The Devon & Cornwall Office of Police and Crime Commissioner has circulated the following link for sharing with members of the public in England and Wales so they can  report suspected Covid-19 breaches to the police.

https://www.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/c19/v7/tell-us-about-a-possible-breach-of-coronavirus-covid-19-measures/

Information from EDDC 11/1/21:

Coronavirus Community Support Hub

We’re continuing our Coronavirus Community Support Hub, which can provide support and guidance to residents in need. Residents can ask for help using our online form: https://eastdevon.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/community-support/coronavirus-community-support-hub/ or by calling 01395 571500 (the same number as before).

The Coronavirus Community Food Fund

Our food fund is open to applications from you: https://eastdevon.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/community-support/coronavirus-community-food-fund/

It gives quick grants of between £500 and £2,500 for projects related to providing food to residents of East Devon who are in food poverty during Coronavirus. Projects can include, for example:

• A food bank whose stocks of items are running low and they need an immediate donation to enable them to restock.
• A foodbank that needs different items to what they have, for example if they need nappies or cleaning products that they aren’t receiving through donations.
• New equipment / resources that allow groups to have the capacity for the increased number of people needing their food related service.
• A service providing hot meals delivered to the homes of vulnerable people, children or adults, who might otherwise not have a hot meal.
• Costs related to collecting food donations and delivering food to those in need.
• Training of staff and volunteers working on food related projects.

It can be used to fund eligible capital (so for physical things like equipment) and revenue costs (so for things like training, petrol costs).

Financial Hardship Fund

If residents are struggling to afford food or other essentials, ask them to fill in our online application form: https://eastdevon.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/benefits-and-council-tax/information-financial-hardship-fund/ Help available includes access to emergency short term support through shopping vouchers, food bank referrals, utility top ups, paying for essential travel needs, or essential advice and support services, or referrals to apply for Benefits.

Residents newsletter

If you haven’t already done so, you’d probably find it really useful to sign up to our residents newsletter, and encourage residents to sign up as well to get the latest updates from us: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKEDDC/subscriber/new  

 

St Michael’s Church, Cotleigh will be open for private prayer on Mondays 10.30 am – 12 noon and Thursdays 2 pm – 3.30 pm As there will not be a harvest festival service this year the PCC would welcome donations of non perishable food for the Honiton Food Bank which can be left in the church at the above times during October

During this uncertain time please do keep an eye on your neighbours, offer to get shopping or prescriptions if you are going to town for those that are self-isolating or socially distancing themselves.  The Kings Arms, Stockland and The Sidmouth Arms, Upottery are offering a takeaway service and selling essentials such as eggs, milk, toilet rolls etc.  If anyone needs support or help with anything please do contact Nigel & Sharon Young 01404 831300, Chris & Tessa Henley 01404 831028, Martyn & Gillian Broom 01404 831498, Sarah and John Lilley 01404831813 or Kerry Kennell on 01404861129.  

This plant may look pretty, but the damage Himalayan Balsam causes is severe, both in terms of the direct out-competing of native species, but also due to the fact it grows as an obligate annual in our climate, which means the river banks which it infests are completely bare when it dies back come winter so then have nothing to consolidate them and wash out with winter flooding, so filling the downstream areas with sediment. (Quote from Blackdown Hills ANOB wildlife office)

Although Landowners do not have to remove the plant from their own property, Landowners do have an obligation not to let this invasive plant spread to other Landowners properties and there are now powers that Councils have under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, that have recently been used to compel owners to control this invasive weed species.

landowners also have a legal responsibility to control the species under Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – which states ‘it is an offence to plant or cause to grow’ the species in the wild.

So what can you do about this problem?

Himalayan Balsam is actually relatively easy to eradicate:

Pulling it up two years in a row before it flowers is normally sufficient.

 

Please therefore inspect your property, especially if you are by a stream and start the eradication process as soon as you can.