Devon

Celebrating 60 years at Stephens Scown

A former senior partner of leading South West lawyers, Stephens Scown LLP, recently celebrated 60 years of legal expertise with the firm.

Ian Waite, 83, has spent his entire legal career with the firm and helped it become the success it is today within the region and beyond.

Joining Stephens Scown in Cornwall in 1953 as an articled clerk, Ian moved from London to learn the ropes and become a qualified solicitor. His father paid the princely sum of £300 so that he received this training – a concept very different from the one experienced by today’s trainees.

Starting...

Water company fined for sewage spills at Devon holiday resort

South West Water has been ordered to pay £60,300 in fines and costs for polluting two beaches at Salcombe in South Devon. The case was brought by the Environment Agency.

Sewage spills occurred in August 2012 during the Salcombe annual regatta.

On August 6 the Agency responded to reports of pollution at South Sands. It found sewage leaking from a corroded inspection hatch and flowing down the beach.

South Hams District Council responded to the pollution by erecting a sign at the entrance to the beach advising people not to bathe at South Sands. South West Water...

Solar farms to play vital role in boosting local rural economy in the South West

As solar farms begin to play an important role in addressing the UK’s electricity needs and aiding the drive towards cheaper, cleaner electricity bills for the consumer, this maturing industry now plays a vital role supporting the economic stability of the agricultural sector and creating full time employment for local communities in the South West.

Lightsource Renewable Energy, the UK’s leading solar energy generator currently operates over 40 solar farms in the South West of England with an Operations satellite office based in Bath.

Mark Turner, Operations Director for...

Essential investigations at Mamhead Slipway in Exmouth

Essential geotechnical and environmental investigations will be taking place around, and under, the Mamhead Slipway in Exmouth from Monday 2 December.

This investigation work is expected to last two to three weeks and is necessary as preparation for the longer term replacement or improvement of the slipway, a key project within the Exmouth Vision.

Engineers will drill boreholes through the slipway to gain information about the makeup of the geology beneath the seabed.

Trial trenches and shallow boreholes will also be opened in the Mamhead Gardens area to check the...

Tour of Britain brings in £5.9m

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 11/26/2013 - 11:58am

This year’s Devon stage of the Tour of Britain had the largest turnout in the tour’s seven year history bringing almost £5.9 million of additional spending to the county along the course of the tour.

250,000 spectators are thought to have turned out to watch the race along the 85 mile route between Sidbury and Dartmoor.

Around 62,000 people are thought to have stayed in the county overnight bringing extra trade to the local tourism industry.

A TV audience of more than 2.8 million people in the UK tuned into the coverage of the Devon Stage on ITV4 and Eurosport. The...

Cowick Street Christmas Lights Switch On - 4 December

Authored by khulland
Posted: Tue, 11/26/2013 - 11:42am

The Cowick Street Christmas Lights Switch-On will be taking place on Wednesday 4 December at 6pm - but the fun begins at 5pm! The Christmas Lights are organised and funded by local traders it's a fabulous community event for all the family young and old!

So come and join in the festive fun and you may even meet Santa......

Highlights include carol singing, Christmas hat competition, face painting, hog roast, ice creams, drinks stall, balloon modeler, Santa's Grotto, open top bus, tombola and a Surprise Attraction! A Radio Exe Live presenter will also be there.

Adam Isaac helps Barnstaple get festive

Exeter singing star Adam Isaac helped the people of Barnstaple begin their festive celebrations by performing at their Christmas lights switch on.

Adam, who was mentored by Sir Tom Jones in the 2012 series of The Voice, performed material from his own album Train Tracks and also covered tracks by artists such as Lenny Kravitz and Eurythmics. Girl band Stooshe and Britain’s Got Talent stars The Luminites also performed.

Adam will next be performing at Timepiece on Saturday 30th November. Please visit Timepiece at Little Castle Street for more information.

Murder suspect appears in court

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 11/26/2013 - 10:25am

Update: The 43 year-old who died after being severely injured at a house on Alphington Road has been named as Stephen Michael Crook.

Ryan Singleton, 25, appeared in court today and will begin preliminary hearings on December 12.

Singleton will also return to court for a bail hearing tomorrow.

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A 25 year-old man charged with murder has been named as Ryan Singleton from Coventry.

Mr Singleton is appearing in Exeter Magistrate’s court this morning to begin initial hearings.

Mr Singleton is being charged...

£40,000 investment opens up Coast Path to thousands of wheelchair and pushchair users in time for Christmas

Authored by Newshound
Posted: Tue, 11/26/2013 - 10:10am

The completion of seven coastal access schemes along parts of the South West Coast Path, and the addition of 40 extra walks on its website means that now, for the first time, thousands of people with limited mobility and those with young children in pushchairs are able to enjoy stretches of the breathtaking National Trail that were once impassable.

Newly accessible walks include parts of Padstow where a £24,000 project to improve the surface and widen the path in Stile Field, which both Cornwall Council and Padstow Town Council helped to fund, now means that as well as enjoying the...

Clare's Law goes national in 2014

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Mon, 11/25/2013 - 4:55pm

The government has announced plans to give police powers to disclose certain details of people’s criminal pasts to forces across England and Wales next year.

The Home Office led scheme gives people the ‘right to ask’ police if their partner has ever had convictions for domestic abuse and allow police to disclose details of a criminal in certain circumstances.

All requests must go through a panel of Police, Probation services and other agencies to ensure that the information is only passed on where appropriate.

The scheme also offers support to victims to help during...

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