Coronavirus (Covid-19) update -
11 December 2020
Welcome to the fortnightly Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents with information we hope will be of interest to you.
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Meeting friends and family over the Christmas period - how to form a Christmas bubble
 The festive period is an important time for many people of all faiths and none who come together over the holidays. The UK Government and Devolved Administrations recognise that people will want to be with their friends and family over Christmas, particularly after an incredibly difficult year. For this reason, the government is changing some social contact restrictions for a short period of time. When following these new rules, we must each continue to take personal responsibility to limit the spread of the virus and protect our loved ones, particularly if they are vulnerable. For many, this will mean that it isn’t possible to celebrate Christmas in the way you normally would.
Between 23 and 27 December:
- you can form an exclusive ‘Christmas bubble’ composed of people from no more than three households
- you can only be in one Christmas bubble
- you cannot change your Christmas bubble
- you can travel between tiers and UK nations for the purposes of meeting your Christmas bubble
- you can only meet your Christmas bubble in private homes or in your garden, places of worship, or public outdoor spaces
- you can continue to meet people who are not in your Christmas bubble outside your home according to the rules in the tier you are meeting in
- if you form a Christmas bubble, you should not meet socially with friends and family that you do not live with in your home or garden unless they are part of your Christmas bubble
 Why is it Important to Shop Local?
There are lots of independent businesses in our local towns, so now that restrictions have lifted it’s a fantastic opportunity to support our town centres and high streets by doing your Christmas shopping in Axminster, Budleigh Salterton, Colyton, Exmouth, Honiton, Ottery St Mary, Seaton and Sidmouth.
There are some wonderful shops locally, so you can find everything you may need for gifts and for the festive period. Please show your support for our high streets and vote with your feet!
You can get professional and personalised service from our local retailers and instant advice about stock availability, which may not be the same for an online experience.
It can mean less impact on the environment if we stay local to shop without long journeys and it can be easier to return unsuitable gifts
Businesses are working hard to include hand sanitiser, reduced numbers in shops, one-way systems and signs to make your shopping experience a safe one. The winter shopper special car park offer of £2 to park all day is also available now at parking meters in East Devon District Council car parks so it is an ideal time to return and stock up.
The East Devon Events Team are now able to offer wedding ceremonies and blessings at Connaught Gardens in Sidmouth
 The East Devon Events Team are now able to help facilitate wedding ceremonies and blessing within the beautiful Connaught Gardens in Sidmouth. Situated high on the clifftop overlooking the beach, with far reaching sea views, these stunning Victorian style gardens make the most beautiful setting for your magical day.
The gardens are divided into several areas, offering a fantastic selection of options to host all aspects of a wedding celebration. These include a bandstand and lawn area which could serve as a scenic spot to host a reception and a sunken garden and many other areas which provide an outstanding backdrop for wedding photos.
For more information, please contact our Events Team at events@eastdevon.gov.uk. You can follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at Events East Devon
Photo credits: Suits: Zebel Bespoke, Coordination: West country wedding planner (wearewestcountryweddingplanner), Flowers: Floralities, Dress: Wedding Wishing Well, Photographer: David Pullen, Venue: Connaught Gardens, Make up: Kelsey Gitsham - Bohemia Beauty
East Devon’s Services – Coronavirus restrictions update
East Devon District Council has now reopened all of its outdoor gyms, multi-use games areas and skateparks. We are also pleased to advise that beach huts and chalets can be used again from 2 December 2020.
Unfortunately, in light of the latest Government announcements to move Devon into Tier 2 local restrictions, a decision has been made to cancel / postpone any forthcoming events due to take place on East Devon District Council land.
We will carry out a review of our position on 16th December when the tier levels are reviewed. However, at this point, it is looking likely that we will be unable to provide any permissions for the rest of this year.
The council’s offices at Honiton and Exmouth remain closed to the public, but you can call us on 01404 515616 to talk to an officer or arrange to meet them Covid-securely.
Help and support during the Coronavirus local tier restrictions
If you, or a friend or family member are clinically extremely vulnerable, or in need of help and support during the Coronavirus restrictions, we have a dedicated team who can help if you are:
- Feeling isolated
- Unable to access food or other services
- Not sure on where to go for help and advice
Please complete the online form on our website, or give us a call on our special helpline which is 01395 571500 for more help.
 Dates of next East Devon virtual Council meetings
Over the next fortnight the following East Devon District Council virtual meetings are taking place:
- Housing Company Task and Finish Forum on Monday 14th December at 11am
- Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday 15th December at 2pm
- LED Monitoring Forum on Wednesday 16th December at 11am
The meetings can all be viewed on our YouTube channel by searching for 'East Devon District Council' or by subscribing.
Handy list of Christmas recycling tips from East Devon District Council
 Not sure what you should and shouldn’t be recycling this Christmas? Well East Devon District Council (EDDC) has put this handy list together to help you over the festive season.
Every household in the district will soon be receiving a bin hanger, with all the information you need over Christmas and New Year. The information can also be found by visiting www.eastdevon.gov.uk/recycling-and-waste.
You can also ask your Alexa when your bins will be collected. Visit www.eastdevon.gov.uk/alexa to add this Alexa skill.
