Friday 4 October 2024
People across Devon are being invited to have their say on future plans for transport in the county.
A public consultation has been launched this week on the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) which sets out the transport priorities across the county between 2025 and 2040.
The full draft document of the plan is available to view on the Have Your Say webpage. The deadline for completing the online questionnaire is 11:59pm on Saturday 30 November.
The plan’s vision is for well-integrated and accessible transport to facilitate sustainable growth, support net zero carbon targets by 2050 at the latest, improve travel choices and benefit people’s health and wellbeing.
You can read more about the consultation in the story on our news page.
Devon County Council will hold elections next May, and right now, we're encouraging people to consider becoming a candidate.
We've launched a campaign to raise awareness of the opportunity to help improve the lives of people in Devon.
It's important for the council to be diverse and representative, with councillors from a variety of backgrounds who can bring their wide ranging experiences to the heart of the decision-making process.
We've published a special edition of this newsletter, with lots of information about being a councillor, to give you an idea about the role, what it involves, and who can be one. If you missed it, you can read it online.
We're also holding two information sessions that anyone can attend, in person or online, to give people the chance to get an insight into the life of an elected member.
Our County Returning Officer, Maria Price, and officers from our Democratic Services team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the role.
To register your interest in advance either visit devon.cc/beacouncillor or contact the Democratic Services team at members.services@devon.gov.uk or call 01392 380 547.
Read more in the story on our news page.
We’re asking for your views on proposals to create a walking and cycling route between Crediton and Exeter.
From Tuesday 1 October until Saturday 30 November we are inviting the public to view the plans and provide feedback on our Have Your Say webpage.
This route, known as the Boniface Trail, would serve communities in Crediton, Newton St Cyres, Cowley and Exeter, with the aim of enabling active and sustainable travel.
There are two options, one mostly using off-road paths and running alongside the A377 road, and the other using existing lanes and upgraded Public Rights of Way to the north of the A377.
Both options are intended to serve Exeter St Davids railway station, increasing opportunities for journeys involving rail and walking/cycling.
It is one of ten potential routes included in the Countywide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, which is subject to a separate public engagement.
You can find out more about the options in the story on our news page.
 Promoting mentally healthy workplaces this World Mental Health Day
It's World Mental Health Day next Thursday, and the international focus this year is mental health in the work place.
Work can be good for our mental health, but it can also be a source of stress and anxiety.
The Mental Health Foundation's guide describes how we can help our own mental health at work, as well as the mental health of our colleagues.
Making time for mental wellbeing and self-care is important.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing are simple steps you can take to feel more positive and able to get the most out of life.
- Connect - good relationships and connecting with others are important to build a sense of belonging and to share positive experiences
- Be active – being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness – it can also boost your mood
- Learn - learning new skills and doing new things can boost self-confidence and help build a sense of purpose
- Give - acts of giving and kindness can help to create positive feelings, a sense of reward and self-worth
- Notice - paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing
You can read more about mental wellbeing, as well as where to get support and advice, in the full story on our news page.
 Grand opening of Braunton Academy's new English block. hosted by school Principal Fay Bowler. The day featured a talk by actor and author Joseph Elliott, who cut the ribbon with Vice Chair of Devon County Council and former pupil, Councillor Pru Maskell.
Our Vice Chair, Councillor Pru Maskell, has officially opened Braunton Academy’s new English block.
The new block was delivered following our investment of £4million of capital funding.
Pru, a former pupil of what is now Braunton Academy was joined by author Joseph Elliot in the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The new block includes changing rooms, two computer rooms, a multi-purpose classroom, three new SEND spaces, a dedicated teacher training space and meeting rooms to enable staff to meet with parents.
Members of the Braunton Partnership, Trustees, other representatives from the council and the teams that were involved in the project joined the school council students and Year 11 student leaders to celebrate this occasion.
Read more in the story on our news page.
Smokers, who wish to kick the habit, may be given vape starter kits to help them quit as part of new measures to help the government meet its ambition for the country to be smokefree by 2030 - achieved when adult smoking prevalence falls to 5 per cent or less.
In Devon, the initiative - that will see almost one in five of all smokers given the vape starter kits - is being promoted by Public Health Devon.
While not risk-free, vaping poses less risk to those associated with smoking cigarettes, because there is no combustion and vapour from vapes does not contain the products in cigarette smoke that cause lung disease, heart disease and cancer.
Health experts however agree that anyone who does not smoke cigarettes should not start vaping. More research is needed yet to fully understand the health effects of e-cigarettes or vapes.
October, or ‘Stoptober’ as the national stop smoking campaign calls it, is a good opportunity for people to give up smoking.
Staying smoke-free for 28 days, and you're five times more likely to quit for good.
With the right support, stopping smoking is easier than you think. Start planning today by checking out free tools and tips available online to help you stay on track.
For more information, visit our Stop For Life Devon website.
 New pilot service launched to reduce drug-related deaths
Local pharmacies are working with Public Health Devon to pilot a new service aiming to reduce the number of drug-related deaths in the county.
The latest figures show that there were 185 drug-related deaths in Devon from 2020 to 2022.
We already fund a range of initiatives that help prevent harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs.
But now we’re also looking to work with a number of high street pharmacies in specific locations to help prevent deaths caused by overdose of illegal opiates, such as heroin.
The new pilot will begin with the following pharmacies:
- Exeter Community Pharmacy, St.Sidwell Street, Exeter, EX4 6NS
- ASDA Clovelly Road, Bideford, EX39 3QU
- ASDA, Highweek Street, Newton Abbot, TQ12 ITG
- Well Pharmacy Teignmouth, 9 Regent Street, TQ14 8SJ
- Day Lewis, Pines Pharmacy, 39 Pines Road, Exmouth, EX8 5NH
You can read more in the story on our news page.
 Celebrating Kinship Care Week
Next week is Kinship Care week. Kinship carers are people who care for or raise the child of a family member or friend, providing them with stability, love and the support they need.
Sometimes these are formal arrangements, involving legal custody or guardianship, and other times they're informal, where a child lives with relatives without legal intervention.
Kinship carers can be grandparents, aunts, siblings or family friends or neighbours who have a significant relationship with the child.
"We want to thank kinship carers for everything they do to help children in Devon," said Councillor Andrew Leadbetter this week. "Kinship carers enable children to stay within their family and friends network, build lasting relationships and connections with those that they love."
You can read more about kinship carers in the story on our news page.
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