Devon

Building projects delayed by skills shortage

Development projects in Exeter and across Devon and Cornwall are being delayed by up to three months as a result of a struggle to source skilled labour, according to leading property consultancy JLL. As the economy has started to improve, construction work has picked up, with new building projects taking place in and around the region. But David Slee, building consultancy director at JLL in Exeter, said that there is a lack of skilled construction workers available to meet the demand created by these schemes. The much needed new housing schemes now underway across Devon and Cornwall are...

Celebrate the end of the racing season

Event Date: 
10/10/2014 - 12:15pm
Venue: 
Newton Abbot Racecourse

Celebrate the end of a great summer of racing and join Newton Abbot Racecourse for their last fixture of the year on Friday 10th October.

The gates will open at 12:20pm and the first race will be at 2:20pm. The last race is at 5:30pm.

Tickets are available to buy online until 5pm on Thursday 9th October. Tickets are priced at £18 for the Paddock Enclosure and £12 for the Course Enclosure. Tickets will be available to buy at the gate on the day.

Why not make it an afternoon out with friends? There’s no better way to start the weekend than with a day of racing in...

Devon County Council tells Prime Minister not to ignore rural areas

Devon County Council has joined a campaign to ensure rural areas do not lose out on devolution.

Devon’s Conservative deputy leader John Clatworthy has signed a powerful letter from county councils across England to Prime Minister David Cameron warning him not to ignore devolution for rural areas in favour of the big cities.

The letter, from the County Councils Network, says:

“We were disappointed that during your statement last Friday morning you only spoke of empowering ‘our great cities’.

“The 37 county councils and county unitary authorities represent 47...

End of the road for tax discs

On 1 October 2014 a small paper disc which has been a feature on car windscreens in the UK for 93 years will be consigned to history.

From 1 October 2014, the paper tax disc will no longer need to be displayed on a vehicle although vehicle excise duty (VED) must still be paid. If you have a tax disc with any months left to run after this date, it can be removed from the vehicle and destroyed from 1 October onwards. Your vehicle will still be registered as taxed in the database of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

The DVLA will rely on electronic records to...

Do you live with a long-term health condition?

Healthwatch Devon want to hear from people living with long-term conditions to find out what they really think about the support they get from local health services in Devon.

A long-term condition could include things like asthma, diabetes, arthritis, chronic kidney disease or heart disease.

Local health managers want to make sure that people living with long-term conditions get all the support they need to manage their own care and live the best lives they can.

To do this they need to understand how people feel about the care that they currently receive. We are...

Extra funding for Bikeability cycle training

Devon County Council has secured an additional £20,000 from the Department for Transport to train 1,000 children to Level One standard of Bikeability cycle training.

Bikeability is a national initiative providing “cycling proficiency” for the 21st century which has been adopted by Devon County Council as the cycle training standard in the county.

The Level One training is for children in Years Three and Four at schools in Devon (excluding Torbay and Plymouth) and includes training in basic cycle skills in an off-road environment.

This latest funding is in addition...

Expansion plan for city primary

A £1.8 million expansion plan for an Exeter primary school is set to be given the go ahead next week.

The plan is for St Leonard’s C of E Primary School to expand from 420 children to 630 places by September next year.

This would entail the construction of a new single-storey, six classroom teaching block on the school site off Topsham Road.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet meets next Wednesday (8 October) to discuss the project which it is being recommended to approve.

Devon’s Cabinet member for schools, James McInnes, said: “We have already invested £9...

Top marks for EDDC alarm service

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 09/30/2014 - 11:32am

East Devon District Council’s Home Safeguard service is one of the highest performing in the country – and that’s official!

Following a rigorous annual inspection by the Telecare Services Association (TSA), Home Safeguard was given a clean bill of health for the fourth year running.

TSA is the largest industry body for telecare services and the largest industry specific network in Europe. They provide an external inspection to telecare services to ensure services are running up to standard and to certify the well-being of customers using the service.

Councillor Jill...

Teignbridge lands £100,000 to boost self-builders

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 09/30/2014 - 10:14am

Teignbridge District Council has been given £100,000 to help self-builders get their projects off the ground.

Teignbridge is one of only 11 areas to have been named by the Department for Communities and Local Government as a Right to Build vanguard which will help prospective self-builders secure a plot of land.

The money will allow Teignbridge to continue its great work in bringing shovel-ready sites and help people secure a suitable plot of land so they can design and build their own home.

Cllr John Goodey, Teignbridge District Council’s Executive spokesman for...

Get active in life and mind during October

Devon County Council’s Active Life, Active Mind programme, aimed at supporting health and wellbeing, is back for the third consecutive year with events held in libraries throughout October.

The diverse programme of activities includes something for everyone. For those with creative minds, there are drawing workshops and creative writing groups, and for those looking for support with health and wellbeing there are health checks, guided walks and advice and guidance sessions.

To find out more visit your local library or website .

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County...

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