Photo of Bystock Ponds by Kate Williams

Merry Christmas!

East Devon District Council’s main phone lines will be closed for Christmas from 12pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and will re-open in the New Year at 8.30am on Thursday 2 January 2025.

Exmouth Town Hall will close at 4pm on Monday 23 December 2024, and Blackdown House will close at 12pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024.

You will still be able to access many of East Devon District Council's services online whenever you need to over the festive period.

Visit the Christmas and New Year services page on the council website to find out more.

Changes to Recycling and Waste collection dates over Christmas and the New Year

Recycling and waste collection dates will be affected by the Christmas bank holidays. Please see the adjusted collection dates below.

Collection dates return to normal from Monday 13 January 2025.

Have you downloaded our free East Devon app yet? Join more than 70,000 people using our smartphone app and get simple personalised recycling and waste 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.

Green light for Clyst Meadows

Left to right: Ben Morgan-Brown, Councillor Geoff Jung, Councillor Paula Fernley, Councillor Henry Massey, Paul Osborne, James Chubb

Planning approval has been granted for Clyst Meadows Country Park, a new public greenspace at Broadclyst Station.

Spanning 10 hectares, this beautiful country park will serve as a natural retreat, offering residents and visitors a safe and scenic environment to connect with nature. The park will feature a variety of walking paths, providing accessible routes for people to explore the outdoors. Dog owners will benefit from a dedicated, secure space to let their dogs roam freely. 

Clyst Meadows is owned by East Devon District Council and will be managed by the East Devon Countryside Team in partnership with Broadclyst Parish Council and the local community.

Partnership work progresses following Devon Water Summit

The speakers at the Devon Water Summit. Left to right: Dr Joe Osborne – Met Office, Prof Richard Brazier – University of Exeter, Prof David Butler – University of Exeter, Clarissa Newell – Environment Agency, Carolyn Cadman – South West Water, Councillor Paul Arnott – East Devon District Council, Kathryn Deeney – Plymouth City Council, Prof Michael Winter – University of Exeter

Councillor Paul Arnott, Chair of the Devon District Forum, and Leader of East Devon District Council, said:

“We had an impressive turnout at the Devon Water Summit last week, which featured a remarkable line-up of speakers and experts. Our water resources continue to face increasing challenges, and this summit brought together stakeholders across the region with a shared commitment to find positive solutions through informative discussion. We had a very productive day and have now embarked on a journey towards fostering a more meaningful and collaborative relationship, united in our desire to find more sustainable solutions that are free from unnecessary pollution.”

Bag it and bin it to win Devon Loves Dogs has launched a competition offering a monthly prize of one ‘Dicky Bag’ until March 2025. To enter, scan the QR codes on banners around the Pebblebed Heaths and Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve, or enter online. Bagged waste can be deposited into a smell-proof Dicky Bag which is lightweight, airtight, washable and leak proof. It can be attached to you, or your dog, and safely stores the waste until you find a bin, or get home.

Public support leads to updated dog control Public Spaces Protection Order After receiving support from local stakeholders, councillors have approved amendments to the Public Spaces Protection Order concerning Allhallows Playing Field and Kilmington Playing Field.

Exmouth seawall repairs update

Construction work for the second phase of the Exmouth seawall repairs project is paused over the festive period, and will restart on Monday 6 January 2025. During this time, both lanes of Queens Drive Road will reopen to traffic.

Thelma Hulbert Gallery to temporarily close for refurbishment

Credit: Jim Wileman

Thelma Hulbert Gallery will temporarily close from Wednesday 25 December 2024, reopening on Saturday 22 March 2025. The gallery has exciting plans for a long overdue refurbishment, including essential repairs, a dedicated new space for volunteers, and improved toilet facilities.

This temporary closure will not affect Thelma Hulbert Gallery's award-winning programme with schools and community groups, which will continue at offsite locations across East Devon. For updates, please visit the Thelma Hulbert Gallery website.

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

Last chance to comment on final draft Tree, Hedge & Woodland Strategy for East Devon Treeconomics were appointed to prepare a district-wide strategy, which provides a comprehensive assessment of tree, woodland, and hedge cover across East Devon. It outlines costed recommendations for managing, enhancing, and expanding these vital natural assets, as well as strategies for supporting tree establishment on private land and new developments. The Strategy reflects national guidance and aligns with key programmes such as the Devon Tree Strategy, the Devon Nature Recovery Strategy, and the East Devon Local Plan. Consultation responses have been carefully considered to help shape the draft Strategy, and we now welcome your comments to ensure the plan is as effective and comprehensive as possible. Let the council know what you think about the final draft strategy before 5pm on Friday 31 January 2025.

Have your say on the options to manage Exmouth's coastal flooding and erosion risks Share your feedback in the consultation before 5pm on Monday 10 February 2025.

You may be interested in

• Planning applications and decisions
• Thelma Hulbert Gallery newsletter
• Yonder Oak Christmas Newsletter - Woodland Trust
• Support available if you’re finding things hard this festive season - Samaritans
• Met Office warnings affecting South West England - sign up to our weather warnings and flood alerts for updates in your inbox

Next edition

We plan to send out our next bulletin on Friday 3 January 2025.

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