News in Sidmouth

Attractive prices and wet weather in the UK have prompted a surge in last minute holiday bookings for this summer.

Travel agents across the country are reporting a rush in late bookings, particularly from families looking for some sunshine before the children go back to school in September.

Recent figures show that around 31,000 individuals declared themselves bankrupt between April and June this year.

Bankruptcy doesn't have the stigma attached to it as in days gone by but it's far from being a desirable state of affairs.

So Boris Johnson becomes our new prime minister.

Just three years ago this would have been unthinkable. Laughable in fact.

It was Benjamin Franklin who is purported to have said that, 'Nothing in this world is certain, except death and taxes'.

The great thing about taxes (apart from the fact that they pay for essential services such as the NHS, police, defence and education) is that they follow rules.

The Donkey Sanctuary's 50th anniversary celebrations continue as its multi-award-winning RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden has been re-built back at the charity's international headquarters in Sidmouth.

The garden will open to visitors from Monday, July 15, and like the Sanctuary, will be free of charge for people to visit.

East Devon's MP Sir Hugo Swire has welcomed the government's announcement that the UK's biggest gambling firms – William Hill, Ladbrokes Coral, Paddy Power Betfair, Skybet and Bet365 – have taken the decision to increase their voluntary levy on gambling profits from 0.1 per cent to 1 per cent up to 2023.

This will create a contribution of £60 million which will help to fund treatment for problem gamblers. The firms have said that cumulatively they will spend £100 million on treatment over the next four years. The decision has been welcomed by the charity GambleAware.

I've now been a councillor for East Devon District Council and Sidmouth Town Council for just over a month, and it's been a steep learning curve!

The first week was taken up with induction meetings for EDDC – meeting all the other councillors and officers of the council, training etc. We've had one EDDC meeting and two town council meetings so far, and some of it has been enjoyable, some tedious if I'm honest, but I hope I can make a difference.

It is a simple fact that if you do not spend all of your money then eventually you will have saved enough so that your money will keep you!

This is true financial independence – not having to work or rely on another (or the state) to keep you. Many people tell me that they have difficulty in saving money so this month I want to give you some tips on how to save.

Dear Colleagues and Breakfast Attendees,

With very great sadness, Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce is writing to inform you of the sudden death of our Treasurer, Matt Portman.

On May 8 the Chamber held its Open Breakfast Meeting at the Kingswood Hotel and received a talk from Matt Portman of Thomas Westcott Accountants on making tax digital for VAT.

It will be noted that Union flags and bunting have just been put up in the town centre by the Chamber to brighten up the appearance of the town for the summer season.