"West Devon is one of the best places to live in Devon," say local residents.

In the Government’s first ever national Place Survey, more than 90% of West Devon residents said they were satisfied with their local area as a place to live.

More people in West Devon than in any other district in the county were happy with their parks and open spaces, and the borough received a positive endorsement from residents for giving value for money.

Around 3,000 West Devon households were asked questions about their local community, the public services they receive, their views on their councils, and how engaged they feel in decisions affecting their lives.

The headline findings of the survey were:
• Almost 90% were satisfied with their refuse collections.
• 78% were happy with their parks and open spaces – the highest in Devon
• Just over 80% were satisfied with their doorstep recycling
• Almost 60% said they were satisfied with the way their council runs things – second in Devon
• 94% of the over 65s surveyed said they were satisfied with the place where they live.
• 86% said they felt they were treated with respect and consideration by others

Less than one in five felt that West Devon has a problem with drink, drugs and rowdy behaviour. However, only 42% of people said they were happy with local bus services.

Cllr James McInnes, Leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: “The Council aims to work even harder to ensure that everyone in West Devon enjoys a good quality of life whether they live, work or visit our borough.”

The Place Survey is a major national survey of people's opinion on where they live and their local council. It is a key way of assessing public perceptions and one way that the government is checking whether councils are meeting their performance targets. The survey is available at www.communities.gov.uk/publications/corporate/statistics/placesurvey2008

West Devon’s prize-winning Okehampton Business Centre has notched up another accolade at a South West Commercial Property Awards ceremony.

Developed and managed by West Devon Borough Council, the Centre provides 16 starter business units for new firms and won the Project of the Year for a building over £3-million in the Michelmores and Western Morning News Commercial Property Awards.

The Centre is the first development on the 26-acre 'Opportunity Okehampton' site, alongside Exeter Road.
The business centre’s green credentials are the key to its success as it is one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly buildings of its type in the region.
Cllr James McInnes, Leader of West Devon Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted with the quality of the building which has proved to be a first class environment for businesses.

“This is a significant project for West Devon Borough Council and demonstrates how economic growth can be achieved in an environmentally sustainable way.”

Since opening last summer, the centre has won four major building awards. These include the South West Green Energy’s Best Small Renewable Energy Scheme, the Local Authority Building Control’s Best Sustainability Project, an award of excellence from the Institution of Civil Engineer’s Environmental Quality Assessment and Award Scheme and the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method Award.

If you would like more information about renting a unit at the business centre visit www.westdevon.gov.uk/starterbusinessunits or call Michelle Baker on 01822 813702 (email mbaker@westdevon.gov.uk).

West Devon Mayor Cllr Alison Clish-Green led a flag-raising ceremony in honour of Britain's armed forces at the Borough Council’s Tavistock offices.
The first national Armed Forces Day is on June 27, and a special flag is being flown at Kilworthy Park to mark the occasion .

The Mayor and her consort, Kirstie Clish-Green , were joined by representatives from the Tavistock branch of the Royal British Legion, members of the Reserve and Cadet Forces, the Mayor of Tavistock Cllr Mandy Govier, Geoffrey Cox MP, West Devon councillors, staff and local businessmen.

Tavistock Royal British Legion Chairman John Lashbrooke raised the flag as Secretary Jack May played the ‘Reveille’.

Cllr Clish-Green told the gathering at the ceremony: “Every day, the men and women of our Armed Forces make huge personal sacrifices for us – and their families do too. I hope that by flying this flag we can show our support and gratitude for the work they continue to do.

“The purpose of Armed Forces Day is to celebrate what our veterans have already achieved, what our current personnel continue to achieve, and the opportunities the Armed Forces offer our future generations. The Armed Forces Day flag sends out a clear message that will be appreciated by all our service personnel, past, present and future.”

West Devon has seen a 15.3% reduction in crime over the last year, re-affirming its standing as one of the safest places to live in England.

The figures show a huge drop in recorded robbery, and significant reductions in theft from vehicles and other vehicle crime against last year’s figures.

Crime reduction work is part of the South Devon and Dartmoor Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, which operates across Teignbridge and South Hams as well as West Devon.

West Devon Borough Councillor Mandy Govier, Chair of the Partnership, said: “We are looking forward to reducing these figures even further and building on the partnership’s success of the last two years.”

In conjuction with the on-going work in neighbourhood policing, a new website has recently been launched by the Police, neighbourhoodpolicing.devon-cornwall.police.uk which enables you to get to know the people in your local police team and to discover more about policing priorities where you live.

For more information on the South Devon and Dartmoor Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, contact Louisa Wall, Community Safety Officer at West Devon Borough Council, on 01822 813720 or email lwall@westdevon.gov.uk.

The Wharf public toilets in Tavistock re-opened recently following a complete refurbishment.

