Coronavirus (Covid-19) update - 28 May 2021
Please find below our latest Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents and businesses with information we hope will be of interest to you.
In this issue...
- New Council Chair elected
- East Devon Leader sets out plans for the next year
- Perennial planting schemes to be extended
- 2021 Blue Flag Award winners announced
Trinity Councillor Ian Thomas elected as East Devon District Council’s new chair
Cllr Thomas, who is an Independent councillor, was elected following a vote at EDDC’s annual council meeting on Tuesday, May 25. Cllr Thomas was elected following a vote of 36-20.
Cllr Val Ranger was also elected as the vice chair and Cllr Paul Arnott will continue as the leader of the Council.
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East Devon leader is re-elected and speaks out on plans for the future
East Devon District Council’s leader Councillor Paul Arnott, who has been re-elected to continue in his post, has spoken out about the past year and plans for the year ahead.
This includes his plans for Cranbrook to ‘help it emerge from some tangled knots remaining from its first ten years’ and looking at how to ensure Axminster reaches its full ‘potential’ along with many more focuses for towns and areas across the district.
Another key focus will be climate change issues and the Council’s new Poverty Action Policy, among many others.
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EDDC are expanding their perennial planting displays
Beautiful flowering and wildlife-attracting plants that return year on year are going to be planted across East Devon’s parks and greenspaces.
East Devon District Council is sowing seeds of change in the way it manages it green spaces, in a bid to be more environmentally friendly.
Part of these plans involve a reduction in seasonal bedding displays to include more permanent planting designs.
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Blue Flag Award 2021 winners revealed: Exmouth and Sidmouth boast some of Britain’s nicest beaches
 Exmouth and Sidmouth have been officially recognised for having some of the nicest beaches in Britain.
The two towns were among 76 locations to be given the prestigious Blue Flag Award for their outstanding beaches.
Not only this, but Seaside Awards were also given to Exmouth, Sidmouth, Budleigh Salterton, and Seaton by the national charity - Keep Britain Tidy.
We have to return to normal life, but with the emergence of the new variant, EVERY little counts...
So:
1) Remember #HandsFaceSpace
2) Meet outside if you can
3) Take advantage of rapid testing
4) Isolate and test if you have symptoms
5) Get your vaccine
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Those in the know go for the flow
We're supporting Devon's Go for the Flow campaign to encourage people across the county to take twice-weekly rapid lateral flow tests, helping identify those who may unknowingly have the virus and breaking the chain of transmission.
While the country slowly reopens after a year of coronavirus restrictions, taking part in regular testing will help us all as we ease out of lockdown by picking up any cases in the community.
If you're out and about either for work or socially, please make sure you take part in regular flow testing, just to be on the safe side.
Further information on testing is available on the Devon website.
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Be beach safe this bank holiday!
 If you're thinking of hitting one of our beautiful beaches this bank holiday, or venturing to one further afield, make sure you stay safe and follow the beach safety guidelines.
And to help keep visitors safe through the summer, the RNLI has launched a beach safety campaign across the South West, which is expecting to attract over 30m visitors this summer. The key summer safety advice for residents and visitors alike, is to visit a lifeguarded beach, to swim between the red and yellow flags; and if you're in trouble, to float on your back until help arrive.
Additional public toilets have reopened
Additional public toilets have opened across East Devon in time for the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, these include:
- Orcombe Point, Exmouth
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Lace Walk, Honiton (King Street toilets have closed to enable Lace Walk to reopen)
- Seaton Hole Seaton
For a full list of the 23 toilets open across the district, please visit our website for more information
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Getting the help you need this bank holiday weekend
 The NHS in Devon is reminding people how to access health services and get the care they need this bank holiday.
The long weekend traditionally puts extra pressure on health services when most GP practices are closed and more people are outdoors enjoying everything Devon has to offer. Most GP practices will be closed over the three-day weekend with normal opening hours resuming on Tuesday 1 June.
