Devon

Lympstone to hold planning referendum

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 01/25/2015 - 8:33pm

East Devon District Council is organising a neighbourhood planning referendum in Lympstone to invite residents to approve a draft planning blueprint for the village.

Lympstone is one of only a handful of parishes, across England, to have got this far in creating their own Neighbourhood Plan, under new national planning guidelines.

The neighbourhood plan will give the village and planning officers from the district a benchmark with which to consider any future planning applications for the area.

National interest in the proposal was underlined this week when Brandon...

Climbing Snowdon to battle Dementia

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sun, 01/25/2015 - 11:25am

An Exeter man is set to join a determined group of fund-raisers who are planning a midnight trek to the peak of Mount Snowdon to raise funds to help find a cure for dementia.

Stoke Canon resident Andrew Harris’ mum Jackie was diagnosed with vascular dementia three years ago and is cared for on a day to day basis by her 84 year-old husband Douglas.

37-year-old Andrew, who works in the IT department at Gregory Distribution, said: “My sister, Melissa and I help out at any opportunity. Although diagnosis and treatment are available there is no cure, yet. We have found it...

Free advice for the tough times in your life

People across Exeter can now benefit from a new range of self-help resources thanks to a city advice partnership.

Advice Exeter, a not for profit group made up of six local charities, has produced a range of ‘life events’ booklets as part of its strategy to improve services for local people.

The guides offer advice and information on the following topics: bereavement, illness and disability, job loss, new baby and relationship breakdown.

They are available at key outlets across the city and can also be accessed online. They can also be supplied free of charge to...

B Sharp singers raise the roof at Exeter Cathedral

Review: B Sharp Vocal Collective, Beer Quarry Caves Concert at Exeter Cathedral There was barely a dry eye in the house as the young voices of the B Sharp Vocal Collective rang out and raised the rafters of Exeter Cathedral last week.

The Beer Quarry Caves Concert was the culmination of a year of musical discovery that has seen children and young people from across the region working with music professionals to produce new music and songs inspired by the Beer Quarry Caves.

The B Sharp Vocal Collective filled the second half of the concert last Tuesday and followed a...

Dozens of firefighters tackle thatch blaze

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Sat, 01/24/2015 - 11:57am

Firefighters tackled a large fire at a thatched property on the outskirts Exeter on Friday.

Three fire engines along with an aerial ladder platform from Exeter were sent to a report of curtains on fire within a property with a thatched roof at Little Johns Cross, Ide, just after 8.30 this morning.

Upon arrival the crew confirmed that the thatched roof was involved in fire and requested the attendance of seven more fire engines.

These appliances were sent from Topsham, Crediton, Newton Abbot, Cullompton, Exmouth and Torquay.

Special support appliances were...

Your guide to What's On this weekend

Don’t make any plans for the weekend until you’ve checked out our guide to what’s on in and around Exeter.

THEATRE

April De Angelis Friday & Saturday, 7.30pm, Cygnet Theatre, Exeter The theatres have just re-opened after seventeen years of suppression under the puritans, encouraging a great upsurge in dramatic writing. Of vital importance to the development of drama was the entrance of the first English actresses upon the English stage. April De Angelis has taken five famous figures – Nell Gwynn, Elizabeth Farley, Rebecca Marshall, Doll Common and Mary Betterton – and...

Former councillor awarded Freedom of the City

Long serving former Exeter City Councillor, Yolonda Henson has been awarded the Honorary position of Freeman of the City.

The award is recognition of her unstinting duty of public service over a total of 32 years elected service on the City Council. This includes a number of years as Leader of the Conservative Group, as well as Mayor of the City in 1992. Throughout that time, she has always put the interests of the residents of the City and the future of the City itself, first.

Yolonda most recently served the residents in the Polsloe ward on the City Council but was...

Big increase in private tenant repossessions

Local charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, is reporting a worrying 34% increase in private sector tenant repossession cases.

This is in comparison with the same period last year and shows that pressure on household budgets continues to hit hard.

Across all housing sectors, where a CAB adviser has assisted clients facing repossession, clients have avoided repossession in 80% of cases.

Exeter City Council has provided financial support for this essential service.

Steve Barriball, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau Chief Executive, said: “We have at least one...

Cash boost to tackle homelessness in Exeter

Homeless people across Exeter and parts of Devon have been given a boost with the awarding of crucial funding to tackle the ongoing problem of homelessness.

Quarter of a million pounds has been awarded from the government’s Help for Homeless fund.

The successful bid was lead by Exeter City Council and includes Exeter, Teignbridge, East Devon, Mid Devon and Torbay.

An additional combined total of £35,000 will be donated by the local authorities involved in the project.

The new funding will provide:

  • Three specialist case workers managing complex
  • ...

Crime continues to fall across the region

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 01/23/2015 - 12:23pm

The latest figures for 2014 show that crime continues to fall across the region.

Recorded figures for January to December 2014 showed a decrease of 3.2% or 2,747 fewer offences compared to 2013, with reductions across a number of crime groups.

The updated picture shows the Force continues to see reductions in public order offences (down by 14.8%), theft (-10.7%), Burglary (-5.7%), and criminal damage has fallen by 5.9%.

In line with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, there are certain types of crime that the Force want to see a rise in the reporting of...

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