The Housing Repairs team (EDDC tenanted accommodation) have been working hard over the past few weeks to deal with the backlog of non-essential repairs that has built up over the last few months.

We have been working closely with our Contractor to ensure a plan is in place that will ensure we deal with the backlog as efficiently as possible and to align expectations of residents so they are clear on what to expect. We have carefully assessed health and safety requirements to ensure our contractor is supplied with all the relevant PPE and on each and every visit, additional checks are in place on every visit to ensure the safety of residents as well as our operatives.

We appreciate residents may have been reluctant to call in with repair requests over this period but would encourage contact as soon as possible even you don’t consider the repair to be urgent. Our Housing Repairs team can be contacted through repairs@eastdevon.gov.uk or on 01395 517458.

It has been a challenging time and we have been hugely appreciative of residents understanding that on occasions repairs are taking longer than usual. We received this lovely comment from a Lympstone resident ‘

Please can we therefore offer our sincere vote of thanks to East Devon District Council Repairs for all of their help and support . Our sincere thanks to your main contractor; Ian Williams and to your helpful receptionist. A Special Vote of Thanks to the gentleman operative who attended my sheltered EDDC Council home. Thank you all for working so hard for us during this Covid-19 crisis and for all of your efforts, which are very much appreciated and valued.

Following the recent very dry weather and damaged caused to one of rubbish bins we are keen to encouraged people who are having a disposable BBQ to please use our new metal BBQ bins and not the big plastic bins, as this will reduce the risk of a fire.

These bins are located at the following places:

In Exmouth the BBQ bins are located at: Orcombe Point slipway; Jet Ski slip way (opposite Foxholes car park); Slipway opposite The Maer; Carlton Hill Slipway.

In Budleigh Salterton the BBQ bins are located at: Limekiln and Steamer Steps

A new Government Discretionary Grant aimed at supporting small businesses and charities in East Devon launched this week.

Online applications for the Scheme 3 fund is open for two weeks, from 10th June to 24th June by visiting our website.  This follows previous schemes which supported businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors as well as small businesses more generally and has seen over £40m being deployed to over 3,000 businesses in the District. The fund aims to support businesses which were not previously eligible for grant funding.

To find out more about this scheme, read here.

West Hill Parish Council Help Scheme tell their story

“On Friday the 13th March (!) the Parish Council quarterly newsletter was ready to be distributed to all of the houses in the village.   News of the coronavirus pandemic was making headlines and Councillors quickly added an item offering help and support.   The West Hill Parish Council Help Scheme was born. 

West Hill - what an amazing village!  Very quickly more than 80 people volunteered to help.   With many vulnerable and self-isolating people in the community the presence of a dedicated Help Scheme and such a large number of volunteers gave a great deal of peace of mind given the uncertainties ahead. 

Read more about this community help scheme.

It's Carers Week this week and there's never been a more important time to recognise the work that they do.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic 4.5 million additional people are caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives or friends. Many are unpaid and some suffer from the stress and worry of shielding those they look after and provide care for day to day.

Some are carrying out this care while still working full-time and others are schoolchildren caring for a relative. They need our help and support. Find out how the organisations marking this important week are helping our carers. 

A reminder if you’re showing symptoms of COVID-19, you can now be tested for the virus through the Government’s free Test and Trace operation at a temporary testing facility that will be open in Honiton this weekend

The site, at the car park at Lace Walk (EX14 8LT) will be open from 10am but you must register via the Government’s online portal before you arrive. 

Full details about booking your test can be found by looking at the NHS website.

If you are planning to travel on public transport from 15 June passengers will need to wear a face covering. Exemptions to the rule include young children, disabled people and those with breathing difficulties.

We still need to stay alert, regularly wash hands or use hand sanitiser before putting face coverings on and after taking them off. Try not to touch your face when wearing the face coverings to avoid hand to mask transmission of the virus.

To keep up-to-date with public transport service updates, visit Travel Devon.

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service is warning residents to be aware of scammers looking to exploit the new NHS Test and Trace service.

The Government system, which launched last week, is designed to reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) by quickly testing people with symptoms and either phoning, texting or emailing whoever they have had close contact with to tell them to isolate for 14 days. It is a free service.

There are concerns that some people, particularly the vulnerable or elderly, could be susceptible to fake calls or messages from criminals looking to get access to personal information or trick them into handing over money.

To find out the information you will be asked for and what will never be asked, visit the website.

Libraries Unlimited who run the public libraries in East Devon have announced they will be reopening from July 6. This will be a phased reopening starting with a contactless 'Choose and Collect' service in most libraries. 

Meantime you can still access their services through the website.

If you have been a victim of illegal money lending and need support, you can use the 'Stop Loan Sharks' Live Chat to talk confidentially with an expert support worker via the website. The chat runs every Tuesday between 9am and 5pm, and you can access it by clicking on the link. 

NATURE SHORT 9 - Ideas for printing at home: George Barron

Printmaker George Barron from the Double Elephant Print Workshop shows us some top tips for printing at home using things you can easily find around the house, in the garden or local park. Create some eye-catching prints.. and have fun along the way! Share your creations on social media and please hashtag #THGNATURESHORTS

Part of Culture + Climate 2020 in partnership with East Devon AONB, NATURE SHORTS is an online series showcasing art practices which inspire, build creativity and deepen our connection with nature especially during isolation. Every Wednesday, May to June.

Nothing is a more symbolic sign of summer than the return of swallows, martins and swifts to our skies. These birds are a joyous part of our summer landscape, but often cause confusion. Here are some tips to identifying what is whizzing overhead.
Swallows, house martins and sand martins all belong to the same family, while swifts sit in a completely different group of birds more aligned to nightjars. Swifts look jet black in the sky, and closer sightings show a pale chin. The eyes are large and wings long and swept back in a stiff sickle. They land only to lay eggs or incubate, otherwise they are in constant flight.
Swallows have long trailing tail streamers, longer in males than females. The body colour is a smart navy blue which can appear black, white belly and a vivid crimson face and chin. Often seen swooping low to the ground, their calls are babbling and frequent, distinctive from the swift’s shrill scream.
House martins are slate blue and white in colour, with the white belly extending over the back of the tail. Wings and tail V are much shorter and more blunt than a swallow. These birds nest in mud hemispheres often constructed on the eaves of houses, hence the name.
Sand martins are the first of these birds to return from their winter grounds of sub-saharan Africa. They are a dusty brown colour on the body with a white belly and face with a distinct brown chinstrap extending around the face.
Whether you get detailed enough views to make an ID or not, simply enjoy these stunning birds against a sparkling blue sky and know that summer is well underway!