News in Honiton

More than 60 per cent of all household waste is recycled in East Devon, making the district one of the best in the country.

This puts East Devon District Council (EDDC) as the tenth best recycling council in England, up from 15th place last year.

A tentative post on social media – asking if members of the Honiton community would be interested in litter picking – quickly snowballed into a huge response from residents keen to back the initiative.

Peter Coster, an electrical engineer who lives in the town with his wife and seven-year-old son, set up the Honiton Litter Pickers group on Facebook, attracting dozens of active members in less than two weeks.

BETLEY - ANNE. Passed away peacefully at home on 26th February 2021 aged 82 years.

GAREY - BETTY.

Organisers of Honiton Hill Rally have taken the 'extremely difficult' decision to postpone the event until 2022, with last year also cancelled due to the pandemic.

A statement read: "It is with much regret and sadness that we announce that the 47th Honiton Hill Rally will no longer be taking place this year and will be postponed until August bank holiday 2022.

Leading members of East Devon District Council were asked to consider their positions this week, during a passionate discussion on claims made by council staff that they were "bullied at work".

The three-hour debate followed a staff survey carried out in January and February of this year, which raised claims that new councillors and the new political leadership at East Devon was "seriously mistreating officers" and "unnecessarily micro-managing and causing extra workload".

Lockdown restrictions are slowly easing, with a few big changes on Monday, March 8.

Schools will be reopening and all children can return to the classroom. Wraparound childcare, such as breakfast and after-school clubs, can also reopen.

UPDATE: The A375 Sidmouth Road is now clear following an earlier traffic incident at Exeter Road.

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The Star Inn in Honiton is one of a select number of Wetherspoon pubs set to reopen outdoor serving areas from 12 April, as announced by the chain yesterday (Thursday).

The pub giant released a list of 394 of its venues that will open when restrictions lift, which included Honiton.

The winner of a recent prize draw held by Home Instead Exeter and East Devon was delighted to receive her prize last week.

Home Instead partnered with Sidmouth Florist, Floralities, with the prize being two beautiful bouquets: one for the winner and another for them to gift to a friend, neighbour or loved one.

Adapting its service amid the Covid-19 pandemic to meet the needs of the community is how the Honiton-based Devon Freewheelers has stepped up its help since March 2020.

While the charity's revenue continues to be hit as scores of fundraising events have been cancelled because of Covid-19 restrictions, the service has gone the extra mile whenever needed.