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Merry Christmas

Residents' update


The latest information and guidance to support you and our communities

Message from Council Leader Alan Connett

Alan Connett

As our thoughts turn to taking time off, relaxing with loved ones and the festivities and routines of this time of year, the latest news about Omicron is a stark reminder that we’re not out of this just yet.

Although Christmas parties may have been curtailed, for many this break will come at a time when they most need it. It is the chance to recharge batteries before the New Year and whatever opportunities and challenges it will bring.

For others, especially people who are working on the front line, in health, social care, and emergency services, there will be little respite over the festive period.  

My message of thanks seems so vastly inadequate for everything that they have done over the past two years, supporting the most vulnerable, working night and day to care for people, keeping vital services running, often in the most difficult of conditions.

Our communities have gone the extra mile to look after each other, and once again will be stepping up efforts to ensure people are safe, well and not feeling alone this Christmas.

Local businesses and particularly the hospitality industry will be taking another massive hit following the recent announcements, and they will be doing everything they can to ensure the latest safety measures are in place, so I hope local residents and visitors to the district will help to support them through another difficult season.

So whatever you are doing to mark this festive period and the end of the year, I wish you and your loved ones a happy, safe and restful Christmas, and let’s look forward to the year ahead as being one of new beginnings and hope.

Alan Connett


snowflakes

Christmas closures

Our phone lines will be closed from 1pm on Friday 24 December until 8.30am on Tuesday 4 January. 

Please visit our website for information and advice on all our service, to pay a bill online or for the latest news, which you can also find on our social media channels.

You can also pay for services using our 24/7 phone payment line 03300 882834. You can report issues or request information using our contact us form. We will respond to any enquiries when staff return in January. 

In an emergency please call our out of hours number on 0330 678 2382

Find out about our bin collections and recycling advice and guidance over Christmas and new year.

Please note that due to Covid our offices are currently closed to the public until further notice.

Covid news

steve brown

Enjoy a Cautious Christmas

Devon's Director of Public Health Steve Brown is asking everyone to take a sensible approach to socialising this year, as the spread of Omicron continues and efforts to protect ourselves ramp up across the County.

Following the advice from the Chief Medical Officer Chris Witty for us not to mix with people we don't have to, our leading local public health figure agreed, saying:  

"My advice is for everyone to be as cautious as possible over Christmas and New Year.   

"Booster take-up is going well in Devon, but the Omicron variant is so infectious, it's not worth putting ourselves and others at risk unnecessarily. 

"Many of us will have made plans for Christmas, to travel to see family and friends. But I think right now, this year, we need to prioritise what we want to do most, and minimise the amount of time we spend in larger gatherings. 

"If we are planning to spend time with family or friends, please do everything you can to protect yourselves and each other. 

"Get your booster vaccination – that’s a priority; get tested before you get together, and if you're away a while take tests with you; follow the national advice, especially about wearing face coverings; and remember to let the fresh air in, because that reduces the risk of infection."


Booster is best protection against Omicron

get boosted now

If you're planning to spend Christmas with loved ones, give them and yourself the best gift of  protection against Covid - as numbers of cases continue to rise rapidly nationally and across Devon as a result of the Omicron variant.

The vaccine booster programme is key to helping to offset the impact of a new wave of Omicron and is now being offered to all adults with the NHS and partners working flat out to deliver to all that want it over before the end of December.

Anyone over 18 is encouraged to get their booster vaccines as soon as they're able; and anyone who hasn't yet had their first or second vaccinations can still do so at centres across the region - check the national NHS booking centre for details or visit the Devon CCG Facebook page for information about local pop up centres in the area.

If you want to know why it's so important to get your booster on top of your other two vaccinations, the BBC has an article that explains how these vaccinations work with your immune system.


Covid Additional Relief Fund for businesses

business support

The Government announced the Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF) on Wednesday (15 December).

The Fund is to support businesses affected by the pandemic but that are ineligible for existing support linked to business rates. As such it is not open to businesses that currently receive the expanded retail discount.

Any discretionary relief granted is to reduce the chargeable amounts in respect of the rates year 2021/22.

We have only just received Government Guidance, so please bear with us while we create a local scheme to support and provide this relief and we will provide more information on our website as soon as we can.

Teignbridge news

Have your say on our budget

budget survey

We've just launched our annual budget survey to give you the opportunity to tell us whether you agree or not with our budget priorities.

This year, as well as answering specific budget questions, you can also tell us how satisfied you are with council services and Teignbridge as a place to live.

Please take part in the survey by visiting teignbridge.gov.uk/budgetsurvey.


February referendum for Bovey Parish neighbourhood plan 

brimley cross

People living in the parish of Bovey Tracey will be able to vote in a referendum next year whether or not to support the Bovey Parish Neighbourhood Plan.

This follows the consultation held in late summer and a subsequent independent examination of the Plan to ensure it conforms to national polices and guidance.

