Devon

Exeter School is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Saskia van Schalkwyk as Head of Exeter Junior School with effect from 1 September 2019.

Since September 2014, Mrs van Schalkwyk has been Deputy Head of The Granville School in Sevenoaks, Kent. She has previously worked in co-educational schools in both the maintained and independent sectors.

Her current responsibilities have prepared her admirably for her new role. These include her work as Designated Safeguarding Lead, her marketing experience and regular liaison with senior schools. She is also a trained ISI...

Youngsters in Exeter are set to get an unexpected bonus of new play park equipment, Exeter City Council has announced.

Through careful financial management, the City Council has managed to secure an additional £70,000 worth of swings, see-saws, carousels and climbing frames.

The play equipment will be installed at 11 sites across the city over the coming months. The fun gear will suit a range of ages from toddlers through to young teens.

Cllr David Harvey, Lead Councillor for Place, said: “This is great news for youngsters in the city and is above and beyond what we...

Co-cars, the South West’s hire-by-the-hour car club, and Exeter College, the city’s multi-award winning further education college, have announced an innovative new partnership to give Exeter-based college staff access to their own dedicated Co-car.

Starting from February 2019, a brand new Toyota Yaris Hybrid will be available at the college’s Hele Road campus for staff to hire-by-the-hour. Whilst many businesses already take advantage of Co-cars’ network of great value, low emission cars, this is the first time an organisation has had a car exclusively allocated for their use....

Residents across Devon are being urged to hold on to any broken electrical items to help break a world record in Exeter next month.

The Big Fix is on Saturday 23 February and is the headline event of the 3rd Annual Reuse Week, which showcases the work of Devon’s many and varied Reuse organisations.

All the events, including the Big Fix, are run by local reuse charities and community groups, and this year it will run over the February half term and will have a family focus.

Reuse Week kicks off on Saturday 16 February with Turntable in Exeter holding one of their...

PEOPLE in the South West are being urged to show support on World Cancer Day for everyone affected by the disease.

Cancer Research UK is calling on men, women and children to wear one of the charity’s brightly coloured Unity Bands with pride on Monday, February 4.

Every hour, around four people are diagnosed with cancer in the South West.*

Wearing a Unity Band is a way of showing solidarity with people affected by the disease.

The wristband is available in three different colours – navy, blue and pink. It can be worn in memory of a loved one, to celebrate...

Roads across the county have generally improved throughout the day, as highways teams have been working hard to clear them.

On high ground, good progress has been made with gritters, tractors, ploughs and snow blowers, such that access to the moors tomorrow (Saturday) should be resumed.

But with temperatures across the county set to dip significantly tonight, dropping to minus 5 degrees in places, minus 3 degrees in Exeter, Devon County Council is reminding people to take care.

“It is going to be an exceptionally cold night tonight,” said Cllr Stuart Hughes, the...

Devon County Council is urging people across snow-hit areas of the county not to travel tomorrow morning (Friday 1 February) unless absolutely essential.

Heavy snow has caused traffic disruption in parts of the county earlier this afternoon and this evening.

The A380 was completely closed at Ideford Dip due to a vehicle blocking the road, and the A38 Telegraph Hill has been blocked by stationary traffic but work is underway to reopen the A38 and free south bound traffic from the M5.

The A379 at Peamore near Exeter has been blocked by a jack-knifed lorry, the B3192...

People are being urged to think carefully about their journey home from work tomorrow following forecasts of further snow.

A countywide freeze is expected tonight (Wednesday 30 January), with road surface temperatures in some areas set to plunge below -4C.

Anyone travelling is reminded to take extra care as roads and paths could be icy overnight and tomorrow morning. The Met Office is forecasting another band of wintry showers to hit the county from around lunchtime tomorrow.

Sleet could turn to snow as the afternoon progresses, with the risk of the heaviest...

With temperatures falling and snow showers hitting the county, Exeter City Council has activated its Severe Weather Protocol (SWEP) and is making available extra accommodation for rough sleepers to come in out of the cold.

The protocol allows the Council to work with its partner agencies Julian House, BCHA and St Petrocks to organise accommodation for anyone rough sleeping or at risk of rough sleeping during severe weather.

Temperatures tonight and Thursday are expected to dip below zero and there is a possibility that the freezing conditions might go on into the weekend....

The Devon County Agricultural Association (DCAA) has announced the launch of The Prince of Wales Award 2019.

The Award, which the DCAA has run for 34 years, is open to Devon-based community projects. Entries are encouraged from all areas of the community, from schools through to small farm diversification projects. The emphasis, reflecting HRH the Prince of Wales’ personal beliefs, is on sustainability and young people.

Entries are judged by a panel from the DCAA and the winner is selected based on their outstanding contribution.

Winners receive a cheque for £1000...