Claire Gilbody-Dickerson
BBC News
All parking spaces owned by North Devon Council (NDC) will now be free of charge, the local authority has said.
Responding to a tweet by a Barnstaple resident suggesting NHS staff should be exempt from having to pay, the council said, external she would be "glad to hear that we are suspending all parking charges in NDC owned car parks as of today".
Chris Quevatre
BBC News Online
There is still a steady stream of traffic heading through Mutley Plain in Plymouth, and quite a lot of people walking through, although generally keeping their distance from each other.
The new guidance, external from the UK government says people should only leave their homes for:
Following Boris Johnson's announcement on Monday, Dartmoor National Park has said people should not be visiting the moor.
If you visit the area, you are putting the community at risk and additional pressure on the health services, added the national park.
"We look forward to welcoming you back when this pandemic is over.
"Until then we hope you understand our National Parks are living, working landscapes: the home to thousands of people and the factory floor for many farmers.
"Please think of them and the pressure you can inadvertently place on local services."
Car parks, toilets and visitor centres on the moor have closed.
Miles Davis
BBC News Online
All 14 recycling centres in Cornwall are now closed until further notice in line with government guidelines relating to the coronavirus outbreak.The council said kerbside collections of waste and recycling would continue and asked residents to continue placing bags and recycling out at usual collection times.
Image source, Cornwall Council
Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
Golf courses have now been closed after the Prime Minister announced new restrictions in the fight against coronavirus.
England Golf released a statement saying that “golf clubs, courses and facilities in England must now close”.
Strict new curbs mean that people must stay at home except in essential circumstances.
In terms of keeping active, people are permitted one form of exercise a day, such as a run, walk or cycle, to be done alone or with those they live with.
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Miles Davis
BBC News Online
The government extended the list of the types of businesses that must close due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The businesses told to close are:
Claire Gilbody-Dickerson
BBC News
A baker in Devon has collected food from closed-down cafes and restaurants to prepare packed meals for those in need.
Cathryn McCollum of Cathy’s Bakehouse has set up her own professional kitchen appliances at Honiton Rugby Club in order to cook the meals for those left vulnerable due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Image source, Cathryn McCallumFish pie is among the dishes on offer
“Cooking is something I can do and with all the cafés and kitchens closing I realised there was a potential for a lot of wasted food, which I’ve always hated,” Cathy told Nub News., external
Food was donated by The Kitchen of Combe Garden Centre, Tesco Honiton, The Star Inn Wetherspoons and Fishmongers Honiton as part of a wider local voluntary effort called The Random Meal Hunters.
She has called on the public to donate goods like cheese and butter to keep the business moving.
Image source, Cathryn McCallumMs McCallum is using her own kitchen appliances to make the dishes
Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
Trago Mills is to close its four stores, including three in Devon and Cornwall, on Tuesday evening after the government increased coronavirus restrictions.
The company said on its website, external: “To safeguard the wellbeing of our staff and customers alike Trago will close temporarily from 20:00 on Tuesday until further notice.
“We will follow the government advice and hope that together we may beat the virus in the least possible time.”
The company has stores in Liskeard, Falmouth, Newton Abbot and Merthyr Tydfil.
It plans to complete all pre-contracted home deliveries by Saturday and will fulfil outstanding orders when they reopen.
Image source, GoogleJohnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
The head of policing in Devon and Cornwall says he believes “very few people will break this wilfully” in relation to new coronavirus restrictions.
Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said there will be an increased number of patrols and his officers will approach people who are not following the new advice.
People are being told to stay at home except in specific circumstances deemed essential.
He said: “We now move to a new stage, the stage that we have seen in Europe. For the few people that wont abide by those key messages we will be challenging people on the street in a friendly Devon and Cornwall way. We really do need people to now listen and learn those messages and comply, and I think the majority will.
“Those that don’t, we will enforce it.”
Quote MessageIt’s necessary, this is about saving lives. We have got to be discreet and professional.”
Shaun Sawyer, Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall Police
Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
A Cornish cider producer is using its skills in distilling gin to create hand sanitizer to be used in hospital.
Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm near Perranporth was approached by the Royal Cornwall Hospital to make the much-needed product.
It will provide 100 litres a week free of charge, and is expecting to make more than this for other organisations.
Under new measures, the government is fast-tracking applications so that companies wanting to produce hand sanitising products using 65% high strength alcohol, in accordance with the World Health Organisation recipe, can be quickly authorised.
Quote MessageIt goes without saying that we will do what it takes to help the NHS in Cornwall during these difficult times. We are using our on-site gin distillery in a new innovative way.”
Sam Healey, Managing Director Operations
The UK government has introduced strict new measures to try and slow the spread of coronavirus. But what does the virus mean for your health? And what are the chances of you catching it?
Here are the answers to ten of the most common readers' questions.
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Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
A Cornish MP says it is “absolutely essential” that people follow the new restrictions imposed to restrict the spread of coronavirus.
Steve Double, MP for Newquay and St Austell said he knows of two constituents who have died having been diagnosed with the disease.
On Monday the Prime Minister announced strict new curbs on life to tackle the situation.
