News in Dawlish

Last week saw the second reading of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. This attracted a lot of controversy, not least given the events that had taken place in London a couple of days previously.

Second reading is very much about examining the broad principles and intentions of a Bill rather than the specific provisions within it. Overall, there are a number of positives in the Bill and these should very much be recognised. However, there were also some less good parts of the Bill and, as such, I therefore decided to abstain on the vote.

Dawlish Community Transport had some wonderful news last week, after an anonymous donor provided a cash gift that will help pay for a much-needed new minibus. (Read more about that here)

It's also been the week when the UK marked 12 months since the start of the first lockdown, as the Covid pandemic began to take hold in March 2020.

The Government has announced that Teignbridge District Council will receive £219,835 to prepare its town centres and seaside resorts for the safe return of shoppers and tourists this summer.

The money can be used to provide or improve outdoor areas for socialising, smarten up the streets and organise events such as festivals and markets to support local businesses.

Devon's NHS is urging everyone eligible for a Covid jab to book an appointment in March before the shortage of supply takes effect.

The NHS expects to have fewer doses of the vaccine available in April, but says there are 'thousands of spaces available' this month.

Dawlish's community transport charity is to get a long-awaited new minibus after a 'wonderfully generous' cash gift from an anonymous donor.

Throughout this year, town and district councillors John and Linda Petherick have been raising money towards a new vehicle for East Teignbridge Community Transport, as its existing ones are reaching the end of their working life.

A minute's silence will be observed at midday today (Tuesday, March 23) to reflect on the anniversary of the first coronavirus lockdown.

It was exactly 12 months ago this evening that the Prime Minister Boris Johnson appeared on television to tell everyone to stay at home – and England was plunged into the most drastic restrictions on everyday life since the Second World War.

The final decision on proposals that would effectively close Teignmouth Hospital will be made by the Health Secretary.

Devon County Council's health and adult care scrutiny committee have voted overwhelmingly to refer the decision made last December by the Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)'s Governing Body to the Secretary of State.

A fire that damaged a thatched bus shelter in Starcross is being treated as arson.

Firefighters from Dawlish and Exeter were called out to the scene at about 7.15pm on Saturday, March 20, and found the bus shelter well alight.

The UK's first electric commuter flight is to take off from Exeter Airport, after it was chosen as a testing site for the shift towards greener aviation.

A programme has been launched to explore whether hybrid-electric aircraft can be used within the existing aviation system, in what's being described as 'a huge step towards transforming the future of air travel'.

A man had to be freed by firefighters after getting trapped underneath a mini digger in Dawlish on Wednesday, March 17.

Fire crews from Dawlish and Teignmouth were alerted to the incident in Derncleugh Gardens by the ambulance service at 1.50pm.