Friday 29 April 2022
In this update:
- Public Health Devon warns of Lyme disease this tick season
- Trading Standards issue warning as rogue builder complaints hit two a day
- Naturally Healthy May starts this weekend!
- Congratulations as Exeter City FC join League One
... And so much more!
It's tick season, and with our woodlands and favourite countryside paths becoming thicker with vegetation, the chances of us getting ticks at this time of year is greater, warn Public Health Devon.
"Ticks thrive in warmer weather and in lush vegetation," says Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon. "And with warmer weather and people taking to the outdoors for recreation, woodlands and overgrown paths are likely to have ticks living among them."
There are around 1,500 cases of Lyme disease each year in England and Wales, commonly spread by ticks. And case levels here in Devon are routinely higher than England's average.
Early symptoms include a 'bullseye' rash around the site of the bite, and flu-like reactions such as fatigue, fever, chills or muscle aches.
Prevention and being prepared to respond quickly is the best form of protection, including:
- walking on defined paths
- covering up as much as possible
- wearing light coloured clothing so that ticks are easier to spot
- wearing an insect repellent that can deter ticks from climbing onto skin
- carrying out regular checks after outdoor activity, as spotting them early allows you to act promptly
For more advice about how to properly remove a tick, and what to do if the removal's unsuccessful, read the full story on the news page of our website.
 COVID-19 vaccinations available across Devon
Letters are now arriving on the doormats of families with five and six year olds inviting them for their first COVID-19 vaccination. Primary school children are not being vaccinated in school, so they need to attend a vaccination centre.
The school immunisation programme for secondary school children has now ended, so 12 to 15 year olds who haven’t yet had their first or second dose will also now need to attend a vaccination centre.
There is plenty of availability this bank holiday weekend for children, as well as for people eligible for a spring booster and, of course, adults who have not yet had their first, second or booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Appointments are available to book through the online booking service or by calling 119. There are also convenient vaccine walk-in centres across Devon, and you can find your nearest one using the NHS website.
 Job of the week - Public Rights of Way Technical Officer
 We’re looking for a technical officer with experience in Geographic Information System mapping and data collection to support our Public Rights of Way and Country Parks service.
 We are responsible for some of the UK’s most popular and well-regarded recreational paths and trails. This role includes undertaking path and site surveys, maintaining the digital record of public rights of way in Devon and co-ordinating arrangements for the publication and review of the register of highways and landowner statements and declarations.
 You’ll need practical knowledge and understanding of countryside access and public rights of way, as well as good communication and project management skills.
 In return for your vital contribution, we offer a salary of £29,174 to £32,798 per annum, 25 days annual leave per year (rising with length of service) plus bank holidays, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and access to our confidential Employee Assistance Programme – available 24/7 to support you with your work and personal life.
 Visit the Devon Jobs website for more information and to apply.
 Don’t delay – applications close on Monday 9 May!
 Devon set to achieve 100,000 cycle training milestone
More than 100,000 children in Devon will have received important cycling skill training, helping them cycle safely and confidently, thanks to our Bikeability training instructors.
Additional funding for the scheme this financial year will tip the total number of young cyclists trained since 2006 over the 100,000 milestone.
Bikeability offers three levels of training for different abilities, with the final Level 3 stage equipping riders with the skills for more challenging roads and situations.
The scheme also has places available for family cycle training. And two-hour cycle confidence sessions are available free to adults to either learn to ride or brush up on their cycling skills, as well as providing advice on suitable routes.
For more information visit our cycle training webpage.
 Naturally Healthy May starts this weekend!
Being active needn't be as hard as it might sound. Yes, there are many of us who like a good run or a challenging cycle ride, but being active doesn't have to mean intense exercise. Getting out and into nature, at whatever level of activity, has tremendous benefits for our body and mind. And with Devon's coast lines, moorlands, areas of outstanding natural beauty, our city, towns and villages all to explore, we've got the perfect opportunity to do just that.
This weekend marks the start of Naturally Healthy May, encouraging us to head outside, connect with nature, and enjoy the fresh air and spring sunshine.
Whether that's going for a walk, stretching on the beach, gardening, having a picnic in the local park, or going out for your daily walk with the dog...it all counts.
Naturally Healthy May is being run by Active Devon and ourselves for the Devon Local Nature Partnership. Read more about activities happening this May and visit Active Devon's Activity finder.
Our Trading Standards Service is seeing an increasing number of complaints coming in every day about rogue builders.
In the latest financial year, the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service received nearly 800 complaints from householders across Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay, regarding building work totalling more than £9.5 million.
Complaints relate to work including loft conversions, extensions, roofing, chimney work, paving, driveways, decking and general building work.
The latest methods of tricking homeowners into using them include fake online reviews, posting on social media sites and advertising on non-verified online platforms.
Charging upfront and asking for more money for apparently increased material costs were also common complaints put to Trading Standards.
Sherry Carter, from the Trading Standards service said:
"We're really keen that people arm themselves with the knowledge they need to make the right decisions and they can do that with advice and guidance available on our Trading Standards South West website."
The website includes information about dealing with a rogue builder, and has a checklist to help you find a genuine and trustworthy builder.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
A jack-up barge, a large crane, and a team of specialist divers is what it'll take to complete essential strengthening work to Barnstaple's Rock Bridge.
The bridge, over the River Taw, was closed for safety reasons in 2020 after a routine inspection discovered holes in one of the supporting columns below the water level. Repairs have since been delayed after the original contractor went into administration, but have begun in earnest this week.
Both supporting columns on the bridge will be strengthened by bolting on 'steel jackets' that extend down to the riverbed, protecting the columns for many years to come. The jack-up barge will support the bridge while divers install the protective jackets, and serve as the base for a large crane to be used during the repairs.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
 Artist impression of Queen Street proposals
People are being invited to have their say on proposals to enhance Queen Street in Newton Abbot.
We, in partnership with Teignbridge District Council, have launched a public consultation today on a scheme to make Queen Street a more attractive, safe and healthy place for visitors and businesses.
Currently, the pavements are too narrow in places for large numbers of pedestrians, and side roads can be difficult to cross. So proposals, of which there are several, include widening pavements, improving crossings, enhancing planting and street furniture, and reducing parking spaces but increasing disabled parking.
People have until Friday 24 June to comment on the proposals. As part of the consultation, people can register to join online webinars that will take place at 6.00pm on Tuesday 17 May for residents and shoppers, and 6.00pm on Wednesday 18 May for business owners or representatives. And there will be a virtual 'drop-in' event from 6.00pm until 8.00pm on Tuesday 24 May, for people to dial in at any point during that window to give feedback directly to the project team.
Read more about the proposals and consultation on the news page of our website.
 Photo credit: Exeter City Football Club
Congratulations as Exeter City FC join League One
Exeter City FC fans celebrated as their team's victory over Barrow AFC this week took the Grecian's from League Two into League One, for the first time since 2012.
Devon County Council leader John Hart said:
"We want to send our congratulations to the club on winning promotion. Let’s hope they can now finish the season as champions.
"It’s a particularly striking achievement given the club is community-led and they’ve done it without a wealthy owner injecting funds.
"Congratulations to Matt Taylor and all the players, and Julian Tagg and all the directors and support staff, as well as all the Grecians’ fans across Devon.”
 Our Customer Service Centre will be closed on Monday 2 May for the bank holiday, but our website is always available and full of useful information.
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