Coronavirus (Covid-19) update - 10 July 2020
Welcome to the weekly Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents. We are working to keep you informed through this email update and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pages on our website, which have all our latest information, and links to the Government, the NHS and our community.
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.
You can also can share this update on social media and in any online groups you're part of by using this link to the update on our website.
Breaking news...12 play areas to reopen from Monday 13 July
East Devon District Council will be re-opening 12 play areas from Monday (13th July) following the relaxation of restrictions around the coronavirus lockdown.
The district council manages 71 play areas and eight outdoor gyms which were all closed in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. In the coming weeks, the council will assess the remaining 59 play areas and outdoor gym equipment and will phase the re-opening of these sites once safety inspections, risk assessments and mitigation measures have been put in place.
Devon is prepared in the event of local outbreaks
Devon's Director of Public Health, Dr Virginia Pearson, says the county is ‘in a good position’ if a local outbreak occurs, following sustained low numbers of positive COVID-19 cases and steady flow of quality data.
The Local Outbreak Management plan is a blueprint which details how any future outbreaks of the virus in Devon would be managed and how its transmission would be contained.
Dr Pearson chairs the COVID-19 Health Protection Board, a committee of specialists who can coordinate a swift response to an outbreak of the virus.
Call out to Exmouth residents to rejuvenate the Abode of Love
Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) is leading a call out to the Exmouth community to join a new project to rejuvenate a section of the Exmouth seafront, known as the Abode of Love.
The community including local artists and creatives are being asked to share how they see Exmouth and want to shape its creative journey.
A panel including local artist Anna Fitzgerald, designer Gary Cook, Councillor Joe Whibley, THG and local business owners will select 50 participants from the respondents who will be invited to ‘make their mark’ on the Abode of Love.
The Abode of Love is a flood defence in Exmouth, East Devon. It is 342 feet long, with 9 bays, intercepted by a flight of stairs leading up to the main road. It is a popular area with local residents and tourists who all use the bays in various different ways from picnics and music practice, to sheltering from the sun.
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East Devon beaches claim Blue Flags and Seaside Awards for 2020
Blue Flags are flying high above the beaches of Sidmouth and Exmouth from this week and these beaches, along with Seaton and Budleigh have also won prestigious Seaside Awards too ranking them among England’s best in the country.
Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy give the awards in recognition of beaches in England that achieve the highest standards of beach management and, in the case of bathing beaches, meet the required standards for water quality.
This year, Sidmouth wins the prestigious Blue Flag for the first time since the 1990s and Exmouth retains the award for a second year.
East Devon’s beaches join the country’s very best beaches, from popular holiday spots to quiet, more hidden-away spots. What unites them all is knowing that they are clean, safe and meet the highest environmental standards, as well as the tough international bathing water quality standards.
Keep Britain Tidy awarded the following:
- Budleigh: Seaside Award (non-bathing)
- Exmouth: Blue Flag and Seaside Award (resort)
- Seaton: Seaside Award (non-bathing)
- Sidmouth Town Beach: Blue Flag and Seaside Award (resort)
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Cardboard recycling at a record high during coronavirus lockdown
Cardboard recycling has doubled in East Devon since the coronavirus lockdown in March from an average 250 tonnes a month to a whopping 526 tonnes a month – and there are no signs that these record collections are letting up even with the easing of restrictions.
East Devon residents – who are officially the best recyclers in Devon – are continuing their excellent recycling record despite the pressures of coronavirus.
During the lockdown period from March to June, the district’s 70,000 households are recycling a far greater volume of materials than ever before.
The greatest increase by far has been cardboard. With the high streets shut down and only just re-opening, internet shopping and home delivery has increased hugely. This has meant that the amount of cardboard packaging put out at the kerb-side for collection by the district council has increased two fold.
There have been occasions when the collection crews have had to leave some cardboard at the kerb-side as recycling vehicles have filled so quickly. To help this situation, extra vehicles have been deployed just to collect cardboard and residents are asked to be patient if their cardboard may have been left behind. Households are asked to store any uncollected cardboard and put it out over a number of collections to help spread the load for the crews.
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Business update
Our business update for this week includes information on our Discretionary Business Grant scheme; The Government's Plan for Jobs and Free one to one advice for businesses.
To receive our regular business updates simply visit our website, add your email address and choose the ‘business’ topic.
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Dates of next East Devon virtual Council meetings
This week East Devon District Council virtual meetings will take place:
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South and East Devon Habitat Regulations
Executive Committee on Tuesday 14th at 2pm
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Planning Committee on Wednesday 15th at 10am.
The meetings can be viewed on our YouTube channel by searching for 'East Devon District Council' or by subscribing.
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Scam alert
We have received a number of calls from concerned tenants this week reporting that they have had a call from a company acting on behalf of a loft insulation company, (no company name is given just the name of the caller Matthew) as soon as they say they are council tenants the person rings off.
We have tried calling the number and get a number not in service message, the number they are calling from is 0139642153 so please be warned and hang up if these people call you.
Thelma Hulbert Gallery update
Reopens this Saturday!
THG will reopen its doors tomorrow Saturday 11 July with the relaunch of its acclaimed exhibition: ARTIST ROOMS Richard Long Being in the Moment.
The gallery has been reconfigured to ensure the safety of visitors and staff following government guidelines.
*New Gallery Opening Hours* THURSDAY to SATURDAY, 10am to 5pm.
Guided tours only.
Individuals and households of up to 4 people can book a guided tour of the current exhibition (up to 45 minutes). 6 tours will take place each day. To book your tour, please book below or call 01404 45006. Please note that the toilet facilities are closed.
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Wild East Devon update
Breeding success at Seaton Wetlands
We have also had exciting sightings of a pair of swifts that have been using the swift tower at the Wetlands. This is the first year they have been regularly seen using the nest boxes provided. We are unsure whether they have laid eggs or are a young pair scouting out good nesting sites for the following year. Alongside the swallows, it has been great to watch them whizzing through the air with their amazing aerial agility.
Our latest newsletter is out next week, to receive this simply visit our website, add your email address and choose the ‘Countryside news and events’ topic.
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To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
 Community Hub update
Since it was set up on 30 March our Coronavirus Community Hub Hotline has received over 2000 calls.
Individuals or organisations can request or offer community support by filling out one of our online forms. You can search by postcode on the East Devon District Council Coronavirus Community Support Hub to find your local group or organisation providing support at this time.
Call the Community Hub hotline now on 01395 571500 if you, or a group you know, needs help or you would like to volunteer. The line is open normally Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Trusted sources of advice and information
Please make sure that you only follow advice from trusted, official sources:
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