If you have any covid symptoms – a high temperature, a new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – please do not try to vote in person but isolate and get a test.
You can make sure that you don't have the virus - one in three people who have it show no symptoms - by taking a quick and easy lateral flow test which is available to all adults and which gives results usually within an hour. The government is encouraging people to take a test regulalry to help stop the spread and details of local testing sites are on Devon's website.
In the Devon County Council elections there are 10 divisions in Teignbridge where candidates are standing. Residents can also vote for The Police and Crime Commissioner and there are town council elections in Chudleigh, Newton Abbot Bradley, Teignmouth Central and Teignmouth West.
If you are not sure where your polling station is a lookup facility on our website will help you to identify where you should go to vote.
If you are voting by post, your completed ballot needs to arrive at the Electoral Registration Office before it closes on polling day (6 May) or if you have forgotten to post it, you can hand it in at a local polling station by 10pm on election day.
Whoever you vote for, make sure you use your vote - it could make a difference.
Help for voters with learning disabilities
Learning Disability England has published a local elections resources hub which provides support for voters with learning disabilities to participate in next week's elections.
The hub includes information about the right to vote and accessibility as well as easy read guides, videos and a survey to gather insights into why people do not vote.
Vaccination programme enters next phase
People in the next phase of the NHS vaccination programme will be contacted and offered an appointment at a local vaccination centre in Devon when their age group becomes eligible.
Currently people aged 40 and over are eligible for a vaccine with younger age groups expected to be offered a jab in the coming weeks.
From early May, more sites in Devon are set to offer appointments via the National Booking Service’s website and phoneline as part of this next phase.
As part of phase two, 13 of the existing 20 GP-led sites across the county are offering vaccinations to people aged 18-49 as they become eligible, while all 20 sites will continue to offer second doses to their patients in the top nine priority groups (people aged 50 and over and high risk groups).
For information about vaccination sites across Teignbridge go to the vaccination page on the Devon Clinical Commissioning Group website.
|
Cutting carbon emissions
The opportunity to receive additional national funding for work to be carried out on the Teignbridge District Council offices at Forde House has resulted in an Extraordinary Full Council meeting being held on Tuesday (4 May) at 9.30am.
Following our successful bid for funding to decarbonise our leisure centres and lido, we have secured £672,000 for work on Forde House, subject to Full Council support before the 5 May national deadline.
Forde House currently represents about 10% of the Council’s direct carbon footprint and is the second highest source of our carbon emissions. The proposed work would see heating and ventilation systems upgraded, thermal fabric improvements made, the incoming electricity supply upgraded and LED lighting and Solar PV projects implemented.
The work is estimated to reduce our carbon footprint by a cumulative figure of 1,030 tonnes of CO2 over the next 15 years, representing a significant step towards delivering a net-zero authority. As well as contributing to carbon savings the investment is expected to cut our annual energy costs by £7,000.
At the same time councillors will be asked to approve further investment to change the internal layout of the building enabling more effective ways of working and reducing the amount of occupied space.
|
Groyne repairs completed
Work by Environment Agency contractors to repair two groynes (13 and 14 - marked in orange on the map) at Teignmouth will be completed today.
Access to the lighthouse, the prom and the nearby steps to the beach which has been restricted will now be back to normal for the bank holiday weekend.
The contractors will be back on site for a few days in June.
|
Let's share Devon together. #RespectProtectEnjoyDevon
111 - the first port of call for all urgent medical advice
Doctors are reminding people this bank holiday weekend that if you need urgent medical advice, there’s just one telephone number to remember – 111.
By contacting 111 first, either online or by phone, people will get quicker and safer access to NHS services when they need urgent care. Those who need emergency medical care from a hospital Emergency Department (also known as A&E) will be given direct access to the department.
If the issue would be better dealt with in a Minor Injury Unit, GP surgery or other urgent care site, patients will be booked in directly. This will ensure that people get to the right place for treatment quickly and should reduce waiting times.
By contacting 111 first, people will not only be treated more quickly, but the number of unnecessary visits to some of the region’s busiest healthcare facilities will also be reduced – taking pressure off local services and ensuring social distancing measures are applied.
Many minor conditions and symptoms can be managed at home without seeking further advice. Visit the NHS website www.nhs.uk for a complete guide to conditions, symptoms and treatments, including what to do and when to get help.
Mental health support: anyone experiencing a mental health crisis no longer needs to visit an Emergency Department for advice. To contact Devon's 24/7 First Response Service call 0808 196 8708.
Pharmacy: find your nearest open pharmacy whose staff will be able to help in treating minor illnesses such as coughs, colds, stomach upsets and aches and pains.
Dental: if you need urgent dental treatment this bank holiday call your dentist, or use the NHS 111 online service.
Have your say on shared e-cars
Residents, businesses and community organisations in Teignmouth are being asked for their views on establishing a shared electric car club in the town.
The initiative would give access to electric cars for everyone whilst also supporting the shift to zero carbon transport.
Under the plan, an electric car would be available to book for as little as half an hour and there would also be rapid electric chargers for public use. The survey also asks if residents would be interested in an electric bike share scheme
The proposals if implemented would help tackle congestion, parking and pollution problems, whilst providing affordable access to zero emission vehicles.
This survey is being run by Co Cars, a not-for-profit cooperative social enterprise that runs a network of shared, low and zero-emission cars across the South West, and runs until Friday 21 May.
|
New sporting guidance information hub
Sport England has collated the guidance available on specific types of activity (football, rugby, water events, Parkrun, etc.) into one webpage for easy reference and which will be updated as new information becomes available.
|
|