News in Sidmouth

The new chairman of East Devon District Council is set to launch legal action against the Government over the suspected death of her father from COVID-19 in a care home.

Dr Cathy Gardner's dad Michael Gibson was 88 when he passed away at Cherwood House in Oxfordshire after falling seriously ill.

To help people in Sidmouth comply with social distancing, signs have been stencilled around the town centre.

Covid-19 advisory 'two metres apart' indicators have been sprayed on pavements on the Esplanade, Three Cornered Plot Bus Interchange and Near Radway Cinema.

Sidmouth councillor, Cathy Gardner, has been elected the new chair of East Devon District Council.

Councillor Gardner, a member of the Independent East Devon Alliance who represents the Sidmouth Town ward, was elected yesterday evening.

East Devon District Council have issued a recycling update informing Sidmouth residents that green waste collection is running again.

Green waste collection, which was suspended due to the pandemic, is a paid-for service picking up and disposing of grass clippings, flowers, small tree branches, loose leaves and shrub and hedge trimmings.

With public concern rising over fears that rates of Coronavirus infection may rise as lock down restrictions begin to be eased the Director of Public Health for Public Health Devon has made a statement to help the public understand the R value and some of the misconceptions surrounding it.

You may hear over the next day or so that the R value in England has risen, including in the South West.

A traffic light failure at road works near Sidmouth is causing heavy traffic this afternoon.

The traffic lights failed at road works on the A3052 at Trow Hill between the Golf Centre turn-off, Weston, and Harcombe Lane East, Sidford.

Temporary 'street cafe' licences are being introduced by Devon County Council to help hospitality businesses in Sidmouth reopen, as coronavirus lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

Although a large number of cafes and pubs currently remain closed, many are already planning for when they are able to reopen.

Stagecoach South West, the main bus operator in Sidmouth, says it will support the Government's new rules on wearing face coverings while using public transport.

The Government has said it will work with operators to make it mandatory for passengers to wear face coverings when using public transport in England from June 15, the Transport Secretary announced yesterday (Thursday, 4 June).

A man from Ottery St Mary has raised nearly £3,000 for Hospiscare during lockdown - helping the vulnerable dressed as a French Chef.

Paul Godfrey has been mowing lawns and carrying out odd-jobs for people in self-isolation, whilst dressed in a costume some may recognise from his involvement with the Ottery Food and Families Festival.

Devon Trading Standards Service is warning people in Sidmouth and the wider East Devon area to be aware of scammers looking to exploit the new NHS Test and Trace service.

The government system, which launched last week, is designed to reduce the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) by quickly testing people with symptoms and either phoning, texting or emailing whoever they have had close contact with to tell them to isolate for 14 days.