Exeter

ADVICE EXETER is a newly formed group of local charities offering free advice and information to local people.

Exeter CAB, Age UK Exeter, Young Devon, Shelter, Community Housing Aid and Homemaker Southwest have teamed up to improve the services they offer to people in Exeter. The partnership, which is funded jointly by Big Lottery Fund and the Cabinet Office, held a successful launch event at Exeter Community Centre in March.

The work of Advice Exeter will include a new online access channel and self-help resource for users, an expanded presence across the city in libraries...

A new report on bees in South West England by nature conservation charity Buglife reveals that up to 75% of some of our most threatened bee species have been lost in some counties. The study researched 23 species considered to be at risk in the UK, twenty are declining whilst three have become extinct. Andrew Whitehouse, South West Manager at Buglife said: "The South West remains a stronghold for some of the UK's most threatened bee species. But, over the past 50 years we have seen the local extinction of many of the region's special bees. Some are precariously holding on, such as the Six-...

Devon County Council has announced plans to consult on an ambitious vision for a public library service that is sustainable, receptive to communities' needs, and fit for the future.

First, it is asking communities whether the proposals it is putting forward today are right for the service, with further engagement likely later in the year.

With a decline in traditional book lending and rise in the popularity of online and e-reader technologies, the face of Devon's library service is already changing as libraries become centres - 'Devon Centres' - for communities offering a...

Newcomer Tomas Francis says he is "excited" by the challenge that awaits him next season after he today confirmed his move to the Exeter Chiefs from Championship side London Scottish.

The 21-year-old prop has agreed a two-year deal with the Aviva Premiership club and is the latest new addition brought to Sandy Park by Exeter head coach Rob Baxter.

With current tight-heads Hoani Tui and Craig Mitchell set to depart Devon at the end of the current campaign, Baxter has wasted little time in bolstering his options for the No.3 jersey having recently brought in experienced...

Devon and Exeter 5 are the surprise Division 2 winners of this season’s Devon Squash League.

The jubilant team sponsored by Knight Frank and T MAX Media managed to win Division 2 by some margin, only losing one match all season.

Proud team captain Steve Webber (who personally didn’t lose a match all season) said, “At the start of the season we thought staying in Division 2 would be an achievement but somehow we’ve managed to qualify for Division 1. I’d like to give big thanks to Adam Lings who runs the Devon & Exeter Squash & Racketball Club and of course, to all...

More than half of Devon’s libraries could face closure as the county council announce plans to cut back their support to the service.

Under the plans 28 out of 50 council-run libraries, including the libraries in St.Thomas and Pinhoe, would either have to be taken on by communities volunteers or else face closure. The plans could also see the council’s 22 remaining libraries, which the council say account for nearly 80% of the developed to provide a broader service known as ‘Devon Centres’.

The council say that these proposed changes, alongside further cost reduction...