Cornish Pirates finding momentum, says joint-head coach Alan Paver

Post published:October 31, 2025
Post category:BBC Cornwall
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Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Alan Paver said the momentum from last weekend's first win of the season can help them take on unbeaten Championship high-flyers Caldy.Pirates' victory over London Scottish continued an upward arc following two narrow defeats and a draw to begin the season.Paver told BBC Radio Devon that it has not been the start to the campaign they expected: "We thought we were a little bit further on than we were, but reality kicked in after…

Hundreds turn out to oppose Holsworthy mega solar farm plans

Post published:October 31, 2025
Post category:Devon News
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Kirk EnglandSouth West environment and tourism correspondentBBCStephen Crowther, from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is opposing the plansHundreds of people have attended a meeting in opposition to plans for one the UK's biggest solar farms.More than 200 residents packed into Holsworthy Memorial Hall in Devon earlier to hear concerns about the proposed 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) Beacon Solar project.The Campaign to Protect Rural England's (CPRE) described the plans as "a market dash in favour of government policy",…

New plans to carve Devon up into four unitary authorities

Post published:October 31, 2025
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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…

Royal Marine jailed for abusing former partner

Post published:October 31, 2025
Post category:BBC Somerset
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Avon and Somerset PoliceThe judge described Deaken as a "coward" and a "bully"A Royal Marine has been jailed for 26 months after being found guilty of controlling and coercive behaviour towards his former partner.In August, a jury heard how 26-year-old Jayden Deakin, from Norton Fitzwarren in Somerset, physically and psychologically abused his partner over a period of years.He was described by the judge as a "coward" and a "bully" at his sentencing at Taunton Crown Court after unanimously…

Dorset blood donor donates 100th pint dressed as Dracula’s bride

Post published:October 31, 2025
Post category:BBC Dorset
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An 80-year-old woman has donated her 100th pint of blood on Halloween while dressed as Dracula's bride. Carol Verney, from Blandford in Dorset, said she invited passersby to donate as she made her way to the blood donor centre in fancy dress.With her for support was her husband Malcolm, dressed appropriately as Dracula. She said she has no plans to stop giving blood after this because of how much she enjoys the feeling of helping other people. BBC…

Community group a step closer to buying Shepton Mallet theatre

Post published:October 31, 2025
Post category:BBC Somerset
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Emma Britton,BBC Radio Somerset and Chris Lockyer,SomersetBBCThe Amulet theatre in Shepton Mallet closed in 2022A community group is a step closer to buying a disused Somerset theatre after raising more than £115,000.The Amulet in Shepton Mallet was originally a gift to the town in 1975 from the Showering family, who were famous for inventing the Babycham drink.It operated as a popular theatre and community centre for many years but closed in 2022.Martin Berkeley from the Let's Buy The…

Dartmoor visitor centre shuts for final time due to rising costs

Post published:October 31, 2025
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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…

Charity team traverses Britain pulling field gun

Post published:October 31, 2025
Post category:BBC Cornwall
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A team which has pulled a one-tonne field gun along the length of Britain for charity has reached the end of the challenge.Hundreds of people dragged the artillery cannon from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall with the aim of raising £150,000 for the charity Military vs Cancer.They finished the challenge at Land's End at 12:00 GMT on 31 October. David Bathgate, chief executive officer of Military vs Cancer, said: "This event is about showing…

Murder arrest in Truro after man, 23, found dead

Post published:October 31, 2025
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A murder investigation has been launched after a 23-year-old man was found dead.Devon and Cornwall Police said officers were called to Polruan Road, Truro, at about 07:20 GMT on Wednesday after receiving a concern for welfare report at a property.The force said a man was pronounced dead at the scene and another 23-year-old man from Truro has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.Police said it is believed the two men knew each other and…

High demand and short supply for rented housing in Teignmouth

Post published:October 31, 2025
Post category:Devon News
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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…

Weymouth beach palm trees saved as council pledges to keep them

Post published:October 31, 2025
Post category:BBC Dorset
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A plan to save nine much-loved palm trees on the promenade of a coastal resort has been agreed by councillors.The roots of two Canary Island palms at Weymouth, Dorset, had begun causing structural damage, prompting plans to replace them with smaller cabbage palms.But more than 1,000 people signed a petition against their removal, with some describing them as "iconic".Weymouth Town Council has now agreed a new, cheaper solution which involves pruning the roots and installing a root barrier…

Weston-super-Mare’s Tropicana renovation works get under way

Post published:October 31, 2025
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John WimperisLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceJohn WimperisAfter closing as a pool in 2000, the Tropicana has recently been used as an events spaceWork has begun to turn Weston-super-Mare's Tropicana into a "nationally significant" venue for culture, arts, and entertainment.North Somerset Council won Levelling Up funding in 2023 to rejuvenate the former lido, which was also the home of Banksy's Dismaland exhibition in 2015.Contractors Morgan Sindall are currently stripping out the interior of the building, ready for it to be…