South West Water and customers Get Ready for Winter

With forecasters warning of icy weather conditions around the corner, South West Water is reminding customers to take precautions to avoid leaks and burst water pipe damage.

Burst pipe damage cost homeowners over £680 million nationally in property claims following the post Christmas thaw in 2010.

South West Water's Head of Drinking Water Services Guy Doble said: "We want to help customers avoid serious problems with their pipework by providing what we hope will be useful information to prepare for the...

HAVE YOU HEARD THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT?

Well, Sandy Park - the South West's Premier Conference and Banqueting facility - has just landed yet another top accolade after it was crowned 'Rugby Venue of the Year' at the prestigious Rugby Expo Awards in London.

Home to the famous Exeter Chiefs , the popular, multi-million pound Devon venue beat off competition from across Europe, including the likes of Saracens and Clermont Auvergne to pick up the much coveted crown.

The Rugby Expo award is just the latest honour to be bestowed on Sandy Park, which as well as being named...

Five Devon councils have taken legal action against their councillors for not paying council tax, nine times over the last four years.

Mid Devon, North Devon, West Devon district councils, Torridge council and Plymouth City Council have had to take action against their own members.

Councils also sent 76 first-reminders to councillors to prompt payment between 2009 and 2013.

The information was disclosed as part of a Freedom of Information request to several local authorities.

Exeter City Council and Torbay Council refused to disclose the information as it...

Jason Shoemark has warned Exeter Chiefs can ill afford to make the same mistakes as they made at Bath on Sunday when Aviva Premiership leaders Saracens arrive in Devon this weekend (3pm). The Chiefs saw their recent winning streak come to an abrupt halt as Westcountry rivals Bath secured a 37-15 victory in the club's second LV= Cup fixture of the season. It was a disappointing outcome for the visitors, who were always up against it after leaking two converted tries inside the opening four minutes at the Recreation Ground. Although the Chiefs were much improved as the game went on -...

GPs in the south west have said they are under extra pressure due to patients coming to them rather than dentists with concerns over oral health. According to a poll conducted by ComRes, 82 per cent of GPs based in the South West believe that too many patients are turning to them for oral health advice instead of a dentist which is increasing pressure on general practices. The polling, released during Mouth Cancer Action Month, by the Association of Dental Groups (ADG), the professional body representing private and corporate dental practices, also showed that 96 per cent of GPs based in...

Groups or organisations keen to celebrate the natural beauty of the Teign Estuary can get access to a grant scheme to help promote the area’s diversity.

The Teign Estuary Partnership has launched a small grants scheme encouraging local groups to undertake community events which help conserve and enhance the Teign Estuary.

An award of up to £500 can be given towards individual projects that contribute to the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of communities around the Teign Estuary and its open coastline.

It can be anything from research projects to...

Take advantage of free parking on the five Saturdays running up to Christmas.

Mid Devon District Council is giving free car parking at selected car parks in Tiverton, Cullompton and Crediton on the five Saturdays before Christmas.

The locations are the long–stay car parks at:

• Tiverton – Multi-storey, Phoenix Lane • Cullompton – Station Road • Crediton – St Saviours Way, High Street

The dates of the free parking are:

• Saturday 23 November • Saturday 30 November • Saturday 7 December • Saturday 14 December • Saturday 21 December

The UK is...