South West

Bumper honey crop from SW bees

Beekeepers across the South West of England have reported an average yield of 30lbs of honey per colony this year according to the findings of the British Beekeepers Association¹s annual Honey Survey, released today (26 November, 2014).

The survey revealed a substantial 36 per cent increase on the 22lbs per colony reported by South West of England beekeepers in 2013, and is a far cry from the 7lbs per colony nadir of 2012.

The reported yield across the country is 32lbs per colony, a 28 per cent increase on the 25lbs per colony reported in 2013.

Conducted by BBKA...

Weather warning of fog across Devon

Drivers are warned to take extra care as the Met Office issue a yellow warning for fog across the region tonight.

Patches of fog, locally dense, will develop through Wednesday evening across Cornwall and west Devon, whilst cloud will lower to give fog over hills further east, leading to locally poor driving conditions.

Later in the night, increasing cloud and breeze will lift the fog into low cloud with only the highest routes affected by poorer visibility.

A chief forecaster said: “A frontal system will continue to move slowly eastwards across southwest England...

House prices continue to rise in the South West

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 11/13/2014 - 10:53am

House prices continued to rise in the South West, but at a slower pace, according to the latest RICS Residential Market Survey.

In line with slowing momentum, surveyors are now anticipating a much flatter price outlook in the run up to Christmas, but over the course of the next 12 months they remain quite positive.

The level of sales activity was more or less unchanged on the previous month, but surveyors are still expecting transactions to hold up in the near term.

As the market stabilises in the region 17% more chartered surveyors saw a fall in new buyer enquiries...

Bike Shed Theatre awarded Clore Prize Fund

Authored by PMM_2014
Posted: Mon, 11/10/2014 - 3:04pm

The Bike Shed Theatre is delighted to announce that it has received a major award from the Clore Prize Fund, at a prestigious ceremony in London’s Natural History Museum on Tuesday 4th November. The £50,000 award follows the theatre’s recent success in being added to the Arts Council England’s National Portfolio - and will be used to support the next generation of emerging South West and beyond theatre companies to develop and produce nationally recognised work.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Clore Duffield Foundation, a total prize fund of £500,000 was made available....

South West Christmas Without Cruelty Festival

Event Date: 
22/11/2014 - 10:00am
Venue: 
Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street, Exeter

Firmly established as one of the highlights of Exeter's seasonal celebrations, Christmas without Cruelty offers a great chance to buy unique gifts and cards, and, at the same time, to support ethical traders and good causes.

A great day out, with fabulous veggie food and music.

Special guest: Molly Scott-Cato, the South West's first Green Party MEP.

Free admission

10am - 4.15pm

Lung cancer patients in the South West missing out on surgery every year

Around 120 (119.8)* lung cancer patients in the South West may be missing out on life-saving surgery each year, according to figures released by Cancer Research UK today (Friday).

With the countdown to the General Election underway, the news comes as the charity launches a new campaign - ‘Cross Cancer Out’.

Playing on the idea of a ballot paper, it asks election candidates to back a raft of vital measures aimed at ensuring all cancer patients are diagnosed much earlier and have greater access to the best possible treatments.

Worryingly, figures for lung cancer in...

Increased construction activity continues in South West as national workload reaches 20 year high

Private housing and private commercial construction activity fuelled a record workload in Q3 2014, according to the RICS UK Construction Market Survey – the highest recorded since 1994.

In the region, construction activity in private housing, private commercial and private industrial remain high despite the skills shortage and 39% more chartered surveyors are reporting a rise in activity (up from a net balance of 35% in August). In the region 48% of respondents cited a lack of quantity surveyors, while 41% cited a shortage of other construction professionals and 47% citing a...

South West housing market reaches breaking point

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Wed, 10/22/2014 - 11:38am

High housing costs and low wages are pushing many areas of the South West out of reach for local people according to a new report from the National Housing Federation. South West Broken Market, Broken Dreams warns that while the average house price in the region is now close to £230,000, earnings in the region are among the lowest in England, making house prices on average nearly ten times annual incomes. In rural and coastal areas, the situation is even worse. With beauty spots commanding premium house prices and attracting wealthy second home owners, spiralling prices are forcing young...

Concern over prison officer numbers

The number of officers at public-sector prisons in the South West region has been cut by 37 per cent in less than four years, figures obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveal today (Monday 20 October).

Research published by the charity shows that, across England and Wales, there were only 14,170 officer grade staff working in prisons run by the state at the end of June 2014. There were more than 24,000 at the end of August 2010.

This includes 1,375 officer posts that were lost when 15 public-sector prisons were closed during the period.

In the South...

St Luke’s Campus special anniversary

The University of Exeter’s St Luke’s Campus is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year.

Originally founded as a teacher training college, the campus is now home to the University of Exeter Medical School, Sports and Health Sciences, as well as the Graduate School of Education. Saturday 18 October is St Lukes Day, and the official date of the 160th anniversary. A ‘Festival of Evensong for St Luke’ will mark the anniversary on Friday 17 October at the St Luke’s Chapel with further celebrations organised next term. Much has changed on the St Luke’s Campus since 18th October 1854...

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