We have announced an interim support package of over £88,000 for our leisure provider Fusion to enable the reopening of leisure centres within the District.

The Council has been working in partnership with Fusion to enable the reopening of leisure centres within the District. Activities at the Ivybridge Leisure Centre will begin again on Monday 3 August.  This will include reopening the new six lane swimming pool with the retractable roof and sundeck, which has been recently completed, and the dry sports activities and gym.

Then from week starting Monday 10 August, Fusion hope to be able to provide dry sports activities and the Gym in the Quayside Leisure centre in Kingsbridge. Fusion will confirm the exact opening dates in due course.

The government instructed all leisure centres to close in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic and they remained closed until 25 July. However, reopening has not been easy with the Covid crisis having had a huge impact on the leisure sector.  While most businesses have been supported in some way by Central Government, leisure providers have not received any funding, other than the furlough scheme and the availability of loans.

The District Council are lobbying MPs and Central Government for funding to help reopen Leisure Centres. The Council and Fusion are also supporting the #SaveLeisure campaign launched by Community Leisure UK urging the UK Government to commit relief funding to enable the full reopening and recovery of the public leisure sector. Find out more here.

We have clamped down on illegal overnight camping on Slapton beach and car park following a string of complaints from local residents.

Anti-social behaviour including littering and failing to use overnight toilet facilities at nearby Strete Gate and Torcross toilets, which are open 24 hours, has meant we have had to step in. 

Our officers have attended the Slapton Memorial Car Park over the past few mornings and issued 11 penalty charge notices (PCNs) to those people who camped illegally overnight. There are clear signs on our car parks stating overnight camping is not allowed.

Unfortunately those people who do not respect our beautiful SSSi and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty have spoilt the environment for others.

Campers, caravans and motorhomes are absolutely welcome in the South Hams, but we ask that they use approved facilities and not our car parks for overnight stays.

Thank you to all those people who visit Slapton responsibly and help us to care for it, and to the residents of Slapton for their patience and understanding.

South Hams District Council has received reports of potential rogue traders operating in our area, specifically targeting vulnerable and elderly residents unable to carry out their own tree works.

Several members of the public and their families contacted South Hams Trees team recently, after they were cold-called by traders claiming to be tree surgeons.

The traders offer to do garden and tree works for cash, and also 'advise' residents they could legally carry out works to protected trees and provide a certificate to submit to the Council to avoid prosecution. For further information click here.

If you're heading out and about around the South Hams, make sure that you are keeping to social distancing, wearing a mask is shops and on public transport and washing your hands or using hand gel regularly to help stop the spread of the virus. 

If you think you have symptoms, or a positive test result, of COVID-19, the Chief Medical Officers have extended the self-isolation period to 10 days.

Help to keep us all safe by doing your bit. Find out more about the new rules here. You can order a free NHS Covid test today here.

We have known for a long time that living with obesity or by being overweight reduces life expectancy and increases the chance of serious diseases such as Cancer, Heart Disease and Type 2 Diabetes. In the last few months we have seen that being overweight or living with obesity puts you at risk of dying from COVID-19.

The government have launched a campaign to help tackle this by helping people make positive lifestyle changes by healthier eating, more exercise and by reducing the amount of alcohol they drink to live healthier lives and reduce the risk of serious illness, including COVID-19.

Luckily, we live in the beautiful South Hams and have lots of wonderful walks and scenery to help us get out into the fresh air and become fitter. There are also lots of great deals on bicycles around, if cycling takes your fancy.  Find out more here on how to take the first step here.

This Eid Al-Adha it is more important than ever to make sure you and your family are staying safe.

Mosques and other places of worship have reopened for prayer and communal worship, but in a different socially distanced and COVID-19 secure way. This means many are not able to welcome as many worshippers as before.

Some faith leaders continue to use digital tools to bring worshippers together for prayers and sermons and we would encourage you to take advantage of these services where possible, to mark Eid Al-Adha safely.

Eid will be different this year but it will be really important to follow the guidance so that we can all get back to the things we love as quickly as possible and so that we keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. 

Local guidance for places of worship are here. Find further information on the latest coronavirus guidance here. 

From tomorrow, if you have been shielding, due to being at high risk from COVID-19, you do not need to follow previous advice any longer.

This means you can go to work as long as the workplace is Covid-secure, but if possible, you should carry to work from home wherever possible.

You can go outside as much as you like but you should still try to keep your social interactions low. When out and about try to keep two metres away from others wherever possible and continue to wash your hands carefully and more frequently than usual.

If you have received free food parcels, medicine deliveries and basic care from the National Shielding Service, these will stop but you will keep your priority supermarket slot. There are still volunteers who can help out with prescriptions or essential items by NHS Volunteer Responders or check our website for details of groups who can continue to help within your community.

If you are worried or anxious about going out after so long shielding, you can get support from the Every Mind Matters website here.

Great news! The Eat Out to Help Out Scheme starts on Monday until the end of August. Look out for the logo!

There are some great eateries in the South Hams eager for your business, so if you can, support our local participating cafes and restaurants by taking advantage of this offer to eat out at a discounted rate. 

You can get a 50% discount on food or non-alcoholic drinks to eat or drink in (up to a maximum of £10 discount per diner) every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday between 3 and 31 August and you can book as many times as you like!

You don't need a voucher and you can use the scheme at the same time as other offers and discounts.