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Community jamming at Kingsbridge skatepark
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Community jamming at Kingsbridge skatepark
Issued: 11 July 2024
Celebrations for Kingsbridge’s first community Skate Jam went off with a flying start at the opening of its new skatepark on Saturday 6 July.
Organised by Kingsbridge Skatepark Group, the skatepark is a prime example of how South Hams District Council is supporting community and volunteer groups.
The fantastic, jam-packed event featured skate, scooter, blade and BMX competitions for all skill levels, along with live music, food and a bar.
Adam Sherring, Kingsbridge Skatepark Community Group, said: “Saturday’s Skate Jam is another testament to how badly these sort of facilities are required in the South Hams. You can probably feel the positivity flowing through Kingsbridge right now - it’s beginning to feel like a community for the majority, not the minority. Today we see a broad spectrum of ages celebrating what the town has to offer and we couldn't be more stoked about it!
“I must thank all those involved - my committee work tirelessly and rarely get the credit they deserve. The local businesses, bands and DJs who have supported us for little to no money coming their way. Finally, and most importantly, the community in which we live in. Without their support it just doesn't get done. [Today] is for them!”
Cllr Victor Abbott, South Hams District Council’s Executive Member for Community Services and Leisure, said: “One of our priorities is to work with our communities and support them to deliver projects and schemes that will enhance the area for us all. This is a great example of us all coming together and making a difference to the Kingsbridge community. Skateparks like this provide the opportunity to have fun, keep healthy and enjoy being outdoors too.
“Thanks to Kingsbridge Skatepark Group for putting on such a great event for the community.”
Built at the end of 2023, the skatepark was achieved due to the collaboration between Kingsbridge Skatepark Community Group, South Hams District Council, Kingsbridge Town Council, Sport England and the incredible support of Kingsbridge residents. Working closely together, the funders all had a common goal; to provide a community skatepark for Kingsbridge.
Cllr Julia Wingate, Kingsbridge Town Council, said: “The first Kingsbridge skate Jam has just been amazing, so many competitors from as young as four years old! And so much community support with volunteers helping out, bands play for free, stages built for goodwill, we could not have asked for more.
“The skate community of Kingsbridge are really taking care and ownership of the new facility, keeping it clean and tidy, swept of leaves and tree debris so they can skate to their hearts content. The park is in constant use from early dawn to dusk with an amazing wide range of ages and abilities all getting along, it’s great to see.”
Kingsbridge Skatepark has been funded by:
- £10K Places and Spaces plus extra funding from Sport England.
- £55,000 from South Hams District Council, including £25,000 of Section 106 Developers’ Funding.
- £50,000 from Kingsbridge Town Council.
- £39,000 raised through a local community Crowdfunder scheme.
- £5,000 from the Gibbons Trust.
- £5,000 from the Norman Family Trust.
Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director Place, Sport England, said: “Through a successful Crowdfunder campaign that raised almost £39,000 from a community of over 280 supporters, Sport England have provided £10,000 of ‘Places and Spaces +Extra Funding’ towards the Kingsbridge Skatepark project.
“We are delighted that the Skatepark is complete and fully open. A vibrant and accessible space, the Skatepark is an example of how we are supporting communities to transform lives through sport and physical activity, putting into practice our Uniting the Movement strategy.”
South Hams and West Devon are awarded funding to tackle sticky issue of chewing gum
| Tel: 01803 861368 / 01822 813648 | Email: communications@swdevon.gov.uk |
South Hams and West Devon are awarded funding to tackle sticky issue of chewing gum
Issued 11 July 2024
A grant from the Chewing Gum Task Force, administered by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, will help South Hams and West Devon Councils clean up gum and reduce gum littering.
The two councils are putting plans in place to remove the chewing gum that blights local streets after receiving a £18,754 grant to tackle the issue.
The councils are among 54 across the country that have successfully applied to the Chewing Gum Task Force, now in its third year, for funds to clean gum off pavements and prevent it from being littered again.
Established by Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and run by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the Chewing Gum Task Force Grant Scheme is open to councils across the UK who wish to clean up gum in their local areas and invest in long-term behaviour change to prevent gum from being dropped in the first place.
The Task Force is funded by major gum manufacturers including Mars Wrigley and Perfetti Van Melle, with an investment of up to £10 million spread over five years.
Monitoring and evaluation carried out by Behaviour Change – a not-for-profit social enterprise - has shown that in areas that benefitted from the first year of funding, a reduced rate of gum littering was still being observed six months after clean-up and the installation of prevention materials.
Cllr Jacqi Hodgson, South Hams Executive Member for Waste, said: “Many towns and cities are affected by people dropping chewing gum and we hope that the street cleaning this grant covers will act as a reminder to people that our streets look much nicer without litter like chewing gum.”
