Devon News

Traders in South Hams having to pay for staff parking fees

Traders in South Hams having to pay for staff parking fees

Bradley GerrardLocal Democracy Reporting Service & BBC News, DevonMadison OmanMadison Oman said nearly all her co-workers drive to work from outside the South HamsSmall business owners in South Devon have said higher parking charges are making it harder to recruit and retain staff, with some having to pay for their staff to be able to park.South Hams District Council had frozen parking charges for four years but decided to increase them in April.Some business owners in Kingsbridge, Salcombe…

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Signalling issues impact South West train services

Signalling issues impact South West train services

Trains have been disrupted in the South West due to a "shortage of signalling staff".National Rail said services from Exeter to Exmouth, Yeovil Junction and Basingstoke were being impacted by the issue.Railway lines between Exeter Central and Exmouth, Exeter and Honiton were closed with passengers advised their tickets could be used on other trains and buses.An update from Network Rail said a replacement signaller had been arranged but service disruption was expected to continue until about 13:00 GMT.…

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Tom Cleverley unhappy with Joe Ralls red card in Plymouth Argyle Reading loss

Tom Cleverley unhappy with Joe Ralls red card in Plymouth Argyle Reading loss

Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley insisted Joe Ralls should not have been sent off in his side's 4-1 Boxing Day loss to Reading.The midfielder was dismissed for denying a goalscoring opportunity after giving away a penalty in the 12th minute, which the Royals converted. Argyle's first home game on Boxing Day in nine years proved a tough watch for the Home Park faithful as Reading scored three times in six minutes to lead 3-0 before the midway point…

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Family ‘heartbroken’ as they name missing Devon swimmer

Family ‘heartbroken’ as they name missing Devon swimmer

Social mediaThe family of Matthew Upham have named him as one of the swimmers who went missing on Christmas DayThe family of one of two men who went missing during a Christmas Day swim say they are "heartbroken" at his disappearance. Emergency services had been searching the area after two men in their 60s and 40s went missing in the sea at Budleigh Salterton shortly after 10:25 GMT on Thursday. The coastguard search operation was called off at…

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Torquay United impress in 3-1 Weston-super-Mare win

Torquay United impress in 3-1 Weston-super-Mare win

Manager Paul Wotton says Torquay United have one of the best squads in National League South after his side's 3-1 win over promotion rivals Weston-super-Mare.Louis Dennis gave the Gulls a sixth-minute lead in front of more than 5,000 fans at Plainmoor. Matt Jay was on hand to make it 2-0 shortly before half-time as he fired in from close range after Sam Dreyer had headed on Jordan Young's cross. Charlie Cummins pulled a goal back for the visitors…

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Brendan Galloway: Plymouth Argyle’s Zimbabwe defender makes Afcon debut

Brendan Galloway: Plymouth Argyle’s Zimbabwe defender makes Afcon debut

Plymouth Argyle defender Brendan Galloway made his Africa Cup of Nations debut in Zimbabwe's 1-1 draw with Angola in Morocco. The 29-year-old came on as a 37th-minute substitute for the injured Teenage Hadebe in the Group B fixture in Marrakesh. Having gone a goal down before Galloway was introduced, Zimbabwe equalised deep in first-half stoppage time through Knowledge Musona.Zimbabwe had chances to win the game after the break, but were grateful to Galloway as they secured their first…

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Len Ikitau: Exeter Chiefs’ Australia centre out for three months with shoulder injury

Len Ikitau: Exeter Chiefs’ Australia centre out for three months with shoulder injury

Ikitau has made five appearances for Exeter in the Prem and European Challenge Cup, scoring his first try in the win over South African side Cheetahs earlier this month. "The good news is that we can get him in for the operation pretty quickly, though unfortunately it does mean he will miss the block of games over the festive period and into the cup competitions in the new year," Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told the club…

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More than 2,000 fines for Blue Badge misuse, reports finds

More than 2,000 fines for Blue Badge misuse, reports finds

Alison StephensonLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceBBCA Freedom of Information request revealed more than 2,000 fines were issued More than 2,000 fines have been issued to drivers parking in disabled bays without a valid blue badge since 2019, new data has revealed. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Plymouth City Council revealed 2,637 fines were issued between 2019 and 2024 for misuse of disabled parking spaces.The FOI request, submitted by automotive retailers Evans Halshaw, said drivers were fined £70…

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New surgery facilities planned at Exeter hospital

New surgery facilities planned at Exeter hospital

A new day surgery centre for children and adults is planned in an expansion of a city centre hospital.New operating theatres and recovery areas could be built at the site in the Heavitree area of Exeter, which is part of the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (RD&E).A planning application has been made for the site with buildings which will overlook the neighbouring Waitrose store.The RD&E said it had secured a £20m commitment from NHS England to create a…

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