News in Dawlish

The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed in the last seven days has risen across Devon and Cornwall, but there are still very few in Dawlish.

Government statistics show that 1,395 new cases have been confirmed across the two counties in the past seven days, in both pillar 1 data from tests carried out by the NHS, and pillar 2 data from commercial partners.

Dawlish Museum could be welcoming visitors again next year, if plans to reopen its ground floor come to fruition.

The museum was unable to open for its summer season this year because of Covid-19, losing out on income from visitors, while still incurring the maintenance costs involved in keeping its collection at the right temperature and humidity.

Dawlish Warren's Forest Fungi business is well-known among top chefs and restaurateurs for its specialist, organically grown gourmet mushrooms – and among local residents for the wonderful breakfasts available at its café.

But what may be less widely known is how the enterprise came into being.

Plans for new facilities at Dawlish's Orchard Manor School have been approved by Devon County Council.

The development management committee supported the proposal for a multi-purpose hall and vocational workshop at the residential school for pupils with special educational needs, at its meeting on Wednesday, October 21.

Dawlish police are urging anyone concerned about rough sleepers in the town to download a smartphone app called StreetLink, to alert organisations that can help them.

StreetLink will send the details to the district council and local charities combating homelessness.

Dawlish's Remembrance Sunday parade, public act of remembrance and service at St Gregory's Church have been called off because of Covid-19, in what the town council has described as a 'difficult decision'.

The council said the events on Sunday, November 8 would have attracted large numbers of people, and the current Covid-19 social distancing requirements mean they will not be possible.

A beach clean organised by Dawlish Against Plastic removed nearly 40kg of waste from the seashore on Saturday, October 17.

The rubbish collected included a rope weighing 16.8kg on its own, and there were also some items that could not be moved at the time.

'Getting the community working together again' is the aim of a Dawlish Action for Youth project in which young people will do things that benefit others.

It is one of the initiatives that will be funded by a National Lottery grant of almost £9,000, which the organisation applied for in June.

Visitors to Dawlish Warren nature reserve can now watch wildlife from a new viewing platform overlooking the pond near the visitor centre.

It has a bench to sit on and full wheelchair access, and was funded by the family of one of the reserve's longest serving volunteers who had been a regular birdwatcher there.

A video stream of Dawlish's black swans went live on Saturday, October 17, enabling people all over the world to view them via the internet.

The camera is mounted on the Sea Breeze restaurant/takeaway and viewers will be able to move it remotely to see the other waterfowl nearby, or take a look further afield at the sea and weather conditions, ships, and any trains passing through.