Enjoy our play parks and stay safe

All our play parks are now open, and we've made sure they're as safe as possible to use. However, please follow the guidance on the signs carefully, keep your distance, wash yours and your children's hands regularly and don't enter the park if it's busy - come back another time.

Fairways at Shaldon reopen

Golfers will be able to return to the fairways at Shaldon Golf on Monday and enjoy one of the best approach courses in the South West, with breathtaking views of Teignmouth and the Teign Estuary. when Shaldon Golf reopens. Shaldon, which is an 18-hole course and has hole distances of 60 to 120 yards (7 holes over 100 yards) has been closed due to the pandemic for more than three months.  Card payments will be taken only and golfers will need to follow the guidance issued by golf governing body the R&A to minimise the risk during the current pandemic.

Investing in communities - Baker's Park

Work on a new Football Pavilion will start at Baker’s Park in Newton Abbot next Monday (20 July). 

The work – which is being funded from money received as a result of local developments - will include a new kiosk, two team changing rooms, two referee changing rooms, two unisex toilets, an accessible toilet, plant room, and football store.  Once construction is complete, the existing changing rooms, the old tennis court booking office and toilets will be demolished and the area will be re-landscaped

Subject to winter weather conditions, work should be completed by late February..

Last chance for businesses to apply for Covid support grant 

Businesses across Teignbridge - from sole traders to larger businesses - are being offered a final chance to apply for a new grant scheme to help them recover losses resulting from coronavirus.

The grants can help businesses offset losses like fixed commercial property costs, but sole traders who work from home are also eligible, as well as people in receipt of self-employment money.

This is the third and final round of the grant scheme, which opened on 8 June. The council has already awarded over £1m of funding to businesses across the district who have not been eligible for any of the previous COVID support grants, and who started trading before 11 March.

In the most recent round, 240 businesses received funding with £669,500 being paid out – consisting of 147 £1,000 grants; 41 £2,500 grants, 20 £5,000 grants and 32 £10,000 grants.

Paramount 21 was one of the first companies to have been awarded a Discretionary Grant Fund of £25,000 by Teignbridge District Council. They are an award-winning food manufacturing company that was started 32 years ago by Ali Hannaford. They specifically produce frozen products for the food service industry which has been so widely affected by Covid19 and employed almost 90 people prior to the current crisis.

Owner and Exec Chairman Ali Hannaford said: “The support that Teignbridge have given us has been really helpful, easy to apply for and greatly appreciated. Apart from the government furlough scheme, and the amazing support we have received from our bankers Nat West, this is the only other support we have had.

“Any business coping with an 80% overnight reduction in sales and uncertainty about when things might pick up will face challenges. We are doing everything we can to maintain as many of our jobs as possible. Teignbridge’s support, through their Economic Development department, will go some way towards helping us maintain our position as a large employer in the region.”

Teignbridge have not set any thresholds on ratable value (RV), company turnover or employee numbers. This means larger businesses can apply.

The maximum grant will be £10,000. There will also be grants of £5,000, £2,500 and £1,000 depending on circumstances. Those with minimal or no fixed commercial property related costs are only entitled to a grant of £1,000.

Apply online by 17 July to be considered and please ensure you have all the support documents listed on the website before you start your application process.

Fancy taking a market stall?

Local small businesses who want to open up new retail opportunities are being offered the chance to take a stall at Newton Abbot Markets.

A drive to increase customer choice by having a wider range of businesses operating from the market is underway.  The indoor and outdoor market are central to the transformation plans for the town centre and increasing the number of people who shop at the markets is important not just for current traders but also as part efforts to encourage more people to shop locally and cut out unnecessary travel.

Bay Tree Café owner Margaret Tucker is seeing new customers arriving to the stall since the start of the pandemic.  She said: "The challenge I face at the moment is to make sure my staff and customers feel safe in my Café, with as many guidelines in place as possible. But customers have been very pleased with the food hall being open for them and we have gained some loyal new customers."

Stall prices start from as little as £9 per day and enquiries should be made to the market team by email or by calling 01626 215427

Supporting the tourism industry locally  - while minimising risks - is really important given its value to Teignbridge and the number of people whose livelihood depends on it. Almost 7,000 people work in the sector locally and it generates over £268 million to our economy.

As part of its efforts to encourage people to support businesses getting back to normal, the government has launched a 'Know Before You Go' website which gives advice on what to do before leaving home, how to look after yourself and each other when you're out and links to find out how different areas of the country are reopening.

Monday deadline for feedback

Consultation on the local plan closes on Monday 13 July.  If you haven't had your say by completing the feedback forms, please take the opportunity to shape the future of the district by giving us your thoughts on the type of housing we need and the environmental, sustainability and economic approaches in the plan.