Exeter

Exeter Impact Awards Focus: FaB Test

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Wed, 12/11/2013 - 7:01am

Led by Dr Lars Johanning with support from Project partners: Falmouth Harbour Commissioners, A&P Group, Cornwall Marine Network, and Mojo Maritime; the Falmouth Bay Test Site (FaB Test) is helping to accelerate the commercial hydroelectrity devices by providing a low cost and easily accessible test site for the marine energy sector. At a site operated by Falmouth Harbour Commissioners and the University of Exeter. The FaB test was conceived and developed with the support of Cornish businesses working in the marine energy sector including A&P Group (Falmouth), Cornwall Marine...

Students stage Shakespearean parade in Exeter

Meet the fools, clowns and ordinary folk of Shakespeare’s plays on Friday 13 December in Exeter city centre.

Masters students from the University of Exeter’s Staging Shakespeare course will be in costume outside the Elizabethan Guildhall in Exeter High Street at 5.30pm ready to parade down to St Nicholas Priory (The Mint, off Fore Street), where followers will be met with a glass of punch and promenade drama performances between 6pm and 7pm.

Admission is free-of-charge and all are welcome. They will be presenting comic Shakespearean scenes in St Nicholas Priory, an...

Council to save £760,000 from public transport

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 4:59pm

Devon County Council is planning to reduce its public transport spending by around £760,000 during 2014/15.

While the majority of the money has already been accounted for there is still around £100,000 in savings left to be found.

While there are currently no plans to withdraw any bus routes the council the council is seeking public opinion on other money saving proposals.

These proposals include reducing the free travel available to 175,000 pass holders National Bus Pass holders in Devon. This could see bus pass holders pay for travel on special bus services such...

Police seek Christmas fair vandals

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 4:14pm

Police in Torquay have released CCTV stills of a group of men they would like to speak to in connection with the vandalism of a Christmas fair in the town.

Christmas lights, attached to nine market huts outside the Town Hall, are seen on CCTV being attacked by the four men in the early hours of Sunday 8 December.

The men are also seen ripping the paper off one of the huts which had been made up to look like a giant Christmas present.

Police are now trying to identify four men who left the harbourside area around 3.50am on 8 December and walked up through the town...

Same-sex marriages begin in March

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 2:54pm

The Equalities minister Maria Miller has announced that same-sex marriages can take place from March 29.

The date comes far sooner than expected as it was believed that marriages would not be available until the summer.

It is thought that the date has been brought forward as the Government made the necessary arrangements before schedule.

Same sex couples wishing to marry on March 29 must submit a formal notice of this intention by March 19 Maria Miller said: “Marriage is one of our most important institutions, and from 29 March 2014 it will be open to everyone,...

Exeter based artist GRICE to perform for a good cause

If you would like to hear some acoustic rock tunes, all in aid of a good cause, then you need to pay a visit to St Stephens chuch on Saturday 14th December.

Exeter based artist GRICE and his five piece band will be performing at the church as part of the start of their tour. The tour will see GRICE performing at selected chuches and small venues around the Southwest, Bristol and London.

Listeners will get to hear GRICE's album for the first time in its entirety, meaning this is an event not to be missed.

This saturday they will be performing to help raise vital...

New police dog handlers complete training

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 1:22pm

Four police dogs and their handlers are the latest highly trained officers to join Devon and Cornwall's canine unit.

The officers and their faithful companions have taken part in a passing out parade to mark the end of their training.

The group began their dog training in September and successfully passed an intensive two-day assessment with flying colours. The examination was carried out by PC Nick Dalrymple from Avon and Somerset Police.

Paul Glennon, Canine Development Officer and Course Instructor, said: “Following the assessment the assessor commented that this...

Ketamine could be upgraded to Class B

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 1:02pm

Government advisors have recommended the drug ketamine should be upgraded to a Class B drug.

Currently a Class C drug, the new classification could see illegal possession of ketamine carry a five year prison sentence.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is expected to pass the advice to the Government following new evidence on the long term affects of the drug.

The new evidence from the Advisory Council showed that the prolonged use of the drug causes severe damage to the bladder which may have to be removed by surgery in the most serious cases.

The...

Fears of housing market "overheat"

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 11:54am

As the South West housing market continues to show signs of economic recovery commentators have warned of the danger of the market may “overheat”.

A new report by the National Housing Federation (NHF) argues that “whilst economic growth has returned to many areas, this has caused the already over-stretched housing market there to overheat.”

In their “Home Truths” report they argue that rising rent and house prices are forcing working people onto housing benefits at the rate of 310 people every day.

The NHF also claim that if house prices continue to rise there is...

Superfast broadband for 31 more communities

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Tue, 12/10/2013 - 11:47am

High-speed fibre broadband will be available to 44,000 Devon and Somerset homes and businesses within four months.

Connecting Devon and Somerset today takes a major step forward in the £94 million project to bring superfast broadband to rural areas by announcing the next communities set to benefit from the programme.

By the end of March 2014, fibre broadband will be available to a further 31 communities*. This extends the number of homes and businesses that are able to benefit from the programme to 44,000.

Those communities include: Bishop’s Hull, Bridford, Chilton...

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