Residents' update: keeping you informed

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The latest information and guidance to support you and our communities

Give our planet a gift this Christmas!

Christmas meal with a sticker asking out of date

Christmas is a time for spoiling those we love, for eating, drinking and making merry.  But did you know we waste around 250,000 tonnes of food over Christmas?

Nationally, we buy around 370 million mince pies, 10 million turkeys and drink a staggering 35 million bottles of wine during the Christmas period.   Yet around 35% of us admit to throwing away more food at Christmas than any other time of year, including around two million turkeys, 7.4 million mince pies and five million Christmas puddings.

Christmas cards

And we use around 227,000 miles of wrapping paper – enough to go around the world nine times – yet in 2017 we binned 108 million rolls; along with 13,000 tonnes of glass, 4,500 tonnes of tin foil, 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging and 1 billion Christmas cards – all ending up being disposed of when they could have been recycled..

Have a greener Christmas

This year we’ve included lots of tips to have a greener Christmas on our website and our social media channels – including gift purchases, what can be recycled and ways to reduce your food waste.   Or you can visit the Love Food Hate Waste website or the Recycle Devon website for more information and advice. Recycle Devon is also giving away a hamper a day for those who follow them and pledge to reduce their waste this Christmas.  Find additional tips and more about the give away at: 21 Days of Christmas - Recycle Devon

stacked recycling bins

If you want to find out when your bins will be collected over the Christms period, please visit our website.  If there are unforeseen delays to the revised schedule during the holiday period we will be working hard to stay on track and bins and boxes should be left out for collection (stacked securely) and we’ll be there as soon as possible. 

Recycling lorry

Operational staff salary increase

We’d also like to thank our collection crews and support staff who continue to work tirelessly to make sure collections happen.  Our top priority is the H&S of waste service delivery and throughout the period of the Plan B measures introduced to combat the Omicron variant, we will ensure we keep our crews, staff and the public safe.  

To acknowledge the work being done by our Waste and Recycling Operational Staff, and to help recruit and retain these vital staff against a backdrop of a national shortage of HGV drivers, the Council has agreed that salaries will be increased with immediate effect.  The staff shortages have meant that the waste and cleansing service has struggled to deliver its normal service on schedule, despite many of the crews working weekends and additional hours to compensate.


From 10 December you must wear a face covering  in most indoor settings including cinemas and theatres, unless exempt

Covid rules change from today

Face coverings must be worn in more places from today in an effort to stop the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19 in line with the Prime Minister’s announcement earlier this week.

In addition to wearing face coverings on public transport, they must from today be worn in most indoor settings (excluding hospitality) other than by those who have medical exemptions.

From 13 December you should work from home if you can

From Monday (13 December) people are encouraged to work from home if they can and then from Wednesday (15 December), subject to parliamentary approval, those entering nightclubs and settings where large crowds gather will have to show their vaccination status either via the NHS Covid pass on the NHS App or via a recent negative covid test.

The government also intends to introduce daily contact tests for contacts of confirmed positive Omicron cases instead of the ten-day self-isolation period.

With numbers in Teignbridge and the rest of Devon above the national average, Devon's Director of Public Health Devon, Steve Brown  welcomed the introduction of the new measures.

Always take a lateral flow test before you meet up, especially in enclosed spaces

Everyone has a part to play in combatting the virus and can help by:

  • Getting your vaccinations and boosters as soon as eligible
  • Taking a Lateral Flow test before meeting others and if positive self isolating immediately and taking a PCR test
  • Self isolating and taking a PCR test if you develop symptoms
  • Letting in fresh air when meeting indoors so as to stop the spread and to help you and your loved  ones stay safe.
  • Washing your hands regularly and properly is an effective way of reducing the spread of viruses

If you want to know more aout Omicron the Unnited Kingdom Heaoth Securtity Agebncy has published a blog entitled Investigating Omicron: what UKHSA is doing now.


Boost your immunity this winter with the flu vaccine + Covid-19 booster

Online booking for over 40s booster jabs 

People aged 40 and over in England can now book their COVID-19 booster jab as the NHS expands the number of people eligible in line with government's commitment to offer a booster to all eligible adults 18 and over by end of January.

Anyone aged over 40 can now book a booster jab via the national NHS booking service or attend walk-in centre.


From 15 December  you will need to show your NHS Covid pass in night clubs and other venues where large crowds mix

Group of people marking the change in management at Dawlish Country Park

Land Trust takes over management of Dawlish Countryside Park

The formal handover of the management of Dawlish Countryside Park was marked yesterday when representatives of The Land Trust, Teignbridge, Exeter and East Devon visited the award winning countryside park.

An agreement between Teignbridge and The Land Trust on the basis of a 999 year lease to the national land management charity secures the future of the Park which attracts more than 200,000 visitors annually.

The transfer not only secures its future but protects the legacy of social, environmental and wildlife benefits that has been secured since the park opened in 2017.

