News in Honiton

The Scouting members were given some draw tickets and told how they would be helping to buy some vaccine for Polio. We wanted to help by raising awareness of Polio in other countries and help to eradicate it.

Many thanks to Mark Tredwin who supplied us with some leaflets and photos of his racing car which has the Purple4Polio logo on it and two teddy bears.

It will be four more years of Conservative rule in Devon after the Tories comfortably retained control of Devon County Council.

Under John Hart's leadership, they have been in charge of the council since 2009, and Thursday's local elections saw them stretch that reign until 2025.

The votes have been counted and Conservative candidate, Philip Twiss, retains his seat as County Councillor for Honiton and Feniton.

This comes as little surprise perhaps, given the political traditions of this rural area, however the results also show a significant proportion of voters went with Labour candidate, Jake Bonetta, who impressed many with his hard-fought campaign.

Devon's Beautiful Days, which is scheduled to take place from the 20 to 22 August 2021 in the grounds of Escot Park near Honiton, has announced over 50 artists for the 2021 event.

Headliners include Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls, James and the Levellers!

The past twelve months have been especially challenging for our local restaurants and pubs.

A local chef, Gideon Hitchin, has decided to respond by creating a pop-up restaurant at a wildflower farm in Stockland near Honiton

Adults in Honiton and across Devon are being encouraged to include regular rapid lateral flow testing as part of their weekly routine. It's free, painless and results are back within the hour.

Devon County Council have mobile vans which move around the county offering testing to people without symptoms of Covid-19.

Honiton Surgery is one of three local GP practices rolling out a new initiative to address growing demands on mental health services in the area.

The Primary Care Network, also incorporating Sid Valley Practice in Sidmouth and Coleridge Medical Centre in Ottery St Mary, is launching a brand-new set of services through a Primary Care Mental Health Team.

At the annual meeting held yesterday evening (4 May), Honiton Town Council elected a mayor and deputy mayor just two days before an election to fill 10 empty seats.

Following an impromptu speech of appreciation, in which the 'existing mayor' was applauded for the "enormous amount of work" undertaken throughout the "horrors of Covid-19" and despite "personal enmity", Cllr Jill McNally nominated Cllr John Zarczynski for the position.

Taylor Wimpey has urged Honiton buyers to act fast if they want to secure a new home at the new Mountbatten Mews development.

The selection of two bedroom apartments and two, three and four bedroom houses has proven popular with the local market since it launched in December 2020.

After a recent theft at Dunkeswell Pre School, Tesco Honiton have donated the proceeds of its community book sale to start the ball rolling and spur others to support this local group.

The pre school and Tesco Honiton have shared a long a precious relationship with support, donations and "seasonal appearances" many of the colleagues have had children, grandchildren and relatives attend the school and have seen it's benefits first hand.