House prices in the South West will see an increase of 5% over the course of next year according to the RICS housing forecast for 2016. This is lower than the national average increase of 6% but the same as London and Northern Island. The North East is likely to see the most modest price rise with a predicted increase for 2016 at 3%. Transactions nationally will edge up to between 1.25 and 1.3 million (from 1.22 million in 2015). In the South West transactions are expected to rise to 101k in 2016 from 97k in 2015. Although housing has climbed the policy agenda with supply issues dominating...
Devon and Cornwall Police is asking everyone this festive season, and throughout the coming year, to think carefully before calling 999 or 101 and to only do so in an emergency or to report a non-urgent crime.
The Force’s two contact centres in Plymouth and Exeter receive more than a million calls a year. Although many people use the service responsibly there are still a significant number who, whether through ignorance or impatience, waste police time and also increase call waiting times for genuine callers.
On Christmas day last year officers were incredulous to receive a...
Devon is looking forward to a welcome economic boost, thanks to Christmas this year, says VisitDevon.
Latest findings forecast that visitors will spend £104million in Devon for the Christmas period. With over 180,000 people visiting Devon for an overnight stay and 1.4 million visiting for the day.
"With restrictions on parents taking their children out of school during term time, which is having had a negative impact on tourism across the year, Christmas holidays are more important than they used to be," says Victoria Hatfield, Chair of Visit Devon.
South West Water is calling on its customers to save the drains this Christmas and dispose of cooking fat, oil and grease responsibly.
The company's Head of Wholesale Waste Recovery and Environmental Protection, Guy Doble, said: "At Christmas, the volume of cooking fat entering the sewers increases dramatically.
"When the fat cools, it hardens, clogging pipes. It's not just sewers that suffer, household pipes can get blocked too which may result in hefty repair bills.
"Avoid pain in the drain this festive season by waiting for unwanted cooking fat, oil or grease to...
Around fifty people from a range of East Devon businesses joined solicitors Beviss & Beckingsale and their chosen charity See The Future for a cracker of a festive lunch at Honiton’s Deer Park Hotel in December.
The guest list for the event last Thursday (December 10th) included local surveyors, estate agents, accountants, lawyers and other businesses from hairdressers to auctioneers.
Guests were welcomed with a festive glass of mulled wine before a sitdown lunch, which included a talk by See The Future founder Leanne Greengrass. A game of “heads or tails” raised money...
Exeter Chamber of Commerce raised just under £1000 for 6 local charities at this year’s Christmas charity auction lunch, which was held at the Mercure Southgate Hotel. The auctioneer for the charitable event was Marc Ryan, presenter at Heart FM.
Items for auction included a Kindle Paperwhite, a Boeing 737-800 flight experience voucher, a vest worn by four-time Olympian, Jo Pavey, and the opportunity for two people to meet the Black Rhinos at Paignton Zoo.
Sara Bond, chairman of Exeter Chamber Commerce said: “The annual Christmas networking lunch was a great success. It’s...
Churches in Devon are calling upon their local communities to help bring light into the lives of some of the UK’s most vulnerable children this Christmas by supporting Christingle events in aid of The Children’s Society.
A number of services are being held throughout December and beyond, and everyone is welcome to join the festivities. Money raised will go towards helping the children the charity works with, including victims of sexual exploitation.
Families and communities are welcome to come and celebrate together at the festive fundraising events, which revolve around...
Forty Customers from the award winning homecare agency enjoyed a three course lunch and entertainment at the Broadclyst Victory Hall and raised over £70 for AgeUK.
Bluebird Care Exeter, an award winning home care provider hosted their annual customer Christmas lunch on Monday 21st December 2015. Customers enjoyed a three course meal, prepared and served by the agency’s passionate office team and were entertained whilst they ate by a local choir singing traditional Christmas carols.
Bluebird Care Exeter invited their customers to bring along family, loved ones and friends...
A leading South West law firm has announced that it is to be one of the sponsors of an inspiring event due to take place in Exeter in April next year.
TEDxExeter, which will take place on 16 April at the Exeter Northcott Theatre, is set to bring some of the world’s best thinkers to the city, with a theme of “Dreams to Reality”. The day will consist of a series of inspirational talks and performances on a wide range of topics. After the event videos of the talks will be online for anyone to watch.
This year’s event will build on the highly successful TEDxExeter in 2015....
Rail services to and from the South West of England could be disrupted for more than 10 per cent of each year by 2040 and almost a third by 2100, a new study suggests.
The cost of maintaining tracks and sea defences could also soar as predicted sea level rises, coupled with coastal storms and floods, pose major challenges for rail operators and governments.
The research, published in the Journal of Transport Geography, focusses on the impact of sea level rises on the Dawlish to Teignmouth stretch of the main London to Penzance route, which was closed for two months in early...
