See link:-
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKDEVONCC/bulletins/288d301
Posts tagged Covid-19
Beach activity during COVID-19 pandemic
A statement from Drew Parkinson who is Area Commander For the Coastguard in the South Devon area known as Area 10.
“Coastguard Rescue Teams are assisting Devon & Cornwall Police with Mutual Aid Taskings. Coastguards will be assisting the Police by identifying areas where lots of people appear to be gathering together for BBQs or socialising rather than exercising. They will also identify areas where large numbers of people are exercising making it difficult to social distance.
Coastguard Rescue Teams remain fully operational throughout these taskings and are able to respond to coastal emergencies.
Requests for Mutual Aid should be raised through the Local Resilience Forum for consideration.”
Kind Regards,
Drew Parkinson
Coastal Operations Area Commander – Area 10
The Local Resilience Forum for the SW is : Devon & Cornwall Police, Emergency Planning Unit, 7-9 Hamilton Drive, Middlemoor, Exeter, EX2 7HQ. Contact: Neil Hamlyn Devon & Cornwall LRF Community Risk Register lrf@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
Update Covid-19- from Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew
Continue to Play Your Part in Keeping Our Communities Safe
We must all continue to play our part in tackling the spread of Coronavirus.
Just under 300 fines have now been handed out by Devon & Cornwall Police topeople who were breaking coronavirus restrictions issued by the government.
In the 10 days between Good Friday, April 10, and 20 April, 296 fines were issued as a last resort across the region by our officers; the vast majority of these were issued to those undertaking non-essential journeys.
Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew said: “By now, everyone should know what their responsibility is in the battle against coronavirus; keep staying at home, try to stay local when exercising and only undertake essential travel. This will help us protect the NHS and ultimately, to save lives.
“There is no room for complacency and we must all keep adhering to the government advice. The majority of people are continuing to play their part in reducing the spread of Covid-19 and to them that I say thank you, your role in this should not be underestimated.
“There has been much discussion around the legislation and what it does and doesn’t specifically prohibit.
“It’s important to remember that a key factor is if a person’s actions are reasonable or not, and this is why our officers will continue to have conversations with those they stop and will make individual judgements based on specific circumstances presented to them.”
ACC Mayhew added: “A very small percentage of those people our officers speak to during police stops result in enforcement.
“The feedback from the vast majority of our communities is that we are currently striking the right balance between engagement and enforcement, and we will continue to strive to deliver a proportionate approach to the legislation.
ACC Mayhew said: “Please keep to doing your bit by staying at home and avoiding unnecessary travel; you are protecting the NHS and saving lives.”
Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 – new powers for SHDC
The District Council’s Environmental Health Specialists are now authorised under ‘The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020’: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/made
This is a dual role with Devon County Trading Standards that gives the District Council the power to close businesses that are not permitted to be open (listed in a schedule to the Regulations).
Regulation 5 of the 2020 Regultions does not permit the use of holiday accommodation, which includes rentals, campsites etc. Some exemptions apply – these are mainly for key workers and those that would be made homeless otherwise. Therefore, the Council does have the ability to close businesses if required.
The schedule to the Regulations does not include second homes, so therefore the only sanction that may be taken is by the Police, who enforce the movement restriction part of the same legislation. Where the District Council receives complaints of this nature, they are forwarded to the Police.
Feedback from the Police is that the extensive communications campaign that was carried out before the Easter holidays was successful in stopping the vast majority of people from travelling. Most holiday booking businesses have stopped taking bookings. Some holiday lets are being used to house key workers and this can cause some confusion. The Police also carried out visible patrols on routes into the South West.
To report concerns about a business that is opening, but should not be, please use www.southhams.gov.uk/businessconcerns
Councils Delivered Business Support of Over £9.2 Million So Far
South Hams District and West Devon Borough Councils have handed out essential funding of over £9.2 million received from the Government to support local businesses affected by COVID-19.
This is providing a crucial lifeline to businesses in the current economic climate, and will help the local economy to survive.
Across the two Councils, £9.2 million is on its way to 703 businesses in the South Hams and West Devon so far.
This is the conclusion of, what has been, a complex and difficult process since the measure was announced in the Budget. During that period the Councils have taken over 12,000 calls from businesses and sent out nearly 5,500 letters to eligible businesses for business grants.
With over 2,500 applications received so far, there has been a Herculean effort by the Councils to get essential funding out to those who urgently need it, since the Councils received the funding from the Government on 1 April.
