Landed gentry could help solve housing crisis

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 12/31/2015 - 7:14am

Landowners behind England’s 5,000 largest rural estates should be called upon to release land for affordable housing, according to The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).

The RICS Rural Policy Paper, published today, sets out a number of recommendations as to how central and local Government could better manage rural land and support countryside communities, including offering measures to encourage large landowners to release space on their estates for eight or more affordable houses. This might include partial inheritance tax exemptions, allowing heirs to avoid paying...

Chudley not complacent

Authored by Mark Stevens
Posted: Wed, 12/30/2015 - 10:12pm

Will Chudley says Exeter Chiefs need no reminding of the threat posed by Northampton Saints in their latest Aviva Premiership encounter this Friday (3pm).

Although the Midlanders are without a win in their last three games, Jim Mallinder’s side are always a tough nut to crack on home soil and Chudley is expecting a backlash of sorts following their surprise loss at London Irish last time out.

“Going up there is very much like Sandy Park,” said the scrum-half. “It’s always a great atmosphere, they have very passionate supporters and they have a great team. We know it’s going...

Exeter City v Liverpool tickets update

Exeter City has confirmed that sales of Liverpool Emirates FA Cup Third Round tickets will commence for Community Members on Thursday 31December.

Community members are supporters whose names and contact details were registered with Exeter City before the 7th of December, but who are not current members of any of the qualifying groups.

Community Member sales will begin ONLINE-ONLY at 6pm on New Year's Eve, and like the earlier phases, will be sold on a one-per-person, first-come, first-served basis due to the high level of demand.

A club spokesman said: "In...

Severe weather traffic and travel updates

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 12/30/2015 - 4:05pm

High winds and heavy rainfall have caused localised flooding and disruption on many of Devon’s roads today.

Here are the latest updates from Devon County Council Highways Operations Control Centre:

Update as of 3pm:

Church Road, Newton Abbot - Flooding to property

Flooding on Vaughan Rd Exeter under bridge

Whispers Payhembury - looding to property

Flooding on Port Road, Dawlish

Sidmouth Road, Farrington - Car stuck

Atherton Way, Tiverton - Flooding to property

Priory Road, Abbotskerswell - Impassable

West...

Storm Frank causes disruption across Devon

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 12/30/2015 - 3:07pm

Devon County Council is urging people to take care and remain vigilant as bad weather continues in the South West.

High winds and heavy rainfall have caused localised flooding and disruption on many of Devon’s roads, and motorists are being advised to take extra care. People are being urged to avoid coastal and river areas as the severe weather continues to cause water levels to rise and waves to over top seafronts.

Click here for the latest traffic and travel updates.

Flooding has also affected bus services. Follow @stagecoachsw on Twitter for the most up to date...

Ditch the drink for Cancer Research UK

Men and women across the South West are being challenged to ban the booze in January to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Dryathlon is Cancer Research UK’s popular fundraising campaign that invites social drinkers to take a month-long break from alcohol.

‘Dryathletes’ pledge to ditch the drink for a month and either get sponsored or donate the money they would have spent on alcohol to the charity.

An impressive 6,818 people in the South West took on the Dryathlon 2015 challenge, raising a fantastic £451,383 for life-saving research. The charity is hoping that even...

What can you spot on your roundabout?

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 12/30/2015 - 11:17am

During the festive journeys to family and friends, why not contribute to The Mammal Society’s new National Mammal Atlas?

It is not unusual to see a rabbit nibbling at the well-tended grass on a roundabout, or deer grazing peacefully alongside the motorway, and mammal spotting provides free distraction to bored children (or adults!).

Providing the first review of where mammals are found for more than 20 years, the National Mammal Atlas is a crucial step towards conserving many species.

The freely available Mammal Tracker App (downloaded from your app store or from...

Scientists call for reduction in plastic lab waste

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 12/30/2015 - 10:42am

Three researchers at the University of Exeter are calling for action to cut down on the five and a half million tonnes of plastic being generated globally in the course of scientific research.

In a Correspondence article entitled ‘Labs should cut plastic waste too’ published in the journal Nature this week, they estimate that bio scientific research is responsible for 1.8 per cent of total global plastic production, waste which weighs the equivalent of 67 cruise ships a year.

Drs Mauricio Urbina, Andrew Watts and Erin Reardon estimated that the 280 scientists in their own...

University of Exeter's Cornwall Campus pioneer awarded MBE

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 12/30/2015 - 10:30am

A key figure in establishing and building the University of Exeter’s Cornwall Campuses has been awarded an MBE for services to the community.

Jean Taylor worked for the University for 21 years before she retired from her role as Head of Strategic Economic Development in Cornwall last summer. She was integral to cultivating and nurturing relationships with businesses in the county - a key aspect of securing the European funding needed to kick-start the Penryn Campus. She also helped support colleagues who developed the Truro Campus, where the University of Exeter Medical School has...

Looking into the life of Riley

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 12/30/2015 - 10:01am

RAMM is investigating the lives of people who donated objects to the museum’s World Cultures collection, including Arnold Riley who donated a re-modelled Melanesian skull in 1935.

He was a colourful character who lived in Dawlish between 1924 and 1947 and RAMM is keen to contact any of Mr Riley's living relatives, particularly those who may live locally and may have information and photographs that would shed more light on his life.

Arnold Riley taught elocution and dramatic arts at University College of the South West of England, Exeter. He was involved in local politics...

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