Local News

Government proposals to cut subsidies to large solar farms could be extremely detrimental for the South West, according to one of the Westcountry’s leading renewable energy lawyers.

In a move which would end the current system two years early, the proposal is to force owners of solar power installations which are larger than 5 megawatts to compete with other renewable energy technologies for financing.

Sonya Bedford a partner and head of renewable energy at Stephens Scown LLP said: “This could be potentially devastating for the Westcountry. With the highest irradiation...

Devon and Cornwall Police are expected to close more than half of their public front offices in a controversial bid to save money. Across the two counties the force is expected to fully close 10 out of 21 public front offices while the Newquay desk will only open during summer. The public desks at Exmouth, Tiverton, Honiton, Okehampton, Newton Abbot, Totnes Falmouth, Penzance, Launceston, Bude and Liskeard will all be closed under the plans. The front offices allow the public can to report crime or discuss other issues by walking in off the street. 27 civilian posts will also be lost in...

Otter Nurseries will be paying homage to its own anniversary at this year’s Devon County Show with a display based around events in its history.

The team at the popular East Devon garden centre has designed a two-sided stand to both acknowledge the roots of the business and show how far it has come.

One side of the stand will be a step back in time to 1964 with old gardening equipment, a vintage T20 Ford tractor and some of the first types of plants sold by the nurseries, such as pansies and lettuces.

The opposite part of the stand will be bang up to date to show...

Devon County Council has t issued a report highlighting the need for greater Government investment to provide more resilient transport networks.

The Extreme Weather Resilience Report focuses on the winter storms from December 2013 to February 2014 and its impact on the region’s communities, infrastructure, transport links and local economy.

It details how the collapse of the sea wall at Dawlish in February resulted in 7,500 full or part service cancellations to and from west of Exeter St David’s, and how the maintenance backlog on Devon’s 8,000 mile highway network, which...