city news

Devon County Council funding cuts set to reduce core library opening hours by 30%

Devon County Council funding cuts set to reduce core library opening hours by 30%

Devon County Council library service funding cuts are expected to reduce the core staffed opening hours of the county’s libraries from a total of just under 1,300 hours each week to just under 915 hours each week, a fall of nearly 30%.The cuts are expected to affect 43 of Devon’s 50 libraries, four of which are in Exeter.The county council has outsourced the provision of library services, which it has a statutory duty to provide, to Libraries Unlimited,…

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South Devon residents urged to lock doors after house thefts

South Devon residents urged to lock doors after house thefts

People are being urged by police to lock their doors overnight after incidents where car keys and personal items have been taken from homes. Devon and Cornwall Police said homes across south Devon including Torquay, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Paignton had been targeted.The force said officers had made several arrests in relation to burglary and vehicle theft, with some offenders already convicted and facing sentencing next year.Det Sgt Jason Parsons, from south Devon criminal investigation department (CID) team,…

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Debate over Tamar crossing tag admin charge rise

Debate over Tamar crossing tag admin charge rise

Lee TrewhelaLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceTomasz Maciulewicz/BBCCampaigners are concerned about increased costs to cross the Tamar A proposed 150% increase to the monthly admin fee to cross the Tamar Bridge and use the Torpoint Ferry is to be debated at an extraordinary meeting.MPs and councillors have been largely critical of the proposed increase for people who regularly cross the River Tamar for work, education and Derriford hospital appointments.The proposed increase from 80p to £2 a month for users of…

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Seven Torquay hotels fail child exploitation checks

Seven Torquay hotels fail child exploitation checks

Only one out of eight hotels questioned an older guest checking in with an underage child, an undercover police operation has found.Officers from the Torquay Neighbourhood Police Team, with support from Police Cadets, said they recently carried out an evening of action around child exploitation.It was done as part of the national initiative Operation Makesafe, which is designed to "empower businesses and organisations to tackle child exploitation" and to "increase awareness and training of early warning signs".A plain-clothed…

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Teenager takes on 450km Christmas run for Salvation Army

Teenager takes on 450km Christmas run for Salvation Army

A teenager is running 450km throughout December "to make a real difference for those in need".Aidan Watts, 19, is increasing his distance by 1.5km each day, finishing with a 36km run on Christmas Eve.He took on the challenge to support The Salvation Army's Christmas Present Appeal in Devonport, which provides gifts for children in families facing financial hardship.Mr Watts' efforts exceeded his initial expectations, with donations doubling his original target of £300, prompting him to set a new…

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Exeter City Council Adds 813 More Student And Co-Living Beds To City Housing Supply With Heavitree Road Approval – Exeter Observer

Exeter City Council Adds 813 More Student And Co-Living Beds To City Housing Supply With Heavitree Road Approval – Exeter Observer
Exeter City Council Adds 813 More Student And Co-Living Beds To City Housing Supply With Heavitree Road Approval – Exeter Observer

An Exeter City Council decision to approve plans for an 813-bed student and “co-living” complex in Heavitree Road is to increase the number of beds in purpose-built temporary accommodation to nearly 3,250 in Newtown and more than 16,000 across the whole city. The plans for 399 student and 414 “co-living” bedspaces in seven blocks up

Continue ReadingExeter City Council Adds 813 More Student And Co-Living Beds To City Housing Supply With Heavitree Road Approval – Exeter Observer

Exeter City Council adds 813 more student and “co-living” beds to city “housing” supply with Heavitree Road approval

Exeter City Council adds 813 more student and “co-living” beds to city “housing” supply with Heavitree Road approval

An Exeter City Council decision to approve plans for an 813-bed student and “co-living” complex in Heavitree Road is to increase the number of beds in purpose-built temporary accommodation to nearly 3,250 in Newtown and more than 16,000 across the whole city.The plans for 399 student and 414 “co-living” bedspaces in seven blocks up to six storeys tall on the site of the former police station and magistrates court were submitted in May, following the eventual rejection of…

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Devon hospital patients and staff to receive Christmas Day gift

Devon hospital patients and staff to receive Christmas Day gift

John Acres,DevonandJulia Gregory,South WestTorbay and South Devon NHS CharityA charity which supports Torbay Hospital is hoping to give a present to every patient and staff member there on Christmas DayA Devon hospital is planning to ensure every patient and staff member there on Christmas Day will receive a gift.The Torbay and South Devon NHS Charity is appealing for money so it can buy presents for everyone at Torbay Hospital and five local community hospitals, including Brixham and Dawlish.Chief…

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CREWW launches Safe to Swim Forum to shape the future of bathing water safety and quality

CREWW has launched a new expert-led forum in a bid to improve the safety and quality of bathing waters across the South West. The Safe to Swim Forum, developed through our partnership between the University of Exeter and South West Water, brings together leading scientists, public health specialists, regulators, water companies, and local authorities, to use expert knowledge, research, and collaboration to plan evidence-led solutions. The forum will look at how to better measure the risks from harmful…

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Lorent Tolaj has ‘learnt’ from red card says Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley

Lorent Tolaj has ‘learnt’ from red card says Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley

Lorent Tolaj will have learnt from his three-game ban says Plymouth Argyle boss Tom Cleverley.The Pilgrims' top scorer has missed the last three games after a red card for violent conduct in the 3-0 loss to Leyton Orient last month.The 24-year-old, who has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season, is in line to return to the side for Saturday's trip to Doncaster Rovers."I expect he's mature enough and he's professional enough to have learnt by that,"…

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Elections may be cancelled in Plymouth and Exeter

Elections may be cancelled in Plymouth and Exeter

Elections for city councils in Exeter and Plymouth due to take place in 2026 may be cancelled following a government announcement.Ministers have indicated they will agree to postpone elections due next May until 2027, if authorities request it by mid-January.The Liberal Democrat leader of Devon County Council described the move as "double dealing and dishonesty".The government has said any postponement of elections will have to be requested by individual authorities. It said the decision to offer the choice…

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