Cllr Ursula Mann, West Devon Lead Member for climate change and biodiversity, said: “We’re grateful to the Chewing Gum Task Force for this grant. It’s a positive way for the industry to help solve the littering issue that it creates.”
Estimates suggest the annual clean-up cost of chewing gum for councils in the UK is around £7-million and, according to Keep Britain Tidy, around 77% of England’s streets and 99% of retail sites are stained with gum.
In its second year the task force awarded 55 councils a total of £1.56-million, helping clean an estimated 440,000 m2 of pavement - an area equivalent to the Vatican City.
By combining targeted street cleaning with specially designed signage to encourage people to bin their gum, participating councils achieved reductions in gum littering of up to 60% in the first two months.
Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy’s chief executive, said: “Chewing gum litter is highly visible on our high streets and is both difficult and expensive to clean up, so the support for councils provided by the Chewing Gum Task Force and the gum manufacturers is very welcome.
“However, once the gum has been cleaned up, it is vital to remind the public that when it comes to litter, whether it’s gum or anything else, there is only one place it should be – in the bin – and that is why the behaviour change element of the task force’s work is so important.”
Welcome To Our July Newsletter!
| Action on climate change in Devon and dates for the diary |
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There are many actions already taking place across Devon that are successfully reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing resilience and implementing the 
Find out about upcoming events, funding and opportunities across Devon below.
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Caroline Voaden elected as the Member of Parliament for the South Devon Constituency
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Caroline Voaden elected as the Member of Parliament for the South Devon Constituency
Issued: 5 July 2024
The votes have been counted and the result declared for the South Devon Constituency in the 4 July 2024 General Election.
Commodore John Keith Moores OBE DL, High Sheriff of Devon, as the Returning Officer declared that Liberal Democrat candidate, Caroline Jane Voaden has been elected as Member of Parliament.
The overall turnout for the election was 68.01%.
For more information on the votes cast for each candidate, please visit, www.southhams.gov.uk/general-election-results-2024
Grounded vessel safely back on the water
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Grounded vessel safely back on the water
2 July 2024
A fuel spillage has been averted and a fishing vessel has now been refloated after becoming grounded near Salcombe.
Salcombe Harbour Authority, with support from South Hams District Council, reacted quickly to help the Emma Jane after she got stuck in mud as she approached the fish quay at 5 a.m. this morning (2 July).
Despite efforts to tow the vessel, she remained grounded and there were fears that as the tide went out, she could roll over and spill fuel. Emergency measures were put into place to protect the environment and so there could be a speedy response if the situation changed.
Salcombe Harbour Master, Cameron Sims-Stirling, said: “The Emma Jane is now safely on her berth and all the crew are safe. We are really pleased that she floated free as the tide came in and that a pollution spill was avoided.
“I’d like to thank vessels for avoiding the grounded area during this time and all those involved for acting so quickly and efficiently to reduce the potential risks.”
Celebrating the District’s community heroes
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Celebrating the District's community heroes
6 June 2024
Congratulations to the South Hams Community Award winners for 2024.
South Hams District Council's outgoing Chairman for 2023/2024, Cllr Guy Pannell recently presented the awards to the worthy recipients, recognised for their fantastic work to support communities across the District.
With so many fantastic entries, two winners have been named under both the Organisation and Community Champion categories.
Our winners are:
- Organisation Award joint winners - Dementia-Friendly Parishes around the Yealm and Kingsbridge Foodbank
- Community Champion Award joint winners - Robin Cox and Peter Davis
- Young Persons Award (for under 18s) - Kieran Grills
Learn from some of our winners about the important work they do in the Council's recent video
Welcome To Our June Newsletter!
| Action on climate change in Devon and dates for the diary |
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Several Devon organisations have been granted funds from Phase 3 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, a UK government initiative to reduce carbon emissions in public sector buildings.
Plymouth residents can nominate their local climate legends online as part of a Plymouth Climate Connections' initiative.
The first phase of creating a safe and convenient walking, cycling, and wheeling route between Newton Abbot and Ogwell is nearly complete, with a new road section and fencing at Bakers Park finished and road improvements at Steppes Meadow underway.
Communities across the South Hams, East and Mid Devon, Teignbridge, Exeter, Plymouth, and Torbay are being invited to help collect information on the impact climate change is having on nine threatened nocturnal mammal species – seven bat species, hazel dormice, and hedgehogs – as well as the habitats they depend on.
Businesses in the South Hams area are being offered free specialist advice from Libraries Unlimited, funded by South Hams District Council, to help them reduce their carbon footprint.
If you would like to sign our Declaration, please visit our website:
Pledge to Eat Local For a Chance to Win a Hamper
Nature Recovery: Can Totnes be Wild?
Learn Devon’s new programme for 2024/25!
| Over 100 courses now available - new ones alongside the classics! |
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What does the General Election mean for Devon and Torbay’s plans for a Combined County Authority?
| All the latest news from Devon County Council |
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