A PETITION signed by 500 people in the Cheriton Fitzpaine, Shobrooke and Crediton areas, pleading for the daily bus service to Cheriton Fitzpaine to be re-instated was handed to Devon County Councillor Michael Lee who was handing it to the county Cabinet on Wednesday (September 12).

It was handed over by Clive Lowson, who was a regular user of the bus service but now there is only the one bus a week to link the village with Crediton or Tiverton. The petition asks for the "reinstatement of a more regular bus service between Crediton and Tiverton, stopping at Shobrooke and Cheriton Fitzpaine."

"I used to be able to use the bus to visit other places - Chulmleigh, Dulverton, but now that is not easy," he said. "Nor does the weekly service give much time to visit say, the hospital

"In fact, there is someone who, to be able to visit the hospital in Exeter, stays with friends overnight because it is not easy to get home again the same day."

The daily service stopped 18 months ago as part of Devon County Council's cost cutting.

Clive Lowson is one of the campaign group to bring the service back. He is one of three who have joined Cheriton Fitzpaine Parish Council this month.

ENDS

Credit Union comes to Crediton tomorrow

DEVON'S community-owned savings and loans service, Plough and Share Credit Union, is opening in Crediton.

Promoted by Sustainable Crediton, its volunteer-run Service Point opens on Saturday mornings from tomorrow, Saturday, September 15.

The Okehampton based Credit Union offers good rates on loans and a way of regular saving. The total cost of a £500 loan over 52 weeks from Plough and Share (at its highest interest rate) is £564, compared with a cost of £910 from the Provident, a commercial lender. Borrowers are encouraged to save small amounts as they pay back their loans, and support is available. Unlike most commercial lenders, there are no fees for paying off a loan early or making extra payments.

The opening of the Credit Union Service point has been made possible by Sustainable Crediton. Linda Lever, one of the volunteers running the Service Point, explained why: "The best answers are often local ones.

"When money is borrowed from a Credit Union, all the interest from that stays in the local community, and with lower borrowing rates than short term lenders, it means that there's more money to spend in local shops.

John Skrine, one of the volunteer co-ordinators, added: "We've been really delighted by the level of support we received at our public meeting in July at Crediton United Football Club, and by the number of people who have come forward to offer their help and support.

"The whole thing has come together in less than six months, and we very much look forward to welcoming existing and new Plough and Share customers in the Fire Station Community Room, Charlotte Street, on Saturday mornings from 10.30am to 12noon."

For more information, contact Plough and Share at http://www.ploughandshare.co.uk">www.ploughandshare.co.uk or telephone them on 01837 658123.