Residents Update: keeping you informed

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The latest information and guidance to support you and our communities

PM announces Covid winter plan

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The Prime Minister announced earlier this week his autumn and winter COVID plans, which include a Plan A and a Plan B.

Plan A focuses on the vaccine rollout, including booster jabs for the over 50s, health workers, and vulnerable people.  It also includes single jabs for 12-15 year olds, and will focus efforts on encouraging people who haven't yet been vaccinated to do so.

Plan B will be deployed if infection rates become concerning, and could result in the mandatory wearing of face masks, the use of COVID passports, and potentially advising people to work from home once again.

Working from home helps stop the spread

Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, supports this approach as an effective means of reducing the spread.  

“Being airborne, coronavirus thrives on social contact,” he said, “And working from home instead of the office has done a lot to reduce social contact.

“As a measure, working from home has been discussed this week as part of the government’s Plan B, to be reintroduced should circumstances demand it.

“I would certainly encourage it, and for employees whose employers allow it now, I recommend doing it whenever you can and for the foreseeable future.

“But we should all now act cautiously. Case numbers in Devon have fallen, but we expect them to rise again.

“Vaccine take-up when it’s offered to you; regular lateral flow testing for those without symptoms, and PCR testing for those with symptoms; self-isolating if you test positive; wearing face covering in crowded locations; minimising close contact; good ventilation indoors; and hand hygiene – these should all be engrained in our minds.

“Please continue to do your bit.”


More children to be offered the vax

vaccine

Young people, aged 12 to 15, are to be offered the vaccine, it was announced this week.

The NHS is preparing to deliver a schools-based vaccination programme, supported by GPs and community pharmacies.

Parental, guardian or carer consent will be sought by vaccination healthcare staff prior to vaccination.

Healthy school-age children aged 12 to 15 will primarily receive their COVID-19 vaccination in their school with alternative provision for those who are home schooled, in secure services or specialist settings.


Shielding programme formally ends

It was confirmed earlier this week by the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Goverment that the shielding programme for clinically extremely vulnerable people has formally ended.  The Government will be writing to everyone who is on the CEV list with further guidance and information.  


More rapid Charge EV points added to Teignbridge

ev charging

12 neighbourhoods across Teignbridge are set to receive state of the art rapid electric vehicle charging points.

The charging ‘hubs’ are the next phase of a private-sector led scheme that includes Devon County Council, Regen, Co Cars, ZPN Energy and Gamma Energy.

Funded by Innovate UK and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles, the scheme aims to deliver a network of charge points across Exeter and the surrounding area over the next two years.

The 12 new sites include St Pauls Road, Courtenay Park Road and Osbourne Street in Newton Abbot; Lower Brook Street Car Park, Shute Hill and Den Crescent in Teignmouth and Lawn Drive in Chudleigh, with both the Lower Brook Street and Den Crescent sites including a publicly hireable electric Co Car.

The remaining sites are St John’s Lane and Mary Street in Bovey Tracey, Brunswick Place in Dawlish, Newton Road in Kingsteignton and Court Street Moretonhampstead.

This project is part of a nationwide move to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality – the government has announced a ban on the sales of new cars and vans powered wholly by petrol and diesel from 2030. A key aim is to increase local access to electric vehicle charging points for those areas where people can only park on the street.

The rapid chargers have been developed by ZPN Energy, while Gamma Energy, based at Exeter Science Park, has developed the renewable energy technology that will power the chargers. The rapid chargers use a cutting-edge energy storage system enabling vehicles to charge very quickly.

A typical unit will provide 75 miles of travel after 30 min of charge (25Kwh) at a cost of £7.50 (30p per kWh).


Today is World Suicide Prevention Day

One in every 100 deaths worldwide is the result of suicide. It can affect every one of us. Each and every suicide is devastating and has a profound impact on those around them. However, by raising awareness, reducing the stigma around suicide and encouraging well-informed action, we can reduce instances of suicide around the world.

Locally, Devon has seen a rise in reported cases since 2018, with suicide rates in the county – 12 people per 100,000 of the population – higher than the average in England and the South West.

Men aged 45 to 49, and women aged 50 to 54 had the highest suicide rates in England and Wales in 2019, according to the Samaritans.  The rate for men aged 45 to 49 was 25.5 per 100,000 and the rate for women aged 50 – 54 was 7.4 per 100,000.


Dawlish marks Great Big Green Week

Teignbridge Council is supporting a number of events taking place to mark the national Great Big Green Week (18-26 September) including a Dawlish Lawn Event being run by Sustainable Dawlish on Saturday (18 September).  The event includes a number of performances from local choirs and musicians including local schools.

