After a winter that has already put great strain on everyone's finances, households and businesses alike are having to deal with increased costs on a number of items and services.
From 1 April, broadband, mobile and water bills are among those that have seen increases. The average water bill in England and Wales is due to go up by 7.5%, while mobile and broadband prices are expected to rise by between 14% and 17%.
Households also face the prospect of paying more for energy, as the £400 discount from the government also comes to an end.
If you need financial support and advice, one of the best organisations to speak to is Citizens Advice. They provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice on all subjects to members of the community.
West Devon is served by Rural Devon Citizens Advice. You can visit their website or call their Adviceline on 0808 27 87 999.
West Devon Borough Council has also created an online support directory full of advice on financial matters and a whole range of issues. There are energy saving tips, advice on housing and rental costs, mental health and more. Visit westdevon.gov.uk/support-directory to find out more.
As part of the Help for Households support, the government has announced that the discounted bus travel is being extended for another three months across 5,000+ routes from over 140 bus companies.
The £2 fare cap means passengers can save on single bus tickets. The scheme began in January this year and has seen an uptick in passenger numbers.
Find out more on the government website.
With spring having sprung, the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer, we're reminding people ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday to follow key RNLI advice when swimming and enjoying our rivers, lakes and when venturing out to the coast.
The RNLI's key safety advice for taking a dip is:
- Keep a close eye on your family in the water - don't allow your family to swim alone.
- If you fall into the water unexpectedly, FLOAT TO LIVE. Fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back, extend your arms and legs, and float.
- If in doubt, stay out - there is always another day to go for a swim.
- Take plenty of warm clothes for before and after your dip, along with a hot drink to help you warm up again when you come out of the water.
- Wearing a wetsuit will help increase your buoyancy and reduce the chances of suffering cold water shock.
- Acclimatise to the water temperature slowly - never jump straight in.
- Stay in your depth and know your limits.
- If you get into trouble, remember FLOAT to live by leaning back in the water, extending your arms and legs, and resisting the urge to thrash around to gain control of your breathing.
- Take a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.
- Visit a lifeguarded beach and swim between the red and yellow flags.
- Keep a close eye on your family on the beach, especially younger children.
- Check the weather forecast, tide times and read local hazard signage to understand local risks.
- Be seen - wear a brightly coloured swim cap and consider using a tow float.
- If you or someone else is in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
You can find more information on beach safety and how to enjoy cold water swimming at the RNLI website here:
You can also find out more by visiting our website.
The Good Friday and Easter Monday Bank Holidays will mean changes to waste and recycling collections in the coming days.
The changes (as shown in the table above) are as follows:
Normal Day: Friday 7 April
New Day: Saturday 8 April
Normal Day: Monday 10 April
New Day: Tuesday 11 April
Normal Day: Tuesday 11 April
New Day: Wednesday 12 April
Normal Day: Wednesday 12 April
New Day: Thursday 13 April
Normal Day: Thursday 13 April
New Day: Friday 14 April
Normal Day: Friday 14 April
New Day: Saturday 15 April
Find out more about our waste and recycling collections on our website.
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