Exclusive by Alan Quick

THE Mayor of Crediton, Cllr Frank Letch, who is also a Mid Devon District Councillor for Crediton, hopes to have made a significant step forward in his and Crediton Town Council’s efforts to stop MDDC’s plans to end its fortnightly Crediton surgery service.

At a MDDC scrutiny committee meeting this week, Cllr Letch made an impassioned plea for the service to continue for the benefit of local residents and proposed a motion that the service be offered monthly rather than fortnightly.

His motion received support and was passed by the committee and will be discussed for consideration at the next full meeting of Mid Devon District Council.

Liberal Democrat Cllr, Mr Letch told the “Courier”: “I was pleased to receive the support of some local Conservative councillors and I hope more will support it when it is debated at full council.

“I fight hard for this town and can never forget the people who voted for me that use the service Mid Devon District Council wants to get rid of, namely the people of Crediton.”

Mid Devon District Council announced that it was to end its monthly Crediton surgery service it runs at the Council Offices in Market Street in Crediton on July 31.

It made the announcement despite no consultation with Crediton Town Council or local ward members.

Crediton Town Council launched a petition this month to stop the cut to the service.

MDDC says the reason it has taken the decision is to allow it: “to make better use of staff resource”.

It added that the visitor numbers for 2016-17 were 359, which, it added, equates to an average of 12-14 customers during the four-hour period that a member of staff is available at the location.

The council spokesman added that: “These changes are necessary to ensure I am making the best use of staff time and that I can provide the best service within budget to all our customers throughout Mid Devon across a range of access channels.”

Crediton Town Council is strongly objecting to the withdrawal of the service and is engaging with MDDC over the coming weeks to fight the decision.

The Town Council is asking for town organisations and individuals who have used the service to help it in its efforts to retain the service.

If you object to the closure the Town Council asks that you please write to MDDC’s Chief Executive, Mr Stephen Walford, either by email to: [email protected] or by letter to Phoenix House, Tiverton, EX16 6PP.

The Town Council asks that it receives copies of communications with MDDC and these can also be sent to the “Courier” for publication to: [email protected] or write to: The Editorial Manager, “Crediton Courier”, 102 High Street, Crediton EX17 3LF.

Crediton Town Clerk, Mrs Clare Dalley, told the “Courier”: “I am disappointed that MDDC has decided to withdraw this well-used service without any consultation.

“The surgery is particularly useful to many people, especially those seeking advice about housing, Council Tax, refuse and other queries, benefits and the scanning in of documents required for housing benefit or reviews or to present identification.

“If the service is withdrawn I can see many people asking whether Mid Devon District Council is really serving the people of Mid Devon?

“The surgery service has run for just 15 months since Mid Devon District Council closed its Crediton office and on occasion we have people queuing out the door waiting to see the member of staff on duty.

“In addition, MDDC has recently cut its funding to the Citizens’ Advice service in Mid Devon, which means that the service run here at the Council Offices in Crediton operates now just one-day-a-week.

“We have also lost the Plough and Share service, which has gone into receivership, which is another service lost.

“I think it is disgusting and MDDC should re-consider and continue with this much-needed surgery service.”

MDDC has also decided to withdraw a similarly-run surgery service at Cullompton.