WITH striking nurses, doctors, teachers and railway workers it feels as if our society is undergoing a social earthquake! 

This coupled with international news of wars in several countries makes listening to the news a rather depressing pastime. So let's get on with things Devon!

There was some consternation when we heard that Go Devon Bus routes 315/345/377 were being discontinued after June.

I contacted the portfolio holder in Devon County and was assured that officers are in negotiations with other bus companies and the routes will be maintained.

We also learnt that Devon County has been awarded a £14 million grant from central government for improvement of rural buses over the next three years.

The county had asked for £100 million! A £2 single journey fare will continue until June and there are negotiations to see if it can be extended. Let us hope so because it has been very popular.

I was at a meeting which touched on the library service.

One thing we all know is that libraries are not just places for borrowing books, they have a big social impact.

One sad comment was that four mobile libraries in the county are very old vehicles which often break down and cost a lot to repair.

You will not be surprised when I tell you that officers are looking at scrapping the service which could save half-a-million pounds.

I proposed that the money saved should be reallocated to those libraries whose volunteers carry out a home visiting service. We have an excellent one in Crediton.

Two weeks ago I met a group of children and young adult carers. I was amazed to learn that in Devon we have 2,500 children or young adult carers.

They look after parents, other family members  or siblings. Some of them have very responsible roles and are in charge of medication and even giving a parent a daily injection.

They are well trained but they did say that they didn't always feel supported and so we are looking into this because they form an essential part of keeping people safe.

I have been fighting the usual battle of potholes and can confirm that £50k has been set aside for the road surface on the A3072 in Bow!

Quite how far that amount of money will go I do not know, locals think not very far. I've also had to report faulty street lights in Bow and Copplestone and been pleased to be told they will be fixed as soon as possible.

It is probably not quite as pressing in the summer but winter is just four or five months away and they are very important for local people's safety.

I attended a very interesting and complicated meeting about the use of technology by the NHS.

We were shown how it will make appointments much easier and give patients a much better access to the service.

We were all concerned however about those people who do not have Internet, computers or who might struggle to cope with apps and things of that sort.

by Crediton Rural County Councillor Frank Letch MBE