Denise Bickley defeated long standing Tory “big beast” (and former monster raving loony) Stuart Hughes in the County Council elections at the beginning of May. He was County Cabinet Member – Highways Management.

By his own reckoning he was a Devon County Councillor for 32 years but he couldn’t find the time to attend the customary hustings “Vision Group for Sidmouth” tried to arrange last month (nor could the Reform candidate)!

He remains a district councillor for the Sidford ward. – Owl

Jackie Green from Sidmouth writes of her new County Councillor:

‘Sidmouth can be proud to have Denise Bickley’

Jackie Green www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

As Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary, Ocean, has been released (8th May), it’s timely that Sidmouth has chosen Denise Bickley as our Devon County Councillor.

Many of your readers will know she is keen to look after our sea.

In 2017, inspired by Surfers Against Sewage, Denise founded Sidmouth Plastic Warriors.

The regular beach cleans she organises attract people of all ages, are sociable, and help keep our seaside tourist town litter-free for us all.

They also raise awareness of the marine life in Lyme Bay, described by Devon Wildlife Trust as “some of the UK’s most diverse”, from tiny seahorses to some of the ocean’s giants (see devonwildlifetrust.org).

Denise’s work fits with many other wonderful groups in our town, not least Sidmouth Sea Fest, the Science Festival, the Biodiversity Group, the library-based advisory service, ECO hub, and the Repair Café.

Her beach cleanups discovered many abandoned toys, so two toy lending libraries in blue and white striped mini beach huts have been made.

These are well-used, are fun for the children, and have reduced the problem.

For teenagers, she worked with Youth Services and Young Devon to organise skill sessions at the Youth Centre, spreading information and practical tips on recycling.

And, the organised litter picks around the town, for both young people and adults, revealed that cigarette ends are a major pollutant.

Over time, each butt breaks apart into microplastics, seeping toxic chemicals into the earth and watercourses (see keepbritaintidy.org).

The ‘no ifs, no butts’ campaign introduced here aims to stop ‘fag ends’ thrown into gutters and drains from ending up in the sea.

Equal to her strong action on the environment is Denise’s professional involvement in education, with particular regard to SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).

This, and her previous experience as a much-respected district councillor, are a sound basis for serving the county well.

She already has an excellent working relationship with the largest group elected there, and importantly, with our MP, Richard Foord.

He praised her Plastic Warriors in a parliamentary debate on environmental protection (January 2025), pushing for a deposit return scheme for supermarkets.

Local initiatives need government to implement changes.

Sidmouth can be proud to have a passionate, practical, and tirelessly proactive new county councillor who loves living here with her family… and hates potholes!

Jackie Green
Sidmouth