Daniel Clark
Published:
11:30 AM May 12, 2021
Councils are facing the logistical nightmare of trying to meet physically while abiding by social distancing guideline
- Credit: Archant
Councils are facing the logistical nightmare of trying to meet physically while abiding by social distancing guidelines after a bid to allow the continuation of online council meetings was rejected by the High Court.
The emergency legislation allowing virtual council meetings will not be extended beyond May 7 – and on Wednesday, the High Court dismissed the appeal, with judges saying primary legislation would be needed to extend the use of online meetings and it was not for the courts to set that legislation.
Daniel Clark
Clyst Valley Regional Park plans have been agreed
- Credit: EDDC
A 25-year masterplan that will help the future delivery of a new regional valley park that will cover land ‘half the size of Exeter’ and guide planning decisions within its boundary has been agreed.
The Clyst Valley Regional Park is set to consist of a number of greenspaces linked by greenways and will extend from Clyst St George to the south to Killerton House to the north, and to the Cranbrook Country Park to the east.
A masterplan, which was consulted on in 2020, has been produced to set out a long-term, broad guide to how the Regional Park could develop and to set out the big picture and the general direction of travel and opportunity.
Seaton Wetlands
- Credit: Jason Sedgemore
A view from East Devon District Council leader Paul Arnott.
East Devon District Council leader, Councilor Paul Arnott. Picture: Paul Arnott
- Credit: Archant
Last week I wrote about the nature reserves that come within the Wild East Devon envelope, and joked that I’d better list them all at the risk of being berated for leaving one out. There followed a list, always a risk in any writing. Of course,
I then left one out, the very one I go to more than any other, the Seaton Wetlands which runs from the marshes west of the Axe estuary to Colyford Common. Thank you to the many good-humoured local emailers who set me straight.
East Devon District Council is encouraging photographers to capture the essence of spring
- Credit: Sue Bragg
To celebrate Bluebell Week, East Devon District Council launched a competition to find the best spring photographs of 2021 – and everyone is welcome to take part.
It could be pictures of landscapes, wild flowers or wildlife that you have spotted this spring. Simply submit your entry by email to wild@eastdevon.gov.uk or tag your image on social media with @eastdevon and #springeastdevon before the closing date on May 31.
The top 12 winning entries will feature in the 2022 Wild East Devon calendar. The overall winner will receive a voucher for two places on one of our bespoke events this summer – such as a VIP guided tour of Seaton Wetlands or on one of our ten nature reserves. Runners up will receive a selection of folding wildlife guides.
Local democracy reporter Daniel Clark
Published:
6:00 PM May 7, 2021
Cranbrook ‘town centre’ may soon be set to finally look different in the near future
- Credit: EDDC
If you go to what will eventually be Cranbrook’s town centre, you could be forgiven for thinking that nothing has changed.
The signs adorning the green field outlining that this will eventually be the heart of the new town looks exactly the same as they did back in 2017, with the only difference being the length of the grass.
But across the town, things are changing. The number of new homes being built continues to grow, with parts of the town unrecognisable and new estates springing up compared to this time last year. Work has begun on the next phase of the district heating network rollout.