Author Archive: admin
South Hams Community Awards return to celebrate our unsung heroes
|
|
|
| South Hams Community Awards return to celebrate our unsung heroes | |
| Issued 05 January 2026 | |
| South Hams District Council is once again on the lookout for local heroes so we can celebrate their achievements in our annual South Hams Community Awards.
For the third year running, the awards will celebrate organisations and people who go above and beyond to help those living in the South Hams every day. Do you know someone doing wonderful things for your community? Is there an organisation who is making a real difference to local people? You can now shine a spotlight on their hard work by nominating them for a South Hams Community Award. The Chairman of the Council along with a panel of judges, are looking for nominations in the following categories:
Cllr Bernard Taylor, chairman of South Hams District Council, said: “Too often, great work being done in our communities by residents goes unrecognised and uncelebrated. “It has been wonderful over the last two years to celebrate some of our unsung heroes, and we are keen to do the same again. We know there are so many more people and organisations out there doing fantastic things – please let us know about them so we can recognise the contributions they make to the South Hams and ensuring it’s a wonderful place to live. “I am a keen advocate for these awards, and will be personally presenting a £25 book voucher for the winner of the Young Persons Award, to try and encourage even more entries.” Nominations for the South Hams Community Awards close at 11.59 p.m. on Saturday 31 January 2026. Find out more and nominate online at www.southhams.gov.uk/community-awards |
|
South Hams communities being supported through sports and the arts
|
|
|
| South Hams communities being supported through sports and the arts | |
| Issued 15 December 2025 | |
| South Hams District Council is showing its commitment to its communities by helping to deliver millions of pounds of sports funding, the introduction of a new arts and culture plan and continuing its support for the environment.
Community sports facilities in the South Hams are benefitting from £5.7m worth of funding. The investment supports South Hams District Council’s commitment to working with communities to help them deliver projects and schemes that will enhance local areas. Over the past year, £5.7m has been invested by South Hams District Council and other organisations, including the RFU, Sport England, Football Foundation and other funders. This includes money allocated for projects next year, providing physical, mental, social, health and wellbeing for people of all ages and abilities living in the South Hams. Some of the investment has come from Section 106 funding – money raised from planning developments in South Hams communities to offset any pressures caused by these new homes, often used for community facilities. Cllr Julian Brazil, South Hams Executive Member for Community Services, Operations and Leisure, said: “Over the past year we’ve seen an unprecedented level of investment into local sport and leisure, and I’m proud that South Hams District Council is helping to make this possible through capital funding, S106 and match funding. “These improvements to our facilities will support physical and mental wellbeing, offer more inclusive opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, and strengthen the social fabric of our towns and villages. It’s a real investment not just in facilities, but in healthier, happier communities across the South Hams.” The sports funding is just one way that the Council is supporting its communities. It’s also keen to work with the district’s creative sector to explore how it can best leave a lasting legacy and put in place strong building blocks so any future council can continue to support this important sector. With that in mind, the Council has developed an arts and culture plan to support the creative sector. The plan includes an overarching vision and some initial areas of focus – the most important being to invest in forging trusted relationships with the sector, listening to concerns, identifying opportunities and understanding how the council can help amplify the ambitions of South Hams communities. Cllr Nadine Dommett, Executive Member for Community Development, Arts and Culture, said: “I believe arts and culture have huge potential to boost our community’s wellbeing, drive tourism, support economic growth, and create a real sense of pride in our area. That’s why we’ve developed a plan that not only supports the sector now, but also strengthens the creative ecosystem for the future, helping artists, organisations, and venues to collaborate, grow, and attract vital external investment. By using the Council’s influence to bring people together and create new opportunities, we’re increasing participation and helping our cultural identity to flourish. “I’m determined to make arts and culture a visible and vibrant career path, supporting skills development and professional opportunities for people in our district. I’m confident that this approach will make our towns and villages better places to live, visit, and invest in—enriching lives, supporting local businesses, and making our district a more attractive and dynamic place for everyone.” |
|
We’re investing in public toilets across Totnes
|
|
|
| We're investing in public toilets across Totnes | |
| Issued 04 December 2025 | |
| South Hams District Council is improving public toilets in Totnes – as part of its wider commitment to invest in its communities.
