Together with councils across Devon, efforts are being stepped up to make sure that town and parish councils,  voluntary groups and other organisations contributing to efforts to control the virus have the resources they need.

Council Leader Alan Connett says tackling Covid19 and doing all we can to support our communities continues to be our priority.

In adapting to the new lockdown regime, one message is clear.  Devon's Director of Public Health Virginia Pearson is appealing to everyone to 'act now to stop the virus in its tracks' and help prevent local health services from being overwhelmed this winter.

Teignbridge will be working with the local community and voluntary sector, town and parish councils, and volunteers to provide services for those most in need. This could include:

• help with grocery orders and deliveries
• collection and delivery of medication
• access to emergency foodbank parcels
• transport to medical and hospital appointments
• financial support for those in serious hardship
• arranging regular phone calls from volunteers to ease social isolation

Executive Member for Housing Martin Wrigley said:  “We’re asking everyone to pay special attention to those around them who might be really struggling through this second lockdown.

“This is going to be a challenge for us all, but the one thing we can all do to help each other, and boost our own mental wellbeing, is a simple act of kindness or compassion.”

What does this new lockdown mean for Teignbridge?

Yesterday saw our leisure centres, tennis courts and Shaldon Golf close in line with Government requirements, some staff furloughed and others increasing the amount of time they worked from home to ensure that we can safely support our communities throughout lockdown.

A skeleton leisure team is continuing to work to ensure that as soon as lockdown restrictions are lifted we will be able to open our centres and members can download the app for online classes and activities throughout lockdown.

Food traders will continue to operate in the indoor Newton Abbot market and outdoor food traders are operating on Courtenay Street. 

Grounds maintenance work is continuing and the public toilets we run will remain open.

Staff site visits will be limited to essential only activity only.

We have closed Newton Abbot multi storey car park due to an anticipated drop in demand and to avoid spending money unnecessarily.

Need to contact us?

During the pandemic many of our staff are working from home and those in our Forde House offices are doing everything possible to maintain a covid-free environment.

In line with the government's advice we are not seeing customers face to face at Forde House.

Our Customer Support Team can be contacted on 01626 361101 during office hours, Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5pm and Friday 8.30am – 4.30pm

For those unable to contact us from home, a self service phone is located inside the Forde House entrance which will enable someone to talk to a member of the team. Access is from 9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.

You can also use our website’s 'contact us' link  or contact us by post.  Please do not hand deliver documents to Forde House unless absolutely necessary and where this is your only option please use the post box located at the “Porters Lodge” which is the building you see when you first drive onto our site.

Please visit our website for the latest coronavirus information.

Covid helpline for those in need of support

If you need help or support during the lockdown or know someone who does,call our coronavirus hotline.

Launched earlier this year it can help local residents who are feeling isolated, unable to access food or other services or even just not sure where to go for help or advice.

It operates:

• Monday to Thursday, 8.30am - 5pm 
• Fridays, 8.30am - 4.30pm.

Contact it by calling 01626 215512 or email  coronavirus.support@teignbridge.gov.uk 

Hardship Fund support

People struggling to make ends meet due to Covid-19 could be helped by our Hardship Fund to pay for basic necessities including household essentials, utility bills or travel costs.

Through the Fund, we put people in contact with Food Banks and other voluntary groups who can offer help. We've also helped households who are managing longer term debt with financial advice.

The Fund can help people whose income has been reduced by the impact of Covid to levels which do not cover their basic costs, such as being made unemployed or furloughed, whose business can’t trade or who are self-employed and not covered by government support schemes, and who can demonstrate they have less than £500.

Business support 

The government has announced a range of support for businesses and the self employed.

As further guidance on eligibility and payment is produced we will provide information on what funds are available, who can apply, and how how to apply for grants.  Our aim is to process any claims as swiftly as possible.

Our website will give the latest information or you can keep up to date on all Government Covid-19 support schemes via the GOV Business Support website.

Please give us your feedback

We're seeking your views on two surveys that we're currently running. Please take a look and give us your feedback.

Council tax reduction

People on a low income can apply for council tax reduction (sometimes known as council tax support) to reduce the amount they have to pay.

Every year the council decides its council tax reduction scheme which provides support to working age householders on low incomes. This consultation is about allowing the scheme to protect claimant entitlements from the adverse effects of welfare changes made by the government in response to Covid-19.

 The consultation runs until 13 December and you can give your views via our website.

Residents’ Survey COVID-19 Recovery

Although we are now in a second lockdown, we're already working on a plan to support local communities to recover from covid-19.

The pandemic has of course impacted on Teignbridge residents, businesses and communities in many different ways. We want to understand how you have been affected, so we can support the district’s social and economic recovery.

Please complete this survey, which closes on 23 November, and which should take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete. Your feedback will help us to plan for the future.

Remembrance Sunday events

The Government has updated its guidance for Remembrance events and highlighted alternative ways to mark this important occasion.

Providing organisers have taken all reasonable steps to limit the spread of coronavirus, Remembrance Sunday events can still take place at public war memorials or cenotaphs.

Events should be outdoors, be short and focused on wreath laying with attendees kept to a minimum, observing social distancing with public viewing minimised.

For NHS Test and Trace purposes, organisers will be asked to record contact details for those attending, including spectators.

Council houses being built in Newton Abbot

Work has now started on the first Teignbridge District Council-built social housing project in a quarter of a century.

Demolition has begun on the old garage blocks at the Drake Road site in Newton Abbot, where two three-bedroom homes will be built for local families needing the extra space, along with car parking for residents as well as four additional public parking spaces to offset the loss of the garages to adjoining residents.

The new homes will be designed in line with carbon reduction principles and will exceed the minimum building regulations standards. This will provide good quality homes with the aim of keeping running costs low for future tenants.

Executive Lead for Housing, Cllr Martin Wrigley (pictured right with Warren Smith from Primebuild SW Ltd), said: “This is a milestone in the Council’s commitment to provide quality affordable homes for local people, and we’re really proud to be building our first council housing since the 1990s.

“This project is one of a number of local projects to provide appropriate housing that meets the needs of local families, and build homes that are fit for the future.”

The homes are being constructed by Primebuild South West Ltd, with completion of the build work estimated to be early next Summer

Volunteer to help the NHS

The NHS is looking for new Volunteer Responders for a range of roles and are encouraging people to sign up.

Previously registered volunteers are also  being encouraged to get back involved by signing in again through the GoodSAM app or call 0808 196 3646 for advice.

The national volunteer scheme was set up by the NHS  earlier this year wil continue till at least March 2021 and is supported by the Royal Voluntary Service and the GoodSAM app.

Volunteers help people who are vulnerable to the virus to stay well by staying at home. They also directly support the NHS by delivering equipment and supplies, providing patient transport, and directing patients at NHS sites. Further ways to support the NHS are due to be announced shortly.

The scheme is operated through a smartphone app which means volunteers can set convenient times to go ‘on duty’. This makes it easy to fit around work, family or other volunteering commitments.

Volunteer safety is central to the scheme and NHS Volunteer Responders do not come into direct contact with COVID-19 patients.

Further information is on the NHS Volunteer Responders website.