Somerset villagers raising £70,000 to fight plan for 100 homes

Post published:October 21, 2025
Post category:BBC Somerset
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Villagers are trying to raise £70,000 to pay for a judicial review of a council's decision to approve 100 new homes. Locals in Keinton Mandeville, south Somerset, say it is being "overwhelmed by cumulative housing developments". Residents' action group Shock has voiced concerns about the impact the latest development could have on local infrastructure and community life.The developer, Keinton Mandeville LVA, previously said 35 of the homes would be designated as affordable. It has also promised to provide…

Cat on novelist’s Dorchester statue ‘not Susie’ after complaints

Post published:October 21, 2025
Post category:BBC Dorset
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Visible Women/Denise DuttonCritics said the cat in the picture shared by the charity did not resemble SusieCampaigners working to install a statue of a Dorset novelist with a cat at her feet say they have been upset by "unpleasant" comments about the animal's appearance.Visible Women crowdfunded for a life-size bronze of Sylvia Townsend Warner to sit in Dorchester's South Street, with the cat based on a locally famous feline, Susie.But messages about the animal's lack of resemblance to…

Devon brain injury support group passes six-month milestone

Post published:October 21, 2025
Post category:Devon News
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A support group for people with brain injuries in East Devon is hoping to expand its numbers after a successful first six months, leaders say.Minds over Matter runs once a month in a pub in Ottery St Mary and is set up to be a social club with cake, music and, most importantly, games.The group was set up to not only be for people with such injuries, but also their family members, carers, and friends and in an…

Falmouth Docks development to be fast-tracked under new scheme

Post published:October 21, 2025
Post category:BBC Cornwall
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Seb NobleCornwall political reporter, FalmouthAPCL A&PFalmouth Docks is due to undergo a £150m redevelopment over the next few yearsA £150m project to redevelop deep water docks will be completed quicker with a new approach to planning regulation, the government has said.It has designated the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to act as lead environmental regulator for the project at Falmouth Docks, in Cornwall, rather than developers having to consult with a number of different organisations.The project includes repairing part…

How can ‘water batteries’ help Devon farmers tackle drought?

Post published:October 21, 2025
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Kirk EnglandSouth West environment and tourism correspondentBBCWill Luke created a pond on his farm near Plymouth to help improve resilience to drought and floodingRainwater used to surge through Will Luke's dairy farm whenever there was a downpour.He used to watch it flow away but concerns over "drier and drier" summers led him to build a storage pond allowing him to put that water to use - particularly for livestock."Once it leaves the farm, it's no good to me,"…

Frustration over renationalised rail service times in Devon

Post published:October 21, 2025
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Cameron Weldon andRichard GreenSouth WestSouth Western RailwayThe Department for Transport said £360 million has been invested to renew and enhance railway infrastructure to help keep trains on timePassengers travelling on a renationalised rail service have voiced frustrations after service numbers were reduced.Commuters on the line between Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo said they had endured delays, cancellations, reduced capacity and overcrowding.South Western Railway (SWR) announced in August following a period of dry weather services between the stations…

Cornwall youth space ‘lets imaginations run wild’

Post published:October 20, 2025
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Young people are being encouraged to "take the lead" as a new youth space opens its doors.Jonathon Bray, from The Basement in Helston, Cornwall, said a number of events were due to take place at the venue which has capacity for 200 people.Mr Bray said it was hoped the activities "showcased the space and let young people know what they could put on in the space"."It's... almost handing the keys over to them and letting their imaginations run…

Horse rescued in Yatton after becoming ‘entangled’ in water-filled ditch

Post published:October 20, 2025
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A horse is back in the care of its owner after it was rescued from a water-filled ditch.It took firefighters from Avon Fire and Rescue Service about two hours to free Pinky the horse from the ditch in Yatton, North Somerset.Crews from Clevedon and Bedminster attended after the incident was reported at 17:00 BST on Friday.A fire service spokesperson said they used animal and water rescue equipment and a farmer's telehandler to free Pinky."Pinky had also become entangled…

New Bridgwater one-way system putting shoppers off, MP says

Post published:October 20, 2025
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BBCThe new one-way system affects Salmon Parade and East Quay in BridgwaterLuke KnightIn Bridgwater andChris LockyerSomersetA new one-way system in Bridgwater town centre is "clogging up roads around town", the local MP has said.As part of the Celebration Mile works, East Quay and Salmon Parade have been made one-way to traffic.Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, said Somerset Council needs to go "back to the drawing board", adding he believes shoppers are avoiding the area as a…

Cornish man to climb UK’s highest peaks for mental health charity

Post published:October 20, 2025
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A Cornish endurance runner is on a trek to run 450 miles (725km) and climb 10,000ft (3,500m) as part of the national three peaks challenge to raise money for a mental health charity.Thomas Hine, 38, from Padstow, began the challenge from Scotland on Monday with an aim to conquer three of the UK's tallest peaks: Snowdon 1,085m (3,560ft), Scafell Pike 978m (3,210ft) and Ben Nevis 1,345m (4,415ft).He has set himself the task of completing it in eight days…

Oldway Mansion break-ins costing thousands, says council

Post published:October 20, 2025
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Torbay CouncilTorbay Council said entering Oldway Mansion was "illegal and extremely dangerous"Damage caused by a series of break-ins at a historic building will cost thousands of pounds to fix, according to a council.Torbay Council said trespassers broke into Oldway Mansion in Paignton and caused damage which placed "further strain on an already stretched restoration budget".The council said visitors were still welcome to visit the grounds of the site but it asked them to respect the site boundaries and…

Hampshire grant-giving charity only able to help about one in 10

Post published:October 20, 2025
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Ellie CleverleyPolitics SouthBBCJacqui Scott, CEO of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation, says they are unable to meet the demand for local grantsA charity that assess the needs and distribute grants to other charities says so many have applied for support it can only help about one in 10 applicants.The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation (HIWCF) receives money from philanthropists, businesses and donors that want to help their local community.With an annual budget of…