Kingsbridge Visit
Visiting Kingsbridge in bright sunshine on the first day of Spring was a delight. This is such a vibrant town which has been transformed by community partnership and participation. I spent the day meeting and listening to those at the heart of Kingsbridge; volunteers, councillors, business leaders and residents.
Why is Kingsbridge so special? For a start, people live and work here. Its high street has everything and is packed with outstanding independent retailers with true individuality and choice. Like all high streets retailers are burdened with paperwork and complex business rates. But if you haven't visited recently, prepare to be amazed.
Thank you to Amanda Bloomer in the Town Information Centre for explaining how Kingsbridge came to be nationally recognised as a destination for walkers. We discussed her favourite walks and I am looking forward to adding one of them to my website runs at the weekend. The Town Information Centre sells 3 excellent short guides for local walkers and has a wealth of information and links for long distance walkers. I met up with Kingsbridge ‘walk and talk' and also went on to the leisure centre to visit several groups who use the centre to get back to fitness after illness with Sandy Gilbert.
I met with the inspirational leaders behind Kingsbridge in Bloom and the Community Garden and looked at the plans and problems facing the Memorial Park with Councillors Anne Balkwill and Rufus Gilbert.
It was interesting to meet with Irene Jenninga of Healthwise and Peter Sturgess, orthopath to discuss recent European legislation around complementary and alternative medicine and the recent self regulation of the Complementary and Natural Health Care Council, CNHC.
Today was also an opportunity to catch up with Inspector Chivers, Jane Corkhill and Paul Cheswell to discuss community policing.
