county news

Historic England status to protect Cornwall and Devon buildings

Historic England status to protect Cornwall and Devon buildings

A train station, a barracks and a dairy are among the 10 buildings in the South West that were granted protected status in 2025.Historic England (HE) listed nine buildings across Devon and one in Cornwall on the National Heritage List for England for their special architectural, historic or archaeological interest.There are more than 400,000 buildings, sites and landscapes on the list and 199 places across England were added to the list over the past year.Claudia Kenyatta and Emma…

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Railway in talks over new line extension at Shillingstone

  • Post category:BBC Dorset
Railway in talks over new line extension at Shillingstone

North Dorset RailwayThe northern extension, crossing Lamb House Bridge, was completed in 2025Railway enthusiasts who have been rebuilding a section of line ripped up in the 1960s are in talks with a council about extending it further.Half a mile (800m) of track has already been reinstated by volunteers at North Dorset Railway in Shillingstone, which is home to a museum and cafe.It includes a quarter-of-a-mile (400m) extension north of the station, completed in 2025, doubling the length of…

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Engineers rush to fix gas outage for 4,600 south Devon properties

Engineers rush to fix gas outage for 4,600 south Devon properties

BBCThe outage affects homes in areas of south Devon including KingsbridgeEngineers have been working overnight to repair damage to a mains pipe that has left thousands of homes and other buildings without gas.The outage, which affects about 4,600 properties in the Kingsbridge, Malborough and Salcombe areas of south Devon, started on Saturday amid freezing temperatures.Wales & West Utilities said on Sunday that the mains pipe had now been fixed but that, as part of the ongoing repairs, engineers…

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Prince William’s Duchy of Cornwall bids for 620 homes in Somerset

Prince William’s Duchy of Cornwall bids for 620 homes in Somerset

Leigh BoobyerWest of EnglandGetty ImagesThe land in Shepton Mallet forms part of the Duchy of Cornwall estateA bid by Prince William's estate for 620 homes and a primary school in Somerset is set to be approved.The Duchy of Cornwall, along with C G Fry and Son Ltd, want to develop the Mid Somerset Showground in Shepton Mallet and also build a care home and nursery.Somerset Council approved the application in September 2025 - but councillors must vote on…

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Everything you need to know

Everything you need to know

Jasmine Ketibuah-FoleyWest of EnglandPaul BoxDates to add to your diary for a few festivals that are confirmed for 2026, near youWith a new year, comes a new social calendar and it's the perfect time to add those to your diary. While there will be no Glastonbury Festival year, here's a look at all the festivals that are happening near you in 2026.Hopefully the planning and excitement will help get you through some of the quieter, darker months of…

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Surf therapy charity begun in Cornwall hails record year of help

Surf therapy charity begun in Cornwall hails record year of help

A surf therapy charity has thanked supporters after it reported helping a record number of people in 2025.The Wave Project, which was founded in Cornwall in 2011, said it supported 2,674 children and young people in the last 12 months, more than ever before.The charity offers surfing classes to support young people's mental health, across its 17 locations across the UK, staffed by 1,397 volunteers."Over the past 12 months, our community has shown up in so many ways,"…

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Gas outage hits Devon towns after mains pipe damage

  • Post category:Devon News
Gas outage hits Devon towns after mains pipe damage

Jonathan MorrisSouth WestBBCKingsbridge Town Council urged people with no gas to turn off their supply at the mainsHomes and other buildings in south Devon have been left without gas after a mains pipe was damaged.The outage, which affects properties on the Wales & West Utilities network in the Kingsbridge and Salcombe area, started on Saturday afternoon with temperatures expected to drop to freezing overnight.Kingsbridge and Salcombe town councils urged people with no gas to call the National Gas…

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Car fire sparks delays on A38 near South Brent

Car fire sparks delays on A38 near South Brent

A car fire led to tailbacks on a Devon main road.Firefighters from Buckfastleigh and Ivybridge dealt with the fire on the A38's eastbound carriageway near the Woodpecker Interchange at South Brent.Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, which was called at about 08:30 GMT, said nobody was injured in the fire.Drivers were diverted away from the scene before the road was reopened by police at about 10:00 GMT. Source link

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Nature reserve being created alongside Somerset’s Strawberry Line

Nature reserve being created alongside Somerset’s Strawberry Line

Daniel MumbyLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceThe site near Wells offers wide views over the Somerset LevelsA nature reserve is being created as part of a key walking and cycling route across rural Somerset.Volunteers working on Hollybrook reserve are fencing off a piece of land next to the Strawberry Line, which runs from Yatton railway station to Shepton Mallet.The team plans to create a picnic area at the entrance to the nature reserve near Wells, while a…

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Emerging travel trends key for Devon’s tourism industry

  • Post category:Devon News
Emerging travel trends key for Devon’s tourism industry

Kirk EnglandSouth West environment and tourism correspondentBBCTourism bosses said 2026 is a crucial year for the industry after increases in operating costs for some during 2025The next 12 months have been described as "pivotal" to Devon's tourism sector with a need to cater to growing demands for travel involving wellness, the outdoors and nature.Adapting to "emerging travel trends" will help "get visitor numbers back up" said Sally Everton, general manager of Visit Devon.Owner of The Big Sheep attraction…

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Ice warnings are updated for South West as snow falls in Devon

  • Post category:Devon News
Ice warnings are updated for South West as snow falls in Devon

An updated weather alert for ice has been issued for the South West, as a "light dusting" fell in parts of Devon on Saturday. The Met Office yellow warning runs from 16:00 GMT on Saturday until 12:00 on Sunday. A second yellow alert runs from 15:00 on Sunday to 12:00 on Monday. The service said icy patches may cause travel disruption, as well as injuries due to slips and falls.Devon County Council warned locals to travel with care,…

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Cornwall dentist group to fight lack of NHS provision

Cornwall dentist group to fight lack of NHS provision

PA MediaA 2024 report found 34.5% of adults in Cornwall had been able to see an NHS dentist in the previous two yearsA group has been launched to combat what one MP has described as "shocking" NHS dental provision in Cornwall.The North Cornwall Dental Group (NCDG) said it aimed to bring together dentists, health partners and community organisations from across the constituency to support the NHS locally."Too many people here in north Cornwall cannot see an NHS dentist,…

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