 In this issue...
- Honiton to welcome pioneering boatbuilders working on the UK’s first electric workboat
- New rapid electric vehicle charge points for East Devon
- Coming to a community near you soon: modular social housing
- East Devon District Council Leader writes to Devon County Council about threat to Homelessness funding
- New survey highlights benefits of social housing for East Devon tenants
 News and updates:
Honiton to welcome pioneering boatbuilders working on the UK’s first electric workboat
 Digital render of the new Coastal Workboats E-LUV prototype
A pioneering boatbuilding firm is relocating to East Devon to manufacture components for the UK’s first fully electric workboat and charging station, in a move which will secure 30 local jobs.
Coastal Workboats Limited (CWL) will be building their new HQ and advanced manufacturing site at Honiton’s Heathpark Industrial Estate. The move, which supports East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) ambitions to address the climate emergency by promoting clean growth, was guided by EDDC's Economic Development team.
New rapid electric vehicle charge points for East Devon
 Jose Contreras from Wenea and Councillor Marianne Rixson, EDDC's portfolio holder for Climate Action and Emergencies stood next to a new EV charger
Located in car parks in Sidmouth, Colyton, Axminster and Beer, the Rapid Charging Devon chargers bring EV charging capability for residents and visitors to the region.
The brand-new EV chargers in East Devon can be found in Roxburgh Car Park in Sidmouth, Dolphin St Car Park in Colyton, West Street Car Park in Axminster and Central Car Park in Beer. These chargers are part of a wider roll out of 30 chargers in 12 locations across East Devon with additional chargers soon to be opened in Cranbrook, Lympstone, Honiton, Budleigh Salterton and three locations in Exmouth.
The rapid chargers in East Devon will take around 40 minutes to charge an EV battery to 80% full at a cost of £0.55/kWh. Payment can be made through the Wenea App.
Coming to a community near you soon: modular social housing
 Cllr Dan Ledger, Jo Garfoot, Cllr Eleanor Rylance, Cllr Paul Arnott and Paul Lees stood by the modular house
East Devon District Council is looking to deliver an innovative, carbon neutral social housing solution to maximise the use of land which traditionally would have been difficult to build upon.
On Thursday, a demonstration house, which will be in place for 6 months, was craned into the council’s Blackdown House headquarters in Honiton. This house will be used as a pivotal part of future community consultation and engagement events which will be announced later this spring.
East Devon District Council Leader writes to Devon County Council about threat to Homelessness funding
East Devon District Council Leader Councillor Paul Arnott
A consultation proposing cuts to funding of homelessness organisations in Devon has prompted EDDC’s Leader, Councillor Paul Arnott, to express his grave concerns in an open letter to Devon County Council’s Leader, John Hart.
New survey highlights benefits of social housing for East Devon tenants
 Recently renovated bungalows in East Devon
The results are in on a three-year research project looking at people's homes and wellbeing thanks to the help of EDDC’s housing department.
The results of the project found the security and affordability of social/council homes helped to improve people’s health and overall wellbeing, complemented by the council’s wrap-around support, for example through providing financial advice.
EDDC is asking tenants to complete a survey, with a deadline of of next Friday, 31 March, for their direct experience of the impact of the cost of living crisis on their lives and their satisfaction with the housing service. This survey will inform us on how we can support tenants further.
East Devon plans to enhance residents’ health and wellbeing
 Photo credit: Naomi Williams
Improving the health and wellbeing of East Devon’s residents’ is a priority integral to every council service in the year ahead.
While people may be living longer lives, they are not necessarily in better health - this is something that EDDC is seeking to improve. At a recent cabinet meeting, members agreed to an action plan for the year ahead.
New community food forest in Sidmouth
 A group of volunteers developing the new community food forest on Byes Lane, Sidmouth
A group of volunteers, led by Stefan Drew and Tess Bisson, recently took on the task of developing a new community food forest in the pocket green space on Byes Lane.
The initiative aims to involve local people to utilise the amazing food production potential of small woodlands, whilst working with nature and maximising biodiversity.
The small space owned by EDDC was formerly looked after by The Byes Pre-School which unfortunately permanently closed in 2022.
EDDC Streetscene have facilitated the transition and will continue to assist the group in creating a space that all local residents can enjoy.
The volunteers will meet weekly to carry out a variety of tasks, working towards a highly productive community food forest.
For more information, follow Sidmouth Community Food Forest on Facebook, who will be providing information on how to replicate the food forest at a suitable scale at home, as well as announcing harvestable goodies throughout the year.
This week marks International Day of Happiness and the first day of Spring
 Daffodils above Sidmouth's Jacob's Ladder beach
Spring is here, bringing more light, opening buds & green leaves. Being outdoors helps reduce anxiety and helps us feel happier. This week take some time to celebrate International Day of Happiness and the changing seasons in our East Devon green spaces. To visit the Action for Happiness website
Lend a hand and make a change with #TheBigHelpOut
 The #BigHelpOut app launched this week, a one stop shop for finding volunteering opportunities for the 8 May Coronation bank holiday.
Nominate volunteers for the Coronation Champions Awards
 Celebrate the contributions of volunteers over the age of 14, who may have overcome adversity, or discovered creative ways to support their local communities, within the last five years in one of the eight categories.
Nominations close at 11:59pm on Sunday 2 April.
Positive feedback for the repairs team
Recently, residents have written in to express their gratitude to the repairs team and our contractors for works to their properties, including roofing and kitchen improvements.
Workers have been praised for their efficiency, positive attitude, high standard of work and the difference that they have made. One resident now has better access to storage space in their home, meaning that their physical health is no longer a barrier.
EDDC would like to thank all of our residents for their patience over the busy winter months. For repairs and maintenance assistance
Latest news, consultations and newsletters
East Devon District Council hold regular consultations and also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
 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.
28 March
29 March
 Recycling news
Please recycle your batteries
 When recycling your batteries, please put them into a clear plastic bag before putting them in your recycling box for collection; a sandwich bag is ideal. This helps our crews separate them out when emptying your recycling box.
Keeping batteries separate in our vehicles and at the depot prevents fire risk.
Please do not put your batteries inside a cardboard box or wrap them in paper, as they can get missed and mixed up with paper and cardboard in the recycling vehicle and at the depot.
Keep your glass out of cardboard packaging
 When recycling glass and cardboard in your recycling box, please keep both materials separate as shown in the image.
We are finding that some residents are putting glass items inside cardboard packaging.
Our depot team try their best to find these, but it can mean that broken glass gets into our cardboard stream, which can cause problems at the cardboard mill and prevent the cardboard from being recycled.
Please keep glass and cardboard separate in your recycling box, so that we can maximise the recycling of both materials.
Thank you for recycling.
The Recycling Team
Have you downloaded our free East Devon App yet?
Join over 50,000 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
'Paradise Found: New Visions of the Blackdown Hills' in the Guardian's top 5 national exhibitions to see this week
 Artists, curators and THG staff at the exhibition opening. Photo credit: jamesaphotography.co.uk
New work by 36 artists presented alongside works from private collections by Robert Bevan and Stanislawa de Karlowska. The contemporary artworks capture the same sites painted by The Camden Town Group in the Blackdown Hills including scenes from Luppitt and Clayhidon. Exhibition continues until 3 June.
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 31 March 2023.
Let us know what you thought of this week's edition by emailing us.
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Residents' Update banner photo credit: Matt Wilson
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