Cllr Robert Sampson, chair of West Devon Borough Council’s Environment and Community Committee, said: “It is good to see the completion of this scheme. The provision of public conveniences is not a mandatory duty for West Devon but is a service for residents and visitors, and we wish to maintain and improve it under this long-term scheme.“  

Discussions with residents about planning related inquiries have proved so popular that West Devon’s planning advice team is extending the sessions.

From Monday 1 June, a planning officer will be available from 9am to 12 noon every Monday at West Devon Borough Council’s Okehampton Customer Services Centre.

There is also a change of hours for the Wednesday afternoon planning advice sessions at the Okehampton offices and a planning officer will now be available from 1pm to 4pm every Wednesday.

For further information, contact the Council’s planning team on 01822 813600 or email dc@westdevon.gov.uk

Baby Patryk Tomasik was the lucky winner of the 'Devon Real Nappy Project £100 giveaway' when he was the first baby to be born in Okehampton Hospital during 'Real Nappy Week'  (April 27 to May 1).

Parents at the maternity unit were given the opportunity to try a wide variety of reusable nappies as part of a national campaign to inform parents about alternatives to disposable nappies.

Using any type of nappy involves energy, whether it is in the process of making disposables or  washing cloth ones. However it seems that washing nappies at home has less impact on climate change  than using disposables.

Using cloth nappies also saves money; parents can save up to £500 by using reusable nappies compared to using disposables.

For more information about 'real' nappies and events in your area, please contact The Devon Real Nappy Project on 0800 328 8175 or visit www.recycledevon.org

For further information on recycling in West Devon please contact Terri Easton, Waste Education Officer, on 01822 813570 or email teaston@westdevon.gov.uk.  

July is transport month in West Devon! West Devon Transport Access Group has teamed up with West Devon Connect and will be coming to an Outreach surgery near you soon.

Along with West Devon’s outreach advisors, local community and public transport providers’ representatives will be available at July’s surgeries to answer your queries and help resolve your transport dilemmas. And at each event, completion of a simple survey will enter you into a free prize draw to win a hamper of local produce worth £50.

The July surgeries dates and locations are:

July 1 & 15    The Arundell Arms, Lifton 9.30am-12 noon
July 3             The Burrow Café, Exbourne 10 am -12 noon
July 7 & 21    Hatherleigh Market 9.30 am 12 noon
July 7             Spreyton, Village Hall 2 pm- 3.30pm
July 10 & 24 Whiddons Tea Rooms, Chagford 9.30am -12 noon
July 14 & 28 Hope Cottage Café, Bere Alston 10 am -12 noon

For further information contact WDTAG on 01822 613264, West Devon Customer Services on 01822 813600 or email services@westdevon.gov.uk.
 

Monday June 22 – Saturday June 27: Tavistock Group of Artists Exhibition. Phone 01822 617232 or visit www.tavistockonline.co.uk/town_hall.htm for further details.

Saturday June 27 : Digital Uk – Switchover Roadshow. Market Street car park, Okehampton. Digital UK hotline 08456 50 50 50.

Wednesday July 1 : Tamar Valley Walk & Talk scheme begins. Phone Bill Davies on 07825 365478. For a full list of walks coming up, visit the website: www.tamarvalley.org.uk.

Thursday July 2 : Dry Stone Walling Demonstration. Drop in between 10am and 4pm, Dunnabridge (Ashburton to Princetown road). Phone Dartmoor National Park Authority on 01626 831014 or email shalse@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk.

Friday July 3 : Gulworthy Primary School Summer Fair. 2pm – 4pm at the school field. Phone 01822 832520 for further details.

Saturday July 11 – Saturday July 18: Tavistock Carnival Week. Visit www.tavistocklions.org.uk .

Sunday July 12: Belstone Village Fair at 2pm. AND Summer Fayre & Teddy Bears’ Picnic, 11am – 3pm at CHICKS Moorland Retreat, Brentor.

Friday July 17 and Saturday July 18: Chagstock International Music & Arts Festival. Visit www.chagstock.info.

Friday July 17 – Sunday July 19: Flower Festival, St Peter’s Church, Lewtrenchard. 10am – 6pm. Songs of Praise 6.30pm on Sunday.

Sunday July 19 : Plant Sale. Tavistock Pannier Market.

Wednesday July 22: Digital Switchover Help Scheme drop-in event. Charter Hall, Okehampton. 1pm to 4pm.

Friday July 24 – Sunday July 26 : Lamerton Celebrate Heaven In Devon. Phone 01822 810027.

Friday August 7: Digital Switchover Help Scheme drop-in event. Tavistock Town Hall. 1pm to 4pm.

Visit www.bipwestdevon.biz/newsletters.php or phone 0800 592872 for AgriBIP events and news.

For details of Arts Events visit www.westdevon.gov.uk/artsevents

For a full list of all events and films at The Wharf, Tavistock visit: www.tavistockwharf.com or phone 01822 611166.

For films showing at the New Carlton, Okehampton visit: www.merlincinemas.co.uk or phone 01837 658586.