 In this issue...
- Calling all parents and children of Honiton to help us spend 60k on designing a new park
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Covid self-isolation in England being cut to five full days
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Take time for a cuppa and a chat this Brew Monday
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Cold weather alert issued by UKHSA
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Game-changing hack to dry clothes this winter
 News and updates:
Calling all parents and children of Honiton to help us spend 60k on designing a new park
 We have £60,000 to spend on improving Butts Close play area in Honiton.
Whenever we have money to spend on play areas we work with a variety of local children and young people to find out what play equipment they want. We usually do this through local organisations, but we’ve been struggling to get the views of those that regularly live in Honiton that are:
- Parents and carers of those aged under 5.
- Young people themselves aged 11 to 14.
We already have the views of a variety of children aged 5 to 11 through the schools, so don’t need any more from that age group. If you are either the parent or carer of those aged under 5, or are a young person themselves aged 11 to 14, that regularly lives in Honiton you can fill in a questionnaire online until 5pm on Thursday, 20 January:
Butts Close Play Area questionnaire 2022.
We also encourage children to get involved by designing their own park. Draw, paint, colour, collage...all ideas are welcome, but we ask that the children label the park equipment to ensure their ideas can be added into the results. Please do share their creations on social media and tag us at East Devon District Council, we'd love to see!
Covid self-isolation in England being cut to five full days
Yesterday (13 January), the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP, provided an update to the House of Commons on the government’s COVID-19 response.
In his statement, he gave an update on the COVID-19 vaccination programme, testing, antivirals and treatments. He also announced that, after reviewing all of the evidence, the government has made the decision to reduce the minimum self-isolation period for people with COVID-19 to five full days in England.
From 17 January, people can leave isolation at the start of day six provided they test negative on day five and day six and do not have a temperature.
People who are still positive on their lateral flow tests must stay in isolation until they have had two consecutive negative tests taken on separate days.
Take time for a cuppa and a chat this Brew Monday
 This Brew Monday, 17 January, Samaritans is reminding everyone to reach out for a cuppa and a catch-up with the people you care about.
Why 'Brew Monday'?
The third Monday in January is sometimes referred to as ‘the most difficult day of the year’ when the mood of many people is at its lowest - post festive period and a couple of months of cold to come. At Samaritans we know there’s no such thing as ‘Blue Monday’ – we all have our good days and our bad days, and those aren’t for the calendar to decide.
So we say it's time to stop this myth about Monday being 'blue' and instead start a conversation over a brew! Reach out and connect with family, friends, colleagues and loved ones, even if it's virtual.
To recognise this Samaritans volunteers will be handing out tea bags at various venues - for example at Exmouth train station, throughout the day on Monday.
The idea is to encourage us to talk to each other more - with friends, family and colleagues particularly when through lockdowns we have become accustomed, indeed encouraged, to keep to ourselves.
£900k scheme to protect Seaton cliffs takes major step forward
 A £900,000 scheme to slow the erosion of Seaton’s eroding cliffs has taken a major step forward, with hopes works could start in Autumn 2023.
East Devon District Council is thrilled to announce the Seaton Hole Beach Management Plan, which has been several years in the making, has been rubber stamped by the Environment Agency.
The work, which will bring improved protection to 41 homes above the cliffs, will involve upgrading and extending the existing rock structures on the beach. This should reduce the rate of erosion to the base of the cliff, as the toe will be better protected from storms thanks to the additional rock placed on the existing rock, which will offer more protection to the toe of the cliffs from storms.
Due to the worsening condition of the concrete covered rock section to the west of the beach, works here have been advanced ahead of the main BMP scheme, and are due to start in 2022, with other works requiring more detailed planning and consultation. All being well, construction could start in Autumn 2023 on the remainder of the scheme.
Cold weather alert issued by UKHSA
 On Tuesday, 11 January, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a new cold weather alert affecting the south-west of England from 6pm on 13 January to 9am on 17 January.
With cold weather forecast across parts of the country over the coming days, the UKHSA is encouraging people to stay warm and look out for those most at risk from the effects of cold weather.
View our page on coping with cold weather which gives some handy tips on how to look after yourself, your family and your home during cold weather.
Or for those struggling to afford heating bills, visit our page on energy efficiency grants for individuals which lists grants available from a range of sources to help keep people warm this winter.
Walk-in COVID vaccination centre extends opening times to every day
 Greendale vaccination centre, near Exeter (EX5 1EW), are offering walk-in appointments every day for first and second doses of the NHS COVID-19 vaccination.
You are welcome to attend these sessions anytime between 8.30am – 7.00pm.
Both Pfizer and AstraZeneca are available.
Second doses must be at least 8 weeks after the first dose.
Alternatively, you can book an appointment on the NHS website or phone 119.
Game-changing hack to dry clothes this winter
Do you hate having your washing draped all over the house drying in the winter? If you want to reduce drying time without the expense of using a tumble drier then try this hack. Use a small desk fan pointed at your clothes rack and it will decrease the drying time by about 50% as it keeps the air moving.
Using a desk fan for 6 hours would cost about 4.5p whereas a tumble dryer would cost over £1 per load.
If a tumble dryer is essential then consider buying a heat exchanger type, they are more expensive to buy but use half the energy of a traditional tumble dryer.
With energy process being so high, every little helps. If you try this tip we would love to hear from you, please email us at environment@eastdevon.gov.uk
Keep your little ones entertained at Party Hour
The Younghayes Centre in Cranbrook are hosting a FREE Baby and Toddler hour.
We will sing songs, play games, and have some basic crafts to keep you and your baby and toddler entertained (for an hour at least).
The sessions are drop in, no need to book. They are every Wednesday starting from 19th January, 10.30-11.30am (except 16th Feb which will be 12.00-13.00pm).
All information is on the poster above.
Latest news and newsletters
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:
East Devon District Council Key applications received
East Devon District Council Decision on key applications
 Council meetings dates
Over the next week the following East Devon District Council meetings are taking place. Any public meetings 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.
Monday, 17 January
Wednesday, 19 January
Thursday, 20 January
 Recycling news
Record numbers of recycling
Our crews are collecting record volumes of recycling.
To help take the pressure off of our recycling crews, we are using refuse or green waste collection vehicles in some areas to collect the mixed material in recycling sacks.
The material collected from the recycling sacks, in this way, will be separated by the plant at our depot and recycled as normal.
Read more here: Recycling and waste updates
Thank you for recycling.
Have you downloaded our free East Devon App yet?
Join over 30,000 people using our smartphone app and get simple personalised collection reminders, the latest collection updates and tell us about a missed collection.
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 Thelma Hulbert Gallery
*Opening this Saturday in Honiton and Exmouth*
Mikhail Karikis (15 January – 5 March)
Two short films by international artist Mikhail Karikis, highlighting two different communities whose unique environments are increasingly threatened - find out more
Mikhail Karikis: Children of Unquiet. Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell St, Honiton EX14 1LX
Mikhail Karikis: SeaWomen. Ocean, Queen’s Drive, Exmouth EX8 2AY
 In Focus: Tom Bailey Theatre maker and Director (15 January – 5 March)
Described as “extraordinary… moving and enlightening” (New Scientist), Bailey’s work has received awards and critical acclaim for shows exploring themes including bird migration and species extinction - find out more
Open Wednesday – Saturday, 10 - 5.
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday, 21 January 2022.
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.
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