Question Time - Truro and Falmouth Candidate: Terrye Teverson

 

As the last day of fully campaigning comes to a close, Terrye Teverson, Liberal Democrat candidate for Truro and Falmouth, took some time to talk with truropeople. As polling day is at our doorstep, she answers your questions.

From Steve - Can you please tell me a little more about you and your background? As a Cornish candidate, can you tell me your local credentials?

Well, I was born in Helston, where I grew up and went to school. Since I've lived here I've done a great many things that have really given me an insight into how the community works. I was a dairy farmer for a number of years and have started two business' in the county. One of which is in printing, and is something I still work with as much as time allows.

From Samantha – Issue of parliamentary expenses. What accountability measure do you support?

I understand why people feel the way they do about the expenses issue. I think MP's should all have their expenses scrutinised and be held to strict control parameters. That includes providing any and all receipts, while those MP's who do not live in London should be required to rent, as opposed to buying a second property.

From Georgina - What are the candidates’ views on the proposed plans to transfer cancer surgery out of Cornwall to Plymouth?

I am totally opposed to it. I think Truro should have its own GI cancer surgery service. Devon currently has two surgery locations, one in Plymouth and another in Exeter. If we lose our only access point, families will be forced to travel ridiculous distances and consider financial implications if they want to stay near their loved ones. This is just another example of Cornwall suffering for being on the periphery.

From Chris – Obviously change is a big part of this election. Can you tell me what kind of things you plan to do differently to Matthew Taylor.

Well, I've had the chance to work with Matthew very closely over the last ten years and I know the high regard people hold him in. Of course, we all bring our own individual personalities to the job, but there is so much he campaigned on that I believe in – previously, the fight to save South Crofty tin Mine, while more recently, the requirement for planning permission if buying a second home.

From Nat – How do you plan to juggle countryside preservation with the need for affordable housing. It just feels like Truro is seen as 'fair game' for developers as it is seen as a city.

We need to reform business rates. The local authorities should be the one setting rates, as they are the ones that know how to make them best fit the needs of the community. At the moment, you are punished for improving your business – if you develop, your rates go up – which just seems like madness. Local business is the lifeblood of a town and needs to be encouraged.

I would support an Oyster Card system. To encourage footfall in the town, local residents would be required to pay less for parking and could potentially increase their stay by calling in and putting more money on the car. Right now, you have people rushing back to avoid getting clamped. You don't want to be scaring people out of a town, you want to be encouraging them to stay in!

From Lewis – What is your stance on the DNA database, ID cards in relation to defence vs civil liberties.

I am totally on the side of civil liberties. The Liberal Democrats believe and I believe that the ID card scheme should be scrapped. It would save £4.4 billion that could be put straight into education; I think this country would benefit much more 1:1 support and money for school improvements than it would from having another piece of ID to carry.

As to DNA database, although it may have been useful in some criminal cases, we must always consider who is going to be in government in future. With a database like that , there is no saying what your information could be used for.

From Iain – There is a percentage of empty shop space in Truro and Falmouth. What is your plan for dealing with this?

As outlined by Matthew Taylor's report for Gordan Brown, Parish councils need to be in charge of locally built housing, they can best assess needs of the town in terms of housing. I support this idea. Community Land Trusts need to be established so that housing can be planned and carefully allocated to appropriate sites.

From Helen – I recently had a family member in hospital, I have a child and work part time. Owing to the parking fees, I spent over £100 on just being allowed to be there, when you factor in buying her fruit etc, and the odd coffee, it cost me around £200 pounds to see her. What are you going to do about this? Also, what is your plan to reduce congestion in the city?

I have actually been campaigning on this issue for about 2 ½ years. My mother passed away in Treliske and during her stay, it was quite often necessary to come back two or three times a day – and each time I was being charged £2.10, even if I only used fifteen minutes of it. One person recently told me that she had purchased a one month pass, but her partner died after ten days – and she was refused a refund of any kind. This is totally outrageous.

The car park was sold off a couple of years ago and the lease was taken up for fifteen years. I believe that this needs to be renegotiated and is something I will fight for if elected.

From Laura – What is your plan for the final week of campaigning?

Well, there isn't much campaigning left. I'll be out all of tomorrow, but after that it depends on the result. If I am elected, I need to be in London for Sunday 10am. If not, I am going to enjoy a summer with my children, to try and remind them who I am!

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Have your say.

What are your thoughts on the candidate's answers?  Are you planning to vote Lib Dem?  Is there anything else you would like Terrye to be talking about doing?