Devon

Turf cutting marks start of Bridge Road widening scheme

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 02/11/2016 - 12:23pm

Devon County Council’s £13.45 million scheme will develop two continuous outbound lanes from Countess Wear to the Matford roundabout on one of the busiest routes into the city.

In preparation for the start of work, a turf cutting will be held at the Canal Bridges at 10.30am on Monday 15 February, when site offices and material storage areas will be established.

The 14-month scheme will commence in the last week of February with utility diversion work at the Glasshouse Lane junction and the east side of Countess Wear Bridge.

From mid-March a contraflow system will be...

Diabetes discoveries could lead to new treatments

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 02/11/2016 - 12:21pm

Children who are diagnosed with diabetes before the age of seven develop a more aggressive form of the disease than that seen in teenagers, new research has revealed.

A team led by the University of Exeter Medical School has found for the first time that, while children aged six or under are left with very few insulin-producing beta cells in their pancreas when diagnosed, those with onset of symptomatic type 1 diabetes as teenagers still retain large numbers of these cells. The discovery could lead to new approaches for treatment of the disease.

The team worked with the...

Taste of the West takes up the challenge for CHSW

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Thu, 02/11/2016 - 10:20am

Exeter based Taste of the West, the South West’s regional food group, has signed up for Children’s Hospice South West’s £50 challenge in a double celebration of not only its own anniversary, but also 25 years of the charity.

Emma Grainger, Hospitality Awards Co-ordinator at Taste of the West, said: "The fact that 2016 marks the 25th Anniversary of both Taste of the West and Children’s Hospice South West, it seemed to make perfect sense to adopt them as our charity of the year.

"The £50 Challenge is just one of a series of fundraising initiatives that we hope to do this year...

Devon Chamber: Wholesale simplification of business tax is needed

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 02/11/2016 - 10:10am

Devon Chamber of Commerce is today supporting British Chambers of Commerce’s call to the government to embark on a wholesale simplification of business tax to eliminate the loopholes that give rise to tax avoidance schemes.

Most businesses see large-scale tax avoidance by major corporates, and particularly large multinationals, as unfair competition. In order to limit the scale of this, the BCC is calling for immediate action on three fronts:

  • A wholesale simplification of business tax to eliminate the loopholes that give rise to tax avoidance schemes
  • HMRC
  • ...

Have you seen missing Neil Mackenzie?

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 02/11/2016 - 10:01am

Neil Mackenzie has been found safe and well this morning (12 February) in Bristol. We would like to thank the public for their help in this matter.

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Police are trying to find a missing 52-year-old man last seen in Bristol.

Neil Mackenzie (pictured) was last seen in the Stapleton area of Bristol at around 10am today, Thursday 11 February, and he spoke to a relative by phone shortly after.

Police are concerned for Neil's welfare and would like to find him as soon as possible.

He may be using public transport and heading...

Exeter travel firm marks 10-year milestone

Exeter-based travel consultancy, the School Travel Consultancy (The STC), will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this month by sending out the message to not stop travelling.

Since the city-based firm started trading in 2006, it has sent as many as 2,500 secondary school pupils from across the country to worldwide destinations including Vietnam, Tanzania and Morocco. Pupils have embarked on activities from visiting remote tribal communities in Venezuela and trekking in the Himalaya, to building playgrounds in Morocco and helping turtle conservation in Costa Rica.

Over the...

63% more plants blooming in 2016 Valentine’s Flower Count

The snowdrop has been voted the top spring flower for the third year running in the South West, with the gardens at Stourhead, Lanhydrock, Kingston Lacey and Cotehele being the most popular places to see spring blooms. National Trust Garden teams in the South West have recorded more flowers in bloom since 2008 in this year’s annual Valentine’s Flower Count, with nearly all gardens showing an increase in the amount of varieties of plants in bloom. In 2008 3,335 plants in bloom were recorded in Devon and Cornwall (where the flower count first started), marking the earliest spring so far...

Your guide to What's On this weekend

Your essential guide to the best of What’s On in and around Exeter this weekend (12-14 February)

THEATRE

Tommy Tiernan: Out of the Whirlwind Friday, Exeter Corn Exchange Now entering his 20th year as a stand-up comedian, having won every award going and still as passionate as ever about the adventure of storytelling and comedy, Irelands number one comedian is also starting to take some very exciting risks. Over 16s, tickets £19.50. http://sites.exeter.gov.uk/cornexchange

Panto: Sleeping Beauty Friday & Saturday, Tedburn St Mary Village Hall Tedburn Amateur...

Tony Hogg ‘disappointed’ by PCC statement

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 02/11/2016 - 6:22am

Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg says he is ‘deeply disappointed’ that Home Secretary Theresa May has expressed ‘naked partiality’ in a statement about the forthcoming PCC elections on 5th May. In the statement, Mrs May says: “People can vote for a candidate who promises the world but delivers unsafe streets and wasted money. Or they can vote for a Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner who will work with the Government to deliver lower crime and safer communities, all while providing value for money.” But Mr Hogg feels the statement is divisive. “I had...

Injury woes start to ease for Chiefs

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter has today given a positive outlook on the club’s walking wounded during his weekly media briefing held at Sandy Park.

Having been without a number of frontline stars in recent weeks due to long-term injuries, it appears things are brightening up for the Devon club.

Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie marked his return to first team action following a broken thumb at Worcester a fortnight ago, while the sight of Dave Ewers and Henry Slade both out and about in training this week is equally encouraging.

Meanwhile, locks Damian Welch and Mitch...

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