East
-the-
Water

Some community organisations active in East-the-Water

East-the-Water is governed by Devon County Council, Torridge District Council, and Bideford Town Council. Whilst it has its own identity, it remains a suburb of Bideford, for which a wider perspective is provided by the Discover Bideford site. Local news coverage is provided by the North Devon Today, Devon Live, and the Bideford Buzz. The following are a number of other organisations that, through their regular activities, are serving the needs of the community of East-the-Water.

White painted church frontage There is a monthly Messy Church for adults and accompanied children. There are a range of churches on the west of the river, some of which have small groups that meet in East-the-Water. These include Bideford Baptist; Bideford Methodist; St. Mary's Anglican; Lavington URC; Central Church. The Bethel, in Torrington Street, has ceased meeting, but has been transferred to Central Church. As of Feb 2023, it remains unclear what use will be made of The Bethel in future.
General view of school buildings East-the-Water Primary School has an excellent reputation in the local community. The OFSTED figures for 2012/2013 indicate that 95% of parents would be happy to recommend the school, whilst the Department of Education's 2015 results page for the school indicated "there is no statistically better performing school in this group that is within a 75 mile radius."
Children's playground and range of buildings The Pollyfield Community Centre offer a regular program of community activities, revised web site (under development at time of writing) and Facebook page.
Flowers and newly planted trees Bideford Sustainability Group (also on Facebook) promote sustainable living in the local area. As part of that objective they maintain an allotment and a Community Orchard beside the Tarka Trail. The trees include less often grown varieties such as Quince.
Group of retirement bungalows Westward Housing Group (as Tarka Housing) manage local sheltered housing projects including housing at Chubb Churchill and Ethelwynne Brown Close.
People examining a display

 develop community based creative projects and are responsible for a range of events and public art in Bideford. In 2016 Bideford Bay Creatives launched the Way of the Wharves Project, to discover and celebrate local and historical connections to the East-the-Water wharves. Way of the Wharves proved extremely successful, and now continues as an independent charity with similar, but geographically wider, aims. It has also been a significant contributor, working with other local heritage organisations, to gain national recognition for the Bideford & River Torridge Heritage Harbour.
Group of walkers with Torridge behind

Torridge Walk and Talk, a local Walking for Health group, offer a range of local walks, usually including some from East-the-Water. These provide an opportunity for light exercise with the company of others. 

Bed full of Colourful Wildflowers

By planting a mix of horticultural and native varieties, in various settings throughout the community, the volunteers of East-the-Water in Bloom are seeking to increase both the attractiveness and the biodiversity of the community spaces. At one point they experimented with establishing a wildflower walk, to run through the community, by making use of plantings on various verges.You can find out where the walk ran, and how it fared, here.
Shield with a representation of the bridge at the top and then the club colours quartered with a football and #SSR, encircled by the club name, and Est. 1965S Shamwickshire Rovers are the local football team. Established in 1965, they play in the North Devon Football League, where they have enjoyed considerable success. The team uses a recently upgraded pitch at Pollyfield.

There is a Community Pantry at the Pollyfield site

Bideford BMX Club operate the BMX track at Pollyfield

Bideford Boxing Club have a centre at Pollyfield

Devon and Cornwall Police's web site publishes local crime statistics and links for use in non-emergency situations (e.g. to report a crime or a local concern)

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