News in Seaton

Beer Parish Council are calling on residents to volunteer to help keep East Devon's most popular village tidy and "up to scratch".

The parish council is setting up a register of people who are willing to help with such jobs as sweeping up leaves and debris on the Jubilee and rubbish on the beach.

Seaton's reputation as a holiday resort has received a welcome boost with an extensive editorial feature in the November issue of Coach Tours UK magazine which is read by all country-wide operators.

Seaton prides itself on welcoming coach tours and the town council on its website says they are proud that Seaton has been recognised as a tourist destination in the magazine.

The leader of Devon County Council has thanked residents for responding positively to the national lockdown restrictions to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and prevent local hospitals from becoming overwhelmed.

The latest figures from Devon County Council show high levels of compliance with the restrictions, with movement on the roads down 30 to 40 per cent, and a fall in the numbers of people using public transport.

The Coronavirus Community Food Fund from East Devon District Council, and the COVID-19 Fund, a joint grants scheme from the district council and Devon County Council, have been re-opened to new applications.

Coronavirus Community Food Fund

East Devon District Council wants to make sure that its most vulnerable residents know where to come for help during lockdown.

The government is sending a letter to clinically extremely vulnerable residents where they will get guidance on what to do during lockdown and asking them to register online so they can request support from their local council.

Townsend Medical Practice in Seaton has started making preparations for potential COVID-19 vaccines.

Following national news that 10 million doses of a potential COVID-19 vaccine could be available to the UK by the end of this year, medical practices across the region have been preparing for a mass immunisation roll-out.

A rescue package of nearly three quarters of a million pounds is set to be given to LED Leisure to ensure they can continue to operate gyms and swimming pools following losses incurred by coronavirus lockdowns.

East Devon District Council's Cabinet on Wednesday night heard that the forecasted losses from the implications of COVID-19 meant that, without additional support, LED's operations would not be viable, and would likely lead to closing of the facilities, particularly swimming pools.

Seaton Primary School has installed eight new hand-washing stations in the playground to help students keep their hands clean throughout the day.

The PTA-funded project was just one of many initiatives put in place by Seaton Primary School before the start of the autumn term to prevent the spread of germs and keep the children and staff safe whilst on site during the coronavirus pandemic.

Like many other charities, Seaton and District Hospital League of Friends have had a very challenging year.

The League's charity shops, which usually provide a regular source of income, are again closed for the second national lockdown so the charity is now relying entirely on the support of the local community to help raise the £250,000 needed to fund its palliative care service, Seaton Hospiscare@Home.

Coastguards have said two men who headed out to sea in a dinghy this morning were "lucky to walk away uninjured".

Beer Coastguards were called out at 8.27am this morning (Wednesday) after concerns were raised for the two men heading towards Beer Head aboard a small dinghy. Sea conditions were rough with a force 7 southerly wind.