devon

Call to protect endangered spider found in Plymouth quarry

Call to protect endangered spider found in Plymouth quarry

Tom ThomsonBuglife said opening the quarry as a campsite would disturb the habitat for horrid ground-weaver spidersUrgent action is needed to secure the future of a quarry which is home to an critically endangered species of spider, a charity has said.The invertebrate conservation trust Buglife has asked Plymouth City Council to protect Radford Quarry, a site which is home to a variety of wildlife including the horrid ground-weaver spider.The charity said it was one of only four sites…

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Cornish pharmacies warn funding pressures are ‘unsustainable’

Cornish pharmacies warn funding pressures are ‘unsustainable’

Seb NobleCornwall political reporterBBCAmandip Kaur said her pharmacy in St Dennis made a loss on half of the medicines it dispensesA pharmacist has warned more chemists in the South West could be forced to shut because of funding pressures, without urgent action from the government. The National Pharmacy Association said about 27 had closed in Cornwall and Devon between October 2022 and June this year. Those in the industry said the cost of up to half of the…

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Vandals cause £19k damage to Exeter skate park fence

Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused to a sound barrier at a skate park.The fencing which helped shield nearby areas from noise at the site has been vandalised at Arena Skate Park in the Whipton area of Exeter.Councillor Ruth Williams, Exeter City Council's lead for city management, said £19,000 damage had been caused.Williams added vandalism had been happening regularly and urged people to report any further damage to Devon and Cornwall Police."It saddens me to…

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Plymouth Argyle facing decisive period, says boss Tom Cleverley

Plymouth Argyle are heading into a decisive part of their season, according to head coach Tom Cleverley.The Pilgrims host AFC Wimbledon at Home Park on Saturday before a run of five consecutive away games.The trips begin with a Devon derby at rivals Exeter City, then Mansfield, Wycombe in the FA Cup, a League One trip to Huddersfield Town and, finally, an EFL Trophy game at Bristol Rovers."I've made quite a strong point to the players that the next…

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Torpoint Ferry to trial electricity in decarbonisation push

Torpoint Ferry to trial electricity in decarbonisation push

A chain ferry between Devon and Cornwall is to be part of a green energy trial.The Torpoint Ferry will use electricity in place of fossil fuels in a study scheduled to begin early next year, said its operator.Tamar Crossings said successful decarbonisation could reduce carbon emissions from its three ferries by up to 1,000 tonnes a year.The project was awarded £300,000 from the government as part of its aim for net zero shipping by 2050.Philip Robinson, chief officer…

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Councils plan to split Devon into three unitary authorities

Councils plan to split Devon into three unitary authorities

Miles DavisDevon political reporterNorth Devon CouncilDevon would be split into three unitary authorities under plans backed by district councilsDevon should be split into three unitary authorities in a huge shake-up of local government, according to the district councils in the county.All of the district councils and the county council will be abolished in the biggest national reorganisation of local government for 50 years.The existing district councils say they want to see a new unitary authority across north and…

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Sheep killed after being struck on Dartmoor train line

Train services in part of Devon have been disrupted after a sheep died when it was struck on the line.The livestock were reported on the track between Crediton and Okehampton on the Dartmoor Line just after 12:00 BST.Network Rail said one of the sheep had been struck and killed before engineers had been made aware the animals were on the single-track line.Great Western Railway said services Exeter Central and Okehampton via Exeter St Davids could be cancelled, delayed…

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Devon and Cornwall Police say disability hate crime under-reported

Devon and Cornwall Police say disability hate crime under-reported

Cameron Weldon andGeorge ThorpeSouth WestPA MediaDevon and Cornwall Police said it had seen an increase in the number of reports related to disability hate crimesDisability hate crime could still be under-reported despite an increase in the number of people coming forward, police have said.As part of National Hate Crime Awareness Week, which runs until Saturday, Devon and Cornwall Police said the number of offences involving a victim's disability in 2024-25 was 419, a 17% increase from the 358…

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Police drop investigation into Reform councillors in Devon

Police drop investigation into Reform councillors in Devon

A police investigation into allegations against Reform councillors and their election agent of overspending on election expenses has been dropped.Devon County Council members Neil Stevens, his brother Tony Stevens and their agent Rob Sheridan all faced claims of overspending in the May elections.The police launched an investigation in June after another Reform councillor, Ed Hill, reported his concerns to the authorities.Devon and Cornwall Police said no further action would be taken after the Stevens brothers and Mr Sheridan…

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Campaigners fight plans to reopen Devon ball clay pit

Campaigners fight plans to reopen Devon ball clay pit

BBCOne of the six lakes proposed to be removed under plans to reopen a quarryCampaigners have warned against plans to cut down a woodland as part of a move to reopen a ball clay pit. Clay pit operators Sibelco want to expand the Zitherixon quarry, located between Kingsteignton and Newton Abbot in Devon, to extract five million tonnes of ball clay over the next 50 years.The firm stopped extracting from it in 1995, but it said reserves of…

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Carmen – Exeter Observer

Carmen – Exeter Observer

Exeter Opera Group is performing Bizet’s Carmen on Saturday 8 November at Exeter Castle and Saturday 22 November at Mary Harris Memorial Chapel of the Holy Trinity.First staged in 1875, Carmen is one of the most frequently performed operas in the classical canon. Set in southern Spain, it recounts the downfall of Don José, a soldier seduced by the fiery Carmen.In the Exeter Opera Group production, which is performed in French with narration in English, Carmen will be…

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M5 reopens after lorry fire causes major delays in Devon

M5 reopens after lorry fire causes major delays in Devon

George Thorpe,Archie Farmer andZhara SimpsonSouth WestWatch: 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 for several hours.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 carrying 20 tonnes (2000kg)…

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