Mr Double said: “Sadly too many people did not follow the guidance on social distancing and as a result the government has now had to go a step further and impose more stringent rules and now they will be enforced by the police.
I didn’t go into politics to have to make these sort of choices but in order to save hundreds of thousands of lives in our country, we have now had to bring in what is effectively a lockdown.
"I just hope people do now realise just how serious this is and it is absolutely essential that they follow the rules.”
BBC News
Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image source, Viewer's pictureCaravans and motorhomes which have been turfed out of holiday parks are now clogging up residential streets – and there’s little Cornwall Council can do about it.
After holiday parks shut their gates over the weekend – following a backlash against people who had decided to come to Cornwall during the coronavirus crisis – there have been reports of people setting up camp in residential streets.
Geoff Brown, Cornwall Council cabinet member for transport, said the council’s powers were limited in what it could do to tackle the problem.
He said: “We don’t have any powers to move people on unless they are parked illegally and there are yellow lines."
He added: "The ideal thing would be for the government to say ‘if you are on holiday, go home’ – that is the message that we need to get out there right now."
Truro & Falmouth MP Cherilyn Mackrory and St Austell & Newquay MP Steve Double supported this stance.
Ms Mackrory said: “Coming on holiday during this time to Cornwall or anywhere else is not necessary travel. My message to anyone considering travelling to Cornwall for a holiday at this time is simple: 'Do not come'."
Mr Double said: "This is first and foremost a medical and health crisis. We must not underestimate how serious this is and our first priority has to be to protect the public from this dangerous virus."
Ed Oldfield
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image source, Torbay Community Development TrustPeople can register for non-urgent help during the coronavirus outbreak in Torbay by phone or online.
A helpline run by the Torbay Community Development Trust went live last week and people can now seek assistance via its website, external.
The helpline and online form are for people to seek help if they are self-isolating. They can also be used for volunteers to offer assistance and to refer others who may need support.
Torbay Council is working with the trust covering Torquay and Paignton and Brixham Does Care to coordinate help.
Council leader Steve Darling urged people to make sure they sought help from a trusted source and the authority was working with the government to identify the most vulnerable people.
The Torbay Community Development Trust helpline is available from 08:00 to 20:00 on 01803 446022.
The Brixham Does Care helpline is available 09:00 to 16:30 from Monday to Friday on 01803 857727.
Ed Oldfield
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image source, Torbay Air Show/Torbay CouncilThe English Riviera Airshow at Torbay has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The two-day show, based on Paignton Green in early June, has become the first UK display date for the RAF Red Arrows team.
Torbay Council announced on Monday "with regret" that the event scheduled for June would not take place.
Previously known as the Torbay Airshow and renamed for this year, it began in 2016 and in 2018 attracted more than 165,000 visitors.
The 2019 event was cut short on the second day due to bad weather and ended with a deficit of £90,000.
Torbay Council said it hoped the event would return in 2021.”
Council cabinet member Mike Morey said: "It is imperative that we follow all government guidance and this applies to the English Riviera Airshow.
"Cancelling the airshow on social distancing grounds is to protect both residents and visitors to the Bay."
Elderly people were brought to tears as a shopping slot for the vulnerable at Tesco turned into chaos according to one shopper.
Quote MessageWhat's the point of having an hour from 9-10am when everyone else is in there?
Axminster resident Philip Harries, 55, who has Parkinson's Disease, went with his wife to Tesco in Chard for the special hour of 09:00-10:00 for vulnerable people.
"People were queuing round the block and it was full of everyone else," he said.
"What's the point of having an hour from 9-10am when everyone else is in there?
"We weren't able to get what we needed, almost everything had been ransacked.
"It had already been open for an hour so there was nothing on the shelves.
"There were old people crying outside the shop."
Image source, GoogleTesco said that priority shopping hours for the elderly and vulnerable were aimed at helping those customers and "overall the feedback has been positive".
A spokesperson said "some stores" were "still very busy during this time, as they had been since 6am when they opened".
The firm said it was "working round the clock to get products on shelves but the reality is availability is challenging at the moment".
It was also "asking customers to help us by giving priority to elderly and vulnerable customers during these times slots, which are advertised in stores".
Andrew Segal
BBC South West
East Devon Council is closing its public toilets, play parks, parks and gardens where gates can be locked, including Manor Gardens and Connaught Gardens, in response to the government's social distancing guidance.
It added that beaches would stay open "but we'll be putting up social distancing signage reminders".
However, it is closing "all beach huts until further notice" and said it would "be in contact as soon as you can use your hut again", with refunds being made "as appropriate".
In a further message, external, the authority also warned people about beach safety.
Quote MessageCan we also remind people of the need to be safe on our beaches, not just from Covid, but from the other hazards like drowning. Pool inflatables are great fun for the pool, not for the sea. Vis[-a-vis] the four young men I have just asked [on Monday afternoon] not to put to sea on an inflatable dachshund."
East Devon Council
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Devon County Council is relaxing parking restriction enforcement to help residents park closer to their households if they are working from home or self-isolating.
Certain residential, coastal and commercial areas will see fewer patrols. The authority said changes to patrols would also help officers concentrate on key routes.
However, it added that double yellow line breaches would still be enforced.