Read more


Warning triangles with CO2 written on them

Grants to encourage greener energy steps

An increasing focus on how reducing carbon emissions generated by the way we heat our homes can contribute to tackling climate change is leading many people to look at alternative greener energy systems.

Two grant schemes are now available that will help fund air source heat pumps and energy efficiency schemes in the home

Green Homes Grant Scheme

 In partnership with OVO Energy Solutions, we have successfully bid for grant funding from the Green Homes Grant scheme to deliver a low carbon energy programme by installing energy efficient Air Source Heat Pumps in residents’ homes. 

The funding is available to private homeowners and tenants in receipt of particular benefits or on a low income (less than £30,000 for a joint householder or £25,000 for sole occupant, after tax and national insurance) and have a property Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of D,E,F or G.

You can register your interest online for Green Homes Grants Scheme and the grant funding is likely to cover the full cost of works but is subject to survey and funding availability.  

radiator thermostat controller

South West Energy Hub’s Green Homes Grant scheme

Residents can also benefit from free energy efficiency improvements  such as insulation and low carbon technologies worth up to £10,000 via the Green Homes Grant phase 2 scheme hosted by the West of England Combined Authority, working with E.ON and Happy Energy Solutions. Owner-occupiers do not need to pay towards the costs of the work, subject to survey.

Tenants of rented properties can also access grants of up to £5,000 for energy efficiency upgrades but their landlord will be expected to contribute at least one third towards the cost of works.

To be eligible for the grants residents must receive benefits or have a household income below £30,000 per annum and the EPC for the property must be rated D, E, F or G.

If you’re struggling to keep your home warm and you think you might be eligible, you can submit an application on line  


Environment Agency National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England

Environment agency seeking feedback

Residents concerned about flooding or the management of local rivers may be interested in two consultations being undertaken by the Environment Agency.

It is consulting until 21 January on its 2021-27 draft Flood Risk Management Plans (FRMPs) and also until 22 April on its draft River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs).

The FRMPs set out how flood risk will be managed in nationally identified areas which are significant for people, the economy, or the environment.   The plans highlight that Newton Abbot and Dawlish are areas in Teignbridge which fall into this category.

RBMPs describe the challenges that threaten the water environment and how these challenges can be managed and funded. They contain local objectives for the water environment, informing the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. The consultation, which runs until 22 April, is the final stage in the process of reviewing and updating plans first published in 2015

Executive Member for Climate Change, Cllr Jackie Hook said:  ““ I would urge people to find some time to look at these important documents. Flood risk whether from more severe weather events or rising sea levels is a growing threat for our District and these plans outline measures to tackle this risk. Parts of Dawlish and Newton Abbot have been designated as areas where the risk and impacts of flooding is nationally significant and these areas are looked at in detail, in the Flood Risk Management Plan.”


Have your say - consultation reminders

Two important consultations are running which residents are encouraged to take part in and to give their feedback on the importance of tackling homelessness and rough sleeping as well as the updating and revision of the Local Plan.

Person sitting outside on stone floor at bottom of stairs

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy Consultation 

We're asking for feedback on our plans to deliver the right services at the right time to households facing homelessness.

The draft strategy published last week outlines our core principles, strategic priorities and the main activities we plan to undertake to prevent and relieve homelessness in Teignbridge.

Take a look at our strategy and take a few minutes to give us your views by completing the short questionnaire before it closes at noon on 4 January

Local plan

Local Plan consultation 

We're four weeks into the extended 10 week consultation on the latest stage in the local plan review, with residents being asked to comment on possible renewable energy sites as well as site options for small new housing development and for a new gypsy and travellers’ site.

Consultation documents and the feedback questionnaire can be accessed at teignbridge.gov.uk/localplanreview

Throughout the consultation, paper copies can be viewed at our Forde House offices, local libraries and Town and Parish Council offices.  People can also send their comments by email to localplanreview@teignbridge.gov.uk or if they don’t have internet access can write to the council.

The consultation runs until 24 January 2022


Fire and Rescue service poster promoting consultation

Join a focus group and influence the Fire and Rescue Service's Community Risk Management plan

Community Risk Management plan

Devon Communities Together is looking for a diverse range of individuals to join on line focus groups it will be running on Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service draft Community Risk Management plan (CRMP).

To make the sessions as representative as possible it wants to involve:

  • People with poor mental health
  • People with additional sensory needs
  • People from areas of lower income (C2DE communities)
  • People living in rented accommodation
  • People living alone
  • People with limited mobility
  • People in later life (aged 75+)
  • People from BAME communities

The focus groups will look at questions similar to those being asked as part of the consultation survey on the fire and rescues service’s draft Community Risk Management Plan

Those interested in joining a focus group should email Devon Communities Together 


Anyone travelling to the UK will need to show a negative pre-departure Lateral Flow or PCR Test taken 48 hours before travelling

Latest Government coronavirus guidance

Moving to plan B

How to stay safe and help prevent the spread

Face coverings 

Vaccination guide for adults

Booster vaccination guide for those aged 40 and over

Testing for coronavirus

Coronavirus cases


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