Local councils (Towns & Parishes) are important in emergency planning and community safety. They often focus on local needs and as the closest form of government to the local communities can ensure resilience and that all are prepared to face emergencies. While formal powers in emergency management may be limited compared to principal authorities, local councils can still play a key role in supporting and coordinating local efforts until emergency services are able to take control of the incident.
Here are some specific ways we can contribute to emergency planning and community safety:
- Roles and responsibilities: Identifying and co-ordinate key individuals/volunteers who will take specific actions during an emergency.
- Support communication:Â Ensure that information flows effectively between the local community, emergency services, and others by maintaining local noticeboards, websites, and social media platforms.
- Local resources inventory:Â Cataloging available resources, such as buildings that could serve as shelters (e.g. village halls), vehicles, or equipment that might be useful in a crisis.
- Evacuation routes and assembly points:Â Establishing safe locations for community members to gather in case of evacuation.
- Assist emergency services:Â By providing information about local geography, infrastructure, and the whereabouts of critical resources or people, parish and town councils can help emergency services respond more effectively.
- Participate in local resilience forums: Multi-agency partnerships between local authorities, emergency services, health services, and the voluntary sector that help coordinate emergency responses.
- Parishioner home safety & security: Encouraging households to install and maintain smoke alarms, educating the public on fire safety in homes. Partnering with police to promote neighbourhood watch schemes or crime prevention advice.
- Flood prevention and awareness: Encourage planning decisions that mitigate flood risk; distributing information about flood preparedness and the importance of signing up for flood alerts.
Be Prepared …
Advice about what you can do from home to be prepared for an emergency, as well as the phone numbers you may need.
Emergency Resilience Plan
The Bishopsteignton Emergency Plan, is currently undergoing a revision and shall be published here once approved by the Parish Council.
ER Committee Terms
Read about this committee, its purpose and restrictions in this committee terms of reference. Revised August 2026.
Other support groups in the Parish of Bishopsteignton…
Healthy Living Group
Bishopsteignton Healthy Living Group was formed in 2014 with the aim to encourage and promote all aspects of healthy living and well being throughout the community. To see their constitution and read minutes of previous meetings follow the link above. The HLG work closely with the village GP Surgery, Channel View.
Why not join them? HLG is a dedicated group of volunteers who are always happy to welcome new members; they are currently looking to fill several rewarding voluntary positions. Why dont get in contact to hear more: [email protected]
Care Watch
Run entirely by volunteers, as is every group in Bishopsteignton, and here for you when BERT is not in operation Care Watch can offer support such as collecting shopping and prescriptions, emergency dog-walking, lifts to and from local appointments and activities, companionship, changing light bulbs, completing forms and friendly phone calls.
Can you help? Care Watch would welcome more help. Please contact them directly if you want to get involved.
Tel: 07874-749705 or Email: [email protected]
Memory Cafe
The Healthy Living Group also run a Memory Cafe.
To find out more see their Facebook page.
Singing for Memory
Another HLG sub group is Singing for Memory!
See the Parish Chronicle for more details.