News in Axminster

Councils across Devon have welcomed the fourth tranche of COVID funding they have been awarded by the government, but have warned it won't cover all their predicted losses and say they still have no idea what level of funding they will get next year.

An extra £10million from the government has been given to councils in Devon, with the intention that it will help cover coronavirus-related costs and ensure councils have the resources they need to keep providing vital services over the winter.

Axminster Arts has been dissolved – exactly 21 years after it was founded in November 1999.

Axminster Arts promoted arts and music in the town giving many artists the opportunity to appear in public.

Devon's director of Public Health has issued an appeal to residents to help stop the spread of COVID-19 as the country goes into its second national lockdown.

As the second lockdown begins today, Dr Virginia Pearson has urged people not to drop their guard and remain alert at all times to ensure local health services aren't overwhelmed this winter.

Axminster's weekly street market will remain open throughout the four weeks of lockdown.

The market is open today with not far off 100 per cent of the usual stallholders, although footfall was a little down on normal.

Totally Locally Axminster are working with Axminster Community Emergency Response (ACER) to produce a comprehensive community guide to traders who are able to continue offering services during the lockdown which comes in effect on Thursday.

Totally Locally organiser Barrie Hedges told Nub News: "Pulling together the information has demonstrated very clearly the sheer determination that exists amongst Axminster's traders to get through this.

Organisers of Axminster's Remembrance service were determined not to allow covid restrictions to curtail tributes to the 68 local men who lost their lives during two world wars.

The remembrance service and wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial on The Minster Green was scheduled to take place of Sunday, November 8th but without the usual parade.

Axminster businesses have been sharing their reactions and thanking customers for support following the news that England will go into a second lockdown on Thursday.

The lockdown will come into force at midnight on Wednesday and will see pubs, restaurants, cafes, hairdressers and all non-essential shops closed.

The Pippins Community Centre in Axminster - in its last few days of a £7,000 fundraising appeal - will remain open throughout the second national lockdown to continue hosting a variety of support groups and essential services.

The centre has just four days left to raise its target of £7,000 via its first Crowdfunding campaign.

BACK in March when the shops of Axminster went into lockdown with the coronavirus at its most deadly, concerns were expressed in many quarters that some of them would never open again.

In reality, with the help of government funding, there were far fewer casualties than were expected, although there were many job losses. That is not to say it was an easy ride during those three months of deserted streets especially for the small, owner-run businesses, many of whom had to invest heavily in putting in measures to keep their staff and customers safe as the High Street sprung to life again.

The number of new coronavirus cases confirmed at the end of October had risen across Devon and Cornwall – except in Exeter.

The total confirmed number of cases has hit 10,000 across the two counties, with Plymouth's figures rising over the 2,000 mark today.