RYDA Newsletter            01/2022

Happy New Year to you. We hope it will be a happy and more importantly, healthy one.

The new variant of Covid is a worrying one, so stay safe. - Medical science has moved on over the years and we are so lucky to live in an age where we can be vaccinated against most devastating illnesses. There could even be a blood test for cancer on the way soon.

Our ancestors were not so lucky. Not so long ago polio was a big problem, and many families were affected by this; Who remembers the polio vaccine being put on a sugar cube? It is now rarely heard of. Who is aware of these past world wide pandemics? (we have taken you back to the black death, but there were many pandemics prior to this.)

• Covid 2019 - on going

• Ebola 2014 – 2016. Ebola ravaged West Africa between 2014 and 2016, with 28,600 reported cases and 11,325 deaths.
• The Swine Flu Pandemic 2009 – 2010 The 2009 flu pandemic primarily affected children and young adults, and 80% of the deaths were in people younger than 65. A vaccine for the H1N1 virus that caused the swine flu is now included in the annual flu vaccine. 
• Aids Pandemic 1981 to present day. AIDS has claimed an estimated 35 million lives since it was first identified. The virus made its way around the world, and AIDS was a pandemic by the late 20th century. For decades, the disease had no known cure, but medication developed in the 1990s now allows people with the disease to experience a normal life span with regular treatment. Even more encouraging, two people have beencured of HIV as of early 2020.

• Asian Flu 1957 – 1958 The Asian Flu pandemic was another global showing for influenza. With its roots in China, the disease claimed more than 1 million lives. The virus that caused the pandemic was a blend of avian flu viruses. 

• Spanish Flu 1918 - 1920An estimated 500 million people from the South Seas to the North Pole fell victim to Spanish Flu. One-fifth of those died, with some indigenous communities pushed to the brink of extinction. The flu's spread and lethality was enhanced by the cramped conditions of soldiers and poor wartime nutrition that many people were experiencing during World War I. 

         Despite the name Spanish Flu, the disease likely did not start in Spain. Spain           was a neutral nation during the war and did not enforce strict censorship of              its press, which could therefore freely publish early accounts of the illness.

         As a result, people falsely believed the illness was specific to Spain, and the             name Spanish Flu stuck.

• Flu 1889- 1890 In the modern industrial age, new transport links made it easier for influenza viruses to wreak havoc. In just a few months, the disease spanned the globe, killing 1 million people. It took just five weeks for the epidemic to reach peak mortality. The earliest cases were reported in Russia. The virus spread rapidly throughout St. Petersburg before it quickly made its way throughout Europe and the rest of the world, despite the fact that air travel didn't exist yet.

• The great Plague (of London) 1665 – 1666  The Black Death's last major outbreak in Great Britain caused a mass exodus from London, led by King Charles II. The plague started in April 1665 and spread rapidly through the hot summer months. Fleas from plague-infected rodents were one of the main causes of transmission. By the time the plague ended, about 100,000 people, including 15% of the population of London, had died. However, this was not the end of that city's suffering. On Sept. 2, 1666, the Great Fire of London started, lasting for four days and burning down a large portion of the city.

• The Black Death 1346 – 1353 The Black Death traveled from Asia to Europe, leaving devastation in its wake. Some estimates suggest that it wiped out over half of Europe's population. It was caused by a strain of the bacterium  that is likely extinct today and was spread by fleas on infected rodents. The bodies of victims were buried in mass graves.  The plague changed the course of Europe's history. With so many dead, labour became harder to find, bringing about better pay for workers and the end of Europe's system of serfdom.

Hopefully 2022 will be a year when events can get back to normal. We will continue to put free events on our facebook page.

Meanwhile here are a few of our own; However, please check as a lot of events have already been cancelled due to flu and Covid

2022 - A Year of Celebration  

2022 is a year of celebration for Dementia Friendly Parishes around the Yealm. In 2012 a group of dedicated and interested local people representing Wembury, Brixton, Yealmpton, Newton & Noss and Holbeton Parish Councils, Plymouth University, South Hams CVS, Devon Carers, Saltram Rotary and The Alzheimer’s Society set up the first dementia friendly parish councils in the country.

Ten years on we have an impressive record. During this time, we have linked with and supported over 123 families. We are currently supporting 43 people living with dementia and their carers/families.  We set up inclusive groups so that people living with dementia can join in with activities, make new friends and continue to be part of their community. We have spoken at local, national and international conferences about what we do. We have contributed to national guidance to town and parish councils on how to build dementia friendly communities. We employ a Project Coordinator, Maxine Kennedy, and a Project Support Worker Judy Milam.

We became a charity in 2018. We have to continually fund raise to ensure that people living with dementia and their families continue to receive the unique support we offer.

During 2022 we plan several events (COVID 19 permitting) to celebrate our first decade which will be promoted through these articles and on our website in January.

Our exciting activities are open to all members of the community.

