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The Local Plan sets out how development will happen over the next 20 years. It helps to protect and enhance our landscapes, heritage, wildlife, jobs, communities and homes as well as identifying the required supporting infrastructure of roads, schools and health centres.
No decisions have been made ahead of the consultation (scheduled to start on 14 June) and local people will be asked to comment on their preferred options and in particular whether development would improve or exacerbate existing local issues, and the factors that should be taken into account in deciding whether the sites should be included at the next stage.
The decision to consult will be made at the Executive on 1 June at 10am and papers are available on our website The meeting can be watched live on our webcast channel and further information about the local plan is on our website.
The public health mantra is caution
‘Taking a cautious approach’ to the latest easing of restrictions is the mantra from public health experts up and down the land with Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon one of those advising caution.
“I’m not going to tell people that they mustn’t hug, but I will resist, and my advice to others is also to exercise caution,” he said.
“While coronavirus is still present in our communities, and people are still at risk of catching it and spreading it, the common sense approach is the cautious approach.
“One in three people who have the virus don’t show any symptoms of having it. Unless detected, they will unknowingly spread it to others."
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Latest Devon NHS vaccination advice
Vaccinations are now being offered to people aged 34 and over and those who turn 34 before 1 July 2021.
Those who are eligible can book an appointment online.
Second doses of the Covid-19 vaccination are being brought forward for people aged over 50, frontline health and social care workers and people who are in at-risk groups (cohorts 1-9)
This follows the government announcement last week reducing the time between doses for those groups from 12 to around 8 weeks. This is to ensure people across the UK have the strongest possible protection from the virus at an earlier opportunity.
People in cohorts 1-9, who have an appointment before 25 May, should attend as planned. Those with later appointments will be contacted to make new arrangements.
The NHS is asking people to wait to be contacted and not to get in touch to try and bring appointments forward.
People who need proof of vaccination status should use the NHS app and should not contact their GPs who are unable to provide this.
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Green light for Newton Abbot regeneration plans
 Plans to revitalise Newton Abbot have been given the go-ahead this week with the announcement by the government that we are to receive £9 million from the Future High Street Fund.
The approval is based on plans submitted earlier this year aimed at transforming the town centre into a vibrant and welcoming place to visit, boosting footfall and local spend and creating a premier market destination for the wider area.
The plans create a central, flexible mixed-use space for community, artistic and cultural activities, alongside a revitalised market, food hall and market square. Upgrades will also be made to Queen Street and the National Cycle Network Route, as well as the building of a new state-of-the-art cinema.
The approval means that detailed work can now start on the regeneration plans first proposed 10 years ago.
Seeking feedback from new home residents
If you have moved into a new build home in Teignbridge in the past year you should have received an invitation to take part in our online short annual survey.
The more responses we receive the more we can ensure future planning meets local people’s needs. So if you have received a letter but haven't yet completed the survey, please take a few minutes to do it, and if you know of friends or family who have also moved into a new build, please encourage them to take part t
The information gathered from the survey is important to find out how new residents feel about their new homes, local facilities and surroundings and give us information on where they have moved from, their commuting habits and/or home working arrangements.
This year there are two £25 shopping voucher prizes for the Newton Abbot market for completing the survey. People will have to access the reference number shown in the letter but if this has been lost residents can contact us for it.
The survey should take around 5 mins and the closing date has been extended to the end of June.
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Decoy Country Park play park refurbishment
Exciting times ahead as we prepare for the Decoy Country Park play park refurbishment. The play park will be closed from 6 June for approximately eight weeks. There will be some parking spaces closed off as work takes place, and we thank you for your patience and co-operation during this period.
The kiosk is available for refreshments, and there’s lots of spring wildlife to look out for in the park. Our free ‘wellbeing walk’ takes place weekly on Thursday mornings at 11am, meeting in front of the kiosk. We also have a Poetry Trail installation around the park to look forward to in the Summer, created by the Wild Collaborative project team and Year 4 children from Decoy Primary School.
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Disappointment as 'green' heating scheme shelved
Teignbridge Council has expressed disappointment at the news that an innovative district heating system designed to cut carbon emissions and reduce heating costs for future residents in the SW Exeter area has been shelved, due to an unwillingness from developers to shoulder any additional costs.
A 70% cut in carbon emissions compared with natural gas fired boilers would have been secured by the system but despite rising returns from new plots over the past year, developers were unwilling to back the scheme which would have heated houses in the proposed development to the South West of Exeter.
Announced earlier this year, the carbon cutting heating system which would have used heat already being generated from waste, was supported by a consortium including Teignbridge District Council, Exeter City Council and Devon County Council. Due to the benefits of tackling climate change, the £23 million project would have been backed by the three councils with up to £7.3 million capital investment funding – the equivalent to £3,000 a plot.
Although smaller developers such as locally based Cavanna Homes demonstrated its green credentials by being prepared to support the scheme, the lack of sufficient housebuilder support means that the development, which has historic planning permission, is likely to go ahead with less energy efficient heating systems.
Everyone encouraged to seek care when needed
The NHS has launched a new public information campaign to encourage people to contact their GP, attend hospital appointments and use the NHS 111 service if they have urgent care needs (or 999 in emergencies).
The COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in fewer people accessing NHS services for a range of conditions that are not related to COVID-19.
The NHS is emphasising that it s still here for people who need medical care and that people should contact their GP practice, online, by an app or by phone to be assessed.
Those who need urgent medical help, should use the NHS 111 service but faced with a serious or life-threatening emergency, people should call 999
The NHS is also stressing the importance of people going to hospital if advised to do so and of attending appointments, unless specifically told not to attend.
The Pharmacist Will See You Now – Why Wait For a Doc?
Local pharmacies can provide expert advice and a fast route to medication for minor ailments like aches and pains, sore throat, coughs, colds, flu-like symptoms, runny noses, earache and skin rashes.
Pharmacies are open until late and at weekends with no need for an appointment, so they should always be considered as first port of call for common ailments.
In addition, Devon’s Pharmacy First scheme means that trained pharmacists in participating branches can issue medication which normally has to be prescribed by a GP for the following conditions:
- Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) for women aged 18-64
- Impetigo
- Nappy rash
- Conjunctivitis for one-year-olds
To find your nearest pharmacy and check opening times, go online at www.nhs.uk or call the free helpline NHS 111.
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Latest government guidance
When the further relaxation in lockdown rules came into effect on Monday, the Government updated its guidance to help people stay safe in different scenarios.
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