Campaigns

SAFEGUARDING THE REGENERATION OF PETROC

Following the faltering of the Learning Skills Council funding for a new North Devon College, Nick has been lobbying in Westminster to secure a firm commitment from Government to honour the budget originally earmarked for this flagship project. Failure to do so on the part of the Government will not only be financially detrimental to the College's future plans but also to the economy of North Devon as a whole.

DIGITAL TV RECEPTION FOR ALL

TV reception has always been problematic in some of North Devon's deeper valleys, and in black spots along our north coast: notably Lynton/Lynmouth and parts of Ilfracombe. With the onset of the Digital switchover, viewers in North Devon still faced problems in some areas in North Devon and felt they were being short changed.

SAVE THE AMBULANCE CAR SERVICE

Ever since the South West Ambulance Service Trust ceased providing the "non-essential" element of the Voluntary Ambulance Car Service, there has been anxiety over how this community service would be managed and funded. There is a sense of "buck-passing" between various NHS bodies. Some part of the NHS must provide a service to those with no other means of getting to hospital.

DEVON CARE HOME CHANGES: SAFEGUARDING SERVICES

Having decided to follow most other social services authorities in ceasing to run care services itself, but rather to buy them in from the private sector, Devon County Council was negotiating a 30-year block contract with Shaw Healthcare to redevelop and operate all its care homes. This caused understandable anxiety to families whose relatives use the current services. Nick campaigned with them to ensure changes caused minimum disruption to current users, and offer the widest choice to future users. Shaw subsequently dropped out of the project.

CHULMLEIGH COLLEGE: NEW BUILDINGS

The majority of classrooms in this very successful College were in 'temporary' blocks many years past their sell-by date. They suffered from leaking rooves, damp, rotting timberwork and were freezing cold in winter and baking hot in summer. The College budget struggled to find the funds to keep them habitable, and most were well beyond the point of economic repair. Nick launched a campaign to see the College rebuilt to provide a campus fit for purpose in the 21st Century with permanent classroom blocks and community facilities.

JUSTICE FOR EQUITABLE LIFE POLICY-HOLDERS

Equitable Life ran into financial troubles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and declared itself unable to meet its obligations to investors. The debacle has had disastrous financial consequences for many people, who have formed an action group which believes the regulators failed in their duty to protect investors and - understandably - wants compensation from the state.