As we step into the New Year, Plymstock’s councillors have shared a series of reflections and updates on the work taking place across Radford and Dunstone.
From Remembrance commemorations and community celebrations to progress on long-awaited transport improvements and ongoing support for local families, their reports highlight the breadth of activity happening at the heart of Plymstock’s neighbourhoods. Together, they showcase a shared commitment to listening to residents, championing community initiatives, and shaping a positive year ahead.
Update from Cllr Daniel Steel for Plymstock Radford
While this is technically the January edition of the Chronicle, in fact I wrote this article on a wet and rainy late November day.
Plymothians braved the wet weather to mark Remembrance services across the city, including at Burrow Hill in Plymstock. There were excellent and moving poetry readings delivered by students from Goosewell Primacy School, Plymstock School and Coombe Dean School.
Listening to their words was a powerful reminder that Remembrance belongs to us all. It’s how we honour previous generations who sacrificed so much defending our freedoms and continue to inspire the next generation to carry forward their legacy. Well done to everyone involved in organising the service.
I also attended the Remembrance Sunday service on the Hoe which was equally moving. I was proud the role my ward colleague, Cllr Kathy Watkin, played in representing our city so well across many different services and events as Lord Mayor.
As the darkness of winter eventually gives way to spring, I wanted to use some community grant for to bring a sense of renewal and colour to our ward by planting daffodils on Oreston Road by the Morrisons roundabout. But it was important to me to hear from residents what they thought because ultimately that community grant is your money as council taxpayers.
I do love a good poll, so I put one out on my Facebook page. At the time of writing, 252 people voted with 169 (67%) in favour of the proposal, 17 (6%) proposing an alternative location, and 66 (26%) recommending the community grant is used for something else. It just shows, voting isn’t just for elections and ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here’!
Given the general level of support, I have asked the council to proceed so keep an eye out for them come spring. There were some brilliant alternative ideas proposed by residents, so I plan on running an open call for proposals shortly to give local groups the chance to apply for further funding.
I don’t believe in doing things ‘to’ or ‘for’ residents, I believe in doing things ‘with’ you. For me, politics works best when everyone has a seat at the table and a say in the decisions that affect their lives. To paraphrase a brilliant and eccentric French diplomat I worked with when at the Foreign Office – ‘if you’re not sat at the table, you’re on the menu!’.
While this might seem like a small gesture, it reflects the way I approach politics as your ward councillor to try and give you a voice, and I hope you’ll enjoy the daffodils as they bloom each year.
Update from Cllr Maria Lawson for Plymstock Dunstone
As we approach a New Year it is always good to look back and reflect on the events of the past year. It has truly been an honour to serve the residents of Plymstock.
The most memorable and moving event of the year for me was presenting the end of season achievement awards, alongside my colleague John Stephens and volunteer Chris Marsh, at the PEM Disability Children’s Club’s annual barbecue.
It was a pleasure to see the children taking part in all the sporting activities on offer with beaming smiles alongside their families. The club continues to grow from strength to strength. The co-founders Lee Ellis and Luke Monnington are truly inspirational and really make such an enormous difference to the lives of the children who attend. The club has created a community of fun and inclusion and provides a supportive environment for the siblings and families of the children who attend.
PEM sits in the heart of our Plymstock community and has been supported locally by Elburton Villa Football Club who offer up their facilities and Michael Hosking from Allisons Butcher has provided the club with sausages and burgers for their BBQ’s.
As I write, we are looking forward to the Elburton Village Christmas events which have been organised by the local traders, Elburton Methodist Church and by the Elburton and District Residents Association. There is a full programme for the day. Santa will be making an appearance! Proceeds from the raffle will go directly to PEM.
We are proud to have sponsored Plymstock School’s Outstanding Citizen Awards and nominations are now open and will close on December 29. Plymstock School is seeking to recognise individuals for exceptional contributions to our community.
Nominations can be made by anyone from the school or the local community. Nominations can be submitted for children or adults that attend or work at the school. Details can be found on the school’s social media page and nominations can be made using the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/Sb1cByn1ni. We look forward to hearing about the nominations and winners.
