News in Sidmouth

There is now a new simpler way for people in Sidmouth to request help paying their council tax.

A new online portal and form make it much easier for people having financial difficulties, caused by the coronavirus pandemic, to apply for flexibility and reductions to their council tax.

Sidmouth children who are eligible for free school meals now have access to a voucher scheme to ensure they have enough food to stay healthy while at home during the coronavirus lock down.

Schools in the town are now able to provide every eligible child with £15 worth of shopping vouchers to use at local supermarkets.

In an effort to help our readers who have lost their jobs due to the Coronavirus pandemic we have compiled a list of jobs currently hiring in and around Sidmouth to give you a helping hand in your job hunt!

Community Care Worker – Newton Poppleford

With the sudden outbreak of coronavirus, there has been a huge rise in the demand for gloves, masks and protective equipment.

In response to the situation, The Donkey Sanctuary has donated personal protection equipment (PPE) to local NHS teams and social care providers in the South West.

LED Leisure is asking its members in Sidmouth for support during the coronavirus lock down.

LED, which runs Sidmouth Swimming Pool, is asking its members not to cancel their direct debits so that the organisation can continue to function once the lock down is lifted.

East Devon NHS workers having to 'beg, borrow and steal' protective equipment have had their concerns taken to the area's MP by Claire Wright, county councillor and former parliamentary candidate for East Devon.

Councillor Wright was contacted by a 'desperate East Devon NHS worker' who is concerned that equipment is not in place to deal with a predicted surge in coronavirus cases over the next two weeks.

Openreach has apologised to Sidmouth residents who were left without internet during the coronavirus lock down yesterday.

Openreach, the organisation responsible for maintaining the area's internet services, tracked the problem down to faulty equipment at its exchange in Sidmouth.

In the interests of transparency East Devon District Council has outlined to Sidmouth residents how it decides on which areas will receive bin collections during the coronavirus outbreak.

Fluctuating staffing levels at EDDC have meant that the council has had to prioritise certain bin collections over others.

Broadband problems in Sidmouth are currently being investigated by the organisation responsible for maintaining the area's internet services.

A spokesperson for Openreach has confirmed to Nub News that the organisation is aware of outages in Sidmouth and it is currently investigating what is causing the problems.

Sidmouth dog owners are being asked to take their dog waste home as dog waste bins are 'overflowing'.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) has asked all dog owners in the Sidmouth area to take their dog waste home as the council is struggling to keep up with the 'exceptionally heavy use' in recent weeks.