Author: Alison Stephenson

This author has written 20 articles

Users of cashless toll system on Tamar Bridge face rise in fees

Users of cashless toll system on Tamar Bridge face rise in fees

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceBBCCampaigners said the increase in administration charges would hurt those reliant on the crossingA committee has approved a 150% hike in the monthly charge paid by electronic tag holders, using a cashless account to cross the River Tamar.Members of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee voted to increase the standing charge for having a TamarTag account from 80p a month to £2, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.The Tamar Toll Action Group…

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Calls for traffic action to protect school children in Plymouth

Calls for traffic action to protect school children in Plymouth

Councillors have called for more protection for children following reports of illegal parking on double yellow lines and zigzags near schools.Councillor Chris Wood's motion asking Plymouth City Council for increased enforcement and a public awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of illegal parking was backed by all members.While he recognised enforcement was taking place, Wood said the situation outside many schools "remained unacceptable".The council has employed a dedicated enforcement officer to cover five schools in the Ham and…

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Devon and Cornwall Police ‘deal with 60 protests a month’

Devon and Cornwall Police ‘deal with 60 protests a month’

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceBBCPolice commissioner Alison Hernandez said she would take intelligence from councillors over gatherings that cause problemsDevon and Cornwall Police deal with about 60 protests a month as a result of community unrest, a police and crime panel has been told.Police and crime commissioner Alison Hernandez said many of the protests were small but police undertook "significant tactical planning and engagement with community leaders" ahead of the larger demonstrations.The panel meeting on Friday also heard…

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Views sought as council considers future of Barnstaple’s quays

Views sought as council considers future of Barnstaple’s quays

Boat owners and water users have been asked to give their views on whether three quays should remain in use.North Devon Council has said it would need to find £500,000 to ensure all marine facilities at Castle Quay and Rolle Quay in Barnstaple and Fremington Quay comply with the new port and marine facility safety code.The council said decommissioning the sites would cost less than a fifth of the cost of removing boating-related equipment but it would mean…

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£2m plan to convert Ilfracombe delivery office to homes

£2m plan to convert Ilfracombe delivery office to homes

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceGoogle Street ViewNorth Devon Council wants to convert the former Royal Mail delivery office in Ilfracombe to homesA council has planned to invest £2m into a former Royal Mail building to provide homes, retail and exhibition space.North Devon Council said it was in the process of purchasing the property in Ilfracombe High Street using part of its allocation of nearly £3m from the Devon and Torbay devolution deal. The council applied for consent from…

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Calls for for MP Rebecca Smith to quit Plymouth City Council

Calls for for MP Rebecca Smith to quit Plymouth City Council

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceRebecca Smith's OfficeSouth West Devon MP Rebecca Smith (standing) says she will step down as a councillor in 2026Two city council members have called for another member to resign because she is also an MP.Rebecca Smith, who represents Plymstock Radford on Plymouth City Council and was elected as South West Devon MP in 2024, was scheduled to attend meetings on 16 May, 2 June and 15 September but sent apologies.Independent councillors Patrick Nicholson and…

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Hollywood actors set to star in movie filmed on Dartmoor

A major motion picture starring Hollywood star Willem Dafoe is set to be filmed on Dartmoor, Devon, this autumn.Werwulf, set in 13th Century England, will be directed by Robert Eggers - known for his movies Nosferatu and The Lighthouse. The movie will also star Lily-Rose Depp and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.The Dartmoor National Park Authority's development management committee gave permission for two temporary movie sets to be created near Widecombe in the Moor and Postbridge.The committee said it was told…

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Electrical shop returns to Devon high street after 18 years

An electrical shop will return to a high street after 18 years.Hockridge Appliance Centre operated in Tavistock for 12 years, before closing the branch for commercial reasons in the 2000s.Now the company, which has a store in Launceston, is returning to the town with a new shop in Brook Street on the site of the Towls electrical appliance store, which is closing after 53 years.Owner Karl Hockridge said he was "delighted" to bring the family firm back to…

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