The District Council encourages us to report empty properties. 8 per cent of total properties in East Devon are empty. [Institute for Public Policy Research]… Read More »Empty homes in Sidmouth and East Devon

Exmouth at “saturation point” [WMN] . The summer months always seem to be a time when the housing crisis in the South West gets even… Read More »Second homes, retirement homes and holiday lets in the South West

Dealing with mis/disinformation at the local level [VGS] “The small town of Totnes in Devon is known for its warmth and open-mindedness, gong baths and… Read More »“Welcome to Narnia”: Totnes, Transition Town & Conspiracyland

“The benefits and disbenefits of a formal concession to permit the sale of Ice Creams and snacks by an operator at the Ham for 2024,… Read More »Application for ice-cream van on the Ham: ‘refused’

Attempts to fill the four remaining seats on Sidmouth Town Council have been mostly successful. . Last month’s local elections did not produce any candidates… Read More »Town Council elections: Thursday 22 June

“From the comfort of our sofas, it’s a giant footprint and a major waste category that many of us are barely aware of. And with… Read More »How to fix our fast furniture fix

“The place to encourage such businesses?” [VGS] . Should there be an ice-cream van on the Ham over the summer? That’s the question the Trustees… Read More »Application for ice-cream van on the Ham

“A fabulous idea. Well done to those who made it happen!” [comment @ Sidmouth Plastic Warriors] . In a great collaborative project, a new piece… Read More »Beach toy library opens on Sidmouth Esplanade

“Letting Local Business Know You Care” [Tina Martin] . The independent blogger Tina Martin of Ideaspired has contributed several excellent guest pieces for the VGS over the… Read More »Working Together for a Greener Community

Sidmouth Beach clean day – Sunday 11 June – Plastic Warriors @ Biodiversity Festival . Today is World Ocean Day: The 2022 Conservation Action Focus: Protect… Read More »World Ocean Day – Thursday 8th June

SWW Director of Natural Resources to give a talk as part of the Biodiversity Festival “Local volunteers have been working for the last two years… Read More »Engaging with South West Water locally

“Businesses still struggled in rural areas mainly due to a lack of adequate broadband.” [Federation of Small Businesses] . The government has just launched a… Read More »Rural broadband: rural productivity

“The festival is clearly designed to educate, enthuse and entertain with something for everyone.” [Chris Lockyear, town council chair] . It’s quite an achievement to put… Read More »Free events! Family Fun! The first Sidmouth Biodiversity Festival

“The world is one step closer to the unmissable opportunity of a global treaty to end plastic pollution.” [WWF] . The UN conference on plastic… Read More »Draft treaty to end global plastic pollution

“How on earth did an urban planning model – the 15-minute city – spawn the fantasy that a shadowy cabal is aiming to lock the… Read More »Dealing with mis/disinformation at the local level