Plymstock councillors have been working hard on key local issues, from tackling parking problems around schools and Elburton Village, addressing vandalism at the Dunstone Primary site, and planning walking surgeries with police to discuss speeding and antisocial behaviour, to pushing for more family support through mobile family hubs and welcoming plans for Sherford’s first district shopping centre.
They’ve also supported measures to protect Dean Cross Park after a recent traveller encampment, called for stronger action on dangerous driving, and backed projects such as the Big Wheel on the Hoe and new supported accommodation for care-experienced young people.
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Update from Cllr Daniel Steel for Plymstock Radford
You will likely be aware of the recent unauthorised traveller encampment at Dean Cross Park. This encampment blocked local residents and Plymstock Cricket Club from accessing this vital green space. However, it was truly heartening to see the level of support from the community for the club’s Crowdfunder.
I’m pleased to give my 100% support the targeted hardening measures proposed by the club. This will help protect this valued community space from further unauthorised encampments. It’s a practical step forward and will also enhance the area by providing additional seating through the proposed concrete blocks.
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Community rally round to support Plymstock Cricket Club following illegal encampment
I’m continuing to work with councillors from other impacted wards to explore all the options Plymouth City Council can use to prevent unauthorised encampments and where they occur remove them as soon as possible.
I’m sad to say the issue of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) and dangerous and nuisance driving continues to blight Plymstock.
To date, the response from the ASB case review I triggered have not had the desired effect. I’ve written to senior officers at Devon & Cornwall Police to push for further action to finally grip this issue.
There will be a community meeting with the police soon where residents will have the opportunity to feedback directly on police action to address this issue. I’ll continue fighting for residents and holding the police and council’s feet to the fire until this issue is tackled.
Recently, I sat on the Planning Committee for the first time. The committee scrutinises the planning applications that tend to be more complex, controversial or high-profile. We voted to approve the observation wheel on the Hoe.
The Hoe is the jewel in Plymouth’s crown and the Big Wheel or ‘Janner Eye’ as I like to call it will act as a further draw for Plymouth’s seafront. The Big Wheel comes at no cost to the city, and the operator will pay a licence fee which will help us provide free events like the British Firework Championship and Armed Forces Day.
I also voted in support of a licence for new supported living accommodation in Plymouth for care-experienced young people aged 16-18 years old.
I’m glad this will allow Plymouth to give more care-experienced young people a safe place to live and the start they deserve in their adult life. Ultimately my position is very simple: we all deserve a home.
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Update from Cllr Maria Lawson for Plymstock Dunstone
As pupils head back to school and a new school year starts, I would like to take this opportunity to remind all residents about safety with regards to parking around school sites.
Parking continues to be an issue particularly at drop-off and collection times with cars parking over pavements and double yellow lines. I appreciate that we are all time pressured, but safety of all road users is paramount.
Whilst on the subject of parking, despite the support of the parking enforcement team, parking around Elburton Village continues to be problematic. Cars are parking on double yellow lines and close to junctions making it extremely difficult for cars to exit junctions safely. The Plymstock Dunstone Councillors will meet again with the enforcement team to determine what further measures can be taken.
I recently visited the site of Dunstone Primary School with council officers. The site has been troubled by youths climbing over fences and vandalising the old school buildings. The site has been reinforced with further fencing and is checked regularly. There are plans for the site and it will be an educational facility. There has also been some discussion with the police who have shown interest in using the site temporarily for some operational training. I will update residents when more news is available.
The Dunstone team will be meeting our new Police Inspector Emma Brimicombe soon. If you have any concerns that you would like us to address with the police, please contact me. We are planning a walking surgery in Stanborough Road where residents continue to be troubled by speeding vehicles and noise nuisance from motorbikes.
We will be releasing dates for councillor surgeries soon which will be advertised on our social media and community sites. If you do not have access to social media, please call or email and we can provide the dates or arrange to meet with you.
We have enjoyed holding the surgeries in different sites around the area. Please come along and meet the team at our surgeries
Update from Cllr Stefan Krizanac for Plymstock Dunstone
At one of our councillor surgeries, enquiries were raised regarding family hubs in our area or specifically the lack of one.
As a member of the Scrutiny Panel for Children, Young People and Families that had their meeting in July, I had the opportunity to raise the issue with council officers. I was informed that presently Plymouth City has 11 family hubs in operation across the city (though accessible to all city families wherever they live) though there is a plan to introduce 11 mobile family hubs to reach the areas of our city that do not have easy access to them. I am looking forward to seeing these hubs reaching out in our area and provide the necessary service to our families. I will closely monitor development of this program and inform residents accordingly.
I was delighted that Sherford Consortium recently announced that a planning application has been submitted to South Hams District Council for the development of the first district shopping centre. According to the information submitted, work on the development should start in early 2026 and a nursery, supermarket and other shops should be open in 2027. Comments from some local residents state ‘I will believe it when I see it.’ I just hope that everything will go according to the plans and Sherford residents will have modern, close to home, long-awaited facilities.
As the council representative to Plymouth Senior Citizens Forum, I believe many of the residents in Plymstock area would greatly benefit. This is just small introduction to what they do:
“For those who do not know of us but may be interested in some of our activities and perhaps, make some new friends, we are the Plymouth Senior Citizens Forum. We started in 1995 and have provided 30 years of service to the over 55s, with more than 350 members and no joining fee.
“We are based in the city centre, where our real home is The Guildhall, but due to renovations, we are using the Abbey Hall for our bingo sessions which are held on a Thursday (except the first Thursday of every month) from 1.30pm to 3pm.
“We organise eight coach trips throughout the year starting from the Theatre Royal and every three months an open meeting in the Council Chamber (remarkably interesting to see where all the decisions are made to run the city). At our next on Monday October 27 from 1pm to 3pm, we have a talk by Chris Robinson, the local Plymouth Historian. We also hope to show more photographs of all the deliveries made to Ukraine and the lovely faces of the children and the elderly receiving gifts from PUMA, who we do our best to support. We also send a three monthly newsletter to our members with news of our activities and signposting other organisations and information from Plymouth City Council for the elderly.”
“We are a friendly bunch and welcome one and all. For more information, please ring Pat the Secretary on 01752 463480.”
