News in Dawlish

It's easy to become over-familiar with your town centre, so you hardly notice its striking historical or quirky features. One thing Dawlish has that ticks both of those boxes is the slowly revolving water mill wheel just off Brunswick Place – an extremely rare sight in the centre of any town, and – at 10 metres in diameter – also one of the largest in the country.

The wheel of the Strand Mill towers over the courtyard of The Old Mill Tea Room, popular for its home-made cakes and scones – and once that mill would have produced the flour used for making these items, which were baked in ovens at the back of the building. Jan and Geoff Whittaker, who have run the cafe for the last six years, have produced an information sheet on the building's history, and it tells an interesting story.

A Dawlish man has been arrested after a brawl in Exeter.

Users of Dawlish Countryside Park are concerned about plans by the nearby Cofton Country Holiday Park to create a storage and maintenance compound on land just across the boundary with the public open space.

The owners of the holiday park want to develop a triangular plot of land on the southern side of their site.

The Royal British Legion's 2020 Poppy Appeal is now officially under way, and the Dawlish RBL branch's large poppies have once again gone on display along the Strand.

But because of Covid-19 restrictions, the branch cannot sell poppies in the street this year, and there will be no collecting for the appeal at the local Sainsburys supermarket either.

Appeal for witnesses

It was reported that an altercation had taken place involving 10 to 15 people near the Tesco store between 9.30pm and 10.10pm.

A small van selling tea and coffee could soon be offering refreshment to visitors at Dawlish Countryside Park.

The award-winning park is owned and run by Teignbridge District Council, which has been approached by several people asking for a refreshments van in the car park.

Cllr John Petherick, who was born in Dawlish, has the honour of being Chair of Teignbridge District Council.

During his year as Chair, Cllr John Petherick and his wife Cllr Linda Petherick have chosen East Teignbridge Community Transport Association as their charity of the year.

Illegal cold callers have been trying to sell over-priced household items in the Dawlish area, according to police.

On Friday, October 23, Teignmouth and Dawlish Neighbourhood Police said they received five calls in three hours reporting young men knocking on doors and offering cleaning products for sale.

As the row over free school meals during holidays continues, a local support group is offering food for children who normally rely on the service.

Helping Dawlish, a collaboration between the town council and 12 other organisations, will be giving out free packed lunches throughout this week.

A Dawlish Warren pub and restaurant is among those offering free meals to children during half-term week.

The Boathouse will provide takeaway hot lunches every day if parents book in advance via email.