Local News

A new global review led by the University of Exeter that set out to investigate the hazards of marine plastic pollution has warned that all seven species of marine turtles can ingest or become entangled in the discarded debris that currently litters the oceans.

The research, which was carried out in collaboration with Plymouth Marine Laboratory, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina State University, Duke University Marine Lab and James Cook University, is published in the ICES Journal of Marine

Science and reveals serious knowledge gaps in the...

In a move to progress the management of one of East Devon’s most prized facilities – its beach huts and chalets - councillors at Wednesday’s (7 October) cabinet meeting voted in as a matter of urgency a revised set of beach hut proposals, which emphasised the need to avoid a one-size fits all policy and which will focus on involving town and parish councils on future consultation. Recommended rent increases for 2016/2017 will reflect market value but other rental changes will be made after further consultation has been carried out with town and parish councils.

Earlier this year (...

Leading local advice charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, today publishes its advice trend statistics for September 2015.

Clients with urgent, or priority debts, owed an average of £6,088.76 to their creditors, an increase of 93%, or £2942.28 per client. Urgent debts include things like mortgage, rent and council tax.

The increase in the amounts owed to urgent, or priority, creditors is a real worry. Coupled with increases in enquires about things such as housing benefit, council tax arrears, and tax credits this is a clear indication that for those in debt many are...

Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg has set out his plans for managing the likely £54m budget reduction faced by Devon and Cornwall Police. “With such an extreme budget reduction we will have to completely rethink the delivery of policing services in Devon and Cornwall.” said Mr Hogg “At this time, there is much that we do not know, but it is right that we start to plan so that important actions can be taken at the appropriate times.” The OPCC’s budget prediction is based on two key factors. Firstly, that the police service budget is reduced by 25% nationally, an assumption made...