winter

Severe Weather Protocol activated to encourage rough sleepers to come in out of the cold

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....

Be prepared for risk of snow, says County Council

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 01/28/2019 - 5:56pm

Devon County Council is urging people to be prepared for the possibility of snow this week.

The Met Office has issued a Yellow Warning of snow and ice conditions for tomorrow (Tuesday 29 January), which could have the potential to cause travel disruption.

Although any snow is not expected to be widespread, the current forecast is that higher ground, such as Dartmoor and Exmoor, could face up to 5cm of snow. Haldon and Telegraph Hills may see a small amount of snow, some of which could affect tomorrow evening’s rush hour.

Road surface temperatures will be close to...

Winter is coming! Make sure your workplace is prepared with a FREE winter safety box

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 12/03/2018 - 9:16pm

With darker evenings and colder weather, winter is well and truly here.

To help workplaces in Exeter, Newton Abbot and Barnstaple be prepared for the winter weather, Travel Devon is offering a FREE winter walking and cycling kit worth £100 to businesses that apply between now and Thursday 28 February 2019. There are only 10 kits available, which can be claimed by:

  • Signing up to the Travel Devon toolkit at www.traveldevontoolkit.info
  • Signing up to the Travel Devon Business Newsletter via the link on the toolkit and
  • Emailing traveltowork@devon.gov
  • ...

Flybe takes to the skies with 2018-19 winter schedule from Exeter Airport

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, started operating its 2018-19 Winter schedule from Exeter this past weekend (Sunday 28th October 2018) featuring a total of 18 routes with a choice of up to 93 flights a week available throughout the UK and mainland Europe for travel through to 30th March 2019. The winter schedule features increased frequency on a number of attractive destinations. Flights to Paris Charles de Gaulle now depart up to twice a day and there are an additional four flights a week to Amsterdam. There is also an increase in flights to Manchester, now featuring up to four...

Thousands of vulnerable and older people at risk in Devon this Winter

Authored by LauraHew
Posted: Mon, 11/27/2017 - 10:27am

A campaign to help the most vulnerable in our communities to stay warm and well this winter has launched. The Surviving Winter appeal asks those who feel they can, to consider donating to those who desperately need extra support during the cold winter months. Many previous donors have donated their Winter Fuel payment if they don’t need it but want to make sure it is well used.

The figures tell a shocking story for older and vulnerable people in Devon living in fuel poverty. Over 1,000 older people are at risk of dying simply due to avoidable winter related illnesses and one in...

Good news as emergency beds provide refuge for rough sleepers this winter

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 11/14/2017 - 4:50pm

Extra bed spaces have been made available for rough sleepers in Exeter over the winter period, the City Council has announced. The 15 extra emergency beds will be provided at Gabriel House in the city centre as part the City Council’s response to providing emergency accommodation and bringing rough sleepers inside during the harshest winter weather. Bournemouth Churches Housing Association (BCHA), who run Gabriel House, will be running the service from 1 December through to the end of March. This year the initiative has been extended by an extra month. Cllr Emma Morse, Lead Councillor for...

“Be Bright, Be Seen” as clocks go back

“Be Bright, Be Seen” is the message from Devon County Council, ahead of clocks going back this weekend (Sunday 29 October).

As daylight hours draw in, the County Council is reminding cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, horse riders, and other vulnerable road users, to make sure that they are visible by wearing reflective and fluorescent clothing. Car drivers are also being encouraged to take extra care by giving cyclists space, and looking out for others, particularly in poor weather conditions which can reduce visibility. Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet...

Community Fund to donate £1,000 for winter project

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Mon, 10/23/2017 - 12:56pm

Community groups, charities and schools in the Exeter area are being invited to apply for £1,000 worth of building materials to help with a winter project as part of RGB Building Supplies’ Well Built Community Fund.

Whether materials are needed to build a Christmas grotto, help put on a pantomime, or ensure a community centre is protected against winter weather, RGB would like to hear about it.

Paul West, Branch Manager at RGB Exeter, commented: “Everyone at RGB is extremely proud to support groups across the region with our Well Built Community Fund. We’re always surprised...

Are we heading for a White Easter?

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 02/29/2016 - 8:23am

If you think we've escaped a proper winter so far in 2016, you could be in for a shock.

The Met Office is warning that we might be in for a White Easter.

It's all due to what is called a sudden stratospheric warming event bringing snow, ice and temperatures as low as -14C.

The plunge - the same phenomenon that triggered the 2010 Big Freeze - is expected to result in colder-than-average weather across the UK in late March.

The Met Office March to May forecast said: "The greatest risk of cold weather impacts is in late March and early April, due to the...

Winter death asthma attack alert

Asthma UK is urging people with asthma to be vigilant in winter as data shows the number of people who die because of an asthma attack peaks in January and remains high in February and March. Data from the Office for National Statistics highlights that asthma is the cause of proportionately more excess winter deaths than other conditions and respiratory diseases were the underlying cause of death in more than a third of all excess winter deaths in 2014/15. It’s thought that cold weather and viruses like cold and flu may be partly to blame; 90% of people with asthma report that cold and flu...

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