Police drop investigation into Reform councillors in Devon

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

A police investigation into allegations against Reform councillors and their election agent of overspending on election expenses has been dropped.Devon County Council members Neil Stevens, his brother Tony Stevens and their agent Rob Sheridan all faced claims of overspending in the May elections.The police launched an investigation in June after another Reform councillor, Ed Hill, reported his concerns to the authorities.Devon and Cornwall Police said no further action would be taken after the Stevens brothers and Mr Sheridan successfully took a civil case to the High Court on Tuesday where Justice Martin Spencer decided any mistakes made were not "in bad faith".A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "As a result of the judgement, the individuals in question will face no further police action."Reacting to the police decision, Neil Stevens said he was "greatly relieved".He said: "These last few months have been horrific for myself and my family and I just want to get on on…

Delight over reported sighting of orca calf off Isles of Scilly

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

Joe PenderThe newest member of the pod has not been photographed but it was reported to have been half the size of the adult femalesThe possible sighting of a calf among a pair of female orcas off the Isles of Scilly has sparked excitement among marine wildlife experts.The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust said boatman Joe Pender had seen the pod near Bishop Rock, in the westernmost part of the islands, on Wednesday. A Vega pod of Iberian orcas was identified off the islands for the first time in July and they were thought then to be the last in a "very tiny family".Jay Cowen, from the trust, said the reported sighting of a third mammal, believed to be half the size of the adults in the pod, was "very exciting news" and work was taking place to identify it."This pod hasn't been seen interacting with any Iberian orca and we were concerned it may die out,"…

Beaminster broadband set to return after car crash outage

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

Ros TappendenSouth of EnglandCouncillor Craig MonksEngineers are replacing the pole before work can begin to restore servicesHundreds of homes and businesses that have been without broadband since a car fire look set to be back online by the weekend.About 1,000 customers in Beaminster, Dorset, lost their internet service on Sunday when a car crashed into a telegraph pole and burst into flames.Dorset councillor for Beaminster, Craig Monks, said individual suppliers had given residents varied estimates for reconnection "ranging from tomorrow to three or four weeks".In an update on Thursday morning, Openreach said it was "aiming to have service restored by the end of Friday, provided there are no unexpected complications".A spokesperson said: "Our engineers are installing a new pole this morning."The damage is extensive, making this a complex repair, but our highly skilled teams are working swiftly and safely to restore service."Once the new pole is in place, crews are ready to immediately begin installing overhead cables…

Campaigners fight plans to reopen Devon ball clay pit

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

BBCOne of the six lakes proposed to be removed under plans to reopen a quarryCampaigners have warned against plans to cut down a woodland as part of a move to reopen a ball clay pit. Clay pit operators Sibelco want to expand the Zitherixon quarry, located between Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot in Devon, to extract five million tonnes of ball clay over the next 50 years.The firm stopped extracting from it in 1995, but it said reserves of this type of clay - used by the ceramics industry for products such as toilets and tiles - were now low.According to the plans, extracting the clay could mean removing six fishing lakes, surrounding trees and relocating Newton Abbot Rugby Club.Holland Risley set up Save Our TreesHolland Risley, who set up the campaign group Save Our Trees when he saw Sibelco's proposals, said: "Killing a huge forest affects all of us."There's so many homes along the edge of the…

Portland’s unique phone connection – BBC Sounds

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

Available for over a yearA group of artists and volunteers on Portland are using an disconnected phone to help people cope with the loss of their loved ones. Leading artist, Antje Rook, spoke to Radio Solent's Steve Harris about the project. Image credit: Portland Wind Phone.Programme WebsiteShow less Source link

'Guide dog incident' and 'peaceful protest'

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

A look at the stories which are trending across the West of England on 16 October. Source link

Harvey Skinner: Exeter fly-half determined to prove doubters wrong

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

Skinner is part of an exciting back-line at Exeter under the guidance of relatively new attack coach Dave Walder.Australia centre Len Ikitau is set to come into a side that includes England's Henry Slade and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and powerful winger Paul Brown-Bampoe. "We've got boys that can just produce magic from nothing, so it's making sure we're all on the same page," he said."We want to make make our brand of rugby a lot more exciting and we've definitely got the players to do that."He added: "Now with Dave it's a different way of thinking."Especially my game, just how I can forward think - who I've got in my squad, who I've got around me, what strengths they bring, what weaknesses maybe they bring, and how I can play the right calls around who's around me."It's definitely challenged me in a different way of thinking." Source link

