National Voter Registration Day is on Thursday 5 February 2015 during a UK-wide week of national action (2-8 February) to inspire people to register to vote.
The day is organised by Bite the Ballot, which aims to empower young people to stand up and make their voices heard through better political education and to ensure that this important group register to vote.
East Devon District Council is aware that there are still people across the district who have not registered to vote, including many young people, and we hope they will take action on National Voter Registration...
Back by popular demand - another birdwatching event for children
East Devon District Council's Countryside team is delighted that the highly experienced birdwatcher Ian Waite has agreed to lead another ‘Birdwatching for Children’ event for us during February half term, following its huge popularity last October. “It’s great to encourage an interest in wildlife in children at an early age,” said Ian. “It can often develop into a lifelong passion and it’s something you can enjoy wherever you go.”
Space is limited, so booking is essential for this event, which will take place...
Residents and road users are being asked for their ideas to name the South Devon Link Road.
Devon County Council and Torbay Council, along with Galliford Try - the contractors responsible for constructing the road – have launched the competition which is asking for suggestions for the official name of the new road.
The completed road will be a 5.5km dual carriageway from Newton Abbot to Torquay and is due to be completed in December 2015.
Mayor of Torbay, Gordon Oliver said: "We are looking for names that are simple and imaginative. The name will be used on...
Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau has published its latest advice trend statistics which show that in the first nine months of the financial year it helped 4,451 people directly with advice and information.
On average, clients with debt problems had debts totaling £9,193.64, down by £2,373.83 on the same period the previous year. However, the charity expects to see a further increase in the first quarter of 2015 as people struggle to deal with debt accrued in the Christmas period.
The amount of advice that the charity has been able to provide has increased in the following...
The woodland at Knightshayes, near Tiverton, is undergoing a programme of regeneration, with the ranger team replanting over 12,000 trees over the next three years. Throughout the last century, the woodland has undergone numerous changes. Originally farmer’s fields before being planted with larch in the 1950’s, the estate’s popular Impey Walk fell victim to the tree disease Phytophthora ramorum in 2011 and, since then, has been a tangle of impenetrable bracken and bramble. The replanting, costing over £30,000, will consist of almost entirely native broadleaf species, the perfect habitat...
Devon County Council is encouraging residents to ‘get connected’ with their local library next week as part of National Libraries Day (Saturday 7 February).
Libraries across Devon will be asking their users to provide their email address and mobile phone number so they can get in touch with information about their loans more easily and keep them up to date with news, as well as save the council money.
Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for the library service, explains:
“We currently spend around £6,000 on postage every...
James Luke McDonald, 36, from Dawlish has been charged with the murder of Sophie McDonald and remains in custody to appear at Exeter Magistrates Court tomorrow (Saturday 31st January).
Police were called at around 6.40pm on Wednesday 28th January following reports of a missing person, and an extensive search was undertaken by specialist officers and volunteer search and rescue groups.
Sophie’s body was later discovered at a property in Iddesleigh Terrace, Dawlish at around 3am, Thursday 29th January.
The family of Sophie said: “The family have released a photo of a...
Devon County Council’s highways teams are geared up to respond to whatever the weather throws at the county this weekend.
A weather warning has been issued for the possibility of snow showers and ice in the county over the next few days. Although it is mainly expected to affect higher ground, wintry showers cannot be ruled out at lower levels.
Road surface temperatures will be below freezing across most of the county overnight, and with a risk of icy patches in the morning, gritters will be heading out across Devon’s main salting routes.
Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter believes new signing Geoff Parling can have a “positive influence” on and off the field at Sandy Park after he today agreed terms with the Aviva Premiership club.
The England and British Lions lock, who has penned a two-year deal with the Chiefs, joins from league rivals Leicester Tigers, where he has amassed 89 appearances in total since signing in 2009 from former club Newcastle Falcons.
As one of two new arrivals confirmed by Baxter today, the other being Bath speedster Olly Woodburn, Baxter believes he has recruited two proven, top-...
Saltrock now charges 5p for every carrier bag given out in all stores across the country, and every penny collected is donated directly to coastal charity Surfers Against Sewage. Saltrock hopes that by taking this company wide decision it can raise both awareness and funds for the charity to fight the causes of coastal damage. “Surfers Against Sewage is a cause close to our hearts here at Saltrock,” says Saltrock spokesperson Katie Goodfellow.
“SAS are a fantastic team who are passionate about what they do and fight hard to protect something vitally important to all of us – our...
