Exeter

Devon County Council Lib Dem Leader Brian Greenslade has announced he is stepping aside as Group Leader ahead of County elections in May 2013 after 23 years in the post.

He will be succeeded by Tiverton East County Councillor Des Hannon (pictured) with effect from the new year.

Councillor Greenslade will continue as Chairman of the Corporate Services Scrutiny and as leader of North Devon Council.

It has been a big year for the English health service, but for the wrong reasons, writes Alex Nunns of the NHS Support Federation. Here Alex pulls together the strands to explain what is really going on in the NHS.

The Exeter to Tiverton line was re-opened this afternoon after engineering teams finished repairs following the floods.

Passengers had to take buses between Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St David's after the River Exe burst its banks Cowley Bridge Junction on Saturday.

Network Rail said a normal service would now resume.

However, services between Exeter St David's and Exmouth are disrupted due to flooding in the Lympstone area.

Services will start and terminate at Topsham with road transport operating between Topsham and Stations to Exmouth in both directions...

Actor Daniel Page is loving being on stage at Exeter Corn Exchange and being hissed, booed and generally hated this Christmas, which isn’t the usual thing that professional actors hope for but in this case it’s perfectly normal as he plays Abanazer, the scheming and plotting baddie in Aladdin which runs from 15th December to 6th January.

Daniel has been all over the country as an actor and performer, but his first pantomime took place right here in Exeter. He says:

“I have only done one other professional panto before and that was last Christmas playing Friar Tuck in Robin...

The annual hangover season reaches its crescendo on New Year’s Day. But with resolutions to be kept, at least for a few hours anyway, you may have decided not to tarnish the first day of 2013 with a pounding head but to venture outdoors and see what’s on offer in the Westountry.

From bracing beach walks to horse racing on Haldon Hill and moorland ambles to icy plunges into the sea, if fresh air is your beginning of choice the Westcountry has oodles to offer.

Horse racing at Exeter Racecourse has been a tradition for more than 30 years, and when the first race comes under...

Exeter-based charity, St Petrock’s, as set up a home and garden maintenance project with a difference.

Project Petrock aims to help people who are or have been homeless into work or training by providing volunteering in ‘real work’ situations.

Project Petrock’s Training Supervisor, Mat Tandy explains said: “Our volunteers want to be busy but find it extremely difficult to find work and meaningful occupation. By volunteering with us, the volunteers know that their labours contribute to keeping the project going in more ways than merely raising funds.”

Volunteers gain...

From 3:30 pm on Monday 24th December 2012 to Tuesday 1st January 2013 Cleansing Service offices will be closed.

However, waste collections continue during the holiday period.

To support residents who need help or information about waste collections during this period Exeter City Council will be operating a limited telephone service.

Please visit the council website to find out when your bin is collected during Christmas and New Year holidays, and January 2013 or to report a bin missed by the Council.

Opening hours of telephone service Monday, 24th December...

Devon County Council is warning walkers, cyclists and horse riders to take extra care when using paths close to rivers and cliffs over the next few days.

Persistent rain means the ground is saturated and river levels are high, so there is an increased risk of surface water and river flooding as well as the potential for fallen trees and landslips.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said:

“Between Christmas and New Year is a popular time for walking and getting outside for some fresh air, but I would...

It’s that time of year again. Christmas is fast approaching. The shops are all playing jolly festive jingles that irritate shoppers but can send shop workers insane by the end of their shifts.

But listen to the seasonal soundtrack and note that, more than ever, we now celebrate Christmas in non-religious ways. References to the birth of Jesus have become rare as Christianity fades from our Christmas festivities.

Some may argue that this decline in the religious meaning of Christmas isn’t important.

However, even for non-believers, an awareness of Christian beliefs...

With the festive season upon us, which traditionally sees an increase in incidents of domestic abuse, support agencies would like to raise awareness of the services and help available to those who are at risk, or suffering domestic abuse across the region this Christmas.

Figures from Devon and Cornwall Police show that in December 2011, a total of 231 domestic abuse incidents were recorded in the period between Christmas Day and New Year 2011 – a 48% increase on the average number of incidents during the rest of the year.

Rachel Martin from adva (against domestic violence...