Local News

New fund will help households with the rising cost of living

Devon County Council has announced a new pot of funding to help residents who are struggling to afford to pay for their gas, electricity or water usage, buy food or other essential items.

The Household Support Fund is a government initiative, and in the latest funding round Devon will be allocated around £5 million.

There are conditions on how the money can be used, but the...

EDDC gives green light to supermarket, shops, nursery and land acquisition in Cranbrook Town Centre

East Devon District Council has approved funding of up to £5.5m for the acquisition of town centre land in Cranbrook, as well as approving three planning applications for a supermarket, high street shops with apartments above, a town square and a children’s day nursery – all bringing the 21st century town centre closer to a reality.

The £5.5m investment is funded by the Exeter and...

Police appeal after two men assaulted in Exmouth

Police investigating reports of an assault on two men in Exmouth on Sunday 10 April are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Officers were called to reports of an altercation involving four men in Imperial Road, between 2.40am and 2.55am.

A man in his 20s sustained head and facial injuries which required treatment in hospital. A second man was less seriously injured...

‘Safe Roads For All’ announced as UK Road Safety Week 2022 theme

The theme of this year’s Road Safety Week , the UK’s biggest annual road safety campaign, will be ‘Safe Roads for All’, the charity Brake announced today.

This year’s campaign takes place between 14 and 20 November and will bring communities and professionals together to speak up for everyone's right to make safe and healthy journeys on our roads.

The 2022 campaign will...

The RSPB calls for everyone to join the wildlife-planting revolution in the South West

The RSPB is calling for everyone in the South West to join the wildlife-planting revolution after a YouGov survey revealed that three quarters (78%) of people are now doing at least something in their garden or outside space to help wildlife (with 23% trying a lot, 28% trying a fair amount, and 27% trying a little).

The survey, commissioned by the RSPB as part of their Nature on Your...

Star studded international line-up announced for Budleigh Music Festival 2022

Budleigh Music Festival makes a welcome return for 2022 with a week-long programme of live music from 8th – 16thJuly. Boasting an impressive bill of talent formulated by artistic director Jason Thornton, classical music fans will be spoilt for choice with lunchtime and evening concerts at St. Peter’s Church, in Budleigh Salterton.

World class musicians, Castalian Quartet, officially...

Double yellow lines for roads around Two Bridges  

Road safety improvements have been installed on a busy stretch of road troubled by irresponsible parking. A ‘no waiting at any time’ order has come into force on roads around Two Bridges. The road has long suffered from parking issues, which is not only visually intrusive but has led to road safety concerns including reduced visibility and a narrowing of the road, which can make it difficult...

Devon and Cornwall receive £1.8m funding boost to support thousands of people into skilled jobs

Devon County Council and Cornwall Council have been awarded £1.8 million funding from the Department for Education’s National Skills Fund to run a third year of Skills Bootcamps .

The Train4Tomorrow Skills Bootcamps are flexible courses lasting up to 16 weeks, that offer adults the opportunity to retrain into in-demand job roles in emerging and growth sectors. The bootcamps are...

Scout troop potting up sunflower seeds

Sunflowers to show support for Ukraine

Scouts from the 1st Ottery St Mary Scout Group have been busy potting up sunflower seeds donated by Otter Garden Centres to grow flowers that will help show support for Ukraine.

The sunflowers will be mixed with blue geraniums in planters around the war memorial to create the colours of the Ukraine flag. Sunflowers have been grown in Ukraine since the 1700s before becoming the country’...

Crediton u3a member goes from a life of crime to storytelling as national writing competition propels her into a new literary career  

A woman who spent her entire career working life in the criminal justice system has launched a new career as an author following success in a charity’s annual short story competition.

u3a enables members to learn new things, laugh with friends and live life to the full once they are no longer in full time employment.

In partnership with Bloomsbury, one of the world’s leading...

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