New £7.7m Chard primary school and nursery to open by 2028

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

A new primary school and nursery will be built in the grounds of a secondary school, in a growing Somerset town.Somerset Council has confirmed it is going ahead with a £7.75m project to build a 210-place primary school and 40-place nursery at Holyrood Academy in Chard.The council said hundreds of new homes being built in the south Somerset town meant an extra 300 primary places would be needed in the next 10 years, more than the town's current three primary schools could accommodate.It is hoped the new school will open in 2028.Dave MacCormick, headteacher at Holyrood Academy, said: "I think it's great news for the town. A common criticism of towns expanding is that services don't keep pace."I think there's a lot more to it than just the school, GP services, dentistry, other services need to adopt this ahead of the curve approach. But I think it will be a relief for parents that they can get…

The megadonor hypocrisy

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

We compare and contrast Trump’s 2015 attack on Marco Rubio over donor ties with his own close ties to the same family. Source link

Carmen – Exeter Observer

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

Exeter Opera Group is performing Bizet’s Carmen on Saturday 8 November at Exeter Castle and Saturday 22 November at Mary Harris Memorial Chapel of the Holy Trinity.First staged in 1875, Carmen is one of the most frequently performed operas in the classical canon. Set in southern Spain, it recounts the downfall of Don José, a soldier seduced by the fiery Carmen.In the Exeter Opera Group production, which is performed in French with narration in English, Carmen will be played by Iryna Ilnytska and Don José by Robert Felstead and Thomas Wood.Supporting roles will be performed by players including Nick Young, Ian Spackman, John Burgoyne, Lee Andreae and Anna Townhill.Richard Lucas and Tim Laurence-Othen will accompany on piano and Suzanne De Lozey on flute.The production is directed by Iryna Ilnytska, Nick Lawrence and Lucy Corley.Exeter Opera Group, comprised of 25 singers from across Devon, gave its first performance in August last year with a staging of Gluck’s Orfeo…

FPL gameweek seven tips: Eberechi Eze, Enzo Fernandez & Jarrod Bowen make team of week

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

Eberechi Eze, Arsenal, £7.6m - Fulham (a)With Martin Odegaard set for a spell on the sidelines, Eze looks set for an extended run in the Arsenal side and that makes him a very intriguing FPL option.He tops most underlying statistics for Arsenal midfielders. His 17 shots translates to an average of 3.85 shots per 90 minutes - Bukayo Saka is next best at 2.33 - and 11 of those have been in the box.Bear in mind he is yet to score and you could say "he's due"!Eze has been involved in 38% of Arsenal's goals when he's on the pitch, which is huge in an Arsenal side with so many good players.Involved, playing well and a good price. Get him on your radar.Antoine Semenyo, Bournemouth, £7.9m - Crystal Palace (a)This slot is reserved for Semenyo until further notice. Palace away is not the easiest game but he might just be fixture proof.Jaidon Anthony, Burnley, £5.7m - Leeds…

Swanage’s Mowlem Theatre reaches £10k goal to fix leaking roof

Post published:October 16, 2025
Post last modified:October 16, 2025

A seafront theatre and cinema has managed to raise the £10,000 needed to put towards repairs to its roof riddled with leaks.The Mowlem Theatre on Shore Road in Swanage, Dorset, started a six week appeal to raise the money to add a waterproof layer onto the existing flat roof on 3 October.After many temporary fixes, the theatre found the roof was getting worse and needed urgent extensive repairs to avoid further damage over the winter and the possibility of cancelling shows or even closing the building.The theatre said it planned to get the work done as soon as possible to avoid further damage over the winter to the 1960s building.The venue has been using buckets between the ceiling and the roof to catch the water dripping in above its stage after finding puddles.Kate McGregor, executive director of the theatre, said the money raised through the appeal would be put together with funds from its other fundraising initiatives…