If you haven’t yet applied for your grant on the Councils’ websites, please do so as soon as possible so that they can process your claim. You will need your unique reference number from the letter sent to your business rate contact address to be able to apply online.
South Hams and West Devon’s voices are being added to those of neighbouring councils Devon, Plymouth and Torbay in lobbying Government over the severity of the economic situation for Devon. They reinforce the report from neighbouring councils in calling for Government to support those businesses who don’t fit into any of the support measures already announced.
This includes a £40 million Response and Recovery Fund which is flexible enough to allow funding grants for small businesses missing out on Government support. Also being lobbied for are loans for businesses with a turnover over £45 million, along with a request for speeding up support for the self-employed.
Cllr Judy Pearce, Leader of South Hams District Council, said: “I’m pleased to say that all letters to businesses who may be eligible for funding grants have now gone out. Due to security processes, you will have to pick up your letter from your place of business but if this is difficult, call us and we will make other arrangements. Our officers have worked long hours over the weekend to work through the payments as quickly as possible and the first payments have now gone out electronically, direct into bank accounts. Businesses will receive an email when their payment has been authorised but it will take two days for the money to reach their bank accounts.
“We absolutely feel the frustration of those businesses who fall between the gaps of the current funding packages available, simply because their rates and rent are combined together or because they sit just outside of the Government’s thresholds for grants. We want to assure you that we have not forgotten about you and we are heavily lobbying Government to find a solution to help you get the support you need.”
Cllr Neil Jory, Leader of West Devon Borough Council, added: “We fully understand that time is of the essence to help businesses to survive in the current climate and I urge everyone to support our local businesses who are still able to operate to help them to stay afloat. If we don’t support them through this crisis, they will most certainly struggle to survive, so let’s rally round them.
“We also know that some businesses still need workers such as crop pickers which are desperately needed at the moment to harvest crops so they don’t get wasted. We’re currently working out how to put those people in need of short term work in touch with the businesses who currently have work available.”
The Councils encourage anyone needing support to engage with them through their website and they will respond as quickly as they can.
Find more information on each of the Council’s website at:
www.southhams.gov.uk
www.westdevon.gov.uk
Or follow on social media at:
Facebook:
@southhamsdistrictcouncil
@westdevonboroughcouncil
Twitter:
@SouthHams_DC
@WestDevon_BC
Open Letter to Second Home Owners from SHDC& WDBC
This open letter has the support of Cornwall Council, East Devon District Council, Mid Devon District Council, North Devon District Council, Teignbridge District Council and Torridge District Council.
07/04/2020
Dear Second Home Owners
Do not visit your second home this Easter.
It is with a heavy heart that we are writing this letter to you, asking you to stay away this Easter.
In South Hams and West Devon, we deeply value the contribution you make to our local communities and our tourism economy, but this week we must ask you to stay in your primary residence to protect us all.
The Government guidance is very clear, you must only leave your home for very specific reasons, only go outside for food, health reasons and work, and only then if you cannot work from home. Only travel where absolutely necessary.
It is now an offence under Regulation 6 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020, to leave the place where you are living without a reasonable excuse.
Travelling to your second home is not a reasonable excuse. To prevent the spread of the virus, where we have knowledge of second homes owners committing this offence, we will share that knowledge with the police.
We are extremely worried about our local population, which has a high proportion of vulnerable and elderly residents. By travelling to your second home, you are putting them at risk.
You are also putting extra pressure on all of our services, at a time when they are stretched to capacity protecting the most vulnerable.
We very much look forward to seeing you and welcoming you back when this is all over and current travelling restrictions are lifted.
Stay safe, stay at your primary residence and we will meet again soon!
Thank you
Cllr Judy Pearce
Leader of South Hams District Council
Cllr Neil Jory
Leader of West Devon Borough Council
BIGBURY CORONAVIRUS SUPPORT GROUP – STATUS
Click here for the report:- Backup of Support Group statushttp://www.bigburycommunity.co.uk/other/bigbury-coronavirus-support-group-status/
COVID-19: police answers to important questions
With the current situation regarding COVID-19 (coronavirus), we are living in unprecedented times.
With this in mind, Devon and Cornwall Police have pulled together responses to some of the more commonly asked questions.
https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/advice/covid-19-coronavirus/covid-19-faqs/
I hope you find it useful.
Feel free to circulate further.
Mick HARRISON
Community Engagement Worker
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
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