From Monday 8 December, the public toilets on Coronation Road will undergo a refurbishment, with the works expected to be completed by Tuesday 23 December. From 12 January, the council will start works on the toilets in Steamer Quay Car Park, for around four weeks. The toilets under the Civic Hall will have their own refurbishment works between 19 January and 31 March. Cllr Julian Brazil, Executive Member for Lead Member for Community Services, Operations and Leisure, said: “The works will modernise Totnes’ public toilets as part of a wider project across our communities in the South Hams to modernise some of our local assets. “You may see freshened up toilets, benches and other assets of ours in the coming months – these are part of our commitment to support our communities in every way we can.” The refurbishment works at Coronation Road and Steamer Quay will involve a partial closure, where the accessible toilets will remain open while works are carried out. The Civic Hall toilets will be closed completely during their refurbishment due to their size and location. |
|
Zero Tolerance: South Hams Cracks Down on Fly Tipping
|
|
|
| Zero Tolerance: South Hams Cracks Down on Fly Tipping | |
| Issued 28 November 2025 | |
| South Hams District Council is intensifying its efforts to tackle anti-social and illegal fly tipping across the district, as part of its ongoing commitment to reduce waste crime and protect the local environment for its residents and visitors.
The Council has launched an integrated approach to handling fly-tips, focusing on stronger enforcement, streamlined processes, and community education. Eight fixed penalty notices (FPNs) have recently been served within the South Hams with three more ready to be issued. These penalties serve as a clear deterrent, reinforcing the message that fly tipping will not be tolerated. Recent figures show that offenders have been fined every month since April. The Council is working closely with its Legal team to pursue prosecutions where possible and is installing cameras in known hotspots as part of the Clean Devon Project. Fly tipping not only blights the landscape but also places a financial burden on the community. By unifying and strengthening its approach, South Hams District Council is determined to send a strong message against waste crime. South Hams District Council’s Executive Member for Waste and Recycling, Cllr Julian Brazil, said: “Following the recent Fly-tipping Fortnight, it is the perfect time to talk about these blights on our beautiful district. They are crimes that we take extremely seriously, and our teams are working tirelessly to catch offenders and keep South Hams clean. “We urge residents to dispose of their waste responsibly and to report any incidents of fly tipping they witness. Together, we can protect our environment and ensure our communities remain places we are proud to call home.” Fly-tipping is a crime, and offenders can face unlimited fines and up to five years in prison. Reporting these crimes helps us act. For more information on how to report fly tipping or to find out about responsible waste disposal, visit the waste and recycling section of the website at: www.southhams.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling |
|
District council supports proposal for reimagined local government in Devon
|
|
|
| District council supports proposal for reimagined local government in Devon | |
| Issued 27 November 2025 | |
| South Hams District Council has agreed to support a business case for reshaped and reimagined local services in the county and submitted the plan to Government.
East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon district councils have jointly developed Reimagining Devon: Believe in Better, a business case for local government reorganisation in the county. The proposal is the districts’ answer to the UK Government’s plan to simplify the structure of local services in England. This week, all seven councils have considered the document before the submission deadline on Friday 28 November. On Thursday, South Hams District Council agreed to support the plan, meaning all seven districts have now agreed to the proposal. The submitted proposal would give the county three unitary authorities:
The proposal, along with the other submissions for Devon, will be the subject of a government-led public consultation which is expected to take place in early 2026. South Hams District Council Leader Cllr Dan Thomas said: “The council’s official support for the Reimagining Devon plan is an important step. Our elected members have backed the proposal to create new councils which are designed to deliver high quality services in a cost-effective way and will be responsive and accountable to the needs of our communities. “There has been a tremendous amount of hard work and collaboration across political and geographic boundaries to create this plan, which reflects Devon’s unique geography and identity. “Thank you to everyone who helped to shape this proposal – including our residents, businesses, community groups and stakeholders. Your feedback was important in informing the plan, and your comments will be in our minds as the LGR process progresses. “A formal consultation will take place in the new year, and we hope everyone will use the opportunity to have their say and ensure we have a local government structure which is right for our residents, delivering services we can all be proud of for generations to come.” A decision on which proposal will be taken forward is expected from the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government in summer 2026. Elections for the new authority would then take place in May 2027 before it commences in 2028. The full proposal, Reimagining Devon: Believe in Better, is available to view at www.reimaginingdevon.org |
|
