Consultation backs rule changes

Riding bicycles in Newton Abbot parks should be allowed, according to two thirds of respondents to our consultation on changing the byelaw which currently makes this illegal.

More than 500 people took part in the consultation which closed on 12 January.  As well as supporting riding bicycles in parks, many respondents also advocated an off-road route between Ogwell and Newton Abbot which would avoid the busy Totnes Road,

We are currently analysing all the consultation comments and will shortly publish a summary of the key findings.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to give us their views.

Interactive workshops shape design code

A design code project for the planned Houghton Barton and Bradmore development to the west of Newton Abbot is well underway, with consultants, LDA Design, leading a series of workshops with local residents and technical experts.

The interactive workshops, which commenced in November 2022, have allowed residents and technical experts to share their opinions and expertise on key design topics, including, designing for low carbon living; street and building design; green infrastructure; and, active travel. The structure of the workshops has ensured residents’ ideas and thoughts are fed through to the technical experts, who then apply their knowledge to further these ideas and try to overcome any issues or concerns.

Main priorities that have been identified so far include:

• Enhance the natural features of the site and establish a strong and close relationship between nature and buildings
• Ensure good connectivity of green spaces and routes
• Encourage low carbon living and facilitate ongoing adaptation and resilience to climate change
• Prioritise fast purpose built active travel routes between key destinations within and outside the site
• Rather than entirely removing cars, move them to the background so they're only used when really needed
• Protect existing trees and hedgerows as much as possible
• Homes should have opportunities for personalisation
• Safe spaces for children to walk / cycle / scoot and to play
• Greening of streets for biodiversity, aesthetics, health and wellbeing
• Providing the community with powers over how green spaces and community facilities are managed

The final workshops, which will take place in February, will consider neighbourhood centres and community facilities in more detail. LDA Design will then analyse the outcomes of these workshops and develop a draft design code so that it's ready for wider public consultation later in the year.

Four figure response to survey

We had a  great response to our budget survey which closed on Wednesday with more than 1000 people completing it and giving us their views as to what should be our priorities in the coming financial year.

Your feedback is being analysed and will be reported to councillors ahead of them making any decisions on next year’s budget.  We will publish details of what you told us in this newsletter in the coming weeks, once the analysis is complete.

Thank you to everyone who took part.

It’s the Big Garden Birdwatch long weekend

This weekend will see thousands of people taking part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch first launched in 1979.

The RSPB is asking people to spend just an hour counting the wild visitors to your balcony, garden or local park to help give the charity a snapshot of how our wildlife is faring.

To take part, watch the birds around you for one hour, count how many of each species of bird lands on your patch and then go online and tell the RSPB what you saw.

More information is on the RSPB website.

Help highlight this rural cost of living survey

The Rural Services Network, in partnership with the Citizens Advice, is running a Rural Cost of Living Household Survey.

Although it has been completed by more than 3,000 people, the Network is keen to encourage more rural residents to take the survey.

It has produced a poster which can be downloaded and the Network is asking for help to display it in rural areas in for example local food banks, village halls, community shops. 

Results from the survey will build on the Rural Cost of Living research the Network commissioned last year and will be used they say to lobby Government departments, MPs and other policy makers for a fairer deal for rural communities.

Veterans' survey deadline drawing near

Midnight on Thursday (2 February) is the deadline for completing the Veterans’ Survey.

The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are running the survey which covers a range of topics related to the circumstances and lifestyles of people who have left the UK Armed Forces.

By taking part in the survey, you will provide information about the lives of the UK Armed Forces community, veterans, and their families which will help forward planning.

Final call for applications

The deadline for organisations to apply to the Connecting You Fund has been extended until the end of February.

The Fund provides small grants of up to £10K to projects and community organisations in Devon to help connect people to activities that help reduce the impact of loneliness

Devon County Council’s Connecting You initiative aims to tackle loneliness through transport for the over 55s and young adults aged between 16-24. 

More information and details of how to apply are online 

Business information

Devon has produced its latest connectme newsupdate for businesses which brings together much of the support available and it is available on line.