Local News

Network Rail announces Exeter and Torquay drop-in events to update on South West rail resilience progress

Network Rail has announced community drop-in sessions in Exeter and Torquay to update local communities on ongoing work to improve resilience of the stretch of railway that connects the South West with the rest of the country.

The community drop-in events follow on from Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s recent announcement that £80m will be made available to increase the height of the sea wall at Dawlish to protect this vital rail artery for the region.

Events will be held in Exeter and Torquay on:

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Police investigate robberies in Exmouth

Police investigating reports of two robberies in Exmouth are appealing for witnesses and information.

The first incident was reported to police at around 10pm on Tuesday 5 February. It was reported that a man entered McColls newsagents on Exeter Road in possession of a hammer.

He fled the premises with bags containing food and books.

The second incident was reported to have happened at around 9.50pm on Thursday 7 February at Central Convenience store on Withycombe Village Road, Exmouth.

East Devon District Council taking up residence at its new Honiton HQ

East Devon District Council is relocating to its new headquarters at Blackdown House on the outskirts of Honiton and will be open for business at 8.30am on Monday February 11, 2019.

In a phased approach taking place over three weeks, staff are leaving the council’s old offices at Knowle, Sidmouth. The Sidmouth offices will cease operations and close down at 5pm on Friday February 8.

National Wellbeing plan piloted at Millbrook Village sees pensioners walk twice as far as average Briton

A new national wellbeing plan for older people has been launched at Millbrook Village later living community in Exeter which has seen residents clock up more than 7 million steps in the space of just six weeks. Inspired Villages, the later living developer and operator behind Millbrook Village, has joined forces with three high profile wellness organisations to boost the health and wellbeing of its residents. It has partnered with ukactive, hero and Oomph! to dramatically improve the physical, social and mental wellbeing of its residents around the UK.

Oyez: New town crier wanted for Seaton

Applications are open for a new town crier in Seaton. Following the retirement of the former crier in 2017, Seaton Town Council is looking for volunteers to take on this noisy and celebrated role.

L-R: Diane Clist, Senior Physiotherapist for the Yealm Ward at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital; Michele Richards, Matron for the Yealm Ward at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital; Paul West, Branch Manager at RGB Exeter, and Lucie Hopkins, Rehab Support Worker for the Yealm Ward at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital in the area that will be renovated.

Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital voted as Community Fund winner

The Yealm Ward at Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital has been voted as a winner of RGB Building Supplies’ Well Built Community Fund and now has £1,000 to spend on building materials.

The hospital received the most votes following a public poll where it was up against the Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Court Fields Pre-school in Wellington.

The Yealm Ward specialises in the rehabilitation of those who have suffered a stroke, and patients can be on the ward from between two and 12 weeks.

TEDxExeter 2019 speakers revealed

An exciting line-up of speakers has been revealed for this year’s eagerly anticipated TEDxExeter event.

The city’s eighth annual ideas festival takes place on Friday, April 5, at the Exeter Northcott Theatre. Tickets for the live event and a livestream at the University of Exeter’s Alumni Auditorium sold out in 10 minutes when they went on sale in November, but there are plenty of opportunities to be part of the day at free livestreams happening at venues across Devon.

New facility heralds the end of dustbin waste going to landfill in Devon

A new waste transfer station at Bynsworthy, Barnstaple will become fully operational on Monday 11 February 2019.

The new facility will enable Devon County Council to bulk up and transfer non-recyclable ‘wheelie bin/black bag’ waste collected in the North Devon and Torridge areas away from landfill to Energy from Waste facilities where it is converted into electricity.

Cliff safety works to be completed across East Devon

Council will begin cliff safety work across the district from 11 February 2019 – this important work will help manage the risk to people who want to enjoy our unique stretch of coastline, which forms part of the Jurassic World Heritage Site

Following recommendations made in East Devon District Council’s 2018 cliff inspections report, cliff safety works are to be completed at Beer, Seaton and Sidmouth. The works are designed to manage public safety at these locations.

Sex bans around the globe

“Sex sells” is something that’s heard a lot in the advertising industry. It is definitely difficult to avoid sexual innuendo even on a daily work commute whether it’s from a provocative billboard advert’ or a sexily-clad mannequin in a shop window or a sexualised song lyric or radio ad’. There are, however, many countries where such overt sexualisation of advertising output is not allowed.

Second Sunday Volunteering: Helping the butterflies of Haytor Down

Brighten up a dull February by join Assistant Ranger Stuart and Conservation Apprentice Leo as they carry out habitat management for the beautiful Pearl Bordered and Small Pearl Bordered Butterfly on Haytor Down.

The Pearl Bordered is a particularly fussy client in its demand for a ‘well-balanced’ bracken environment, requiring bracken for wind shelter and warmth, whilst simultaneously requiring clearer patches to facilitate the growth of dog violets – its main food and egg laying plant.