Environment Agency blitz rod licence cheats

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 07/04/2014 - 12:27pm

Of the anglers checked for a valid licence, 965 were fishing illegally and could face a court appearance and a substantial fine. A recent penalty was more than £800, when an annual licence costs just £27.

May falls within the coarse fishing ‘close season’ – which runs from 15 March to 15 June – when coarse angling is suspended on rivers and a few canals and lakes in order to allow coarse fish to breed.

While some licence cheats were also fishing rivers during the close season, the majority were caught on stillwaters where fishing is still allowed during these months....

50 things to do at Knightshayes

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 07/04/2014 - 11:55am

Knightshayes, a National Trust estate near Tiverton, will be holding a host of weekly outdoor activities during the summer holidays.

There are plenty of ways children can enjoy the great outdoors at Knightshayes. With diverse grounds consisting of glorious gardens and acres of parkland and woods, Knightshayes has bags of space to explore, trees to climb, puddles to jump in and wildlife to discover - a new challenge presents itself with every twist and turn.

Inspired by the National Trust’s ‘50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’, the activities take place every week in the...

Brewin Dolphin celebrates 10 years in Exeter

Authored by Glen King PR
Posted: Fri, 07/04/2014 - 11:45am

Directors and staff of Wealth Management Company, Brewin Dolphin Exeter office held their annual summer party for clients and associates at Exeter Castle.

This year’s event was extra special as the Exeter office celebrates its tenth anniversary in the City.

Over 250 guests were welcomed with a glass of Pimm’s and delicious canapés from Posh Nosh.

Representatives of the Exeter Office’s charity of the year, Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) were also present and to-date Brewin Dolphin staff have raised an incredible £2,500 for this worthy cause.

www.brewin...

Cash boost for two local music projects

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 07/04/2014 - 11:41am

John Lewis Exeter has awarded local community music projects Dementia Carers’ Pathways Devon and Exeter Community Radio aka Phonic FM a grant of £1,000 each through its Music Matters scheme.

The John Lewis Partnership’s Music Matters programme supports groups which make an outstanding contribution to their local community through music. The department store and Waitrose shops receive applications from groups which perform any type of music, from choirs and orchestras to bands and ensembles.

The first project to receive funding through the scheme is Dementia Carers’ Pathways...

Knowle TVG application rejected

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 07/04/2014 - 11:30am

Devon County Council has formally rejected an application by Knowle Residents’ Association (KRA) to make East Devon District Council’s site at Knowle into a Town and Village Green (TVG).

This paves the way for EDDC to fulfil its commitment to market the site for development and get a price that will help to pay the cost of moving to a modern HQ building.

In his report, the inspector commissioned by Devon County recommended rejection of the KRA’s application. This was based not only on the particulars of the Knowle application but also the relevance of a recent Supreme Court...

PCC wins Government funds for Devon crime victims

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 07/04/2014 - 11:15am

Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg has been successful in winning more than £500,000 of Government funding to help support victims of crime in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Mr Hogg has worked with local voluntary organisations to identify the services that best meet the needs of vulnerable victims. Only London, Greater Manchester and West Midlands have received higher grants. “Victim care is a central priority of the Police and Crime Plan for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,” said Tony Hogg. “Victims of crime must receive the best possible support to cope with what...

£15 million cycle rail boost

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 07/04/2014 - 11:08am

Train stations across the country will benefit from improved cycling facilities thanks to £15 million of new government funding, Transport Minister Baroness Kramer announced today (4 July 2014) on the eve of the Tour de France coming to the UK.

The improvements will make it easier for people to ride bicycles and use trains by providing more and better cycle parking and other cycle-friendly facilities at railway stations, helping cut pollution and ease congestion on our roads.

Baroness Kramer said: "When people take rail journeys they need to know how they will get to and...

Devon Hotels launches new website

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 07/04/2014 - 10:55am

Exeter and Heart of Devon Hotels and Restaurants Association is gearing up for unprecedented visitor numbers with two large scale events coming to the region in the near future.

Mike Coombes of Mill End Hotel and Chair of the Association explains: “The next 16 months are going to be very exciting for Exeter and the heart of Devon with the Tour of Britain and Rugby World Cup both seeing stages hosted here, not to mention the introduction of domestic flights to Exeter from London’s City airport. The area is booming and will be on the international map thanks to world class events; it...

Superfast broadband for more communities

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 07/04/2014 - 10:40am

Connecting Devon and Somerset have announced that a further 25 communities can now get high-speed fibre broadband as a result of the £94 million programme to bring superfast broadband to rural areas.

The latest locations include Tedburn St Mary, Whitestone, Ashford, Braunton, Burlescombe, Chudleigh, Heanton Punchardon, Horton, Landkey, Mortehoe, North Tawton and Swimbridge.

This takes the total number of communities to 56 in Devon and Somerset that now have access, as the programme continues to roll-out at a pace, bringing new technology and faster speeds.

The...

PCSO stops rolling car with baby inside

A Devon and Cornwall police community support officer has been praised by a father after he dramatically stopped a car, with a baby girl inside, from rolling down a hill.

PCSO Richard Hill (pictured) was parked nearby when he saw what he thought was an empty convertible rolling backwards down the slipway towards the beach at Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes.

He saw a man frantically trying to stop the Audi A3 from rolling but the car was gathering pace, heading towards a number of pedestrians who would not have had chance to avoid the car.

He quickly drove his marked...

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