Photo credit: Credit: Hal Barker
In this issue...
- East Devon District Council enters pre-election period
- Councillor nominations closing on Tuesday
- Campaign to help residents bring biodiversity to their doorsteps launches
- UK-wide test of Emergency Alerts on phones
- Green waste collections service success
News and updates:
East Devon District Council enters pre-election period
On Thursday 4 May, elections will be held for East Devon District Council and all town and parish councils in the district.
During this time, before the elections, the council's communications, news releases and social media channels are subject to impartiality restrictions. These rules are in place to avoid the debate being influenced or any candidate or political party being placed at an unfair advantage.
To read our Elections Update with helpful information about registering to vote, Voter ID and signing up for postal voting
Councillor nominations closing on Tuesday
Nomination papers for prospective district, town and parish councillor candidates may be obtained at Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton, EX14 1EJ between the hours of 10am and 4pm. Completed nomination papers must be received by the Returning Officer at the same address, no later than 4pm on 4 April.
To find out more about standing to be a district councillor, click here.
If you wish to stand to be a town or parish councillor, click here.
Campaign to help residents bring biodiversity to their doorsteps launches
Follow our social media channels 'toad'ay for biodiversity advice you won't 'frog'et
We'll be sharing lots of ideas and activities on our social media channels to help you support biodiversity in your garden. Look out for our family friendly projects, which will be posted on our social media every Friday, including how to build bug hotels, setting up a watering station in your garden and providing habitats for the critters in your garden.
At East Devon, we're improving biodiversity and supporting nature recovery across all of our greenspaces. Just a few examples of these actions include tree planting, the establishment of wildflower meadows and banning the use of glyphosate weed killer across the Council.
To find out more and get involved, head over to our new biodiversity starts on your doorstep webpages.
UK-wide test of Emergency Alerts on phones
The UK Government’s new Emergency Alerts system is now live. The system will enable people to be contacted through their mobile phone if their lives are at risk in an emergency.
There will be a UK-wide test of the Emergency Alerts on Sunday 23 April 2023. A loud, siren-like sound will be prompted alongside a message on your mobile phone screen.
Fire destroys East Devon District Council's former headquarters, The Knowle, Sidmouth
The Knowle. Sidmouth
EDDC's former headquarters, the Knowle in Sidmouth, went up in flames in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, 30 March.
McCarthy Stone, the retirement housebuilder that now owns the site, issued this statement:
“We are aware of the unfortunate incident that has occurred at the former Council Offices on the site at The Knowle and are working closely with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service to ascertain the cause of the fire. Once the fire has been safely extinguished, we will ensure that the site is made fully safe and secure.
“Our directors are visiting the site today, with members of the team knocking on doors of immediate neighbours to provide reassurance. In addition to our current security measures, a dog patrol team will be in operation over the next few days.
“We will continue to keep neighbours updated regarding this matter and the site’s future redevelopment. Any residents with any further queries are welcome to get in touch via the project’s information line (0800 298 7040) or via email feedback@mccarthystoneconsultation.co.uk.”
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.
6 April
Recycling news
Green waste collections service success
Since 2018, 18,500 households have signed up to our handy green waste kerbside collection service.
After green waste is collected, it is taken to Hill Barton, checked for contaminants, shredded, arranged in piles, regularly turned and after 12 to 14 weeks it will have transformed into high quality compost.
An impressive 6,400 tonnes was spread on our local fields in 2022. This means that our farmers have to use less oil-based artificial fertilisers.
As an added bonus, 400 tonnes of green waste compost was used to mulch beds in East Devon's public parks and open spaces last year.
The service has saved thousands of trips to household recycling centres, produces a natural resource for agriculture and has created a number of jobs in East Devon - a winner all round!
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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Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Thursday 6 April 2023.
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.
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