Community news in-brief from East Devon – Sidmouth, Seaton, Honiton, Budleigh Salterton. Email your news and photos to newsdesk@eastdevonnews.co.uk
Honiton
Littletown Primary Academy pupils, in Honiton, received 20 refurbished laptops. Photo: with permission.
Refurbished laptops have been donated to Honiton Primary School after a Devon recycling firm joined forces with an IT disposal company.
Wiltshire-based Blackmore UK teamed up with Devon Contract Waste (DCW), a branch of SUEZ, donated the equipment to Littletown Primary Academy’s pupils through its ReTech project.
The recycled laptops are wiped of all data, refurbished, and donated to schools in a bid to help the environment and save them from going to landfill.
David Perkins, Littletown Primary Academy principal, said: “These laptops will make a real difference to our pupils. Having reliable access to technology helps level the playing field and supports children.
Sidmouth
South West Water has been praised for its work preventing sewage spills in Sidmouth. Photo: Kyle Baker.
Sidmouth Town Council has praised South West Water (SWW) for fast-tracking investment in the town’s sewage system, helping to reduce spills.
SWW recently completed the installation of an extra storage tank on The Ham for times of high rainfall, preventing the need to spill sewage.
Last year SWW carried out more than five miles of CCTV surveys and lined sewers in Sidmouth to stop fresh water from overloading the sewage system.
Work to reroute surface water from the sewer into the river, with anti-pollution ‘traps’ starts in 2027.
A Sidmouth Town Council spokesman said: “The number of spills will be reduced from around 100 per year to an average of no more than 10, and no more than two in the summer bathing season.
“The work already undertaken has had an impact and there are fewer spills than a few years ago.”
He said community scientists monitored the performance of SWW, taking water samples.
He added: “Visitors are sometimes concerned that because the water is brown it is polluted. This is not so. It is brown because of the frequent natural cliff falls.”
Budleigh Salterton
A drink-driver from Budleigh Salterton more than two-and-a-half times over the limit has slapped with a community order and must do unpaid work.
A Budleigh Salterton pleaded guilty to drink driving when he appeared at Exeter Magistrates Court, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
Paul Clarke, of Dalditch Lane, pleaded guilty to drink-driving and driving without insurance on January 14 this year.
The court was told that officers were called to a collision in East Budleigh after Clarke had got behind the wheel following a night out with colleagues.
The defendant’s reading was 91 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.
Clarke was handed a 12-month community order with 80 hours of unpaid work and up to five rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was banned from the road for 23 months and must pay a victim surcharge of £114 and court costs of £85.
Seaton
Rodney Gayor, pictured, a regular at Seaton Wetlands for more than 15 years, donated funds to upgrade bird hide windows. Photo: with permission.
A nature lover and birdwatcher has helped upgrade hides at Seaton Wetlands with a donation.
Rodney Gayor, a regular at the wetlands for more than 15 years, helped fund improvements to birdwatching hides, along with and backing from Axe Vale and District Conservation Society.
Rodney’s help resulted in fully-glazed replacement windows for the first time since 2009 in the Island Hide on Blackhole Marsh and the Tower Hide beside the River Axe.
Rodney said: “I have been visiting this site since before it was designated as Seaton Wetlands, long before any bird hides were built, when it was simply a muddy track across the landscape. I was first introduced to this special place by a lifelong friend, the late Alan Bibby, and it has remained an important part of my life ever since.
“I now visit several times a week, often with family and friends. Having had a lifelong interest in wildlife, particularly birds, I felt it was important to contribute towards the upkeep of the hides.
“I hope that, in some small way, my donation will help ensure they can be enjoyed by many more people for generations to come.”
James Chubb, East Devon District Council countryside manager, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Rodney for his generous support.
“As someone who knows and loves Seaton Wetlands so well, it means a great deal that he has chosen to give back in this way. His contribution will make a real difference to the experience of visitors and volunteers alike and will help us continue to share the site’s wonderful wildlife with everyone who comes here.”
Honiton
A Honiton drink-driver has been banned from getting behind the wheel for 14 months after crashing into a lamppost in his car.
Brent Wiseman, of Pine Grove, Honiton, has been convicted of drink-driving from October 25 last year, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
The 66-year-old initially denied the offence but later pleaded guilty at Exeter Magistrates’ Court.
Police were called to a road traffic collision in Honiton at around 6pm, after Wiseman had lost control of his Ford Sierra and hit a lamp post, the court heard.
Wiseman’s reading was 50 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 30.
The prosecutor noted that the defendant’s breath sample was taken some two hours after the initial collision.
Wiseman, who previously served in the military for 30 years, was banned from driving for 14 months.
He was fined £244 and must pay a victim surcharge of £98 and court costs of £100.
East Devon
Devon Loves Dogs and the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust hosted an event to highlight responsible dog walking. Pictured here, L to R: is Savannah Brownlow, community engagement ranger with Dash the dog and Claire Jones Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust fundraising manager. Photo:with permission.
Dog owners and their pets gathered on the Pebblebed Heaths, in East Devon, for a day to celebrate their four-legged friends and the outdoors.
The event, hosted by Devon Loves Dogs and the Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust as part of the recent Heath Week, aimed to highlight responsible dog walking.
The day included stalls, games, workshops and talks, all designed with dogs in mind, plus guided walks to learn more about the area, demonstrations and practical dog care.
The event highlighted simple ways dog walkers can help care for the Pebblebed Heaths to support birds, livestock and other wildlife.
Julie Owen, of Devon Loves Dogs, said: “A Dogs Day on the Heath was a lovely chance for people to spend time outdoors, enjoy a fun day out and find out more about this special landscape.
“It was great to welcome so many people as part of Heath Week and to share practical advice on enjoying walks while helping to care for the Pebblebed Heaths.”
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