Devon

Devon looks set for bumper tourist season

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 07/31/2015 - 5:58am

Visitors to Devon’s official tourist information site, Visit Devon, are on the up and predictions expect record breaking visits to the county this summer from both UK tourists and those from overseas.

Visits to www.visitdevon.co.uk for the past month of July are up 45% on last year’s website hits, and for the first week of the summer holidays (week commencing 20th July) website views were up 60%.

Chair of Visit Devon, Victoria Hatfield, says of the increased web views: “We are delighted that traffic to the Visit Devon website is on the increase - it really shows that...

Sweet dreams under the stars at Wetlands

Enjoy a starry night (or two) with the Countryside team at Seaton Wetlands in August

Seaton Wetlands are at their spectacular best at dusk and during the early hours of the morning, so don’t miss the chance to sleep under the stars and rise and shine with East Devon District Council’s Countryside team on Friday 7 August, starting at 5pm, for a unique camping experience.

Bring your camping kit, go on a night walk, cook over a campfire, discover the moths that live at the Wetlands, listen to stories and wake up to the dawn chorus and a sunrise breakfast.

To book a...

Camping? Don't use a BBQ to heat your tent

Do you know that barbcues give off poisonous carbon monoxide hours after use? Bringing them into a tent or awning to keep warm is a recipe for disaster.

You cannot smell, taste or see Carbon Monoxide. So, if you suddenly get flu symptoms, or have headaches, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness or weakness you may have Carbon Monoxide poisoning. People often don’t realise that they are being overcome by fumes until it is too late.

Modern tents are designed as an integral structure with built-in groundsheets and carbon monoxide gases can rise to fatal levels in a matter...

Rail Minister opens Newcourt Station

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 07/30/2015 - 5:33pm

Rail Minister Claire Perry has officially opened Newcourt Station today (Thursday 30 July).

The first train services stopped at the new £2.2 million station last month and it is now being served by a half-hourly local service on the Exmouth branch line.

The Minister visited the station today after announcing major rail improvements between Devon and London, with a £360 million investment in a new fleet of trains increasing capacity and cutting journey times.

Devon County Council has worked closely with the Department for Transport, Network Rail and First Great...

Health benefits of sitting versus standing

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 07/30/2015 - 5:31pm

A new study published in the European Heart Journal has found that spending more time standing and walking in place of sitting could have numerous health benefits, including lowering your cholesterol and body mass index.

Julie Ward, Senior Cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We know that people who spend long periods of time sitting down have been found to have higher rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

“According to national guidelines state we should reduce the time we spend sitting and this study adds to the increasing amount of evidence to...

Great new elements make the innovative One Planet MBA better than ever

As it enters its fifth year, the ground-breaking One Planet MBA has had a facelift and now aims to be even more distinctive than ever. Complete with a new visual identity and reflective strapline “Change. For good.” the programme has several enhancements for the new academic year.

To ensure the One Planet MBA retains its uniqueness and relevance in a fast changing landscape, our 2015/16 Full Time and Executive programmes will benefit from curriculum enhancements through new modules, masterclasses and an innovative approach to personal development.

New MBA modules include...

Internationally acclaimed comedian comes to Exeter

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 07/30/2015 - 5:09pm

Comedy’s internationally acclaimed and award-winning half-man-half-Xbox, Daniel Sloss, announces 35 date UK and Irish tour of his new show DARK, which includes a stop off in Exeter.

Twenty-four-year-old Scottish comedian Daniel Sloss started writing and performing stand-up aged 16 and has sold out each of his 8 Edinburgh Fringe seasons to date...

Daniel’s TV appearances include 2015’s John Bishop Show, Sunday Night at the Palladium, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Russell Howard’s Good News, Conan (4 guests appearances in one year- the first stand-up ever to achieve...

New trains for London to SW services

Rail passengers are set to benefit from better and faster journeys after the government gave the go-ahead for a brand new fleet of trains running between London and Cornwall.

The deal will allow First Great Western to buy 29 new long-distance trains to serve the South West from 2018.

The state-of-the-art trains will have up to 24% more seats compared to the majority of the trains serving the route today, creating more than 1,000 additional peak-time seats into and out of Paddington every day.

The privately funded £360 million fleet, which will be manufactured by...

Police reveal summer drink drive figures

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 07/30/2015 - 11:39am

Figures have been released for Devon and Cornwall Police’s summer drink driving campaign for 2015.

Police officers administered a total of 788 breath tests of which 163 were positive, refused or failed to provide, equating to 20%.

Last year the comparable figures were 776 breath tests with 132 positive, refused or failed to provide which equates to 17%.

Examples which stood out during the campaign included a 37 male driver who blew 143 at 8:50am on a Saturday morning and a 71 year old male who blew 120 at 9:20am on a Tuesday morning. The legal limit is 35.

...

New fleet of trains to bring better journeys to the South West

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 07/30/2015 - 11:14am

Rail passengers are set to benefit from better and faster journeys after the government gave the go-ahead for a brand new fleet of trains running between London and Cornwall.

The deal will allow First Great Western to buy 29 new long-distance trains to serve the South West from 2018.

The state-of-the-art trains will have up to 24% more seats compared to the majority of the trains serving the route today, creating more than 1,000 additional peak-time seats into and out of Paddington every day.

The privately funded £360 million fleet, which will be manufactured by...

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