For a full programme of activities please visit the website.

dawlish gbgw

jj chalmers

Teignbridge steps up recycling efforts

Teignbridge is supporting this year's national Recycle Week (20-26 September) in a bid to make current recycling rates even better.

Recycle Now and Teignbridge are asking residents to ‘Step It Up’ in the fight against climate change and take action to protect our environment through even better recycling habits.

This year Recycle Now welcomes a celebrity ambassador to front Recycle Week and is delighted to be working with TV Presenter, Invictus Games Medallist and Strictly Come Dancing Star JJ Chalmers for the national campaign.

Councillor Alistair Dewhirst, Teignbridge District Council's Executive Member for Waste and Recycling Services, said: "It’s great to have JJ Chalmers heading up this year’s National Recycle Week and here at Teignbridge we are all up for the challenge to protect our beautiful district and combat climate change by recycling even more."


Exe estuary reserves receive national plaudits

Brent geese on the Exe Estuary

The Exe Estuary is internationally recognised for its wildlife and is managed by a number of different charities, Councils and organisations. Now, reserves on the Exe have been cited as “top ten” spectacular autumn nature reserves” to visit this September, by the RSPB - the UK's largest conservation charity.

The RSPB-run nature reserves include 170 hectares of land including the Exminster and Powderham reserves in Teignbridge and Matford Marshes, Bowling Green Marsh and Goosemoor near the Rivers Exe and Clyst.  They have been crowned some of the RSPB’s best places to visit this autumn for fantastic views both across the Exe Estuary itself, and for breath taking sunsets across the River Clyst at nearby RSPB Darts Farm.  

It’s important to always keep your distance from wildlife so you don’t disturb their natural behaviours. Bring a pair of binoculars for those close up views instead!”

Teignbridge, Exeter and East Devon Councils are working together as the South East Devon Habitat Regulations Partnership, along with RSPB, Natural England and the Exe Estuary Management Partnership to help ensure that the Exe Estuary’s wildlife continues to thrive for future generations.


Creating a vision for garden community progresses

garden community

Public engagement for the Garden Communities programme continues next week with two online ‘Community Leader’ workshops.

Representatives will look in depth at neighbourhoods within the Garden Community area, which extends from Abbotskerswell to Chudleigh Knighton. Views and aspirations will be shared in guided discussions to help create a vision for the neighbourhoods and the Garden Community as a whole. 

For more information on Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton Garden Community, please visit our website.

If you would like to get involved, or for more information, please email gardencommunity@teignbridge.gov.uk


Executive agrees Bradley Lane proposal

Members of the Executive today voted forward a proposal for full Council on Monday to approve the bid submission to secure a development partner, to bring forward the development of Bradley Lane in Newton Abbot for residential housing.  The development will include 40 affordable homes in a prime town centre location, with excellent cycling and walking links. If the recommendation is given the go-ahead, the developer will need to secure planning permission, the details of which will be subject to consultation with Members and the local community.

bradley lane

Supporting tenants to improve their living conditions in private sector housing

house to rent

More than 80% of the homes that will be needed in 2050 already exist today. Yet over 4 million of them are classed as being below the most basic minimum decency standard. Over the last 14 months the Good Home Inquiry has set out to find out not only why we are in this position, but what we can do about it. 

Through an evidence-based analysis of housing policies, people’s experiences and through engagement with a wide variety of key stakeholders the Inquiry panel has developed a set of proposals that are ambitious, but also workable and realistic. Through the Good Home Dialogue run by BritainThinks these ideas were tested as part of a dialogue with 89 people from all tenures experiencing problems with their homes 

Teignbridge has been working with Lendology - a not-for-profit Social Enterprise lender working to improve the private sector housing stock across the district.

Through the partnership we provide the funding to support loans to residents in Teignbridge. Since 2010 Lendology has lent just over £1M to Teignbridge residents, with approx. £500K repaid, improving 77 homes.  This enables the recycling of monies to further lend to eligible resident.

Through this partnership we have contributed to Good Home Inquiry Report - launched this week, which follows an inquiry commissioned by the Centre for Ageing better, into the issue of unfit housing and fuel poverty alongside social, health and wellbeing issues faced by residents in local communities. 

Government coronavirus advice

The NHS Covid-19 app protects lives.  The app prevents up to 2000 new infections every day.  So keep using your app and together lets keep moving

Latest guidance

Vaccination guide for adults

How to stay safe and help prevent the spread

Protecting people who are clinically extremely vulnerable

How to stay safe if you are pregnant

Red, amber and green list rules for entering England

Working safely


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