By Martin Shaw

As county councillor for Seaton and Colyton, I represent local residents on a range of issues, from health to highways. This month has been busy on both these fronts.

We've had an uptick in COVID cases in Exeter since students returned, following earlier outbreaks in Plymouth from returning overseas holidaymakers.

Overall, Devon still has a low level and infections are being managed well by our Public Health team, but there is a steady trickle of cases locally and the general trend is upwards, if not as fast as in most of the country.

A sign of the tougher situation is that a month ago, I was given a Devon NHS email address for people to contact if they had difficulty getting a test, and I publicised that.

More recently, however, people told me that it isn't working. When I checked, I was told that now only the national system is available, and we've all heard about the problems with that.

The message is that there is no room for complacency and social distancing remains crucial. For the time being, care homes can continue to set their own visiting policies, and I hope this means that people are able to see their loved ones who live in these homes. But if things get worse, that could be at risk.

I pressed at the Health Scrutiny Committee for a definite plan on restoring 'elective' surgery (hips, knees, etc.). We are now told that the NHS aims to restore services to near normal levels in the coming months.

'Normal' hasn't been very good, of course - my wife was lucky to wait 'only' seven months for an operation last year - but a return to that will also be at risk if the pandemic gets out of hand.

Meanwhile, I've had even more complaints than usual about speeding. During lockdown, a few drivers took advantage to go at very fast through local villages.

A partial answer may be 20 limits in town and village centres, and with local councils I'm pushing for Seaton, Colyton, Colyford, Beer and Offwell to be considered when the County reviews its policy.

This will take some time to get through, however, so people who want this change will have to be patient - and people who don't agree can be reassured they will have a chance to object before any changes are made.