The Art and Crafts Group meets on the 17^th January 10.30-12noon at Yealmpton Community Centre. You can bring your own art and craft work, take part in something together with the group or just come for a coffee and a chat. There is a charge of £3.00.

Our Walking Group meets in the carpark at the end of Barton Close in Wembury every Wednesday morning at 10.30am -restart date is 5^th January. This is a gentle walk and opportunity to talk and catch up.

The Reading Group meets on Thursday mornings restarting on the 6^th January both face to face and also by zoom 10.30-12.00noon in the Parish Room, rear of Bakery Square in Yealmpton. 

So, why not join in this year to share your own experiences. This is a group where there is a lot of laughter and seriousness is definitely not on the agenda. There is a charge of £2.00 towards refreshments and room hire.

The weekly Gentle Exercise Group led by Registered Physiotherapists meets every Tuesday morning restarting on the 11^th January from 10.30-11.30pm at Yealmpton Methodist Church Hall. There is a charge of £5.00.

Singing Along with the Brixton Villageaires is making a comeback on Friday 21^st January 2-3.30pm in Yealmpton Methodist Church Hall. Please join us for some feel good community singing and fun. £3

A date for your dairy Friday 25^th March - a conference will be held at The Watermark, Ivybridge ‘Let’s Talk about dementia’ open to everyone. More details will be on our website in January.

For further information please contact Maxine on 07450206312. Follow us on Facebook and www.dementiayealm.org. You can also support us via Amazon Smile and Seamoor Lotto https://www.seamoorlotto.co.uk/supportdementia-friendly-parishes-around-the-yealm

“Hot Off The Press. This year’s harbour clean up will be on Saturday 30th April. Further details will follow in the next Newsletter.”

Digital Drop-ins in January 2022 CANCELLED 

Although we were looking forward to helping you with your latest Xmas present, we are conscious at this time that Covid 19 is still very much in evidence everywhere and the stats are rising for the older age groups, so the team feel that, for now, we must postpone the Friday morning sessions scheduled for January.

We plan to restart from Friday February 4th, 2022 and will of course follow all the Covid restrictions in place at that time.

We have lots of new talks scheduled for the coming months which I will confirm before we restart in February.

In the meantime, please save your questions for us and we look forward to seeing you in February.

Defibrilator Training at Newton & Noss Village Hall Noss Mayo at 10.30 on 15^th February.

Do you know how to use one? Do you know where they are?

Everyone is welcome to attend. The session should last about 2 hours. Even if you’ve been before, there is no harm in coming for a refresher.

It will be low tide, so parking shouldn’t be a problem.

Criminals are using the NHS COVID Pass to target the public by convincing them to hand over money, financial details and personal information.

REMEMBER: The NHS COVID Pass is FREE and available through the official NHS app (which should only be downloaded through your usual app store), the NHS website or by calling 119. You can find more information by visiting www.nhs.uk/nhscovidpass. The pass is not mandatory and you won’t be fined for not having one.

If you suspect you have been contacted about a fraudulent NHS COVID Pass, follow these steps:
If you’ve received a phone call, hang up
If you’ve received an email, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk
If you’ve received a text message, forward it to 7726
If you’ve fallen victim to fraud, report online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.
You can find more information about the NHS COVID Pass scam on the Action Fraud

website: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/covidpassfraud

Planning Report

Updates:

Collaton Park, 125 dwellings etc. – N&NPC Supported the application, on the Chairman’s casting vote. RYDA objection submitted, no comment from AONB – not included on the South Hams Development Management Committee Agenda for 19 Jan.

Land opposite Butts Park – 20 Houses, incl. 17 CLT. Widespread support including N&NPC and RYDA.

Briar Hill additional 14 additional lodges – Withdrawn.

Old Paint Laboratory / 101 Yealm Road – N&NPC Objection, AONB Objection, RYDA objection submitted, no further information.

This month’s Planning Applications include:

Poppy Cottage, Riverside Road West - Ref: 4287/21/FUL

This house was originally approved as a conversion of the original bungalow and proposed to utilise some of the existing structure. A separate application for a similar house on the garden was refused.

It appears that at some stage during construction it was decided to demolish all of the existing bungalow, for what were probably very good reasons, but to continue to build on the original footprint.

Having now been built, it unfortunate that the opportunity was not taken to reduce its dominance over the footpath, road and waterside, by setting it further in, and stepping into the slope.

Blossoms, Lower Court Road, Ref 4444/21/FUL

This application is for the demolition of a Domer type bungalow which sits above Lower Court Road and its replacement, on the same footprint, by a flat roof glass box, this presumably achieves greater accommodation without raising the roof height. Does this achieve a pleasing “modern Design”?

The Neighbourhood plan tried to limit the spread of these types by requiring that “All new development shall be of high design quality which is clearly derived from the site context and respects the architectural context of adjacent buildings”. Whilst making no attempt to use the vernacular, the new building will be significantly larger and more dominant.

The design seems to run contrary to all the above policy.