More than 400 homes for rent and shared ownership will be built as part of the South West Exeter development which will see 2,500 homes built as well as a new school campus, shops and community facilities plus a GP surgery, dentist and recreational park.
Devon Home Choice will shortly be advertising the first two and three bed affordable homes for rent, which are being built just off the A30 at Trood Lane, Exminster. Each will have spacious living accommodation, central heating, a private garden and parking for two vehicles.
Homes will first be offered to applicants who can demonstrate a strong local connection to the Parish of Exminster in the initial shortlist, having for example been resident there, having a permanent local job or a close family relative living in the parish.
If insufficient applicants with strong Exminster connections come forward, then local people with similar links to the parishes of Shillingford, Kenn and Powderham will then be considered before widening out the opportunity to the remainder of Teignbridge residents
Executive Member for Housing, Cllr Martin Wrigley welcomed the news. “We are committed to making more affordable homes available and over the next five years the combination of rent and shared ownership within this development represents a major step forward in helping local people find the housing they need.
"It’s good that these are available for the most local people first, staying close to family is even more important these days.
“As these developments take shape over the coming years, we look forward to a stream of affordable homes becoming available and going to local people who need a decent place to live.”
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People with a learning disability urged to have the flu vaccine
The NHS is encouraging adults and children with learning disabilities, as well as their family members or paid supporters to get a free flu vaccine this winter.
Preventing flu is particularly important for people with learning disabilities. It can lead to pneumonia and sepsis, which many people with a learning disability are much more vulnerable to than the general population.
People with learning disabilities are less likely to get the flu if people around them have also been vaccinated. Family carers can get the flu vaccination for free if they’re the main carer, as can support workers.
NHS urges people to do their bit as Covid inpatients increase
As winter approaches, doctors in Devon are reminding people that by practising self-care, they can help themselves and reduce the need to use busy NHS services.
The number of patients in Devon’s hospitals with Covid-19 has risen substantially this month – up to 168 compared with 111 in early November - and is expected to continue rising as cases in the community increase.
Covid in the community also impacts on NHS staffing with almost 600 in Devon off work due to Covid.
So the more we can all do to keep ourselves healthy the better, making sure we get vaccinated against Covid-19 and seasonal flu; managing minor illnesses or long-term conditions; and reducing the risk of ill health by choosing healthy options for good physical and mental wellbeing.
Parking charges dropped for Christmas late night shopping
Free parking to support Christmas late night shopping evenings starts in Newton Abbot and Ashburton next week.
From 4 pm, no charges will be levied in all Newton Abbot town centre pay and display car parking spaces (excluding reserved spaces) on Wednesday 1, 8 and 15 December. The multi storey car park will close at 6pm so the free parking will only apply for two hours, starting at 4 pm.
Free parking from 4 pm will also be available in Ashburton on Thursday 2, 9, 16 and 23 December, to support the town's late night Christmas shopping efforts.
By providing free parking on these evenings, we hope residents will be encouraged to shop locally, supporting local businesses.
Heating improvement highlighted by winter weather?
The weather has turned colder and many residents living in Teignbridge will be looking to make their homes warmer and more energy efficient.
The good news is that it is not too late to apply to our Warm Home Fund, run in conjunction with OVO Energy Solutions, for grant support to install gas central heating or to install air source heat pumps.
Two options are available to install central heating for the first time:
- Gas central heating grants to help switch from inefficient systems such as electric storage heaters or plug-in electrical heaters.
- Grants to install air source heat pumps to replace for example electric storage heaters or solid fuel back boilers and room heaters.
Qualification for a grant depends on your household income, or whether in receipt of certain benefits, in addition to other criteria. Go to our website for full details and to register.
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Waste and recycling update
A number of our waste and recycling rounds are running delayed this week due to ongoing operational issues. Further information can be found on our disruption information webpage.
If your collection has been delayed, please leave your bins and boxes out and we will return to collect them as soon as we can.
We have collection crews working this weekend to catch up with as many collections as possible, however some collections may be delayed until next week.
We are really sorry for any inconvenience caused by these delays. Our crews are continuing to work hard and continue to appreciate your support during these challenging times.
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New Executive Member for leisure and green spaces
Council Leader Alan Connett has appointed Cllr John Nutley to the Teignbridge Executive with responsibility for Leisure and Green Spaces.
Cllr Nutley said: “My first point of call will be to have meetings with officers and to visit leisure centres, recreation and play areas to meet staff and see what has been happening over the past months and the effect that the pandemic has had on our people and our services.
“I have worked hard over the past few years as chair of both the Car Parking and the Public Spaces Protection Order review groups.
“I want to familiarise myself with all that this position holds and feel it is important that Executive members work and support one another when it comes to making decisions.
“Having completed my time as Portreeve of Ashburton I will now be able to dedicate more time to carrying out the Executive Member position for Sport, Recreation and Culture.”
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#PlantForOurFuture
Arguably the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, National Tree Week, starts on Saturday, marking the beginning of the winter tree planting season.
Having agreed our five year Tree Strategy - The right tree in the right place – earlier this year, we will this winter be bulk planting more than 1,700 trees at different sites within the district as well as 16 individual trees in our parks and open spaces.
In doing so we will be taking into account a wide range of feedback that we received when we published our Tree Strategy and which attracted strong support: 94 per cent of the 363 respondents supported tree investment and more planting.
Numerous sites were suggested by respondents, some owned by Teignbridge and the plan is to review each for their suitability as locations for future tree planting. All Council owned open spaces will also be further investigated for their suitability for copse style planting linking into for example adjacent woodlands and where more trees will visually soften the edges of existing site boundaries.
Where large scale planting could conflict with other site usage, areas will be identified for ornamental/specimen style planting, favouring native species.
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 Six key themes ran through the core feedback to the Tree Strategy:
- Strong support for planting native trees
- A wish to see more fruit trees and orchards.
- The importance of planting the right trees in the right places.
- Having more trees planted in highway verges.
- More trees planted on new developments.
- Protection of mature trees and hedgerows through the planning process
A full report of the feedback is now available (add hyperlink) and the Tree Strategy is underpinned by the local plan which is currently being updated and incorporates policies that relate to protecting and enhancing the quality of tree, hedgerow and woodland cover across Teignbridge.
Helping businesses in Devon
This local, free-to-use platform helps organisations in Devon buy better and is being used by businesses, councils, charities and other organisations across the region.
As well as helping boost the local economy, using SupplyDevon allows businesses to contribute to the efforts of helping Devon achieve a carbon neutral status, reducing emissions through the transport of goods.
Businesses in the region are urged to register as a supplier to be matched with relevant quote request from local buyers. In addition, to help businesses streamline their procurement processes, procurement and purchasing teams can utilise the platform and begin requesting quotes through the simple online form, with no restrictions on the size or scope of project. Requests can be managed through the platform, and purchasing history kept all in one place, providing a full audit trail.
Businesses can find out more at SupplyDevon or can book a demo with a member of the SupplyDevon team.
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Do you need financial help?
If struggling to make ends meet, our new Household Support Fund may be able to help you
The fund is designed to help households in most need with food, energy and water bills as well as other essential living costs such as clothing, bedding, fridges, freezers or cookers.
If you are over 16, live in Teignbridge and struggling financially you can apply online on our website.
Anyone unable to apply online can call Citizens Advice Teignbridge on its dedicated Household Support Fund number (01626 326123) or can call our Customer Support Team on 01626 361101 (Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 5pm. Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm).
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