Heavy rain and gale-force winds continue to batter Devon. Severe amber warnings for wind and rain have been issued by the Met Office with exposed areas of coast set to be the worst affected. Several homes and business in Exmouth have again been damaged by the storms for the second time in the recent round of storms. There were also reports of snow on both Dartmoor and Exmoor earlier today further adding to difficult driving conditions in the area. Strong winds reaching up to 80mph in some areas are expected to hit Devon from 6pm and remain until the early hours of the morning.
RHS Garden Rosemoor will be bursting with blooms this March when it hosts its first Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Spring Flower Show and competition, on 15–16 March.
The inaugural show focuses on camellias, including the RHS Early Camellia Competition, early magnolias and rhododendrons as well as classes for ornamental shrubs and the RHS Rosemoor Daffodil Competition. Visitors can view the exquisite displays of top quality blooms from competitors from all over the South West.
Trade and advice stands in the show plus a superb range of early spring shrubs and flowering...
If you want to entertain your young ones this half term look no further than Animated Exeter.
Take the kids to Moshi Monster Sunday, which includes a special festival screening of the new ‘Moshi Monsters: The Movie’ and a ‘Make a Moshling’ workshop.
Have some fun learning to animate at one of many workshops aimed at different age-groups and abilities; make characters from your favourite C Beebies programme, Mike the Knight and bring them to life at Exeter Cathedral on Monday; discover how scrap meets animation to make weird creatures come to life; visit our exhibitions, see...
Devon county council may raise its council tax for the first time in four years in an effort to protect its services against further cuts. Despite a budget cut of £100 million in the last four years the Council has to find another £110 million by 2017 with several non-statutory services already under review. The council’s cabinet met on Wednesday and agreed to 1.99% increase to the current council tax levels forgoing a government grant for freezing the tax for another year. Council leader John Hart explained the decision “If I accept a council tax freeze grant from the Government this year...
A major campaign to highlight the effect smoking has on loved ones has been launched by Devon County Council, in line with a regional campaign by Smoke Free South West.
Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness, premature death and health inequality in the County, and 1,200 people die prematurely each year from smoking-related illnesses such as coronary heart disease, stroke and many cancers.
The new campaign, being launched to coincide with Valentine’s Day, gives smokers the opportunity to pledge their commitment to quit in a Valentine’s card to their...
The Met Office warned that hurricane strength winds of up to 80mph will hit the South West again today to again test the regions already battered storm defences.
In the fifth consecutive day of extreme weather conditions the public has been told to prepare for even more flooding, transport disruption and power outages across Devon.
The winds will reach their peak at mid-day today as the weather system pass over the county but potential hail storms and heavy rain can still be expected until much later in the day.
The rising number of assaults against frontline staff has seen the Ambulance service re-commit to a zero tolerance approach to abuse. The South West Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) reports that there were 104 reports of physical abuse against frontline staff in the last 12 months. 73 of the reported assaults were referred to the police with 22 incidents leading to the abusive patients to be arrested. There are a number of more serious cases awaiting a court date as a result of these reports. Anne Payne, Health, Safety and Security Manager with SWASFT, said: “All reports of...
A new National Rural Crime Network, endorsed by eighteen (18) of the UK’s Police and Crime Commissioners, including Devon and Cornwall’s Tony Hogg, has been set-up to help tackle rural crime more effectively in England and Wales. A further 8 Commissioners are considering joining the group which could bring the total to around two thirds of PCCs across the two countries. Once established the Network will provide an online resource for police, community safety practitioners and others to interact, to share information, training development, access to case studies and link up with other...
Government Inspector Anthony Thickett starts his 19-day hearing sessions of the public examination of the Draft Local Plan 2006-26 submitted by East Devon District Council on Tuesday, 11 February.
Full details of the programme, showing the dates and subject matter of each session, are available on the programme officer’s website at http://www.eastdevon.gov.uk/progofficer
Proceedings will last for just under one month and in that time the Inspector will hear evidence from the council, community organisations, protest groups and landowners and developers in the district....
Devon County Council leader, John Hart, has today offered praise for the “swift” response to the unprecedented rail problems affecting the South West.
The disruptions are mainly the result of the recent severe weather destroying around 80m of coastal track near Dawlish limiting the region’s transport links.
Extra pressure came over the weekend when a landslip on track near Yeovil cut off Devon’s rail link to the rest of the country.
Although initial expectations thought the repair work would take a week the line was re-opened just a day later.
