The newly appointed flood recovery minister for Devon and Dorset has been visiting victims of the flooding in both counties earlier today.
The new minister, Mr Oliver Letwin, the MP for West Dorset also held meetings today in Exeter and Dorchester to meet businesses and residents to understand the impact across the region and work that needs to be done.
In his new role, Mr Letwin will assess the how effectively parties, such as the Environment Agency, utilities companies and local authorities, worked together,during the severe winter weather to explore any weaknesses in...
HEALTH conscious Manuka honey fans should ensure that what they are buying is genuine after it was revealed that five out of six jars are fake. The warning came as Channel Four’s Dispatches programme this week (Monday, March 17) documented figures which show that UK consumption of the immune boosting honey exceeds global production. And with jars of Manuka honey selling for up to £45, someone somewhere is making a tidy fortune, the programme claimed. Recently the UK Food Standards Agency issued a warning about unscrupulous traders looking to make a quick buck by flooding the market with ‘...
The councillor in charge of overseeing major cuts to Devon County Council’s people services in Devon has resigned.
Cllr Will Mumford will leave his post as the cabinet member responsible for education and children’s services after being appointed managing director of the property company NPS South West.
As the company contracts work with Devon County Council, Mr Mumford has resigned to avoid a conflict of interest between the roles.
As a cabinet member, Mr Mumford oversaw the ongoing, controversial consultation into the future of the council’s youth centres....
An Exeter School pupil has been supporting the Honiton Memory Café in their efforts to fundraise and build awareness around dementia and Alzheimer's.
Sixth Former Richard Baker has been supporting the Honiton Memory Café because he enjoys helping others. He has attended some of the social events that the Memory Café runs for carers and their cared-for and is helping to publicise a charity art auction that is taking place at the Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) on Friday 25 April to raise funds.
Richard said: "It has been good to help the charity and to understand more about...
Pandora Munoz has won first prize in a design a Doctor Who monster competition run by St Thomas Library.
The library, situated in Church road, Exeter, hosted an award event presenting Pandora with an upgraded version of the design she created.
The monster was redrawn and coloured by Simon Brett a local artist who works for the longest running scifi magazine in the world, Starburst. He presented Pandora with a framed original of her creature: ‘The Soul Stealer’.
Simon was impressed, saying: "Its inventive design and fascinating back story with special powers would...
A rare South Devon Bird has been rescued from the brink of extinction following an EU-funded recovery programme. The cirl bunting, native to South Devon, almost died out 25 years ago having falling to just over 100 pairs in 1989 due to the lack of food and nesting sites. Now following an extensive recovery programme to protect their environments bankrolled by the European Rural Development stewardship fund numbers are making a steady return with just under 1000 pairs estimated to live in the South Devon area. Local Devon Euro-MP Sir Graham Watson has hailed efforts to save the cirl bunting...
A Secondary school in Exeter was evacuated this morning after a ‘suspicious’ building fire was discovered. Staff and Students were evacuated from West Exe Technology College in St. Thomas after a fire was discovered in the school’s toilets at around 11am this morning. Fire crews from Middle moor and Danes Castle were dispatched to the school following several calls from the public. On arrival, crews confirmed a small fire in the ground floor toilet block. Two of the crew wore breathing apparatus to gain access to the immediate area and ensured the fire was extinguished. Positive pressure...
Tourism businesses across Devon are being offered expert advice and support in a series of ‘Open for Business’ conferences organised by Visit Devon as part of the Government backed extreme weather recovery programme. The conferences are open to all tourism businesses across Devon and neighbouring counties. Each conference will commence at 9:00am until 4.30pm to include a morning programme of presentations from leading experts followed by an informal afternoon session of Business Advice and networking. Refreshments and lunch will be provided free of charge.
The Grand Western Canal and towpath will be officially re-opened on Wednesday 19 March following structural repairs to a breached embankment, caused by severe weather during the winter of 2012.
Members of the Canal’s Joint Advisory Committee, Devon County and Mid Devon District Councillors, members of Halberton parish council, Halberton residents, members of the Grand Western canal Friends Groups and staff and contractors involved in the works will be gathering at Swing Bridge, Halberton where the canal will be officially re-opened by Chairman of Devon County Council, Councillor...
