Latest news with #TeignbridgeDistrictCouncil
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Toilet charging may increase 'public fouling risk'
Public toilets in seaside resorts and other towns and villages could be closed or have an admission fee District Council says it wants to save about £250,000 a year by closing or charging at toilets in places like Dawlish, Shaldon and Teignmouth and in rural villages on council has given a rating to 20 public toilets with the lowest 13 to be closed or transferred to town and parish councils and the possibility of charging for entry for the seven highest rated.A report setting out the plans to be debated by councillors on Tuesday acknowledges closures could lead to " an increased risk of fouling in public spaces". The council's report also said it recognised a potential "impact on tourism and businesses" and that "a reduction in public convenience provision could deter visitors". Several petitions have been launched by campaigners who want to keep services open, gathering thousands of signatures between local authority said it was a "difficult" decision to "reduce any valued service" but the impact of closures or charging "must be balanced with the council's requirement to remain financially viable".A decision on whether or not to go ahead with the plans is expected to be made by members at a full council meeting on Tuesday. Petitions have been launched by campaigners who want to keep the blocks at those locations Connett, Lib Dem councillor for Exminster and Haldon at Devon County Council, set up a petition to save the public toilets in Starcross, which is in his said the number of petitions launched showed how important the facilities were to many."They may not use them every day or indeed every week but they like to know they are there," Connett said."I hope Teignbridge think again and abandon this plan."
BBC News
22-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Decision day on 1,150 new homes on edge of Newton Abbot
More than 1,000 new homes could be built on countryside in Devon if plans are given the green want to build the homes, along with retirement accommodation, a primary school and a community centre, on land on the edge of Newton plans come in three applications to be decided by Teignbridge District Council - with one for an outline plan for up to 900 homes, another application for up to 250 homes and a third application for a new link Newton Abbot and District Civic Society has objected to the plans - describing them as "classic urban sprawl... closing the gap between the existing Newton Abbot area and the A38". Planning officers at Teignbridge have recommended approval of the plans for 900 homes while asking developer Clarence Developments Ltd to pay £1.5m for 15 gypsy and traveller pitches and another £500,000 for bus in five of the homes built would have to be 900-home planning application takes in both sides of Ashburton Road and runs up across fields past Seale Hayne and almost as far as Trago housing plans are separate from the other major developments around Newton Abbot at nearby Whitehill and south of the town at the controversial Wolborough Barton District Council's planning committee will meet to discuss the plans from 10:00 BST.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Devon council is acting lawfully on single-sex spaces
A council has clarified its position over single-sex spaces in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment which ruled a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities councillor Jane Taylor said Teignbridge District Council had continued to "deny women single-sex spaces" and asked for a full review of the council's equality and diversity policy to clarify exactly what was meant by a single-sex council hired a barrister to produce a 26-page report to advise it on what it should do report said the authority was acting lawfully in line with the judgment and there was no need for a review of council policy. Taylor, a retired police chief inspector, put forward a motion in October 2024 which said: "This council cannot continue to ignore and sideline the centrality of sex as a key factor of discrimination and deny women single-sex spaces where they are necessary, proportionate and legitimate to the objectives of upholding their safety and dignity."She called on Teignbridge to "agree a definition of single-sex spaces, for males and females, owned or managed by Teignbridge District Council and any appropriate service provision".At the meeting on Monday, she said: "Does this council still believe it is unlawful to exclude men who self-identify as women or who possess a gender recognition certificate to enter advertised single-sex female spaces."A transgender woman is a person born male who lives as a Woodhead, head of legal services at the council, said: "The Supreme Court made it quite clear what the position is and we will not deviate from what that position is."The Equality and Human Rights Commission issued guidance following the Supreme Court ruling which said in services that are open to the public "trans women (biological men) should not be permitted to use the women's facilities and trans men (biological women) should not be permitted to use the men's facilities, as this will mean that they are no longer single-sex facilities and must be open to all users of the opposite sex".Speaking after the meeting, Taylor said she was "elated" that women could now use single-sex spaces in Teignbridge District Council properties, such as changing rooms, in full knowledge that only other biological women would use that space. 