East Devon takes delivery of seven low-emission custom-made electric vans
 Seven new environmentally-friendly electric vans, each with a custom-made caged tipping body, are being leased by East Devon District Council in a drive towards reducing its carbon footprint.
The council is one of the first in the country to add the lower emission bespoke Nissan ENV200 vehicles to their fleet with the modification, which means that the vans are used daily to keep the parks and public realm areas of East Devon clean and green. The vans are powered by rechargeable batteries and have a range of between 124 and 187 miles.
Exmouth Maer Road car park is closed this weekend
Maer Road car park in Exmouth will not be available this weekend to Mon 14 Dec, as the council is supporting local NHS teams with their drive-through flu vaccination campaign. These are strictly pre-booked appointments with local GP surgeries. The car park will not be available for overnight camping during these times. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
LED Community Leisure Tier 2 Activity Guidelines
 Following the government announcement of tier 2 restrictions across East Devon LED Community Leisure have reviewed guidelines for activities within its centres.
The majority of activities within LED centres are not significantly restricted by Tier 2 guidelines and will continue to run with appropriate social distancing and hygiene measures in accordance with UK Active guidelines. This includes the use of gyms and group exercise classes.
Unfortunately this is not the case for all activities including indoor sports, such as 5-aside football, or racquet sports.
 Thelma Hulbert Gallery is open again!
Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) in Honiton has announced that their latest exhibition: Present Makers 2020 is open again and full of Christmas gift ideas! Choose from a wide selection of exquisite, handmade gifts from ceramics to jewellery, Christmas decorations to lighting, sponge bags to scarves or why not give a loved one a beautiful framed print? All the work is by South West designers and makers. Please support makers and shop local this Christmas.
Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm until 24 December.
Enter a prize draw to win £50 voucher! Make a purchase from the exhibition to be entered into a prize draw to win £50 to spend at THG.
Sponsored by Beviss & Beckingsale solicitors.
 Thelma Hulbert Gallery MAKER SHORTS
MAKER SHORT 3 Jo Whiteley – Ceramic Artist ‘Journey of a Mug’
MAKER SHORT 4 Claire Mort - Contemporary Textile Artist ‘Get Stitching’
To highlight the Present Makers exhibition, THG is showcasing makers’ practice in a new series of ‘MAKERS SHORTS’. Following on from their popular NATURE SHORTS series, these short, fly-on-the-wall films give an intriguing insight into the maker’s space, revealing their fascinating methods and skills.
Watch out for a new Maker Short every Wednesday throughout the exhibition, online and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
 Christmas Events with Wild East Devon
This December, Wild East Devon have events to get all the family excited for the festive period.
Check out what’s on for you and your family at our Seaton Wetlands nature reserve:
Wreath Making Kits: Tuesday 15 December 10am to 4pm
Make a beautiful Christmas wreath for your front door using beautiful natural materials including holly, ivy and dried orange.
Current guidelines permitting, you could have your own workshop with family members in your home, or join friends outside or online via video call!
Book your wreath here: www.eastdevon.gov.uk/countryside/wreath-making-kits-at-seaton-wetlands
Christmas Trail: runs from 19 December to 4 January.
Come and explore Seaton Wetlands and see how many wooden snowmen you can find hiding around the nature reserve.
The Christmas Trail is self-guided. Download the trail online or pick up a leaflet from the Lookout and explore the whole site!
More info here: https://eastdevon.gov.uk/countryside/wild-east-devon-events/december-2020/seaton-wetlands-christmas-trail-19-dec-4-jan/
Christmas Decorations Willow Weaving Workshop: Saturday 19 December 10am to 4pm
Get festive and learn how to weave willow with Richard from Windrush Willow.
Make traditional willow Christmas Decorations and take them home with you in a day! We'll be following all social-distancing rules and have lowered the capacity from 8 to 4 to ensure we can adhere to government guidelines.
Book your place here: https://eastdevon.gov.uk/countryside/wild-east-devon-events/december-2020/windrush-willow-christmas-decorations-sat-19-dec/
For more information or to book on to any of our events, visit https://eastdevon.gov.uk/countryside/our-events/
 To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Avian influenza (bird flu): Latest situation
The Chief Veterinary Officers for England, Scotland and Wales have agreed to bring in new measures to help protect poultry and captive birds, following a number of cases of avian influenza in both wild and captive birds in the UK.
Whether you keep just a few birds as pets or thousands, from 14 December onwards you will be legally required to keep your birds indoors, or take appropriate steps to keep them separate from wild birds. The decision has not been taken lightly, but it is seen to be the best way to protect birds from this highly infectious disease.
All keepers of birds are encouraged to register their birds so Defra can contact you quickly if there is a disease outbreak in the local area and action needs to be taken.
Poultry and captive bird keepers and members of the public should report dead wild birds to the Defra helpline on 03459 33 55 77 (option 7), and keepers should report suspicion of disease to APHA on 03000 200 301. Keepers should familiarise themselves with the avian flu advice.
Public Health England advise the risk to public health from the H5N8 and H5N2 strains of bird flu is very low and the Food Standards Agency have said that on the basis of the current scientific evidence, avian influenza poses a very low food safety risk for UK consumers. Properly cooked poultry and poultry products, including eggs remain safe to eat.
Trusted sources of advice and information
Please make sure that you only follow advice from trusted, official sources:
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