There are fears that more severe flooding could be on the way as the Met Office upgrade many of its severe weather warnings to ‘amber’ for the rest of the week. Much of Devon and the South west will be covered by the ‘amber’ warnings and will see heavier rainfall than other areas. Forecasters predict that further spells of heavy and persistent rain will remain in Devon until a Saturday morning adding an extra strain to already saturated ground. The Met Office’s Chief Forecaster said: “Another area of low pressure will bring spells of heavy rain to southern England from Thursday afternoon...
Members of the Hotels and Restaurants Association are reporting increased sales in January 2014, compared to the same trading period last year. For many January is a month of penny pinching but local hotels are seeing a different trend.
Establishments including the Mercure Exeter Southgate Hotel; the Sidholme Hotel, Sidmouth; Combe House, Honiton and the Best Western Tiverton Hotel have reported positive figures in January with sales up as much as 20% for individual hotels. Other members including Rendezvous Wine Bar are reporting increased sales too, with an increase of over 30%...
Police are appealing for information after three valuable parachutes were stolen from a van in Exmouth. Thieves broke into the yellow Volkswagen Transporter van while it was parked near to the Imperial Hotel on The Esplanade on the evening of 31 January. They forced open the passenger door and stole three rucksacks containing Javelin parachutes, valued at £18,000, and a £1,000 MacBook Pro laptop. Police are appealing for witnesses and would like to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between 9pm and 10.30pm. Anyone who has been offered the parachutes for sale is also...
Young People in Devon are campaigning against “devastating cuts” to the county’s youth services.
The cuts could see 60 jobs lost and council support and management withdrawn from the county’s 34 youth centres. Members of the UK Youth Parliament Devon with support from other groups have already mobilised a campaign against the proposed cuts with a petition to Devon County Council leader John Hart. In a statement released today campaigners write: "Young people across Devon have started to take action in the face of devastating cuts which face their youth service. “Over the next...
THIS half-term try learning a new skill and provide a home for birds to nest in your garden.
Join the countryside team on Wednesday, 19 February at the Axe Estuary Wetlands classroom between 10am and 1pm, and build a nest box from one of our easy-to-use kits – available for a range of common garden birds from blue tits to sparrows and starlings.
The Axe Estuary Wetlands officer and the countryside rangers will help you build your nest box and advise you on where to place it for the best results. You will be helping the conservation effort by encouraging biodiversity in your...
Devon County Council is launching a public consultation on plans to move away from a ‘universal’ youth service.
This could see nearly £1 million and around 60 jobs cut from Devon’s youth services as well see the council pull out of 34 youth centres around the county.
The council argue that the new youth service will take on a more ‘targeted approach’ which would see a smaller staff of youth workers work with council partners for a focused service for the most vulnerable young people in the county.
Speaking at yesterday’s budget scrutiny meeting, Council Leader John...
Batten down the hatches yet again - another storm is heading our way this weekend.
This January has been the wettest for 100 years and looks set to end as it started.
A further area of heavy rain and strong to gale force winds will spread eastwards across the UK today (Friday) bringing around 40 mm on some high ground in the South West of England.
The Met Office recently added a severe ice warning to their warnings of wind and rain trhough the weekend.
Winds will increase tomorrow, with gusts of up to 50 to 60 mph, and perhaps to around 70 mph in exposed...
It was always going to be the case that the role of police and crime commissioner would develop quickly – it had to.
So whereas 2013 set a necessary but probably unsustainable pace my restructured OPCC team is now better configured to face the challenges ahead and allows me to focus on key areas such as lobbying Government and on issues that matter most to us who are a long way away from the seat of power.
For the last few weeks we have been looking at the budget for the next four years as we try and balance the books in very difficult times.
Police seeking a man connected to the murder of 72-year-old David Alderson in Falmouth believe he may be in Devon.
Devon and Cornwall police’s Crime Investigation Team are urgently seeking to trace Kevin Cooper, 33, from Redruth, who is wanted in connection with Mr Alderson’s death.
The last believed sighting of Kevin Cooper was in the Mutley Plain area of Plymouth during the early hours of Tuesday 28th January.
Officers are conducting active enquires in Plymouth in an attempt to locate and arrest him.
Mr Cooper (pictured) is described as white, 6ft 3ins,...
The Devon Winter Ability Games took place at the Plymouth Life Centre on the 24th January and has been hailed as a great success.
Over 400 young people with disabilities from 30 schools across Devon attended the event taking part in a range of events including football, table cricket and tennis. There were also taster sessions in Archery, Boccia and Tri Golf.
The Devon Winter Ability Games is part of a programme of five Countywide Sainsbury’s School Games festivals in Devon and is delivered by Active Devon on behalf of the Devon School Games local organising committee. On...
