Behind the gloom of this week’s Winter Statement from George Osborne promising at least six more years of austerity because of his failed economic policy there were two bits of potentially very good news for Exeter and the South West, writes Ben Bradshaw.
The first was that Exeter was being invited to bid for a slice of Government money to help fund the upgrading of our flood defences. It shouldn’t have needed the recent floods and Exeter’s “near miss” to spur the Government into action, but this is welcome none the less. We’ve been campaigning for more than two years – ever since...
The South West TUC has called on the NHS pay cartel to disband after the government rejected plans to introduce regional pay.
Unions are concerned the 19 health trusts in the region who have set up the cartel will ignore yesterday's announcement from Parliament and press ahead with tearing up the national pay agreement, replacing it with worse pay and conditions for NHS staff.
South West TUC Regional Secretary Nigel Costley said: "Unions have been instrumental in putting forward the arguments against regional pay and, as the government has now admitted, these arguments have...
Cinema chain Cineworld Group has acquired independent cinema operator Picturehouse, which includes cinemas in Bath and Exeter, for £47.3m.
Picturehouse is to operate as a separate entity within the Cineworld Group and will continue to be run by its existing management team.
Founder director Lyn Goleby is to continue in her role as managing director. Cineworld is to fund the transaction from existing undrawn bank debt facilities, assumed debt and the cash proceeds from a proposed issue of up to 6.85 million new ordinary shares.
It’s official, I’ve got Christmas envy. Everywhere I go lights are twinkling and festive songs are ringing out. But, we have yet to put a single decoration up at home yet.
Now, everyone has a different opinion on when you should ‘deck the halls’ and get festive with it…but normally we will make our annual trip to a local farm, where they have mulled wine and reindeer to keep everyone happy, and pick out our Christmas tree in early December – I think if you’re splashing out on a Norwegian Fir tree you might as well get your money’s worth!
Local retailer Clive Sheppard of Exeter has this week been crowned the winner of a national competition, launched by Wrigley in August this year, to find a convenience store retailer most worthy of a ‘Trash Team’ visit.
As well as winning £500 worth of free stock, Clive’s prize saw Wrigley’s ‘Trash Team’ of devoted litter pickers descend on his Magdalen Road Spar store on Tuesday 4th December to clean up his local area.
From litter picking outside his shop front to making sure the surrounding area looks spic and span, the ‘Trash Team’ included staff from the local...
UPDATE: “Following extensive Press Coverage on 5th and 6th December 2012, the high risk missing person, 7 year old, Neon Roberts has been located by Police Officers in Sussex. Emergency protection care has been put in place and Neon’s welfare will be considered in the High Court.
Devon and Cornwall Police would like to thank the public, the media and Police colleagues in Sussex for their assistance in securing Neon’s safe recovery.”
YESTERDAY: Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a mother and son who were last seen in the Tiverton area.
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Superintendent Chris Eastwood has been appointed as the new police commander to lead policing in Exeter, Mid and East Devon.
Supt Eastwood has assumed responsibility for crime and community policing across the geographic area, which takes in towns such as Axminster, Tiverton and Honiton plus Exeter city centre. He is supported by a 10-strong team of senior officers including one chief inspector and nine inspectors. Supt Eastwood joined Devon and Cornwall Police in 1986 and has served in Plymouth, Cornwall and Devon in various roles. He was the head of Call Management and...
Exeter has taken on its festive cloak for Christmas, shop windows aglow with enticing displays, the Christmas market on Cathedral Green, amazing street lights, late-night shopping and a host of events to increase the growing excitement of the season. But without the birth of that so special manger-bedded baby, whose coming gifted us Christmas, we lose the reason for the season and so we celebrate the real meaning of Christmas as an opportunity for joy. One of those opportunities is the annual Exeter and District Mencap Society’s Carol service to be held at South Street Baptist Church South...
An East Devon sixth former is being honoured this week for what is thought to be a unique attendance record.
Mel Ayres did not miss a single day of lessons in the five years she spent in the main school at Axe Valley Community College.
Mel is now in the first year of the college’s sixth form studying for ‘A’ levels.
Attendance officers at Devon County Council cannot find another single instance of 100 per cent attendance over five years at a secondary school and so Melissa’s achievement may be unique in the county.
