Coronavirus (Covid-19) update - 19 March 2021
Please find below our latest Coronavirus (Covid-19) update for East Devon residents and businesses with information we hope will be of interest to you.
In this issue...
- Census day is here
- Have your say in local elections
- LED Tennis courts to reopen
- Global Recycling Day
- Wild East Devon news from Seaton Wetlands
Census day is here
With March 21 this weekend, Census 2021 is in full swing in Devon.
The letters, with your unique access codes, have all gone out and responses are already coming in.
“A successful census will help give the best picture of the needs of everyone living in England and Wales,” Iain Bell, deputy national statistician at Office for National Statistics, said.
“It helps us understand what our society needs now and what it will likely need in the future. We’ve had a fantastic response so far, with so many of you completing the questionnaire on your laptops, phones and computers.
“It takes just 10 minutes per person to take part and if you can’t get online, there are paper forms available for those who need them. Now is the time to make your mark on history.”
Where it is safe to do so, local census support centres are open while the census is happening. Staff will offer help for people not confident online, who don’t have a computer or need help completing on paper.
The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England and Wales. It has been carried out every decade since 1801, with the exception of 1941.
This census is the most inclusive yet. Everyone can identify as they wish using search as you type online and write-in options on paper if they need it.
Results will be available within 12 months, although personal records will be locked away for 100 years, kept safe for future generations.
Have your say in elections this May
On Thursday 6 May, residents in East Devon will be voting for Police and Crime Commissioner, Devon County Council, a by-election for the Whimple and Rockbeare ward at EDDC and casual elections in some towns and parishes after having been postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. These elections are an important chance to have a say about the issues that matter to you and your local community.
The county council are responsible for many of the services you see and use every day, such as roads, transport and social care. The choices made by the council will impact your community, so it’s important you make sure you’re part of choosing who represents you and makes these decisions.
Coronavirus has changed a lot of things over the last year, but it won’t stop you from being able to vote. Although polling day seems a while away yet, plans are already being made to make sure that you are safe when casting your vote, whether you choose to do it by post, by proxy (by asking someone you trust to vote on your behalf), or in person at a polling station.
Many communities have really pulled together through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Has the last year given you the chance to be more involved in your local community?
Standing as a Devon County Councillor means you could be part of giving local people a voice and making Devon an even better place to live. You don’t need any special skills or experience, just an interest in community involvement.
There are only three criteria you need to fill to stand:
- Be 18 years old or over on the day of nomination.
- Have work connections or property in Devon.
- Be a UK, Commonwealth or EU citizen.
If you think you have what it takes to be the voice of your community, find out more about standing to be a Devon County Councillor.
East Devon businesses should check their eligibility for grants before the end of March
Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) funding for thousands of East Devon businesses is waiting to be claimed before the deadline at the end of March. Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) will remain open until further notice.
If you want to stay up to date with the latest news about grants for East Devon businesses, or other news about business opportunities, funding and training, you must subscribe to East Devon Business news
East Devon District Council also produce regular newsletters and news on different topics, in the last week we have issued the following which may be of interest:
Over the next fortnight the following East Devon District Council virtual meetings are taking place:
- 10am, Tuesday, 23 March: Community Grant Panel
- 2pm, Tuesday, 30 March: Strategic Planning Committee
- 6pm, Tuesday, 30 March: LED Monitoring Forum
- 10am, Wednesday, 31 March: Housing Task and Finish Forum
- 6pm, Wednesday, 31 March: Cabinet
The meetings can all be viewed on our YouTube channel by searching for 'East Devon District Council' or by subscribing.
LED are proud to have some of the best outdoor multi surface tennis courts in the South West at Phear Park, Seafield Gardens and Coburg Fields. LED are delighted to be reopening its outdoor tennis courts to the community on Monday, 29 March. Members and non-members can hire outdoor tennis courts using the new booking system and gate entry system.
LED will also be running outdoor classes at a number of our centres from Monday, 29 March. These classes will run in accordance with guidelines from industry body UK Active and will adhere to strict social distancing and hygiene standards.
Global Recycling Day
Every year, the Earth yields billions of tons of natural resources and at some point, in the not too distant future, it will run out.
That’s why we must think again about what we throw away – seeing not waste, but opportunity.
The last decade has been the hottest on record, and we are now facing a climate emergency of unparalleled proportions.
Recycling is a key part of the circular economy, helping to protect our natural resources. Each year the ‘Seventh Resource’ (recyclables) saves over 700 million tonnes in CO2 emissions and this is projected to increase to 1 billion tons by 2030.
East Devon District Council is dedicated to doing everything it can to support residents to recycle more. This month, the authority was even rated as tenth best in the country for recycling.
The theme of Global Recycling Day 2021 is #RecyclingHeroes. You can now nominate the people, places and activities that showcase what an important role recycling plays.
We hope you will join us in marking Global Recycling Day, and its mission to tell world leaders that recycling is simply too important not to be a global issue, and that a common, joined up approach to recycling is urgently needed.
And, to ask people across the planet to think resource, not waste, when it comes to the goods around us – until this happens, we simply won’t award recycled goods the true value and repurpose they deserve.
See what you can do to help
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Thelma Hulbert Gallery - Creative cabin shorts
THG’s Creative Cabin Shorts hope to bring you some enjoyment and light relief at this time. Dedicated to all the extraordinary employees across the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, NHS staff and key workers across the region. In partnership with East Devon AONB, Blackdown Hills AONB and Wild East Devon.
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CREATIVE CABIN SHORT 8 - artist Justin Carter uses Klecksography in his artwork to produce images which appear to come from nature, including butterflies, insects and plant forms. Justin’s film shows how easy and rewarding it can be for anyone to engage with.
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News from Seaton Wetlands
A combination of large increases in visitors taking their daily exercise at Seaton Wetlands and a particularly wet late winter, has meant that some of the grass paths around the site have become very muddy and looking rather unloved. The team are keeping a close eye on things to improve conditions, sections have been temporarily shut and this recent dry period has helped no end!
Flash flooding on the Stafford Brook seems to be on the increase during the winter and the brook has burst its banks on two occasions since October, causing damage to paths, washing out steps, dumping volumes of silt and sand in the ditches nearby as well as adding freshwater into the brackish lagoon of Black Hole Marsh. Last week saw a contractor carry out work to repair the brook bank making it higher on the Stafford Marsh side than Colyford Common side so any future flooding incidents should theoretically wash over into the common where damage is far less severe. The ditches were also recut to remove the flood-borne material and these ditches are now flowing freely once again. Not only has this created new ditch edge habitat for our ever-growing population of water voles to take advantage of, but these ditches are part of the water system supplying the reedbeds and dipping ponds at Stafford Marsh and so getting them working correctly again means water levels can be maintained to a higher degree of control than before.
To keep in touch with the Wild East Devon Team follow them on Facebook and Twitter
Roadmap out of lockdown
Restrictions have started to lift as part of the Government’s four-step roadmap to a way back to a more normal life.
We are still in lockdown and we must ‘stay at home’ until 29 March. Every day at home makes a difference.
All restrictions will remain from 29 March, except:
Trusted sources of advice and information
Please make sure that you only follow advice from trusted, official sources:
Next edition
We plan to send out our next bulletin on Thursday 1 April 2021.
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