Arts funding cuts worry Sidmouth councillors and other news

DOCUMENTARY ‘NO’: Television companies from Britain and abroad have targeted Fields of Sidmouth as the subject of a fly-on-the-wall documentary.

But bosses at the independent department store declined numerous offers last year.

Managing director Trevor Roberts told staff at a recent awards event: “We frequently get asked. Regrettably we said no.”

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JANUARY CRIME: Assaults, public order offences and an alleged stalking incident were among 31 crimes reported to police in January.

Town police said they also dealt with five burglaries from dwellings, three criminal damages to buildings and three thefts from motor vehicles.

Seven assaults were recorded along with one case of harassment or stalking.

Officers were also called to an incident where a person made off without payment, three shoplifting offences and a criminal damage to a motor vehicle.

Two communications act offences, three non-specific thefts, a non-dwelling burglary and a public order offence were also recorded.

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WATER BILLS: Improvements to waterworks in East Devon are to coincide with falling water bills.

South West Water said the average household bill is set to drop by more than seven per cent while the company ploughs £460,000-a-day into improving the county’s water and sewerage infrastructure.

East Devon’s water treatment works, waste water treatment, reservoirs and pipe networks are due to undergo a facelift and upgrading from now until 2014 as part of the company’s £168million investment programme.

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ARTS FEAR: Funding for the arts has been cut across the country and needs defending, a meeting of Sidmouth Town Council heard on Monday.

Councillors John Dyson and Graham Liverton have been put forward to join a new arts and culture forum to represent the town’s interests in East Devon.

Cllr Mary Jolly said the remit will go beyond the Manor Pavilion and include institutions such as galleries and the Sidmouth Museum.