planned.

If anyone, serving or veteran or Armed Forces families, needing advice, support or funding, please get in touch.  

Truth not fiction about Ganges 

I'm grateful to all those people who contacted me directly about the various issues concerning the development at the former HMS Ganges site (Barrelmans Point) 

The Trolls have been having a field day on social media with a raft of misinformation so I felt it appropriate to list the requirements developers need to satisfy as per the legal agreement signed in 2015. 

These payments include contributions to:

·      Affordable Housing - £3.2m

·      Bus services - £1.56m

·      Community cycle path extension - £660k

·      Shotley cycle path £235k

·      Kidzone - £121.8k

·      Shotley primary school - £437k

·      Healthcare - £98k

·      Foot ferry - £40k

·      Library - £74k

·      Off-site highways work - £123.5k

·      Birdlife mitigation £20k

Other Ganges ward developments 

The planning application for the first stage of development between the primary school and village hall was withdrawn, at least for now. I'm sure opposition to building there will remain strong. 

The application for the site, which includes social housing provision, was due to be heard by the planning committee in July, but after the deadline for this column. I will update ASAP.   

Please feel free to get in touch on all these and any other matter.

Derek Davis

Ganges ward member

[email protected]

Council phone: 07548153784

Work phone: 07824167196