county news

North Somerset Council warns tax could rise to cover costs

North Somerset Council warns tax could rise to cover costs

Paul BarltropWest of England political editorBBCNorth Somerset Council leader Mike Bell said council tax rates could increaseCouncil tax could rise by as much as 20% as North Somerset Council juggles the increasing cost of social services.The authority currently has one of the region's lowest council tax rates, but officials warned its spending could go £25m over budget next year due to the fact its two biggest areas of spending are looking after elderly and disabled adults and children's…

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Teens are ‘terminally online’ and checking phones in lessons

Teens are ‘terminally online’ and checking phones in lessons

A secondary school plans to become a phone-free space after pupils were able to view disturbing videos online.Will Penny, head teacher of Backwell School in Somerset, said he was considering spending £20,000 on magnetic locking pouches so that pupils are not tempted to use their phone during the day.The move comes as a study by the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol found up to 25 per cent of pupils surveyed had a wide range…

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Mary Arches “co-living” developer resists “miniscule” room size criticisms as design revisions prompt further consultation

Mary Arches “co-living” developer resists “miniscule” room size criticisms as design revisions prompt further consultation

Eutopia Homes has submitted minor design revisions to its application for full planning permission for a 300-bed seven storey “co-living” complex between Bartholomew Street East and Mary Arches Street, triggering a second public consultation on the plans.It has resisted criticism of the tiny room sizes in the development, which it wants to build at quadruple the recommended local plan density on the 0.49 hectare Mary Arches car parks site between a pair of student accommodation blocks providing 158…

Continue ReadingMary Arches “co-living” developer resists “miniscule” room size criticisms as design revisions prompt further consultation

Lorry fire on M5 near Exeter causes delays and long queues

Lorry fire on M5 near Exeter causes delays and long queues

A lorry fire has forced the closure of part of the M5 in Devon.The fire broke out on the northbound side of the motorway between junctions 30 and 29 in Exeter at about 11:35 BST, said Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.Firefighters issued a warning for residents and businesses near the scene to close their windows and doors due to the amount of smoke from the blaze.National Highways said the lorry was transporting batteries and domestic appliances…

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Engineers assess impact after car fire cuts Beaminster broadband

Engineers assess impact after car fire cuts Beaminster broadband

Ros TappendenSouth of EnglandDWFRSThe car hit a telegraph pole and caught fire, leaving hundreds of homes without internetEngineers working to restore broadband to hundreds of customers cut off following a car fire say it is not yet clear when services can be restored.About 1,000 customers in Beaminster, Dorset, lost their internet service when a car crashed into a telegraph pole and burst into flames on Sunday.Some were told they could be reconnected on Thursday but Openreach was unable…

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Major delays on M5 due to lorry fire

Major delays on M5 due to lorry fire

George ThorpeDevon andArchie FarmerDevonWatch: Dashcam footage of a lorry fire which closed part of the M5There has been disruption on the M5 after a lorry fire forced the closure of part of the road in Devon.The fire started on the northbound side of the motorway between junctions 30 and 29 in Exeter at about 11:35 BST, said Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.National Highways said the lorry was transporting batteries and domestic appliances with nine miles (14.48km)…

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North Devon human remains belonged to same man, police say

North Devon human remains belonged to same man, police say

Human remains found on two beaches in Devon have been identified as being the same man, police have said.An investigation was launched in May after remains appeared on Westward Ho! beach near Bideford and part of the coastline in Appledore on 22 May.Devon and Cornwall Police said both sets of remains had been identified and belonged to the same man. The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file for the coroner is being prepared. Source…

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Man seriously injured after group assault in Barnstaple

A man has been left with fractured ribs and a punctured lung after being "set upon by a group".The incident happened at about 01:05 BST on Saturday in Queen Street, Barnstaple, following a disturbance involving 12 to 14 young people, Devon and Cornwall Police said.Officers said a man in his early 20s was found outside Barum Takeaway with serious injuries and taken to hospital for treatment.Anyone who has information or video footage related to the attack has been…

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Parents’ plea over closure of Dorchester SEND pre-school

Parents’ plea over closure of Dorchester SEND pre-school

Ros Tappenden andFiona ClampinDorsetLucy CapesLucy and Joel Capes say the closure of the pre-school will have a huge impact on their livesParents of children with special educational needs and disabilities attending a specialist pre-school in Dorset have launched a petition to stop it from closing.The Dorchester Opportunity Group, which has been running for more than 30 years, has announced it will close in December.The charity's trustees said the service was no longer financially viable and, despite discussions with…

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Seal entangled in fishing net on west Cornwall beach saved

Seal entangled in fishing net on west Cornwall beach saved

Marine medics have saved the life of a young seal after it became entangled in discarded fishing net which snagged on a mussel bed in shallow water.The grey seal was caught in a mass of net which became caught on the mussel bed, anchoring it down and risking the mammal's life at a beach in west Cornwall on Sunday. British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) said had the tide been coming in, the water would have drowned it.A…

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Cornwall Council to sell 37 modular units for homeless

Cornwall Council to sell 37 modular units for homeless

Lee TrewhelaLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceCornwall CouncilThe council bought the units in response to housing pressures during and after the Covid pandemicCornwall Council is set to sell nearly half of a modular home system designed to provide accommodation for single homeless people.The authority said it was looking to sell 37 of its 79 SoloHaus units, adding it would cost about £9m to set them up - a figure which would increase if it had to purchase land.The council bought…

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Cyclist beats Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar in uphill race

Cyclist beats Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar in uphill race

Eben Morrish-CroadSomersetAndraz CorelAndrew Feather from Bath was the only rider out of 1,189 cyclists to beat PogačarA 40-year-old cyclist has beaten the four-time Tour de France winner and current world champion in an uphill charity race.Andrew Feather from Bath was the only rider out of 1,189 to beat Tadej Pogačar in a 15km climb in his home country of Slovenia.All the amateur riders were given a six-minute head start by Pogačar, who some commentators believe is the greatest…

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