Local News

The rise however equated to just 59 claimants, not enough to change the overall claimant rate for Devon as a proportion of the county’s working age population. The rate remained the same as in June at 0.8 per cent, in contrast to 1.8 per cent UK's average.

The increase represents a 1.6 per cent rise in Devon's claimants between June and July 2015.

However, the month's claimant count was 20 per cent lower than the same month in 2014, and 60 per cent lower than July 2011.

East Devon, Exeter and Teignbridge were the only districts to experience an increase in claimants...

The Environment Agency is reviewing options to manage the risk of tidal flooding at Starcross and Cockwood on the Exe Estuary in Devon. The proposed scheme is estimated to reduce flood risk to over 600 residential and commercial properties.

The scheme is being accelerated as part of the March 2015 Budget announcement regarding the 6-year flood defence programme.

The coastal villages of Starcross and Cockwood lie on the west side of the Exe Estuary and the area has a history of flooding. With the expectation of increased storminess and sea level rise, the Environment Agency...

East Devon District Council has begun consulting with parish and town councils, as well as people who have commented previously on the Local Plan, on the proposed criteria that will guide its definition of Built Up Area Boundaries (BUABs) for 17 East Devon villages.

BUABs provide a dividing line between areas of ‘countryside’ where development can only take place in specified exceptional circumstances and a settlement with a good range of services and facilities where subject to various criteria development will be permitted. They appear as black lines on maps and are a common form...

If you have ever considered volunteering as a Samaritan, then clear your diary for the evening of Thursday, September 3.

That is the date of the next Open Evening being held by the Exeter Mid and East Devon branch of the charity, which relies entirely on volunteers to provide its telephone, email, SMS, letter and face-to-face listening service for those in distress.

The local branch currently has over 110 volunteers who help operate the service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but there is always a need for more.

“Samaritans wouldn’t exist without volunteers. As...