We will continue to serve the residents of our ward to the best of our ability and look forward again to working with all who make Plymstock such a fabulous community. Happy New Year to all!
Update from Cllr John Stephens for Plymstock Dunstone
Linking up Plymstock Dunstone within the area, to the South Hams and on the west-east railway!
Happy New Year to all readers. The new year brings a chance to start afresh in some ways and carry on business as usual in others. Whatever you do, I hope 2026 brings you happiness and good health.
The new year will definitely bring along some long awaited highway improvements for Elburton and Sherford residents. Work will get under way to finish off the cycle and walking path adjoining Gemini Road and Sherford Road, as well as the Sherford Road traffic calming. Though it is new year, I feel more confident than ever April Fool has not been brought forward to January!
I recently took a walk along Dawes Lane which links Elburton and Brixton. The state of this walking route is a matter I have received many emails from and chats with residents over the past two years. I am pleased that Plymouth City Council has announced funding from an Active Travel Grant to begin planning and development work to making it a safer walking route in all weathers. The lane is not suitable to be developed as a cycling path, but the council will continue to explore this to a solution.
It has been good to engage with members of Brixton Parish Council to discuss improvements to Dawes Lane. I look forward to the day when walking along this lane without slipping or trudging through mud will be the norm. This work will take some time, but I am glad the commitment has been finalised.
From roads and lanes and onto railways. I attend regular briefings and meetings in the city and regionally with the Peninsula Strategic Transport Board about the ambition Plymouth has for a Plymouth Metro. You may have heard about the intention to link up stations in the west of the city around Devonport Dockyard, through the city’s main station and onto Ivybridge to the east, to boost an alternative way of traveling to work and into the city. The significant investment over the decades to come in HMNB Devonport, as well as the new town in the city, will mean we need to have other options than travelling by car.
The Metro will include opening a train station in Plympton. When meeting with Plympton local councillors in November, there was a mutual excitement about the benefits this will bring to the area, and indeed for those such as Plymstock, Sherford and the South Hams. Again, these major projects take a long time to work out as there as many years spent finalising a business case, securing funding, planning, consulting, and developing to bring it to completion.
The government’s rail minister has had many productive meetings with Cllr Tudor Evans, Leader of the Council, to support this ambition. And with rail passenger numbers being well above pre-Covid numbers in the region, there is not better way to keep our city’s ambitions on track.
Some residents in Dunstone ward may have been inconvenienced by a less than satisfactory bus service from Stagecoach recently which affects much of Plymstock. It is a matter the council has shown equal concern with the company. On a plus note, as a result of representations to us from local residents, Stagecoach and the council have worked together to provide an earlier service from Sherford Rd. and Knapps Close to the city centre. I hope this service will also appeal to new passengers who wish to access a bus journey into the city centre earlier in the day.
Finally, I look forward to seeing many residents in Dunstone at our regular surgeries, street walks and community events in the coming months.
And I am also very much looking forward to lighter and longer days, as we step through and out of winter.
Update from Cllr Stefan Krizanac for Plymstock Dunstone
As the season of Christmas and New Year celebrations will soon over, we now enter one of the longest – and darkest – months of the year. Thinking about and planning for the new year is in full swing.
Some of us are looking to lose weight, considering our financial situation, getting back to our old routines at home and work, or are looking forward to exciting things ahead.
As one of the Plymstock Dunstone’s local councillors, apart from a few days off over Christmas, my work does not stop. During my visits and chats to many homes in Plymstock Dunstone recently, I heard the issues that are dear to you, and your suggestions about our community.
I have been able, with my fellow councillors Maria Lawson and John Stephens, to help address a number of your requests for help. Some of my work has been involved with individual circumstances which can be solved by our excellent Citizens’ Advice centre. Other requests have been concerns about traffic levels and worries about the inconsiderate actions by some drivers.
I have recently met with some residents who do not have access to the internet at home but have pointed them to the Plymstock Library where staff will be happy to assist with their community computer access.
As a member of the scrutiny committee for Children, Young People and Families, I raised with council officers the importance of ensuring that online information is easily understood by any person.
I truly hope you enjoyed your festive celebrations and hope you and we, as your local councillors, will continue to mutually support our community.
