Issued: 18 April 2024

Plans are afoot to create a district-wide arts festival for the South Hams next summer.

In conjunction with South Hams District Council, NDP Circus is working on delivering a week-long festival across the district in the summer of 2025. The festival would bring together community organisations focused on the arts and culture, while encouraging collaboration with town and parish councils too.

The festival would also bring together event organisers to help co-ordinate activities in each area. The key theme of the festival would be climate change, a subject of importance to South Hams District Council.

Cllr John Birch, South Hams Executive Member for Economic Development and Commercial Strategy, said: “An arts festival encompassing our communities would be a huge boon for the district. We are looking for our towns and parishes to really buy into the idea, so that this truly is an event for the whole South Hams.

“The festival would be great for the economy, as events would attract visitors to our towns and venues and encourage people to spend money and support our local businesses.

“The Council has an ambition to develop an arts and culture strategy for the South Hams. The festival could be a launchpad for wider activities in the district and leave a significant legacy.

“Climate change is something affecting us all and making it a key theme of the festival will also highlight this important issue.

“Events like this create memories. They get people engaged in the arts, learning new skills and trying new things. They build community spirit by bringing people together. Businesses benefit as people come out from their homes and spend time in the heart of their communities. I’m excited to see what NDP Circus can pull together and the programme of events our residents can look forward to.”

NDP Circus has a track record of bringing arts events to the district following their successful Totnes Festival in 2022. The event was delivered around Totnes and Dartington, with highlights including a performance by the Globe Theatre at Dartington Hall.

The organisation successfully attracted £65,000 of Arts Council funding for the Totnes Festival, along with further funding from Totnes Town Council and South Hams District Council.

The 2025 arts festival is predicted to cost around £175,000, and they will again look to secure funding from the Arts Council and private sector, as well as town and parish councils. They will also aim to work with arts organisations locally to co-ordinate events.

Issued 28 March 2024

As promised, South Hams District Council has launched their Dartmouth Park and Ride public consultation.

Following the South Hams District Council’s Executive meeting on Wednesday 13 March, a range of parking and travel proposals compromises were agreed for Dartmouth’s Park and Ride.

The District Council can confirm that the public consultation is open from Thursday 28 March until Thursday 18 April.

You can find read all the information, along with the reports and have your say, at: parkandride-dartmouth.commonplace.is

20 March 2024

South Hams District Council has launched an innovative project which will explore the recycling of abandoned vessels and help to reduce marine pollution.

Over the next two weeks, Creekside Boatyard in Dartmouth will dismantle a sailing boat that has reached the end of its useful life and with support from the Council, look at ways to fully recycle all parts of the boat.

The findings from the two-week study will help support local harbour authorities and coastal communities who struggle to dispose of abandoned vessels in their harbours. marinas and boatyards.

The project has the support from the Royal Yachting Association and its environmental programme The Green Blue who are currently collecting data on abandoned boats.

Cllr John Mckay, South Hams District Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity said: “An increase in the manufacture of recreational vessels from the 1980s means that, over the next few decades, many more will reach their end of use. Most of these will have hulls made from mixed materials such as fibre reinforced plastic.

“Currently, there are few incentives for boatowners to recycle older boats due to cost and lack of specialised recycling facilities. Most vessels that have been abandoned on the water end up being salvaged and scrapped. While some components can be commercially recycled, the majority, including composite hulls, end up in land fill.

“With our focus on climate change, it is vital we look at what we can do within our District’s waters. Being able to recycle unused vessels will go a long way in achieving our net-zero targets.”
Chris Craven, Managing Director of Creekside Boatyard said: “We are delighted to be supporting South Hams District Council in pioneering the disposal and recycling of end-of-life vessels. Our vision is that this study will play its part in providing a progressive solution to what is a big and increasing problem.”

Dave Perret, a South Devon College apprentice working at the boatyard will be on hand throughout the next two weeks to record the findings and report back to fellow students as part of their NVQ Level 3 Marine Engineering studies.

Paul Singer, Business and Qualification Development Coordinator at South Devon College said: “South Devon College are delighted to be part of this important composites recycling project. Over 75,000 tonnes of end of life composites is generated in the UK each year, with the majority ending up in land fill. This pilot project will not only provide the evidence for larger scale projects but also raise awareness of dealing with waste composites with our students.”

James Scott-Anderson from Marine Environmental Specialists Blue Parameters, who are heading up the specialist delivery of the project, commented: “This is a significant step in tackling the challenge of EOL and abandoned vessels, a practical solution with potential economic value. It demonstrates that for future marine sustainability, stakeholder partnerships like this one are essential to achieve the most impact and deliver the best outcome.”

The Council will release a report on the findings in the summer with the hope of raising awareness of the issues surrounding abandoned and end-of-use boats, and further expanding the project.

Anyone who spots an abandoned boat, can report it at www.thegreenblue.org.uk/you-and-your-boat/info-and-advice/end-of-life-boats

Issued: 18 March 2024

Bigbury on Sea car park, leased by South Hams District Council since 1997, will soon change hands over to a new operator, RCP Parking Ltd.

Following the end of their lease, the Council has agreed they will give up both the car park and the toilet leases. To renew both leases would mean the Council would be operating at a sizable loss which would not be in the best interests for public funds.

The landowner has entered into an agreement with operator, RCP Parking Ltd, who will take on the full management of both the car park and toilets. This means visitors to Bigbury on Sea will see no interruption to the service with the current parking and public toilets remaining open and available for public use.

The District Council will no longer operate the car park and public toilets from Monday 25 March 2024.

Cllr Victor Abbott, South Hams District Council’s, Executive Member for Community Services and Leisure, said: “We have voluntarily surrendered the lease for these two assets which we have run for many years. We have to run our services sensibly, in a way which is cost effective. We have a duty to our residents to do that since we use public funds for these services and that is why we have reached this decision.

“Decisions aren’t always easy to come to, but when there is a rent increase which means we would be running at a significant loss, then it’s the right thing to do, to walk away and spend money where it’s more urgently needed.

“RCP Parking will be taking over the operation of the car park from next Monday, 25 March. They are an experienced, family run business and have been operating car parks across the UK since 1994.”

For further information on all South Hams District Council’s parking information, including their car park locations, Blue Badge, permits, EV charges and motorhome information across the South Hams, go to: www.southhams.gov.uk/parking