Devon

Major scheme to prevent sewer flooding in Exmouth

A £736,000 scheme to prevent sewer flooding in Exmouth gets under way next month.

South West Water will be constructing new surface water sewers to remove surface water from the sewerage network and making other improvements to prevent internal and external sewer flooding in the town and reduce the risk of pollution to the Exe Estuary.

Work starts on Monday 5 January and will be completed by Friday 3 April 2015.

The work is centred at two locations:

Camperdown Terrace: Construction of new surface water sewers, undertaking surface water separation at 20...

Rescued ducklings restored to nature reserve

Two young Shelduck were recently released back into the wild at Axe Estuary Wetlands after being nursed back to health at the RSPCA Wildlife Centre at West Hatch in Somerset.

Jo Schmidt, RSPCA wildlife assistant, said: “The ducklings were brought to us in September, as they had lost their mother and had problems with their feet and feathers. We kept them outside and monitored them until we were satisfied their essential feathers were waterproof again, and that their feet had healed.”

Steve Edmonds, East Devon District Council Countryside Team Leader said: “Axe Estuary...

Two seriously hurt in Exeter collision

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward after a serious collision in Exeter over the weekend.

On Saturday 13th December just before 6pm the emergency services were called to a two vehicle collision at the junction of Rydon Lane and Pynes Hill.

The collision involved a white Ford KA and a silver coloured Audi A3.

The occupants of the KA, a 67 year-old male driver and a 68 year-old female passenger, suffered life threatening injuries and remain in hospital.

The driver of the A3 was uninjured.

The road was closed for several hours while...

Devon veterans to receive Russian medals

The Russian embassy will honour 50 World War Two veterans in Exeter this week for their part in transporting crucial supplies to Russia.

Counsellor of The Russian Embassy, Mr Sergey Nalobin, will present Ushakov medals to the men of the Arctic Convoys on Friday 19 December at a special ceremony at County Hall.

The medal is awarded to sailors who have displayed courage in the course of defending Russia or its interests.

Created by the Allied Powers, the Arctic Convoys sailed through blinding snow storms and darkness under a barrage of attack from German U-boats and...

Free training for community energy groups

The first of five, free training events for community energy groups was staged on 2 December, as part of RegenSW’s Community Energy Accelerator Project funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation and Devon County Council.

Representatives from 14 community energy groups in Devon interested in developing wind, solar, hydro or biomass renewable energy projects gathered in Exeter to receive expert legal advice on group structures and landowner agreements from Stephens Scown Solicitors, who provided sponsorship for the event.

The day enabled the groups to ask specific questions...

Basic fee-free bank accounts will help millions manage their money

For the first time, basic bank accounts will be truly fee-free, helping people to manage their money without fear of running up an overdraft.

Accounts will be available to anyone who doesn’t already have a bank account or who can’t use their existing account due to financial difficulty.

The Economic Secretary to the Treasury Andrea Leadsom today (15 December 2014) hailed a major agreement between the government and the banking industry to establish new basic bank accounts that will end bank charges if a direct debit or standing order fails.

New basic bank accounts...

Call to take part in Hospital beds consultation

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 12/15/2014 - 12:28pm

Neil Parish, MP for Tiverton and Honiton, has urged Axminster residents to take part in a public consultation launched by the Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, to keep beds open at Axminster Community Hospital following concerns expressed by many in the community, including Neil.

The Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has halted its decision to temporarily move inpatient services at Axminster to Seaton and has today launched a four-week public consultation over whether the transfer should take place. In October 2014 the Trust announced a plan to temporarily merge the beds at...

Solar firm lights up Exmouth town centre

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 12/15/2014 - 11:54am

Exmouth’s Christmas spirit has been given an extra festive boost with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the heart of the town.

Exmouth town’s Christmas display on the Strand has been lit up with new fairy lights and festive decorations, thanks to local businessman Marcus Di-Vincenzo, from solar energy firm, MIG Renewable Technologies.

The tree which is placed in the town centre each year is usually dressed with a simple set of fairy lights, but is always left looking a little bit bare, according to the renewable energy enthusiast.

Marcus has also surprised...

£15m roofs scheme for listed church buildings

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 12/15/2014 - 10:38am

The Church of England has welcomed a dedicated £15 million fund, announced by the Government on Wednesday 3rd December, for the repair of roofs and rainwater goods on listed church buildings.

The Chancellor announced the Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund in his Autumn Statement. Grants between £10,000 and £100,000 will be available to listed places of worship of all faiths and denominations across the UK, where roof and rainwater goods repairs are deemed to be urgent and necessary.

The deadline for applications is 30 January 2015, with awards to be allocated by the...

Jenny gives up Christmas to help needy kids

Exeter resident, Jenny Fox, 25, is giving up her family Christmas to support disadvantaged children in need of a magical Christmas experience.

Jenny will be travelling to the CHICKS charity retreat in Brentor, Devon, where she will be joined by five other volunteers, three charity staff and over a dozen disadvantaged children for a residential Christmas break.

CHICKS is a national charity that provides free respite breaks for disadvantaged children from right across the UK. In addition to its regular respite breaks, the charity holds special Christmas breaks from December...

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