The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital is urging anyone who has suffered from symptoms of the highly infectious Norovirus bug to stay away from the hospital until they have been free of the symptoms for at least 48 hours. Cases of Norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea and is more common in the winter months, have been rising at the RD&E over the Christmas and New Year period, placing extra pressure on hospital bed capacity at a very busy time for the hospital. At the current time the hospital has closed Lowman and Okement wards and isolated areas in three other wards – Torridge,...
With the arrival of colder weather, the Highways Agency is urging drivers to ensure they are prepared for driving in winter weather.
Agency regional manager, Julian Strong, said: “The Highways Agency and its contractors are well-prepared for winter across the South West.
“We use detailed weather forecasts and treat the road network before road temperatures fall below freezing, often at night in preparation for peak traffic periods. But that doesn’t mean people should drive as they normally would - in severe weather drivers need to take care and plan ahead.
St David's Winter Gift Fest emphasizes local creativity and sustainable shopping
Residents of St David’s in Exeter are holding a Winter Gift Fest on Saturday 6th December,,showcasing the creative talent of the many skilled artists, craftspeople, writers and musicians who live in the area, amateur and professional. The event follows the successful ArtsFest St David’s held in October.
As well as a wide variety of art and craft, there will be books and cds by Exeter’s writers, poets and musicians for sale and gift items made by local schoolchildren. Live music, seated massage...
Staff and volunteers at Lydford Gorge are organising a Winter Fayre on Sunday 30 November between 11am and 3pm, to encourage shoppers to buy local produce and gifts for the forthcoming Christmas season.
Sarah Hortop, Retail Manager at Lydford Gorge, says: "It’s very exciting – I have worked at Lydford Gorge for 27 years and this is the first time we have held an event like this. We hope it will encourage everyone to not only buy locally-grown seasonal produce that will add real quality to their Christmas, but also get out and about in the beautiful winter countryside."
As winter approaches, the Environment Agency is urging people across Devon to be prepared for possible flooding.
Last winter was the wettest for nearly 250 years and around 6,000 properties flooded across the country. Among the worst hit was Somerset, where, in some areas, people were evacuated from their homes and whole communities suffered major flood damage and disruption.
One in six properties in England is at risk of flooding. This figure is only going to increase with climate change. Many people think flooding will never happen to them, but it could. Now is the time...
New research from British Gas suggests that, unsurprisingly, many people in the South West (49%) are not looking forward to winter. People in the South West are most likely to dread increased transport problems (61%), shorter days (70%), the cold weather (62%), and the possibility of no heating or hot water (58%). Winter worries about homes were highlighted in the UK wide research findings with 41% of those in the South West region saying they worry about the heating or hot water failing during the colder months, whilst 8% had worries about flooding because of burst pipes. A further 8%...
Road users are being reminded to make sure they “get noticed” when the clocks go back this weekend.
Devon County Council is urging pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders to wear reflective and fluorescent clothing to ensure they can be seen on the county’s roads as British Summer Time comes to an end.
Car drivers are also being asked to “give cyclists space” and look out for all other road users as the winter nights draw in, especially when visibility is limited due to mist, rain and fog.
In Devon, between October and December in 2013, 14...
Significant works to repair the damage in Topsham caused by the winter storms have been completed a day early..
The repairs, to the flood defence wall at Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham were funded by Exeter City Council.
Contractors working for the City Council began work on 28 April and finished a day earlier than the expected Friday 30 May today.
A large section of the coastal defence alongside the River Clyst frontage was severely damaged during the high tides and storm damage in January and February.
This resulted in a breach which allowed the high tides...
Work will start next week on repairs to a flood defence wall damaged by the storms at the start of the year.
Exeter City Council will fund the repairs to the wall at Bowling Green Marsh, Topsham, using money from the government's funds.
Contractors working for the City Council will begin work on Monday (28 April). It is expected to be completed by late May.
A large section of the coastal defence alongside the River Clyst frontage was severely damaged during the high tides and storm damage in January and February. This resulted in a breach which allowed the high...
Network Rail has revealed its choice for an alternative railway line to the heavily damaged Dawlish line today.
The plans come as the rail authority had consider an alternative to the current coastal line after the recent storms destroyed an 80m section of track near Dawlish.
The potential route from Okehampton to Plymouth via Tavistock through areas of Dartmoor National Park has already come under criticism from some transport campaigners as it bypasses large areas of South Devon.
Calling for further rail investment in the Exeter Daily today , Transport Campaigner...
