Friday 22 November 2024
This week has been our first real cold spell of this winter, and the first time that all 37 of our frontline gritters have been called into action. Despite carrying out multiple treatments on 1,700 miles of the county’s main salting routes, travelling conditions were difficult across large parts of the county and there remains a possibility of further wintry showers before heavy rain from Storm Bert which is due to arrive over the weekend.
The Met Office has issued a Yellow Weather Warning for rain from 6am on Saturday morning until 11:45pm on Sunday. There is also a Yellow Weather Warning for strong winds from 3pm on Saturday until 9pm on Sunday. Rainfall of up to 120mm is expected over Dartmoor through the weekend and from 10mm to 40mm across the rest of the county. Gusts may reach up to 70mph on the coast and other exposed areas and up to 60mph in some places inland.
Road, rail, air and ferry services may be impacted during the storm. There may also be hazards with flying debris, while beach material could be washed onto coastal roads. Our teams are prepared, and they will be working around the clock to help keep Devon moving, but we can all do our bit by reducing our speed and leaving extra time for our journey. Please take care, and if you need to report any issues on our roads, the quickest way to do this is through our website.
 Winter support and wellbeing
The winter months can be difficult for many of us, with the colder weather and shorter daylight hours affecting everything from our finances to our feelings.
We've put together a series of special edition 'winter support and wellbeing' newsletters to share information and advice to help you and your family stay well, warm, happy and safe this winter.
So far we've sent subscribers advice about travelling safely around the county when there is a risk of ice, snow, floods and fallen trees. If you missed it in your inbox you can read it online here.
And an edition about the things you can do to look after your physical and mental health during the colder months. You can read it online too here.
Coming up... our next newsletter in the series is about help with the cost of living, because if you don’t have enough money to live on, it's important to make sure you know what support is available. Look out for it in your inbox next week!
Our adult education provider, Learn Devon, is now offering a new programme of courses to support those looking to gain new skills and qualifications for the workplace.
These new courses are ideally suited to those seeking employment or improving their career options.
A range of courses are available both online and in-person. From introduction courses in customer service and improving your confidence to qualifications in team leadership, business communication, early years, and mental health and wellbeing.
The new programme also includes several courses that are designed to support adults who wish to work in primary and secondary schools as teaching assistants.
To see the full list of skills and development courses, visit the Learn Devon website.
The next phase of the Teign Estuary Trail is set to take a step forward thanks to a combined investment of £1.45 million being made by us and Teignbridge District Council. The funding will go towards the design and land purchase for the three-kilometre (km) section of the trail between the Passage House Inn at Kingsteignton, and Bishopsteignton.
The scheme will connect the two communities with a safe route along the estuary, avoiding the busy A381. The trail will run over open land parallel to the Teign Estuary and north of the railway. The route will include several raised boardwalks to cross water courses leading to the estuary, and one subway to navigate existing infrastructure.
Both councils have previously worked together on the project committing £200,000 each to submit a planning application for this section of the trail (as well as onto Broadmeadow junction on the edge of Teignmouth) which was approved in 2021.
Design work is already underway, and in the coming years land inspections and surveys will be carried out. However, the construction work will require external funding.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
 Exeter carer who acted as a loan shark is given community order
Our Trading Standards service has been working with the England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) and Devon and Cornwall Police to prosecute an Exeter carer who acted as a loan shark.
Forty-seven-year-old Renita Mendoza lent over £100,000 to at least 25 people over a period of three years, charging interest, even though she was not authorised to do so by the Financial Conduct Authority.
She appeared before Exeter Magistrates’ Court this week and was given a 12-month community order with 300 hours of unpaid work and was told she must pay a £95 surcharge and a £3,500 contribution towards costs.
You can read the full story on the news page of our website.
Anyone who has been affected by illegal money lending should call the Stop Loan Sharks 24-hour confidential helpline on 0300 555 2222 or access support online through the Stop Loan Sharks website. Live Chat is also available on the website from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
There's just over a week left to give us your feedback on cycling and walking improvements and future plans for transport in the county.
The public consultations on the Devon and Torbay Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) and the Devon Countywide Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) end at 11:59pm on Saturday 30 November.
The feedback will be analysed and used to inform the draft documents. The results will also be made available in a consultation report. It is hoped that the final plans will go before council committees for approval in 2025.
Visit our Have Your Say webpage to take part in the consultations.
Resurfacing work on Rifford Road in Exeter gets underway next month as part of the development of the new cycle route. The road will be closed during the work, which will be delivered in three phases. The first section will resurface from the junction with Quarry Lane to the junction with Lethbridge Road between Monday 2 December and Friday 13 December.
Exact dates for the remaining sections are yet to be decided, but it is expected that work from Lethbridge Road to Woodwater Lane will be carried out in January or February and Woodwater Lane to Ludwell Lane/Coronation Road in February or March.
During the closures, a diversion route will be signed via East Wonford Hill, Butts Road, Bovemoors Lane, Dryden Road, Wonford Street and Burnthouse Lane. Emergency access will be maintained, as well as pedestrian access.
Further information, updates, and a map of the proposed work area of the phase one work can be found on our website.
Read the full story on the news page of our website.
Next week sees the start of 16 Days of Action, an annual, global call from organisations, communities, and individuals across the world for an end to gender-based violence and the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
It runs from Monday 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to Tuesday 10 December (World Human Rights Day).
To mark the campaign in Devon this year organisations are hosting a calendar of events to bring communities together, raise awareness and campaign to end all violence against women and girls. Don’t miss out! You can find more information about all of the events and activities taking place and how to get involved on the Safer Devon website.
We recognise that domestic violence and abuse and sexual violence can happen to anyone, and support is available to all victims and survivors in Devon. There’s more information about the range of services and organisations that can provide advice and support on the Safer Devon website.
The NHS in Devon is encouraging local people and communities to share their experiences of our health service to help shape the government’s 10 Year Health Plan and local NHS improvements in Devon.
Whether you have a little to say or a lot, your views, experiences and ideas will shape immediate steps and long-term changes. This is a once in a generation opportunity to make the NHS fit for the future. We need your voice.
For more information and to share your views in the survey, visit the One Devon website.
If you aren’t able to fill in the survey online, please call Healthwatch on 0800 520 0640 who can complete it for you over the phone.
Are you interested in discussing outdoor recreation? Do you walk, cycle or ride; do you manage land or have other relevant interests such as sustainable transport? If so, you could be exactly who the Devon Countryside Access Forum is looking for!
The Forum is a voluntary body with 19 members, appointed to represent land managers and owners, users of land and those with other interests.
They advise the local authority and other bodies on access issues and improving public access to land for the purposes of open-air recreation and enjoyment.
The Devon countryside is famous for its varied and beautiful landscape and the Forum help to ensure that opportunities for access and exploration are fully considered.
For more details and how to apply to become a member, please visit our website. Applications close on Saturday 30 November 2024.
During this cold snap why not visit your local library? Devon's libraries are open with the heating on. A free, warm space to enjoy, relax, and socialise this winter.
Everyone is welcome, whether it’s to enjoy a cuppa, a good read, or a community activity such as Knit and Natter, bounce and rhyme, breakfast clubs or a scrabble group.
Some libraries are welcoming donations of clean, warm coats, clothing, and accessories for their Coat Rails. Anyone can also take an item of clothing for free, no questions asked.
Community fridges and hygiene banks in a number of libraries are also appealing for tins and non-perishable, in-date food, as well as unopened hygiene products. Libraries will also be working with local food waste groups to stock up, supporting recycling and preventing food going to landfill.
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