Plastic pollution and the invention of ‘litter’ Or, how the packaging industry avoided responsibility for creating the problem in the first place . Plastics are… Read More »Plastics and public relations

Can we ensure rural places are not ‘left behind’? . There has been a push to allow small-town Britain more of a chance: Levelling up… Read More »Levelling up rural

The next step: “to re-make a better and more sustainable Local Plan” . Yesterday, the full East Devon council voted to reject the GESP: BREAKING:… Read More »East Devon rejects Greater Exeter Strategic Plan: the response

Local high streets could be poised for a revival if the trend for home working continues. “Sales of second homes are booming as the metropolitan… Read More »Moving to the country: how WFH will affect small town life

It follows a survey which showed that most Sidmouthians are clearly appreciating there being less traffic and that half of both customers and shopkeepers said… Read More »Should Sidmouth have its own e-trike service? Press reports

The vote to withdraw from the GESP is carried 33 for 22 against. . Mid Devon’s cabinet has recommended that their council drops out of… Read More »BREAKING: East Devon rejects Greater Exeter Strategic Plan

“Humans like and need social interaction.” “Perhaps in post-Covid UK, we will live in the city centre and commute to jobs in the suburbs.” .… Read More »Work pods and working from home

“The hedges of Devonshire are proverbially large and rich. Sidmouth is closely surrounded with them like so many green and flowery zones… In the vernal… Read More »The Sid Valley Hedgescape: full report

“As for office work, I sense the future lies with small towns and suburban villages.” . There’s been quite a boom in WFH: Working from… Read More »Working from home: reviving town life

Grants through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme BEYOND THE GIG ECONOMY: Empowering the self-employed workforce . During lockdown, the government was on hand for the… Read More »Supporting the self-employed

“Cemeteries will be left overgrown in areas where graves are rarely visited to allow wildlife to flourish” “Maintenance of cemeteries is a contentious issue. EDDC… Read More »Wildlife in cemeteries

PLASTIC IN YOUR PRAWNS . Last month’s newsletter from the DMF included a report from the Plymouth Marine Laboratory: Are we underestimating microplastics in the… Read More »Sea food and microplastics

”why go elsewhere when everything is here….” . To be launched formally next month, the new town council website for tourists is pretty impressive –… Read More »New ‘Visit Sidmouth’ website

Unless farmers, food companies and retailers can make a profit switching to more sustainable production methods and consumers can afford sustainably produced products, the food… Read More »How to create a sustainable food system

10 Actions to Improve Streets for Children . A lot of the proposals from during and after lockdown would make our streets a lot safer:… Read More »Children-friendly streets