Local News

Human use of artificial light is causing Spring to come at least a week early in the UK, researchers at the University of Exeter in Cornwall have found.

New research led by a team of biologists based at the University’s Penryn campus highlights for the first time and at a national scale the relationship between the amount of artificial night-time light and the date of budburst in woodland trees.

The study, the result of a long term collaboration with independent environmental consultants Spalding Associates, in Truro, made use of data collected by citizen scientists from...

Devon County Council has launched an online consultation on options for improving the North Devon Link Road.

The local authority is currently investigating options for upgrading the route, having been allocated £1.5 million from the Department for Transport to develop a business case over the next couple of financial years. This is in addition to the £1 million budget which the County Council had allocated for developing designs.

An initial consultation in 2014 revealed considerable support for improvements to the Link Road, with over 90% in favour.

Around 17,000...

Victims need clearer information on what they can expect in the aftermath of major flooding from the government and other authorities, new University of Exeter research shows.

In a new report, published this week, academics show the importance of action by politicians and officials for people’s recovery from the damaging effects of flooding.

They show how communications after major flooding in 2013/14 contributed to increasing conflict between flood-affected publics and authorities, making it more challenging for these groups to work together to combat future flood risk and...

Sense, the national deafblind charity, hosted a 4 km sensory walk and activity day in Exeter on Friday 24 June to celebrate Deafblind Awareness Week. The day, which included arts and crafts displays and tasters in signing and braille, built on the success of last year’s event which was organised by Roger Mulholland, a local deafblind man who has sadly since passed away. The 4 km sensory walk named “Roger’s Walk” in Roger Mulholland’s memory was led by a group of individuals who benefit from the services Sense provides. In attendance was Local M.P. Ben Bradshaw and Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr...