In this issue...

• Sidmouth’s new and improved vital coastal defences likely to cost more than expected

• Seaton beach pilot scheme sees physically impaired enjoy seafront

• It's hot in East Devon! Here's our top tips to stay safe during the heat

• Calling all amateur gardeners - we need your help in Exmouth, Sidmouth and Seaton

• Seaton vandals have struck again

News and updates: 

EDDC moves forward with Sidmouth Beach Management Scheme despite rising costs

Birds' eye view of Sidmouth. Credit Google Maps

Sidmouth’s new and improved vital coastal defences are likely to cost £5million more than expected, with estimates increasing from £14million to £19million.

Despite this, East Devon District Council (EDDC) and the Sidmouth and East Beach Beach Management Plan Project Advisory Group is proposing to proceed to the next stage, with plans to secure the extra funding from Government or by bridging the shortfall if required.

The authority is now preparing its outline business case for the Sidmouth Beach Management Scheme (BMS) readying it for submission to the Environment Agency (EA) for funding.

It is hoped that work on the ‘hybrid’ scheme can begin in spring 2025, giving Sidmouth seafront and East Beach the vital coastal defences it needs. 

Read more

Seaton beach pilot scheme sees physically impaired enjoy seafront

A Seaton resident was able to enjoy the beach for the first time in a decade thanks to a new pilot scheme for the physically impaired.

A special 85-metre platform, made from Tuff Trac which is a combination of plastic and aluminium, has been placed along Seaton Beach and is being used by a variety of residents.

The new path allows wheelchair and mobility scooter users to enjoy parts of the seafront which would normally be hard for them to access.

Read more

It's hot in East Devon! Here's our top tips to stay safe during the heat

This week the Met Office have issued an amber extreme heat warning as temperatures are set to reach high levels for the South West, particularly over the weekend. Make sure to:

• Close curtains on rooms that face the sun.
• Drink plenty of fluids and avoid excess alcohol. 
• Never leave anyone in a closed, parked vehicle.
• Try to keep out of the sun between 11am to 3pm, when the UV rays are strongest.
• Walk in the shade, apply sunscreen (even when it is cloudy) and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Avoid physical exertion in the hottest parts of the day.
• Make sure you take water with you, if you are travelling.

Check latest forecast

Calling all amateur gardeners - we need your help in Exmouth, Sidmouth and Seaton!

Three East Devon gardens have received Green Flag awards – Manor Gardens (in Exmouth), Connaught Gardens (in Sidmouth) and Seafield Gardens (in Seaton) – which  is testament to the dedication of EDDC’s StreetScene teams.

We are now calling on all green thumbed residents to help keep their town’s looking special – with the hope each area can have a ‘Friends of [insert town name]’ group.

EDDC are planning to restore further beds in the three gardens later this year and in the spring of 2023 and really need volunteers to help carry out routine maintenance and get involved in further restorations and improvements.  

Please get in touch and email Paul Fealey on pfealey@eastdevon.gov.uk if you are interested in volunteering, even if it is for a few hours per month.

Paul Fealey, our horticultural officer, is a former lecturer, trainer and assessor in horticulture – volunteers will be provided with ongoing and extensive training in all aspects of horticulture, gardening, landscaping, garden design and conservation, with the aim of developing a cohesive, knowledgeable and experienced team of volunteers that can work with, as well as independently of, our dedicated grounds teams and parks and gardens officers.

Budleigh community day to be held for residents

Ian Williams, councillors, East Devon District Council officers and residents at a community day in Sidmouth

A special Budleigh Salterton community day with afternoon tea, drinks and a free skip for household rubbish is being held for residents.

East Devon District Council (EDDC), alongside Ian Williams, is hosting the event outside the back of Greenhaven on Thursday, 21 July, between 11am and 3pm.

Read more

Seaton vandals have struck again

Seaton vandals have struck again and caused damage to another block of toilets, this time at the West Walk.

The West Walk toilets were not closed but repainting took place last Wednesday, 8 July.

Similar graffiti, which included swearing and offensive slurs, was also left all over a children's play park in Colyton and in the Thury Harcourt Place toilets last month.

Any residents who may have seen what happened or have any information on the offenders involved in the two incidents have been asked to report it on:

EDDC's website, EDDC's app, via 101 online or through Crimestoppers. 

More info

Join our EDDC Climate Change Officer at the Beehive tomorrow

How can we help the planet in small steps? Come and join us for a presentation from Catherine Causley, climate change officer at East Devon District Council, where she will be discussing some easy and quick things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.  This event is free of charge. Tomorrow (Saturday, 16 July) from 12pm-1.30pm. Find out more

East Devon student produces iconic bus map

Credit: Luke F, Colyton Grammar School

Luke F, a Year 13 Geography student, from Colyton Grammar School, has put his design skills to great use creating an iconic East Devon Bus Map.

Luke was inspired by the London Tube map, which was originally the brainchild of Underground electrical draughtsman, Harry Beck, who produced an imaginative and beautifully simple design back in 1933. Rather than emphasising distance and geographical accuracy, like other maps, Beck based his on the circuit diagrams he drew for his day job; stripping the sprawling Tube network down to a neat diagram of coloured, criss-crossing lines.

Luke followed the same approach with the iconic bus routes of East Devon producing a map that looks and feels as if it was produced by a professional transport group. Luke is keen to pursue a career in transport logistics. 

Events in July

Find out more about our beautiful district by visiting the EastDevonly website and share your own photos and favourite places by tagging #EastDevonly when posting online.

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:

Ingrid Pollard Three Drops of Blood

Key applications received

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. 

Tuesday, 19 July

• 10.00am Agenda for Placemaking in Exmouth Town and Seafront Group (formerly Exmouth Queen's Drive Delivery Group)

Wednesday, 20 July

• 10.00am Virtual consultative meeting, Licensing and Enforcement Committee

• 6.00pm Council

Thursday, 21 July

• 6.00pm Consultative meeting, Overview Committee

Friday, 22 July

• 9.00am Standards Assessment Sub Committee

Agendas

Recycling news 

Recycling and waste collections to begin an hour earlier due to hot weather

The weather is set for a mini-heat wave this week. While many of us will enjoy the lovely weather, it makes the job even harder than normal for our collections crews, therefore, we will start recycling, waste and green waste collections at 6am each day this week, so that our crews are able to complete most of their rounds in the cooler part of the day.

Please put your containers out the night before your collection day or before 6am on the day.

Thank you for helping us look after our crews.

More info

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.

Thelma Hulbert Gallery

Get involved in an animation workshop as part of Honiton's 'Imagining Our Festival'

Saturday, 16 July, drop in anytime 11am- 3pm.

Venue: Beehive, Dowell St, Honiton

Environmental artist Issy Wild will be using mono-printing and stills taken from film footage relating to climate, to help you draw and contribute to a film that inspires others to be climate-positive.

The process is easy, mindful and relaxed. While animating, you can also form part of the soundtrack with your thoughts on the climate in a voice recording.

LAST CHANCE TO SEE!

© Ploughed Fields – Ella Slade

FRESH! Devon Artist Network (until 23 July) at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery.

Last week of this stunning exhibition of key works by creatives from Devon Artist Network including painting, sculpture and ceramics. All of the work is for sale.

Wild East Devon 

Plant Medicine Walk at Holyford Woods

Saturday, 30 July, 10:30am - 12:30pm.

An informative walk focusing on the traditional medicinal use of local plants in the spectacular setting of a Wild East Devon Nature Reserve.

£10.00 per adult.

£5.00 per child.

Currently there are 10 places available.

Book here

To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter

Next edition

We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday, 22 July 2022.

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