We're updating our fleet of recycling collection vehicles and need your help! 

We're planning to name each vehicle in the fleet so residents can spot them out and about collecting. 

We have 21 kerbside sort recycling collection lorries, each visiting a different locations throughout the district. Each round empties on average 2,500 recycling containers each day!

We'd like to give each lorry an individual, unique and catchy name. 

You can send your name suggestions to us, either on social media or by emailing recycling@teignbridge.gov.uk. If you provide your address and your idea is chosen, we will try to put your suggestion on the lorry that collects from your property. 

Prizes will be awarded for winning entries and the names of each vehicle will be displayed on the lorries. There is a maximum of four names per person. 

Closing date Friday 30 August. 

So put your creative hats on and let us know your ideas, we look forward to hearing from you! 

New charges have been set out by Teignbridge for the Community Infrastructure Levy – charges paid by housing developers that contribute towards community facilities, infrastructure and improvements such as countryside parks such as Ridgetop in Exminster (pictured), community facilities, or new roads and railway stations.

The existing charges for the CIL have been reviewed because a new Local Plan has been submitted for examination by the Secretary of State. The Local Plan includes new development sites for the district for the next 15 years, which will generate a need for new and improved infrastructure. The use of CIL is vital to secure money for this infrastructure. 

Since the introduction of CIL in 2014 the Council has spent over £10 million on infrastructure projects and £4.6m of CIL has been paid out to Town and Parish Councils. Projects wholly or partly funded by CIL income have included:

• Dawlish Countryside Park 
• SW Exeter Ridgetop Park; 
• Improvements to the A382 from Newton Abbot to Drumbridges;  
• Kingsteignton new Primary school 
• Decoy Park and The Den play areas 
• Marsh Barton Railway Station 

The new charging schedule will be examined by the Secretary of State this autumn.

If you're out and about on our beaches, you night notice some unusual sea creatures washed ashore.

Recently, our resorts team have been seeing lots of moon jelly fish at point beach in Teignmouth.

If you see them, don’t worry they don’t sting, and they are harmless to humans.

The moon jelly is the most common jelly fish in the UK and often washes up on our beaches.

They are usually around 5-40cm in diameter and can be recognised by their round dome-shaped jelly with four circles visible through the translucent white bell and short, delicate tentacles hanging down from the sides of the bell.

Pensioners should check if they could be eligible for Pension Credit to secure the Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £300 per household.

Pensioners need to apply for pension credits by 21 December 2024, to receive the Winter Fuel Payment.

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income.   

The average Pension Credit award is worth over £3,900 per year and it opens doors to other support, including the Winter Fuel Payment, help with housing costs, council tax and heating bills.   

There are up to an estimated 880,000 households across the UK eligible for Pension Credit who are yet to claim, and we are urging people to check whether they or their loved ones are eligible for this support

Find out more on the gov.uk website.

Summer holidays in Devon can't be relied on to be hot and sunny - at least, not all of the time! However, there is one scenario that we don’t usually expect during the summer - flash flooding.

We tend to associate stormy weather with winter months, but thanks to our changing climate, we can expect to experience more intense summer rainfall more frequently in coming years. Many of the most extreme rainfalls in the United Kingdom have occurred in the southwest of England between the months of June and August. When a significant amount of heavy rain falls in a short period of time, steep fast-flowing rivers and urban drainage often cannot cope, leading to deep, fast-moving water. There are 76 ‘Rapid Response Catchment’ drainage areas in Devon and Cornwall, which include watercourses that respond very quickly to heavy rainfall.

Flash floods can happen anywhere (far away from rivers and the sea), and even in areas that have not flooded before or flooded for a long time. They can also happen on clear and sunny days when a storm has struck higher ground. They are very difficult to predict as they are often caused by sudden, heavy rainfall in specific areas, rather than widespread rainfall across a larger region. This means that, unlike other types of flooding, flash flooding can happen before flood warnings can be issued by the Environment Agency through the free flood warning service that it offers. These floods can cause danger to life due to the depth and speed of the water, along with how quickly water levels can rise.

The Environment Agency is sharing an animation across Devon and Cornwall to highlight the dangers of flash flooding and reduce risk to life.

Knowing the warning signs of flash flooding can help you to stay safe:

Very heavy rain, often from thunderstorms

• Severe weather reports and warnings
• Quickly rising water levels
• Dark water that is moving with great force
• Debris in rivers and streams

Being prepared can help you to respond quickly and calmly:

Create a personal flood plan and understand your accommodation’s emergency evacuation procedures

• Assemble an emergency flood kit (for example, medication, important documents, drinking water)
• Do not use flimsy or temporary structures (e.g., tents, caravans) for shelter during flash flooding
• Shelter on higher ground or in a building at least two-storeys high, if it is safe to do so
• Do not walk or drive through flood water
• Call 999 if in immediate danger and follow instructions from emergency services
• Sign up for Met Office severe weather warnings (email notifications)
• Check for flooding in the next 5 days
• Check the long-term flood risk
• Sign up for free flood warnings (text, email, or phone)
• Contact Floodline on 0345 988 1188 for advice on how to recover

Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations will be taking place in Newton Abbot tomorrow (Saturday 24 August).

Meeting at St Leonards Tower (on Courtenay Street), our council Chair Cllr Rosie Dawson, Cllr Alex Hall -Mayor of Newton Abbot and the local Vicar will lead a short reflection. The Ukrainian flag will be raised on the tower, followed by lunch at the Courtenay Centre (Please bring food and drink to share).