A pioneering scheme designed to improve people’s memory and mental wellbeing through shared reading is being rolled out across libraries in Devon next week. (Monday 21 January)

Devon County Council has joined forces with national charity The Reader Organisation to expand the successful ‘Get Into Reading' programme, and create 'Reading Together in Devon' - a county-wide network of 'Library Memory Groups' and 'Feel Better with a Book' groups.

A year-long pilot of ‘Library Memory Groups’ was launched in Devon County Council’s Libraries in Tiverton and Exeter Central two years...

Marsh Barton Security Services (MBSS), a local security company, and Vospers of Exeter have joined together this afternoon in readiness for the possible repeat of the snow we had a year ago.

MBSS has been serving the area for over 30 years, providing alarmed response and mobile patrol amongst other security services. “When providing such a vital service in the local area we have to plan ahead” comments Marcus Di-Vincenzo, owner of MBSS.

“Myself and Paul Matthews, Head of Marketing for the Vospers Group are both ex-Military so we understand we have to be ready for anything...

Devon and Cornwall Police are reminding motorists to ‘think safety’ before setting out on the roads during the winter months.

A successful roads policing enforcement campaign, known as Operation Vortex, will be launched across Devon and Cornwall alongside this advice, to ensure motorists use the roads safely and target motorists who don’t abide by road traffic laws.

Many routes in and around the Force area will be the subject of attention by officers, in the last two weeks in January, to address complacent or arrogant driver behaviour which can lead to serious consequences...

London's Victoria Station was evacuated this morning (Thursday 17th January), at approximately 7am, due to a fire on a Gatwick Express train.

Eye witnesses reported being evacuated to outside of the station, having seen a Gatwick Express train on fire.

Smoke was seen pouring from the engine of a Gatwick Express train, forcing officials to evacuate and close Victoria Station.

Fire crews put out the blaze, which was spotted by a commuter at around 7am.

The train was empty at the time, National Rail said, and no one is reported to have been injured.

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Devon County Council is supporting the third of Devon’s work hub projects which is opening in Cullompton on Friday 18th January.

The Hayridge Work Hub is hosting a ‘Jelly’ Event from 10am – 4pm to showcase the facilities on offer and give visitors the opportunity to meet the team, tour the building and meet other potential work hub users.

A jelly is an informal co-working event where home-based and mobile workers and small business owners can bring their laptop or papers to a venue to work, chat and collaborate with others.

In addition to flexible office areas, desk...

Alma Bridge in Sidmouth is scheduled to close for part of next week while further investigative work is carried out on the structure.

The footbridge was damaged during the severe flooding in July and as a precautionary safety measure, a temporary crossing was installed across the bridge.

The deterioration of the mudstone rock foundations beneath the western pier, which were exposed by the floods, were raised as a concern by the County Council's bridge engineers. The structure has been continually monitored and further investigations will be carried out during the closure...

East Devon District Council has been happy to report that the new town of Cranbrook in East Devon was unaffected by the recent bad weather and its drainage system has coped magnificently against unprecedented levels of rain.

This first major test of the new community drainage system has proven that local concerns about flooding were unfounded, but as Cllr Andrew Moulding, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Partnerships explains, this was no surprise to East Devon District Council:

“The only thing Cranbrook’s been flooded with is unfounded rumours. We did not...

Exmouth’s new Bowling Centre has been given the official seal of approval.

Inspectors from East Devon District Council confirmed last week that all parts of the building have now been finished in line with agreed plans. The bowling area itself opened for business under a temporary building licence at Christmas.

With all agreed building work now complete, the Council will grant the developers Harlequinn Bowling and Leisure Ltd a 125-year ground lease under the terms of a building agreement first drawn up in 2006. This will take place once Western Power completes the...

Concrete blockwork protecting the foreshore of the River Exe around the Imperial Recreation Ground is to be replaced in an £800,000 improvement scheme scheduled to start this month and extend into late spring.

The affected area of foreshore stretches from The Royal Avenue near the Rugby Club to the slipway at the Sea Scout hut. Contractor’s vehicles will also be using the Camperdown Car Park area at the western end of Victoria Way.

For safety reasons, the public will have only limited access to the area for the duration of the works. The access road and car parking spaces...