'Immediately apparent tension' In the report prepared by Jonathan Ward of Magdalen Chambers in Exeter, he said the issue related specifically to single-sex spaces at the Broadmeadow Leisure Centre in said this was "a divisive issue" and that there was "tension between the protections for the protected characteristic of sex, and the protected characteristic of gender reassignment".In his report, he said there was "an immediately apparent tension" in cases where "a woman complains that she feels unsafe for example in sharing a changing room with a transgender woman" but "that a transgender woman feels unsafe if required to share a changing room with other men".During the meeting, Ward said "village" facilities where there were individual cubicles with locks appeared to be "a sensible answer".He said it was "difficult to see the process for enforcing single-sex spaces" and that questioning of individuals could amount to "victimisation and harassment".The BBC has asked Teignbridge District Council what the cost was of the barrister's report but has not received an answer. Following the meeting, council Liberal Democrat member Andrew Swain said he was pleased with the said: "We looked at it in detail. We've taken legal advice, and the conclusions there pretty much agree with my feeling that what Teignbridge is doing is really good."Teignbridge has been redesigning the leisure centres - they're moving towards individual lockable cubicles and, for me, this is a better way of said some people had "tried to make this into a battle".He said: "I don't think it's a battle - it's about creating leisure centres and public facilities which are inclusive."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Developers told to stop work at Wolborough homes site
Developers have been ordered to stop work at a site in Devon where 1,200 homes are set to be District Council issued a temporary stop notice to Vistry Homes relating to the development at Wolborough, on the edge of Newton said they were concerned that groundworks being carried out at the site - known as NA3 - may have gone beyond agreed planning Homes said it was working with the council "to resolve any concerns". Residents feared excavation work in Stray Park Meadow could damage Wolborough Fen, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).David Knopfler, one of the founder members of the band Dire Straits with his brother Mark, now lives in Wolborough, where his home overlooks the development said he and other residents were "heartbroken" by the start of the said: "These rolling green hills are irreplaceable, and they're full of all kinds of natural wildlife and plants that are native to the area, endangered and so forth."Of course, once you make a huge scar like this, you've done the damage already." Discussions over plans for the site have been going on for more than 10 years and the scheme was give outline approval by the planning inspector in District Council said it had served a temporary stop notice on the developer "for a potential breach of planning control".A spokesperson for Vistry Group said: "We have paused these initial works whilst we work in partnership with Teignbridge Council to resolve any concerns they have relating to the original planning permission."
BBC News
15-04-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dogs and owners work to help protect Devon countryside
Dogs and their owners are being encouraged to enjoy the countryside in a way that respects the environment as the number of dog walkers authorities say there are more and more people walking their dogs in east Devon as more homes are built in the Loves Dogs is funded by local councils and offers guided walks and advice to dog behind the scheme said picking up dog mess and not allowing dogs near nesting or grazing sites were the two most important issues. Julie Lowe is coordinator at Devon Loves Dogs, a project funded by East Devon District Council, Teignbridge District Council and Exeter City Lowe said: "People are out all the time all across our protected sites, so it's really about helping people to know a bit more about those places so they can do the right thing when they're out with their dog."It's also about being on top of things - so watching your dog when you're out on a walk, making sure you've got a lead, poo bags and making sure you're really engaged with your dog so you know where they are at all times and what they're up to." Devon Loves Dogs is one of the projects run by South East Devon Wildlife, which has been set up to protect three wildlife sites in the area - the Pebblebed Heaths on Woodbury and surrounding commons, the Exe Estuary and Dawlish Strawbridge, reserves manager for Pebblebed Heaths, said there were about 900,000 visitors each year to the site with about three-quarters of those people walking their said: "At this time of year, we've got our ground-nesting birds, so most of the birds here are nesting in the vegetation on or close to the floor."By staying on the paths and keeping your dog under control you're really making space for those birds to thrive."Dog mess could be a issue but Ms Strawbridge said most people "bag it and bin it".She said: "But not everyone is on it - so it's really important that dog walkers have their eyes on their dogs so they can clear up after them."I think most of the waste that's left is purely people just not paying enough attention." Dog walker Nell Parry said: "It's great socialisation for dogs and it's great for people - just to meet and know where you are and to learn about the environment and how to protect it."Karen Heywood, out walking with her dog Ernie, said: "It's been quite enlightening about the birds and the nesting season."You don't feel embarrassed if your dog is not quite behaving itself - it's not all about perfectly-behaved dogs, it's about learning to be with other animals."Devon Loves Dogs has been nationally recognised by the Forestry Commission as a best-practice community-based scheme. Walks are free and held throughout the year.
