Tuesday 15 March 2022
 Have your say on proposed extension of Drake’s Trail
We’re developing plans to complete a missing link of the Drake's Trail, near the A386 north of Plymouth.
The existing multi-use trail offers a high quality and well used route from Tavistock, through Yelverton to the Clearbrook Leat car park, before heading onwards towards the east of Plymouth. However, there is currently no safe, accessible route to the north of the city.
So we’re in the early stages of exploring two route options to extend the trail between Clearbrook and Roborough, and people are being asked to provide their views on the options by completing an online questionnaire by Friday 6 May.
Two online webinar events will be held as part of the consultation – the first is tomorrow (Wednesday 16 March) at 5.00pm and then on Thursday 31 March at 3.00pm.
You can register for the event online or by emailing transportplanning@devon.gov.uk.
To request a paper copy of the consultation leaflet and/or the questionnaire, please email us at transportplanning@devon.gov.uk, or write to Transportation Planning, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 2QD.
 Consumer Rights Day – learn how to shield yourself online
Today is World Consumer Rights Day, and the focus is how digital technology is reshaping how we shop, bank, borrow, and access services like insurance.
The change has been sped up by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s estimated that by 2024 more than 40 per cent of the world’s population will be banking online – and this means record numbers will be exposed to scams, frauds, phishing and data theft.
So our 'Heart of the Southwest Trading Standards' service is advising people to find out how to protect themselves.
In the UK alone, the public spends around £2bn a week on online purchases and according to the Citizens Advice the sharp increase in online spending over the last two years has also led to a near doubling of complaints.
People are having a range of problems when shopping online, including issues relating to scams and defective goods, and concerns about parcel delivery.
The National Cyber Security Centre website is government funded and gives helpful tips and advice on areas including where to shop, using credit cards, personal information, suspicious emails and messages and what to do if things go wrong.
 Most people in Devon say they will continue to act cautiously even without COVID-19 restrictions
We're running a straw poll at the moment to find out whether people will continue to take steps to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
We've had more than 3,500 responses so far to our online form and on social media, thank you! And we will continue to run the poll this week, so if you haven't already done so, there's still time to tell us what you think!
Here's the gist of what you've told us so far...
- the vast majority of you are telling us that you will stay at home if you develop symptoms of coronavirus or other viruses.
- similarly, a large majority of you say that you'll continue wearing face coverings when in crowded indoor spaces.
- and an overwhelming number of you tell us that you feel safer meeting up with people outside in the fresh air.
- but you're divided about whether you will continue to take COVID-19 tests even after they stop being available for free. So far, we're seeing a pretty equal three-way split between those who will carry on taking tests, those who won't, and those who are as yet unsure.
 Dedicate a Devon primrose to a social care worker for the Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, and particularly those working to protect Devon’s most vulnerable residents.
Now, as the second anniversary of the first lockdown approaches, the Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection (Thursday 17 March) gives us the opportunity to honour the vital work the social care sector has done to keep people safe and well, and to remember the people working in social care who we have sadly lost during the pandemic.
People in Devon are encouraged to take part in the day by displaying the county’s flower, the primrose, as either a tribute to a lost loved one, a thank you to a care worker who has provided vital support to you or someone you know, or a well done to a colleague who worked hard to help keep the people they support safe during the pandemic.
 Residents invited to exhibition to view plans for a new Tavistock recycling centre
If you live in the Tavistock area you are invited to have your say on proposals for a new, state-of-the-art Household Waste Recycling Centre.
The existing centre on Crowndale Road is too small and gets congested, especially when it has to temporarily close during container loading, which leads to traffic queues.
The new centre will have more space for the public to manoeuvre and park their vehicles, and allows for waste containers to be changed over without the need to close the site. The containers will also be at a lower level so there won’t be any steps to climb, which will make the new site much safer to use.
There's a public exhibition about the proposals, with members of our waste team, this evening (Tuesday 15 March) from 3.00pm until 8.00pm at Butchers Hall in Tavistock. You can also view the plans on our website and have your say using our online questionnaire.
If you need guidance or an alternative format, please email tavistockrecyclingcentre@devon.gov.uk or write to our Waste Management Team, Devon County Council, Topsham Road, Exeter, Devon,
EX2 4QW
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