As 2023 draws to a close, we've taken a look back at some of the stories that made the headlines in the Herald over the last 12 months. Yesterday we covered January to June - here's part two of our round-up: July to December.

 In July we reported on the death of Sidmouth’s longest serving Minister of Religion, Father Patrick ‘Paddy’ Kilgarriff, who died aged 96 soon after celebrating the 70th anniversary of his ordination as a priest.

Also in July the West Hill-based district and county councillor Jess Bailey found herself at the centre of an international news story when, after flying to Greece on holiday with her family, she was caught up in the chaos of the  wildfires raging on Rhodes. They all got home safely, but she was fiercely critical of the travel company Tui which had continued flying tourists out to the island even as people were being evacuated from hotels and holiday resorts.

Sidmouth Herald: Jess Bailey with family in evacuation centre

In August Rockfish submitted revised plans for its conversion of the old Drill Hall into a restaurant. The new proposals included an extension to the restaurant and a toilet block for use by the public. The redevelopment will include the demolition of the existing Port Royal toilets and shelter.

In September the issue of toilets re-emerged when East Devon District Council announced plans to build two unisex cubicles and another adapted for people with disabilities near the Ham car park. The council said it was aware of public concern ab out the loss of toilet facilities when the Port Royal block was pulled down.

The Mustard Seed Café was voted Sidmouth’s Café of the Year by Herald readers. The café was praised not only for its homemade cakes and soups, but also its social role, offering volunteering opportunities and a meeting space for community support organisations. Meanwhile the Oasis Café, set up during the Covid pandemic to provide a safe space and ‘nourish the spirits’ of people feeling anxious or isolated, celebrated its third anniversary.   

Sidmouth Herald: Oasis Cafe volunteers Tracy, Viv Andie (founder), Gillian and Ally

In October there was good news for objectors to a large housing development in Ottery St Mary when East Devon District Council refused planning permission, despite being recommended to approve it.  There had been widespread concern about the proposed 63 homes off Sidmouth Road, mainly relating to road safety and the increased pressure on schools and local services.

In November Sidmouth took a battering from Storm Ciaran, which hit the area on November 2. Huge waves crashed across the Esplanade and a vehicle was swept into the sea – luckily with no-one inside.  The vehicle remained on East Beach until its rusting wreckage was removed by specialist contractors at the end of the month.   

Rockfish’s latest planning application for the Drill Hall was due to be determined by the district council, but this was delayed when the Environment Agency asked the company to provide a Flood Warning Evacuation Plan as part of its application. 

In December South West Water had to apologise for a sewage spill in Sidmouth and another in    Exmouth. Local MP Simon Jupp wrote an angry letter to the chief executive of its parent company Pennon describing the spills as ‘totally unacceptable’. The chief executive replied saying the company was ‘deeply sorry’ for any impact the spillages may have had on bathing water,   and would be investigating both incidents.   

There was also some good news after £16 million was secured from the Environment Agency for Sidmouth and East Beach coastal defence scheme.