county news

Cornwall Council rents to rise 4.8% to fund housing upgrades

Cornwall Council rents to rise 4.8% to fund housing upgrades

Lee TrewhelaLocal Democracy Reporting ServiceCornwall CouncilRents for council homes in Cornwall are set to rise by 4.8% under proposalsRents for council homes in Cornwall are set to rise by 4.8% under proposals aimed at improving the quality of the local authority's housing stock.Cornwall Council's corporate finance scrutiny committee agreed on Tuesday the 2026/27 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan should move forward to Cornwall Council's cabinet for consideration.If approved, the increase would see a typical three-bedroom household pay…

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North Devon Council gives £36,000 to village hall improvements

North Devon Council gives £36,000 to village hall improvements

Councillors have agreed £36,000 be given to village halls and a sports project in North Devon.North Devon Council is set to give £18,000 to Instow Village Hall £18,000 for its Go Green Project, £7,000 to Bishops Nympton Parish Hall for a new patio, almost £8,000 to Witheridge Village Hall for new guttering and £3,500 to Burrington Parish Council for a new entrance into the sports field.The cash comes from contributions from developers who have built homes in the…

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How do utility companies know where to dig?

How do utility companies know where to dig?

Available for over a yearIt saves time, improves safety and is something you'd think has been around for decades, but a new map has been made by the Ordinance Survey details then underground networks underground in Devon. Caroline Densley spoke to Ash Wheeler from the OS to find out more.Programme WebsiteShow less Source link

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Shane Burger: Somerset batting coach to leave club

Shane Burger: Somerset batting coach to leave club

Somerset batting coach Shane Burger is to leave the club.The 43-year-old, who was also an assistant coach at Taunton, had been with the club since January 2023 when he left his role as Scotland head coach.Burger had been contracted through to the end of 2026, but will leave to take up "new opportunity within the English domestic game"."We've achieved so much in the last three years," he told the club website."There's been growth in the squad and we've…

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Somerset NHS dentists open thousands of new patient spaces

Somerset NHS dentists open thousands of new patient spaces

Three new NHS dental practices offering a combined 20,000 patient places are opening in a county to help tackle a lack of dental care.Two new dental practices which opened in Chard and Wellington in Somerset will be followed by a third due to open in Crewkerne in January.This marks the first large-scale procurement of NHS dental services in the county since local NHS commissioners took over responsibility for dentistry from NHS England in April 2023.Among the first patients…

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Alanis Morissette to play Powderham Castle in 2026

Alanis Morissette to play Powderham Castle in 2026

Canadian pop legend Alanis Morissette has been confirmed as the latest headliner for a music event being staged in Devon in 2026. Morissette is the final headline artist announced for TK Maxx presents Live At Powderham in Exeter and is due to play on Friday 26 June. The event is organised by Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.Morissette featured at the Glastonbury Festival earlier this year, and returns to south-west England, alongside fellow festival stalwarts, Lewis Capaldi and…

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Cornwall residents consulted on Blue Badge disabled parking

Cornwall residents consulted on Blue Badge disabled parking

People who use a Blue Badge to park in Cornwall are being asked to give their views on how the system is working for them.Blue Badges allow people with certain disabilities to park closer to shops and services, whether they are the driver or a passenger in a vehicle.It is hoped the anonymous survey, organised by Cornwall Council, will allow the authority to better support users and tackle misuse.About 36,000 people living in Cornwall have a Blue Badge.A…

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Devon woman transforms entire house into a work of art

Devon woman transforms entire house into a work of art

BBCEmily Powell hand-painted every inch of her home with vibrant pictures of things that are important to her familyA terraced family home has been turned into a lived-in work of art with paintings spanning from floor to ceiling in every room.It is the work of Devon artist Emily Powell, who is known for vibrant and colourful canvases.She said she "suddenly let loose" after beginning the work a decade ago, hand-painting everything inside the property, from light switches to…

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South West’s buses receive £90m investment for improvements

South West’s buses receive £90m investment for improvements

Seb NobleCornwall political reporter, PlymouthBBCSimon Lightwood said the cash would be given directly to local authorities for them to improve servicesAbout £90 million is going to be invested into improving bus services around the South West, the Government has confirmed.It said Cornwall Council would receive about £30m, Devon and Torbay £43m, and Plymouth £14m.The Department for Transport explained the money was for local councils to increase services, keep fares low, and to spend on newer, greener vehicles. It…

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James Purefoy’s Somerset tour ‘a way of giving something back’

James Purefoy’s Somerset tour ‘a way of giving something back’

James DiamondWest of EnglandGetty ImagesJames Purefoy says he feels "a weight lift from his shoulders" when he returns to SomersetActor James Purefoy says a tour of village halls across his home county is his way of "giving back" to where he grew up.Purefoy, 61, grew up in Martock in Somerset and is in the middle of a tour across the county which involves him answering questions about his life and career, which includes film and TV series including…

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Growing crops in Paignton allotment ‘good for the soul’

Growing crops in Paignton allotment ‘good for the soul’

BBCPaul Rodgers is growing Brussels sprouts for Christmas, among several other cropsA gardener who has lovingly tended the same allotment for almost 62 years says he is "mastering it slowly".Growing vegetables has been a lifelong passion for Paul Rodgers, who started cultivating part of his father's plot in Paignton, Devon, in 1963, when he was 13.He and his wife Angela now tend four plots at York Road allotments, growing Brussels sprouts, cauliflowers, cabbages, carrots, leeks and beetroot among…

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Free Christmas events across the West this winter

Free Christmas events across the West this winter

BBCChristmas markets are opening up all around the West The Christmas countdown has begun and a range of festive events have been planned to keep you occupied for the merry season. Christmas can get expensive, so here is a list of all the free events to keep the cheer alive this year.Bristol Cathedral will host a Advent Procession this yearBristolThere are numerous free and affordable events for families happening in Bristol.Seasonal Children's Cinema: City Farm Cafe will host…

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