Chiefs side to face Saints

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter believes his side’s return to Aviva Premiership action this week will reveal plenty about how they could ultimately fare this season.

After four weeks of European and LV= Cup action, it’s back to the bread and butter of the top flight for the Chiefs, who tonight face defending champions Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens (7.45pm).

With the Saints currently occupying top spot and the Chiefs two rungs down the ladder, some five points adrift, this latest match-up promises to be the ultimate test for Baxter’s men on their league return...

Two seriously injured in crash near Tiverton

Police and emergency services attended the scene of a serious road traffic collision on the A361 at Tiverton this morning.

The collision involved a Transit van, a Fiat 500 car and a Nissan Navara pick up.

It happened on the southbound carriageway just past Bolham roundabout at 9.30am.

The drivers of the van and the Navara vehicle, two men both in their 50s, were seriously injured and have been airlifted to Derriford Hospital by air ambulance.

A third male casualty was taken by land ambulance to the North Devon District Hospital but was not seriously injured...

Planners approve supercomputer building

The outlook seems bright for East Devon with news that that a building to house a major part of the Met Office’s proposed new high performance computer was given the go-ahead from district council planners yesterday (Thursday 13 November).

The modern building will provide much of the space for the so-called supercomputer on a site at Exeter Science Park, whilst the rest of the equipment will be housed on the Met Office’s existing site at Sowton, Exeter.

News that planning permission has been granted by East Devon District Council – conditional on the new development meeting...

Broadclyst targets speeding drivers

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, Devon and Cornwall Police and Broadclyst Traffic Group are all supporting Brake Charity’s Road Safety Week (17-23 November) by holding a speed watch event in Broadclyst next week.

Broadclyst Parish Council, which includes the Broadclyst Traffic group is continuing its campaign next week to reduce speeds in Broadclyst and provide a safer environment for its school children, residents and visitors.

Simon Roberts from Broadclyst Traffic Group explained: “Unfortunately, with the housing expansion around the Exeter countryside and...

Devon schools save energy thanks to behaviour change programme

Forty-three Devon schools have recently completed an energy education scheme, organised by Devon County Council in partnership with Resource Futures, resulting in some impressive savings.

Since September 2012, 1,757 pupils and 133 staff from schools across the county have undertaken whole school campaigns.

For the schools that completed the project in the spring and summer terms, 2014, eight schools have seen reductions of at least 15% on their energy use during the campaign. A further six schools lowered electricity consumption by 5 -15% during the campaign.

The...

Exeter Scrapstore seeks views 

Authored by Mandy Pearse
Posted: Fri, 11/14/2014 - 12:44pm

An Exeter charity faced with rebuilding its headquarters is calling on artistic and creative individuals and groups to help by completing a short survey.

Over the last 30 years the Scrapstore has provided a wealth of arts and crafts materials to families, community organisations, schools, playgroups and artists across Devon.

Now in its fourth year as a charity the Scrapstore is looking to the future. Its current home, a hut in the corner of Belmont Park is over 75 years old and will need replacing or a major makeover.

Alan Caig, Chair of the Scrapstore Trust says: “...

WILD WOOD

Event Date: 
20/11/2014 - 6:00pm to 21/01/2015 - 5:30pm
Venue: 
Innovation Centre, Univeristy of Exeter, EX4 4RN

WILD WOOD by Fern Leigh Albert, Innovation Centre, University of Exeter, 20 Nov - 21 Jan.

Christmas turkey farmers celebrate 75 years

Authored by Glen King PR
Posted: Fri, 11/14/2014 - 11:45am

Father and son farming partnership Mike and Tim Leach of Glebelands Farm, Upton Pyne celebrates 75 years of rearing top-quality turkeys and geese specifically for the Christmas market with the launch of a new website called ‘TastyBird’.

Free-range bronze turkeys and geese roam freely through the fields and are fed with natural cereals from the farm with no growth promoters or antibiotics. White turkeys are happily housed in straw-bedded barns with space to walk around and all poultry are reared to full maturity and hung for up to 14 days to give a fuller flavour.

The third...

Changes to management of city proposed

Changes look set to be made to the way Exeter manages its High Street and City Centre shops and businesses.

Plans have been announced to dissolve Exeter's City Centre Management Partnership and instead concentrate all efforts on creating a Business Improvement District.

Letters have been sent to all members of the Partnership proposing that it be dissolved on 28 November. Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, said: "Devon County Council has ended its £20,000-a-year contribution to the Partnership. Funding has always been split between the two councils...

'Courier fraud' probe arrests

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 11/14/2014 - 10:14am

Zephyr, the south west’s regional organised crime unit, has made arrests in Scotland as part of its ongoing probe into courier fraud.

Detectives from Zephyr were joined by officers from Police Scotland to execute search warrants on properties in the Castlemilk and Crosshill areas of the city of Glasgow.

They are the first arrests made north of the border and follow arrests throughout the south west and in East London.

A 43-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit fraud and money-laundering offences. Officers seized a...

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