county news

Cornwall Council Reform UK group leader stands down from role

Cornwall Council Reform UK group leader stands down from role

Seb NobleCornwall political reporterBBCRob Parsonage had been the leader of the Reform UK group on the council since MayThe leader of the Reform UK group on Cornwall Council has announced he is stepping down from the role.Councillor Rob Parsonage has been in the position since May - when the party won 28 seats at the local elections making them the largest group on the authority.It had hoped to be part of the new administration - but was left…

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Derelict Newquay hotel fire ‘inevitable’, councillor says

Derelict Newquay hotel fire ‘inevitable’, councillor says

Chloe ParkmanSouth West andTamsin MelvilleSouth WestSt Dennis Community Fire StationCrews from five fire stations were sent to tackle the blaze in the early hours of SundayA fire that broke out at a derelict hotel in a seaside town was "inevitable", a councillor has said.Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said crews from five stations helped tackle the blaze at the Narrowcliff Hotel in Newquay, at about 03:15 BST on Sunday.Councillor Joanna Kenny, Liberal Democrat for Newquay Central and Pentire,…

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Climber in hospital after fall from Portland cliffs

Climber in hospital after fall from Portland cliffs

A man climbing on Dorset's Jurassic Coast is in hospital after falling from cliffs.Coastguard rescue teams, the RNLI lifeboat from Weymouth, HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter, air and emergency ambulances were sent to Mutton Cove on Portland on Sunday shortly before 12:50 BST.The man was winched back up to the top of the cliffs by the search and rescue helicopter.South Western Ambulance service said he was taken by road to Dorset County Hospital for onward medical care.…

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Rob Baxter frustrated as Exeter fall short at Bristol in Prem

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says he is frustrated his side were not able to win at Bristol in the Prem but will not overreact to the defeat.The Chiefs lost 18-14 despite facing a Bears side that was down to 14 men for 30 minutes.The defeat was a first of the season for Exeter, who had a potentially match-winning try disallowed late on as they slipped to sixth in the table."We were up there talking as coaches and going…

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Purbeck Film Festival returns with Sir Sam Mendes as patron

Purbeck Film Festival returns with Sir Sam Mendes as patron

The Purbeck Film Festival is set to open spanning over 30 venues across Dorset including churches, village halls and a museum.This year, Academy Award-winning director Sir Sam Mendes joins as its newest patron. Mendes said he was "delighted" to support the event.Highlights include appearances from the Fox acting family, a Q&A with director Dan Pringle and actor Laurent Lucas following Die Before You Die at Durlston Castle, and a special screening of War Paint: Women At War with…

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Weymouth and Portland poetry trail amplifies diverse local voices

Weymouth and Portland poetry trail amplifies diverse local voices

David GilyeatSouth of EnglandThe Jawbone CollectiveA poem namechecking Weymouth's ice cream parlour Rossi's is located at the premisesThirty poems by local residents have formed an interactive poetry trail across two towns.The OmniVerse Poetry Trail has been launched across Weymouth and Portland in Dorset as part of the Towns of Culture 2025 programme, in which the towns received a combined £60,000 from Dorset Council in funding.The poems, 15 in Weymouth and 15 in Portland, aim to amplify under-represented voices,…

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Arrest after woman raped in Taunton park

Arrest after woman raped in Taunton park

A man has been arrested after a woman was raped in a park, police have confirmed.The woman was found in a distressed state in Victoria Park, Taunton, by members of the public at about 05:00 BST on Saturday, Avon and Somerset Police said.The arrest was made at an address in the town at about 18:30 on Sunday."Although an arrest has now been made, our investigation is really just beginning," said Det Sgt Wendy Fellowes."It's important now that people…

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Send in Somerset families ‘systematically failed’, say parents

Send in Somerset families ‘systematically failed’, say parents

Michelle RuminskiSomerset political reporter, Taunton andBea SwallowWest of EnglandBBCMum-of-three Hayley says trying to secure special educational need provisions for her children has been "exhausting"Parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send) say statutory deadlines are being missed by the system designed to support them.Only 6.5% of education, health and care plans (EHCPs), which are legally binding documents which set out the specific Send support individuals should get, were issued by Somerset Council within the statutory 20-week…

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CrossCountry RMT rail workers’ strike will cause ‘significant disruption’

CrossCountry RMT rail workers’ strike will cause ‘significant disruption’

Sammy JenkinsWest of EnglandPA MediaRMT union members will walk out on Saturday 18 OctoberRail passengers are being warned of "significant disruption" ahead of planned industrial action and strikes.All CrossCountry services will be impacted as members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) walk out on Saturday 18 October. The firm runs long-distance series that stretch from the South West of England to Scotland.The industrial action includes RMT union members in customer service roles.Shiona Rolfe, CrossCountry's…

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Rafa the labrador helping boost Devon children’s reading skills

A waggy-tailed mentor is helping children take their reading to the next level as part of a library scheme.Okehampton Library has been hosting "Read to Rafa" sessions for three years, giving young people the chance to read books to an eight-year-old labrador called Rafa on Tuesdays.Staff at the library said the aim was to boost literacy skills and development and since starting up the project they had seen "huge progress".Mel Thompson, Rafa's owner, said she thought her pet…

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Devon man sustains serious head injury after being punched at pub

A man has sustained a serious head injury after being punched in the face at a Devon pub.Police said officers were called to The Coaching Inn, in Queen Street, South Molton, just after 21:00 BST on Saturday after reports a man had been punched by another man, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head.The victim, a local man in his 30s, was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition,…

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Fisherman catch 210kg bluefin tuna off Devon coast

Fisherman catch 210kg bluefin tuna off Devon coast

Caroline RobinsonSouth WestIan PerkesBrixham Fish Market said the fish was caught by the team on Pechos Grandes on ThursdayA fish wholesaler has purchased a 210kg (463lb) bluefin tuna for more than £2,000.The fish was caught on Thursday by the team at Pechos Grandes and was sold at an auction on Friday at Brixham fish market.Ian Perkes, a wholesaler and exporter based in Brixham who bought the fish, said it was the biggest one caught in the area."We know…

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