Current Issues

A trial to boost re-use of electrical items is taking place at five Household Waste Recycling Centres across Devon.

The project, funded by the electricals industry to encourage the re-use of electrical items, will initially focus on flat screen TVs, vacuum cleaners and lighting. 

In 2018/19, over 7,200 tonnes of electrical items were recycled through Devon’s recycling centres and the trial aims to go one step further and capture any items that are still in good working order to keep them in circulation for longer.

The participating trial sites are:

• Pinbrook Recycling Centre, Exeter
• Ivybridge Recycling Centre
• Brunel Road Recycling Centre, Newton Abbot
• Knowle Hill Recycling Centre, Exmouth
• Bideford Recycling Centre

Residents arriving at participating recycling centres with flat screen TVs, vacuum cleaners or lighting will now be asked by site staff if the item is still working and in good condition.

Items that can be reused will be PAT and function tested by trained site staff and then made available in the site’s reuse shop for the public to buy, along with furniture, bric-a-brac and other re-useable household items. Non-working electrical items and any failing the testing procedure will be recycled.  

It is estimated that following the testing process, 33% of TVs, 50% of vacuums and 72% of lighting/lamps will be suitable to re-use, meaning an additional 48 tonnes of electrical goods will be re-used per year at participating sites.

Recycling centre re-sale shops are popular with the public as they offer a range of household items at affordable prices.  Public demand for re-sale shops to include electrical items has grown as budget savvy shoppers embrace the cost savings of buying re-usable goods, whilst also benefiting the environment.    

The grant has helped provide workshop and testing facilities as well as staff training to allow re-useable items to be function and safety tested prior to re-sale.  It is anticipated that the scheme will be self-financing going forward which will help keep it going.

Subject to the success of the initial 5 site roll-out, other sites and other electrical items could be added to the scheme in future to further boost re-use in Devon.

For more information visit www.recycledevon.org.

Please click link below to view document:-

Great Torrington Town Council has confirmed that the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service at the war memorial in Great Torrington Cemetery will not be going ahead this year.  This event is jointly organised by the Town Council and the local branch of the Royal British Legion and both parties have agreed that the event cannot go ahead in accordance with the current Coronavirus pandemic restrictions on gatherings of more than 6 people.

It is expected that individuals will want to visit the war memorial to lay wreaths on Remembrance Sunday, however this will not be part of an organised service: visitors will be expected to observe the Government’s social distancing guidance, the Rule of 6 and to manage their own safety when visiting the site.  Groups and individuals are strongly encouraged to pay their respects safely at home.

During the period of Remembrance in November the Mayor will pay her respects on behalf of the Town Council; please check the Town Council’s Facebook page on Sunday 8th November at 11.00am.  More information on this will also be provided in the next edition of The Crier as well as the Town Council’s website and Facebook page.

Torridge District Council has agreed a “buy one-hour parking get the second hour free” to help business recovery.  From Friday 9th October and through October and November residents and visitors are urged to support local shops and businesses affected by Covid-19. Park up for two hours for the price of one: just 60p in the Great Torrington car parks!

Applicable Car Parks in Great Torrington are both Sydney House and Barley Grove Car Parks. Love your town and buy local this autumn!

Following the resignation of Cllr Miller, we currently have a vacancy for 1 Co-Opted Councillor to join the other Council Members of Great Torrington Town Council.

This role will give you an opportunity to get involved with a number of exciting projects and interests within the community of Great Torrington.  If you are passionate about the town, prepared to roll your sleeves up and get involved, have at least one of the qualifications below we would invite you to submit a written application outlining why you are interested in becoming a Town Councillor and what you believe you can bring to the role for consideration.    

1. I am registered as a local government elector for the parish; or
2. I have, during the whole of the twelve months preceding the date of my co-option, occupied as owner or tenant, land or other premises in the parish; or
3. My principal or only place of work during those twelve months has been in the parish; or
4. I have during the whole of the twelve months preceding the date of my co-option resided in the parish or within 3 miles of it.

Applications should be no more than one side of A4 paper.

Please forward applications to Great Torrington Town Council, Castle Hill, Great Torrington, EX38 8AA or by email to admin@great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk  to be received no later than Thursday 5th November 2020

Karen Chapman, Town Clerk

Please click link below for more information about Find your Footprint week (17th – 24th October):-

North Devon Council and Torridge District Council are working together and encouraging local residents and organisations to “Find your footprint” to help combat climate change.

“Find your footprint” is a joint project between the two councils and local environmental entrepreneur, Mukti Mitchell that aims to make reducing your carbon footprint easy and fun. The project has been launched in response to the national climate emergency declared across the UK by local authorities including the two councils.

Other charities in the region, including Resurgence Trust, 361 Energy, Devon Wildlife Trust, Plastic Free North Devon, Beaford Arts and the AONB Biosphere Reserve, have also joined the project, which hopes to reach 10,000 people across the region. 

The project kicks off with “Find your Footprint” week from 17-24 October. Individuals and organisations can find out their carbon footprint using a five-minute online tool and then pick one action from a range of easy lifestyle options that save CO₂. They can then measure their footprint again to see how much it has reduced as part of “Celebrate your Savings” week in March 2021.

Mukti Mitchell, director of Carbon Savvy, a CO₂ saving advice provider, says: “The great news is that reducing your carbon footprint almost always leads to improvements in your quality of life, so this will also make us all happier, healthier and wealthier in Northern Devon over the next 10 years.

“When I ask people at talks and workshops what they want to do to improve their quality of life, I often hear: spend more time with my family, partner, children and friends. Spend more time in the garden, or walking the dog or in nature. People are surprised that their most valued activities actually save CO₂; so if we do more of the things we love, it’s good for the planet too.”

Caroline Leaver, North Devon District Council Lead Member for Climate Change, says: “We know we need to do something and this is a real opportunity for us to lead the way, in collaboration with Torridge District Council, Carbon Savvy, and others. Working together, we can take action to achieve our target of zero CO₂ emissions by 2030 – for the sake of our own lives, and for our children and grandchildren.

“An average UK carbon footprint is close to 15 tonnes per person per year. The five biggest areas which emit CO₂ are: heating our homes, transport, intensive food production, international holidays, and shopping for products. Simple actions like taking one less flight, buying organic milk, increasing your loft insulation or purchasing a long-lasting household appliance, have a big effect when lots of people are doing them together.”

Jon Gething, Chair of 361 Community Energy, a not-for-profit organisation developing community renewable energy and providing energy saving advice across northern Devon, says,  “Everyone’s lives are very different, so the easiest action for one person is not the same for another. That’s why it’s best to choose one action that’s easiest for you and not worry about what anyone else is doing. This way you make the most progress with the least effort, which feels good.”

Councillor Peter Hames, Torridge District Council Lead Member for Climate Change says: “Radical change often begins with one small step and so the “find your footprint” campaign is a perfect way to help people make those small changes that collectively can mean so much for our environment. Hopefully people will be encouraged to make bigger changes in their lifestyles but if they start with just one or two then that’s still a big win for the planet and future generations.”

“Find your Footprint” week will include a survey on how people in Northern Devon rate their well-being today, and what improvements they want to see in their own lives and across the county. 

To take part in “Find your Footprint” week go to www.carbonsavvy.uk/findyourfootprint where you can take the survey and find out your carbon footprint in just five minutes.