Local News

Social care and social work teams at Devon County Council are redeploying staff from non-critical services to essential frontline services in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

It’s to ensure that vulnerable people, young or old, are able to continue accessing the services they need.

Customer service staff at Care Direct, which is the route for adults into Devon County Council’s social work services, have seen telephone calls rise sharply over the last few weeks, as the public comes to terms with the impact of the virus. They’ve taken hundreds of calls from vulnerable...

Following the Prime Minister’s call for all pubs, clubs and restaurants to close, and in the light of additional guidance that people should be staying in their primary home wherever possible - observing social distancing - Cofton Holidays, located near Dawlish, has taken the decision to close its doors to members of the public and any non-essential staff for the foreseeable future.

All future guests have been informed of the holiday park’s closure. Guests with holidays already booked are being given the opportunity to rebook at a later date of their choice, when the restrictions...

Libraries Unlimited has announced that libraries across Devon will temporarily close from Friday 20 March, in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Across the county, library staff are trying to continue to provide library services in different ways.

In Exeter, they are trialling ‘books by post’. Others will be providing online sessions such as Bounce & Rhyme, reading groups, and story times. There will be IT help, provided remotely.

Staff will be checking in by telephone with customers who they know to be vulnerable and needing social contact.

They...

In order to help residents parking outside their homes while working from home or self-isolating during the Coronavirus outbreak, the County Council’s parking enforcement teams will reduce enforcement on certain roads – although double yellow lines will still be enforced.

Changes to routine patrols will enable officers to concentrate their efforts on keeping key routes running normally.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “We must keep the network moving but we also recognise the concerns in residential areas where...