Devon News

New plans to carve Devon up into four unitary authorities

New plans to carve Devon up into four unitary authorities

Miles DavisDevon political reporterGetty ImagesA new plan has emerged to carve Devon up into four unitary authorities as part of local government reorganisationA new plan for Devon to be carved up into four unitary authorities has emerged.Under the government's massive shake up of local government, all district and county councils will be abolished so that one authority will run all council services in any one area.Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter have now revealed they are all working together on…

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Dartmoor visitor centre shuts for final time due to rising costs

Dartmoor visitor centre shuts for final time due to rising costs

BBCThe centre will close on FridayA visitor centre on Dartmoor is set to shut for the final time.Dartmoor National Park said the closure of Princetown Visitor Centre, which is based in the Duchy Hotel, on Friday, was due to "rising costs and reduced government funding".It said the centre had served as an information and exhibition space since 1993, and added: "The focus is now on ensuring a smooth transition back to the landlord, the Duchy of Cornwall, before…

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Paul Wotton says Torquay United need to keep pace with leaders Hornchurch

Paul Wotton says Torquay United need to keep pace with leaders Hornchurch

Hornchurch visit on Saturday still unbeaten, and with a two-point lead at the top. Wotton is not surprised by their form.He said: "They've got a lot of experience and recruited very well in the summer, so I'm not surprised by the league table at all. "It's a tough league and they've had a fantastic start, but we're obviously focused on ourselves. "I feel that we've done some really fantastic stuff this year, and areas to improve on. That…

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High demand and short supply for rented housing in Teignmouth

High demand and short supply for rented housing in Teignmouth

Miles DavisDevon political reporter, TeignmouthBBCEmma Foreman is lettings director at Complete Estate Agents in TeignmouthHigh demand and short supply for rental housing in Devon are expected to continue, according to people in the industry.The Renters Rights Act - a huge shake-up of the rental market - became law on Monday.The legislation is designed to level the playing field between landlords and tenants as people renting say it has become prohibitively expensive and very difficult to find rental properties.A…

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Five children bailed after Bideford arson arrests

Five children bailed after Bideford arson arrests

Five children arrested after a house fire which left a person missing have been released on bail, police said.Four boys and a girl aged between 13 and 15, from north Devon, had been held on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life following the fire in Bideford.Police said they were treating the fire at a terraced house in Honestone Street on Tuesday evening "as a suspicious incident with murder as one of several hypotheses being considered". A…

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Man, 94, dies from injuries sustained in Exeter M5 crash

Man, 94, dies from injuries sustained in Exeter M5 crash

A man has died from injuries sustained during a car crash on a motorway, police have said.Devon and Cornwall Police received reports of a crash involving a blue Ford Fiesta, a grey Land Rover Discovery and a grey Mazda CX-5 on the southbound slip road at junction 29 of the M5 in Exeter at about 11:00 GMT on Tuesday.A 94-year-old passenger of the Ford suffered serious injuries and died in hospital on Thursday, the force said. A second…

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New name chosen for Devon Sanctuary’s rescued Icelandic foal

New name chosen for Devon Sanctuary’s rescued Icelandic foal

A charity which asked supporters to name one of 13 rare-breed Icelandic horses and foals in its care has announced the winning name. The Mare and Foal Sanctuary said the five-month-old colt would be called Flint, reflecting his "steely coat and bright, striking eyes". Flint arrived at the sanctuary with his dam, Mavis, just after he was born in May. His carers said his coat had darkened as he has grown but his eyes have remained a "beautiful…

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Amy Rule: New Zealand prop reflects on journey as she prepares for first Exeter start

That professionalism was one of the big plus points for Exeter boss Steve Salvin when he recruited Rule before this year's World Cup.The prop went on to help the Black Ferns win a bronze medal as she took her tally to 31 caps, scoring two tries for New Zealand along the way. "The way she approaches her game in terms of taking notes, asking questions, challenging, all the things you would expect from someone of a professional mindset,"…

Continue ReadingAmy Rule: New Zealand prop reflects on journey as she prepares for first Exeter start

Amy Rule: New Zealand prop reflects on journey as she prepares for Exeter debut

Amy Rule: New Zealand prop reflects on journey as she prepares for Exeter debut

That professionalism was one of the big plus points for Exeter boss Steve Salvin when he recruited Rule before this year's World Cup.The prop went on to help the Black Ferns win a bronze medal as she took her tally to 31 caps, scoring two tries for New Zealand along the way. "The way she approaches her game in terms of taking notes, asking questions, challenging, all the things you would expect from someone of a professional mindset,"…

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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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‘Horror’ as Honiton cattle left to die in slurry and scrap

‘Horror’ as Honiton cattle left to die in slurry and scrap

Jonathan MorrisSouth WestTrading Standards/Environment AgencyDomestic waste, scrap metal, broken concrete and abandoned vehicles were foundA farmer has been given a life-long ban from keeping livestock after inspectors uncovered scenes described in court as "like a horror movie".David Rosewell, of Crook Farm, Combe Raleigh near Honiton, pleaded guilty to a string of animal welfare and environmental offences.Exeter Magistrates Court heard how inspectors from Trading Standards, the Environment Agency and the Animal and Plant Health Agency found decomposing cattle carcasses,…

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