💬It's your last chance to have your say in East Devon's Further Local Plan consultation. This week residents are being encouraged to comment on the future of the district's town centres.

🗳️The UK General Election is also fast approaching, with applications for a free Voter Authority Certificate closing on Wednesday.

Scroll down to read about these stories, upcoming events, and more.

Consultation closing soon: help shape East Devon's town centres' futures

Do you have the right ID to vote in the UK General Election?

You will need to bring along a valid form of ID to vote in the UK General Election. If you don't have this, make sure that you apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate by 5pm on Wednesday 26 June.

Accessible information about elections

Very few people with learning disabilities vote. My Vote My Voice and Mencap, the charity for people with learning disabilities, are working to improve accessibility and to encourage a greater turnout at elections.

If you or someone you know has a learning disability and are interested in accessible election resources, visit Learning Disability Devon's website for easy-to-read help.

Do you know what to do if you get into trouble in the water?

Credit: Royal Life Saving Society UK

Learn how to float following these five simple steps:

1. Tilt your head back, submerging your ears.
2. Relax and try to control your breathing.
3. Move your hands to help you stay afloat.
4. Your legs may sink but that’s OK – everyone floats differently.
5. Spread your arms and legs to improve your stability.

It's the Royal Life Saving Society’s Drowning Prevention Week and people are being encouraged to practice how to float in a safe environment. It’s a lifesaving skill and having the confidence to float in a life-or-death situation could make all the difference.

Takeaway tonight?

Just rinse and recycle the foil trays in with your food and drink cans and place into your recycling sack…easy!

If you have any leftover food that you can't save for another time, please put it in your food caddy. Make your metals matter.

For an A - Z of recycling and disposals, visit East Devon District Council's webpage.

Have you downloaded our free East Devon App yet? Join more than 60,000 people using our smartphone app and get simple personalised collection reminders, the latest collection updates and tell us about a missed collection. You can download the app through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Events in East Devon

Celebrate Pride in Exmouth

Credit: Exmouth Pride

Exmouth's free Pride festival returns on Saturday, 22 June, from 11am to 6.30pm, at Manor Gardens. There's lots planned including live music, workshops, drag performances, a dog competition, and more.

Pixies to be captured by Ottery bellringers

Ottery St Mary was once occupied by Pixies. The noise of church bells was unbearable to the pixies, so in 1454 they invaded the town, capturing all the bell ringers and imprisoning them in a cave by the river, known as Pixie's Parlour.

Each year this legend is celebrated on the Saturday nearest to midsummer. Celebrations begin in the early afternoon on Saturday 22 June, with a fete of stalls and entertainment at the Land of Canaan. At around 6.30pm the Pixies' Revenge will take place in the square.

Sidmouth artist showcases new work

© Kyle Baker, Milky Way Over Beer Boats

Kyle Baker, a photographer and filmmaker based in Sidmouth, specialises in seascapes, landscapes, and nightscapes. Kyle's exhibition is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 10am – 5pm, in Thelma Hulbert Gallery's Lower Gallery and all work is for sale.

Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Dowell St, Honiton EX14 1LX thelmahulbert.com

'Quiet morning on the River Axe' on display at Sidmouth’s wallspace

Lynsey Pickwell (South West Art), Coco Hodgkinson, Ann Nolan (artist), and Louise Cole (Sidmouth School of Art). Photo credit: Sarah Hall

Ann Nolan's work, featured above, won the 2023 South West Art Summer School competition, and is on display until Monday 22 July. The artwork depicts the tranquillity of the River Axe looking towards Seaton Wetlands. It captures the peacefulness of nature that characterises so many scenes along the East Devon coast.

Learn Devon's new adult education courses have arrived

Credit: Learn Devon

If you want to develop your skills, gain a qualification, meet new people or learn something new, have a look at Learn Devon's range of courses and qualifications starting in September.

Discover more events in the local area by heading to the East Devon Excellence website

Planning applications and decisions

Discover this week's planning applications and decisions by following the links.

For a weekly email update, add 'key applications received' and 'decision on key applications' to your subscriptions.

Council meetings dates

Over the next week the following East Devon District Council meetings are taking place:

• Monday 24 June - 10am - Poverty Working Panel
• Tuesday 25 June - 6pm - Leisure Strategy Delivery Forum
• Wednesday 26 June - 9.30 am - Licensing and Enforcement Sub Committee

You can watch public meetings live on the council’s YouTube channel.

Next edition

We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday, 28 June 2024

Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up.

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