The referendum is scheduled for Thursday 3 February 2022 and the formal Notice of Referendum will be published on our website on Wednesday 22 December. Polling cards are scheduled to be posted on 7 January to everyone who currently lives within Bovey Tracey Parish and is registered to vote in elections.


Local residents asked for views on Bradley Lane plans

bradley lane

Lovell Partnerships the selected developer for Bradley Lane has launched their engagement with local residents ahead of a planning submission early next year.

Further details on the plans and the consultation leaflet are available on the LRM Planning website. 

The deadline for comments is 14 January 2022.


recycling lorry

Thank you from our Waste and Recycling Crew

Our crews would like to say a big thank you for your support this year despite the challenges and delays to some collections.  Your continuing efforts to recycle as much as you can have been amazing.

To find out when to put your bins and boxes out after Christmas, please visit our website and  if we are delayed please leave your containers stacked in front of your property and we will collect them as soon as we can. Have a very merry Christmas!


Warm Home Green Home

warm home

In partnership with OVO Energy Solutions we have introduced two funding support packages, subject to survey and funding availability, to help improve heating systems for people on lower incomes.

100 gas central heating grants are available to private homeowners and private tenants to install gas central heating and connect properties to the gas network. Householders with electric storage heaters, plug-in electrical heaters, or with no existing heating system are likely to benefit most, but grants may be available to householders who wish to upgrade their existing boiler.

Grants are also available to install air source heat pumps that provide heating and hot water. 

Support packages are limited, so anyone interested can find out more or register with us at Teignbridge.gov.uk/warmhomegreenhome.

Other news

Temporary traffic lights on A382 from 4 January

A382

Temporary traffic lights will be introduced on the A382 from Tuesday 4 January as work continues on the first phase of a new link road on the outskirts of Newton Abbot.

The lights, which will be located in the dip just north of Forches Cross, will be in place for the safety of site staff and members of the public while a new junction is constructed between the A382-383 Houghton Barton Link and the existing A382.


Most in need communities will have their 20mph requests prioritised

20mph consultatin

A new way of considering 20mph speed limit requests has been approved by Cabinet, and it will help ensure that the communities that would most benefit from lower vehicle speeds are considered first.

Currently, all requests by communities and councillors for 20mph speed limits are put onto a long waiting list.

But because of the high number of requests Devon County Council is receiving a ‘prioritisation system’ is now needed.

Now all requests for a 20mph speed limit will be considered taking against into account the average speed in that community and the number of vulnerable and elderly people in that area.


Happy Birthday to Dartmoor National Park!

dartmoor

2021 is the 70th anniversary of the designation of Dartmoor as one of UK's first National Parks, on 30 October 1951.

Dartmoor was one of the first places to be designated as a National Park; the Peak District, Lake District and Snowdonia were also awarded the designation in the same year.

Lots of special activities and events are planned and you can get involved no matter where you are!

Read the 70th anniversary edition of Enjoy Dartmoor magazine online or pick up a copy from one of the park's Visitor Centres.


GP practices to prioritise urgent care and COVID boosters

Following the Government’s call to accelerate the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme, Devon’s GP practices have, at very short notice, reallocated much of their workforce to delivering Covid-19 vaccines over the next two weeks.

This means that GP practices will focus on urgent clinical need and vaccines, and some non-urgent appointments may be postponed until the New Year.

Daily vaccinations across Devon will be doubling in the run up to Christmas with the ask of increasing the average number of weekly vaccinations given from 55,000 to 112,000 – this is a huge task at short notice and people in Devon are being thanked for their patience while arrangements to increase capacity are made.

Patients in Devon should continue to contact their GP practice for urgent health advice, but are urged to consider calling in the new year if it can wait, or if they can get help from another service such as a pharmacy, to allow teams to prioritise delivery of the vaccination programme.

People will be seen in person if they need to be examined, but most conditions can be discussed by phone, or by video call with a clinician.


Don’t forget to declare COVID-19 grants on your tax return

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is reminding Self Assessment customers to declare any COVID-19 grant payments on their 2020/21 tax return.

More than 2.7 million customers claimed at least one Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) payment up to 5 April 2021. These grants are taxable and customers should declare them on their 2020/21 tax return before the deadline on 31 January 2022.

The SEISS application and payment windows during the 2020/21 tax year were:

  • SEISS 1: 13 May 2020 to 13 July 2020
  • SEISS 2: 17 August 2020 to 19 October 2020
  • SEISS 3: 29 November 2020 to 29 January 2021

SEISS is not the only COVID-19 support scheme that customers should declare on their tax return. If customers received other support payments during COVID-19, they may need to report this on their tax return if they are:

  • self-employed
  • in a partnership
  • a business

Information on which support payments need to be reported to HMRC and any that do not is available on GOV.UK.


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


get boosted now
travelling abroad
proud to care