Uk

Heavy rain to remain all week

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Mon, 02/10/2014 - 2:13pm

Devon is on course for more bad weather as the Met Office predicts heavy rain and strong wind from tonight until the end of the week.

The forecasters say that several more areas of low pressure, bringing heavy rainfall are expected to hit the county from tonight onwards. The fresh wind and rain bring with them more pressure from flooding in much of the South West particularly in areas already badly affected by the recent exceptional rainfall. The Met Office’s chief forecaster said: “There remains some uncertainty in timing of the frontal system, but 10 to 20 mm rainfall is likely...

Dawlish alternative route choice revealed

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Mon, 02/10/2014 - 11:33am

Network Rail has revealed its choice for an alternative railway line to the heavily damaged Dawlish line today.

The plans come as the rail authority had consider an alternative to the current coastal line after the recent storms destroyed an 80m section of track near Dawlish.

The potential route from Okehampton to Plymouth via Tavistock through areas of Dartmoor National Park has already come under criticism from some transport campaigners as it bypasses large areas of South Devon.

Calling for further rail investment in the Exeter Daily today , Transport Campaigner...

Council leader tells government 'The Region deserves more help'

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Thu, 02/06/2014 - 4:21pm

Devon County Council leader John Hart has demanded that the Government provides more support for the South West following the latest wave of storm force weather.

In his message Mr Hart calls for the Government to ensure that the South West is not “left to pick up a massive bill” in road repairs.

In recent years many local authorities, including Devon, have seen the amount of money available for travel maintenance fall below the cost of repairs.

Last year Devon’s roads received only £3million pounds in Bellwin funding despite a bill of more than £18 million in road...

Kidnapping Lapdancers cleared

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 01/31/2014 - 1:09pm

Three lapdancers and their manager have been cleared of kidnapping a Gloucestershire club boss. Curtis Woodman alleged the four women and two men forced him into a car and robbed him in September 2012. Dancers Mandy Cool, Rachel Goodchild and Stephanie Pye, and manager Charlotte Devaney, had worked for him during the Cheltenham Hunt Festival. Brothers Robert Morris, 27, and Alexander Morris, 23, were also cleared of kidnap. During the trial DJ and Manager Ms Devany told Bristol Crown Court Mr Woodman had invented the kidnap to avoid paying them £42,000. The £42,000 sum was allegedly taken...

Rain, ice and flying cats

Forecasters are warnng of possible icy patches again tomorrow morning as temperatures dip.

And if you thought you'd seen the last of the rain, think again.

Yesterday bookmakers William Hill cut the odds of 2014 being the wettest year on record from 8/1 to 6/1.

Yesterday the Environment Agency said 148 flood alerts and 11 more serious flood warnings were in place. Somerset council declared a ‘major incident’ for flooded areas. The authority has provided a boat service for the communities of Muchelney and Thorney, whose access roads have been cut off since January 2...

UK construction market more than doubles

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Thu, 01/23/2014 - 3:04pm

The value of construction projects in the UK has rocketed by 67.1 per cent in the last year, according to a report published today. New project contracts awarded in December 2013 totalled £6 billion, compared to £3.6 bn in the same month in 2012.

The infrastructure sector proved to be an area of significant growth last month, with the total value of projects awarded reaching £2.2 billion, a 10.6 per cent increase from November 2013 and a huge 101.6 per cent year-on-year growth.

These latest figures, taken from Barbour ABI’s Economic & Construction Market Review, also...

Race for Life 2014 launches in Exeter

Exeter women are being urged to join forces and show cancer who’s boss by signing up to Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life 2014 which is now open for entries. Women have now got the choice of signing up for a 5K or 10K Race for Life this summer in Exeter as event organisers look to challenge more ladies to take part.

Every day, around 84 people are diagnosed with cancer in the South West *. Everyone is special, everyone is somebody’s mum, dad, brother, sister, friend or colleague.

And that’s why Cancer Research UK is calling on Exeter women of all ages, shapes and sizes...

"Too many stuck in Minimum Wage" says CBI Chief

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Mon, 12/30/2013 - 2:31pm

The head of CBI, the UK’s main business lobby has called for a more “balanced” economic recovery as part of organisations’ annual New Year’s message today.

John Cridland, the CBI Director-General said that there were too many people still “stuck” in minimum wage jobs despite the economy improving.

He said: “The recovery is taking root and business leaders have a spring in their step compared to this time last year – but this is no time to rest on our laurels. “Businesses must support employees in every part of the country to move up the career ladder, while also giving a...

100mph storm winds to hit UK on Christmas Day

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Tue, 12/17/2013 - 11:20am

Forecasters have issued a double warning over two large storm depressions heading towards the UK, the second of which is expected to mean a stormy Christmas for the whole country.

The first depression known as Storm Emily is expected to arrive in Scotland and Northern Ireland late tomorrow night and with winds expected to hit between 80 an 100mph, leading the Met Office to issue a severe weather warning.

The storm is expected to worsen on Thursday but the Met Office has said that persistent rain will quickly clear to be replaced with frequent wintry showers.

As...

Npower to cut 1,500 UK staff

Authored by Huw Oxburgh
Posted: Thu, 11/28/2013 - 11:53am

‘Big Six’ Energy Company, RWE Npower who scrapped the £4 billion Devon wind farm, has announced today plans to cut 1,500 jobs in the UK.

The cuts are the latest development in a series of re-structuring moves which have lead to speculation that RWE Npower may be preparing for a departure from the UK energy market.

On Tuesday (26 Novemeber), RWE Npower scrapped plans to build the “Atlantic Array”, a wind farm off Devon’s Coast.

The plans to build 240 wind turbines in the Bristol Channel had been expected to cost nearly £4 billion.

Last week the company sold...

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