Coronavirus (Covid-19) update -
16 October 2020
Welcome to the fortnightly Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents with information we hope will be of interest to you.
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.
Green Flag Awards achieved for District Council gardens and nature reserves.
 East Devon District Council are pleased to announce that Connaught Gardens, Sidmouth, Manor Gardens, Exmouth and Seaton Wetlands nature reserve have this year been joined by Seafield Gardens in Seaton in being awarded a coveted Green Flag Award.
Over 2,000 parks and green spaces across the country have earned a highly sought after Green Flag Award. The flag is a sign to the public that these spaces boast the highest possible environmental standards, are beautifully maintained and have excellent visitor facilities.
The Green Flag Award have even greater significance this year for the dedicated Wild East Devon and StreetScene teams at East Devon District Council who, despite the pressures and challenges of the covid-19 pandemic, have seen their efforts recognised. The council is extremely proud to have these four prestigious open spaces for people to enjoy and is immensely grateful to its hardworking staff and volunteers for their unstinting efforts.
Our local COVID alert level is MEDIUM
Let's all work together to help keep it that way...
 For more information on what the local COVID alert levels mean, why they have been introduced and what the different levels are
Updated guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable
The Government have also updated its COVID-19 guidance on shielding and protecting people who have been defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable.
Help is available for people instructed by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate
 If you are on a low income and can’t work from home while you have to self-isolate, you may be entitled to a payment of £500 under the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme.
People across England are now required by law to self-isolate if they are asked to do so by NHS Test and Trace, either because they have tested positive or they have been identified as a contact. In England, failure to comply with these requirements, including employers who do not allow employees to self-isolate, may result in a fine of at least £1,000 and up to £10,000 for repeated or serious offences. This is for individuals who have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace on or after 28 September 2020.
Help keep our recycling and waste crews safe by washing your hands before handling your containers
 At this time when cases of covid-19 are on the increase please help us to support our collection teams by washing your hands after handling your recycling and waste containers to and from the kerbside. Our crews are following the best hygiene practices they can but they are coming into contact with a high number of containers everyday.
If your nose isn't covered, you are not safe
 A face covering should cover your nose and mouth while allowing you to breathe comfortably if your nose is exposed you are not safe unless you have medical reasons not to be wearing a face covering.
Winter opening hours introduced for public toilets across the district
Earlier this month, East Devon District Council introduced winter opening hours for its public toilet blocks. The toilets are now open from 8am to 7pm each day. Each toilet is being cleaned four times a day until October 31 and three times a day until March. Staff are using viracidal cleaning products to ensure they meet stringent Covid-19 standards. Every week the toilets will have a full site disinfected deep clean. Users are asked to continue to socially distance and use hand sanitisers provided.
Working with our town councils, we now have 18 public toilet blocks open in the district.
|
Resurfacing of the roadside parking bays at Queen’s Drive, Exmouth will begin on Monday 19th October
Work will begin next week to resurface the parking bays at Queen's Drive on Exmouth seafront and is expected to take 5 days.
The need to resurface these was identified during the Council’s annual car park condition surveys which aims to evaluate the condition of the built elements of car parks across the district. Our inspections cover elements of the built environment including condition of surfacing, lining, walls and lighting columns amongst other features, and the most recent inspections identified the surfacing as being in deteriorating condition with poor bay marking.
In an effort to reduce the carbon output of the Works, the scheme will use warm mix asphalt which is produced at lower temperatures than conventional asphalt. The use of warm mix asphalt is in line with East Devon District Council’s Climate Change Strategy which aims to make the council a carbon neutral authority by 2040, and is just one example of the more sustainable options that the council is using to reduce its carbon footprint.
During the works, the parking bays will unavailable for parking; the nearest EDDC car parks will be Queen’s Drive Car Park and Maer Road Car Park, the latter of which can accommodate larger vehicles including campervans.
|
East Devon Business Update
Are you ready for our new relationship with the European Union?
There are now less than 80 days until the end of the transition period and there will be no extension, so if you run a business in East Devon you need to act now.
Regardless of whether we reach a trade agreement with the EU, from 1 January there will be guaranteed changes to:
- the way businesses import and export goods;
- the process for hiring people from the EU; and
- the way businesses provide services in EU markets.
Help is available by visiting gov.uk/transition.
- Sign-up for regular updates from Government on the transition.
- Attend Government webinars for additional support, which you can sign-up to attend now.
Unless you take action, there is a risk business operations will be interrupted. You should also check with your suppliers and customers to see whether they are taking appropriate action.
|
Follow East Devon Business on social media: @EastDevonBiz on Twitter; @EastDevonBusiness on Facebook; East Devon District Council on Linkedin
Dates of next East Devon virtual Council meetings
Over the next fortnight the following East Devon District Council virtual meetings are taking place:
- Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday 20th October at 2pm
- Full Council on Wednesday 21st October at 6pm
- Strategic Planning Committee on Thursday 22nd October at 2pm
- Cabinet on Wednesday 28th October at 6pm
The meetings can all be viewed on our YouTube channel by searching for 'East Devon District Council' or by subscribing.
|
Thelma Hulbert Gallery update
Half Term art activities in the Creative Cabin
 Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) is out and about in their Creative Cabin this October Half Term. They have teamed up with the Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon AONB to offer three great family activities to celebrate Naturally Healthy October.
- 24 October,11 – 3: Family Art Activity and scavenger hunt at Ferne Animal Sanctuary, Chard. Free drop in activity.
- 28 October: 11 – 3: The Big Draw family workshop –part of the national Big Draw Festival. Use your imagination to create a drawing with natural materials in the THG garden. Free, booking required.
- 31 October: 11 – 3: Celebrate Halloween in the Creative Cabin and create a spooky apple monster! Queen's Drive Space, Exmouth. Free drop in activity.
Wild East Devon update
Halloween Trail at Seaton Wetlands
Visit Seaton Wetlands this October Half Term to take part in the self-guided special spooky trail!
Explore the wetlands and learn about curious creatures such as the Death's Head Hawkmoth, Beastly Bats, Scary Spiders and Ominous Owls! Fill in your grid to receive a special prize including a badge, pencil and goodies from our friends at Seaton Sweets & Treats!
The trail is available from the Lookout at Seaton Wetlands from 19 Oct to 1 Nov. £3 per trail to include prizes.
|
To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Trusted sources of advice and information
Please make sure that you only follow advice from trusted, official sources:
Keep in touch!
We’re sending you this update because you have previously given us your email address so that we can contact you.
We want to keep in touch, but if you’d rather not hear from us anymore you can manage your subscriptions at any time, just click the manage subscriptions box at the bottom of the page and click next to the topics you no longer want to receive information about and hit the submit button.
If you think our updates are great and know anyone else who would find them just as valuable, encourage them to sign up to receive them too. Or if this email was kindly forwarded to you by a thoughtful friend, click on the link to get these updates sent to you directly.
|