For urgent advice over the long weekend people are encouraged to ‘Think 111 First’ and contact NHS 111 from anywhere, either by phone or online, any time of day or night. If you need further care or medication, NHS 111 advisors will direct you to the most appropriate service. They can book you in for an appointment at your nearest Minor Injury Unit or Urgent Care Centre. If you need emergency care, they will arrange for you to be seen at a local Emergency Department and will ensure that staff in the department are expecting you and will see you as quickly as possible.
Local pharmacies can provide expert advice and a fast route to medication for minor ailments like aches and pains, sore throat, coughs, colds, flu-like symptoms, runny noses, earache and skin rashes. They are open until late and at weekends with no need for an appointment, and most have a confidential consulting area for privacy. Visit the NHS website to find your nearest pharmacy and check opening times, or call the free helpline NHS 111.
Talk to the hedge!
 The inaugural National Hedgerow Week aims to highlight the immense contribution these unsung heroes of the natural world make in the fight against climate change, biodiversity loss and urban air pollution. With 50% of hedges lost since WWII there has never been a more important time to get the country planting and protecting these wonderful mini nature reserves in our towns and countryside.
National Hedgerow Week from The Tree Council and partners will celebrate the wonderful variety of plants that make up our hedgerows - hawthorns, blackthorns, wild roses, brambles and more. With an estimated 3 million new gardeners since lockdown began, now is the moment to highlight the nature-based solutions hedgerows can bring to our environmental challenges.
 Grants closing soon
The Local Restrictions Support Grant will close on 31st May. It is for businesses which were: legally forced to close by Government from 16th February to 31st March, are registered for business rates, and are in the leisure, hospitality and non-essential retail sector.
The Restart Grant remains open for businesses registered for business rates and are in the non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care or gym sectors. However, this scheme will close on 30th June so please make sure if you haven’t claimed your grant and are eligible to do so, you apply ASAP.
New: Discretionary Restart Grant (ARG3)
The Discretionary Restart Grant scheme (ARG3) is now open for applications.
The scheme is available for businesses in all sectors which were not eligible for non-discretionary Restart Grants but which have been forced to close or were severely impacted since 1st April 2021. Notably, this scheme makes it easier for the self-employed and sole traders to access funding, because they must now provide evidence of fixed costs at any level, (previously set at a minimum of £250 per month). Only businesses which can provide evidence of fixed costs are eligible.
If you want to stay up to date with the latest news about grants for East Devon businesses, or other news about business opportunities, funding and training, you must subscribe to East Devon Business news
East Devon District Council also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
News stories
Newsletters
Over the next fortnight the following East Devon District Council meetings are taking place. Any public meetings held online, or held in the Council Chamber between 10 May 2021 to the date that social distancing ceases (currently scheduled as 21 June 2021) will be streamed live to the Council’s YouTube channel, and in the event of difficulties these will be streamed on our Facebook page instead.
Wednesday, 9 June
Thursday, 10 June
 Remember all collections of recycling, refuse and green waste will be one day later next week, due to Bank Holiday Monday.
Click here for more details.
You can also download the East Devon app for notifications of your collection day.
 Launch of Climate Conversations to celebrate World Ocean Day
To celebrate World Ocean Day on 8 June, Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) and East Devon District Council launch a new climate campaign - Climate Conversations.
The programme opens with a major multi-site new exhibition of the work of artist Mike Perry at THG in Honiton, Ocean in Exmouth and a coordinating roadshow of Climate Conversations activities and events from THG's Creative Cabin.
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The Thelma Hulbert Gallery has now reopened and is open Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. To find out more about our exhibitions and events at THG, please visit our website.
 Wild East Devon events
Thanks to everyone who took part in our Bluebell Week celebrations earlier this month, we had a fantastic 7 days embracing the signs of spring across East Devon in our first week-long festivity.
Don't miss our plant sale at Seaton Wetlands this Sunday 30th May, 11am-3pm. For half-term why not join us for a Family Explorers Day at Colyford Community Woods next Tuesday 1st June?
The Spring Photo Competition runs until the end of the month, so there’s still time to enter. Send your best springtime pictures of East Devon to wild@eastdevon.gov.uk for a chance to appear in our 2022 Wild East Devon Calendar.
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:
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 11 June 2021.
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 the view it as a web page link at the top of the page.
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