News in Axminster

Gardening Tales

On the end of our dwelling was an adjoining garden bounded by the road (now First Avenue) and directly opposite it was Hurtching's shop. In the attached photgraph of Grandad Tudor and my sister Jane, it is possible to see the garden in the background as well as the home of the Jordan family. The oak tree I referred to in a previous article is also showing above the roof of their dwelling.

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Axminster, Peter Creek presented a pressure cooker to Karen Taylor who is the founder of the excellent Nourish organisation that provides free meals to a large number of clients in the Axminster area.

They are pictured in the Axminster Guildhall kitchen (together with assistant Mary Darlow) which is where the food is prepared.

An alcohol license has been granted for Ric's Kitchen, one of Axminster's new eating out venues, launched last August by Ric and Laura Edgell.

Announcing that they would be soon opening their liquor cabinet at their Castle Mount premises in Victoria Place, Ric and Laura posted on social media: "This means, when we reopen, not only will we have a brand new menu, but we will be opening evenings and offering incredible drinks too."

If you don't like the decisions that the council makes on planning matters, now is your chance to change things, says East Devon District Council as it starts work on a new Local Plan.

While nearly 20,000 people have registered to comment on planning proposals through the council's website, less than ten per cent of them have opted to receive information on matters such as the new Local Plan, which will decide what and where we allow new developments in East Devon for the next 20 years.

East Devon District Council has employed new officers to help high street businesses reopen safely and follow COVID-19 guidelines.

Whilst COVID has closed down thriving town centres, the district is now on a journey of transition, dedicated to reopening shops, restaurants and community venues in a safe and sustainable way.

Last week saw the lowest number coronavirus cases since early October recorded in Devon and Cornwall.

A total of 835 new cases were confirmed across the two counties last week, compared to 1,169 the previous week.

With COVID restrictions making traditional methods of fundraising impossible, Axminster charity arc planned a zoom quiz to provide an evening of entertainment and to raise some much-needed funding.

Sixteen households took part - some with teams and others individuals - and

Devon County Council has approved a 4.99 per cent council tax increase as part of budget proposals that will see more funding for vulnerable children, adult social care and health, and repairing potholes.

More than £37million of additional funding will be pumped into vital services for the 2021/22 financial year, with an £21.7million earmarked for adult care and health, and £11.4million for children's services.

The Prime Minister's 'roadmap' out of lockdown has been met with a cautious welcome by Devon leaders.

Boris Johnson yesterday (Monday) announced a series of steps on how the country will come out of its third national lockdown.

More than 500 people have signed a petition against the National Trust's permanent closure of medieval manor house Shute Barton to the public.

The petition was set up over the weekend, and the milestone of 500 signatures was reached by Monday afternoon. It has also been shared more than 250 times on social media.