Local News

Devon Is One of the UK's Most Visited Counties: Here's How Locals Are Making the Most of Staying In

On a warm weekend, Devon fills early because it's a seaside hotspot that’s usually on the tip of everyone’s tongue when discussing where to visit. As a result, however, beach car parks tighten before lunch, the road back from the coast loses half its speed, and the simple idea of heading out...

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CPRE Devon criticises ‘planning by stealth’ as county council approves massive expansion of Mid Devon anaerobic digester plant

The Devon branch of the countryside charity CPRE is dismayed at the decision by Devon County Council to approve a massive expansion of a Mid Devon anaerobic digester plant, Willand Biogas, effectively permitting it to handle almost five times the original amount of feedstock.

The plant, sited next to the abattoir in Willand, was originally approved to take abattoir waste, together with...

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CPRE Devon

Willand

Mid Devon

anaerobic digester

Temporary changes to on-street parking enforcement

In order to help residents parking outside their homes while working from home or self-isolating during the Coronavirus outbreak, the County Council’s parking enforcement teams will reduce enforcement on certain roads – although double yellow lines will still be enforced.

Changes to routine patrols will enable officers to concentrate their efforts on keeping key routes running...

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Torquay penguins inspire novel

Living Coasts, in Torquay, famous for its penguins, has helped inspire a novelist to write a book featuring penguins – published by Penguin.

The novel, by Exmoor-based writer Hazel Prior, is called Away With The Penguins . Living Coasts' Senior Keeper, Jason Keller, helped Hazel with her research into hand-rearing baby penguins.

Away With The Penguins has been described as a...

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away with the penguins

Hazel Prior

Coronavirus scam warning

Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards is warning people to be wary of suspicious emails as fraudsters attempt to exploit the spread of coronavirus.

Since last month the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau has identified 21 reports across Britain where coronavirus was mentioned with victims losing over £800,000 in total.

Ten of these reports were made by victims...

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coronavirus

scam

Planning proposals for new district heating network in East Devon

A local development order (LDO) is being proposed for district heating networks in the area to the east of Exeter, in and around the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone.

The LDO is a way for East Devon District Council, as the Local Planning Authority, to put in place a simplified planning system by granting planning consent for development as specified. LDOs encourage economic...

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planning

heating network

east devon

Free bus travel for community volunteers

Stagecoach South West is offering free travel for community volunteer groups delivering vital supplies across the county.

At this troubling time the bus operator wants to reward those community heroes who are helping people isolated at home and unable to travel. The offer for organised volunteer groups will help keep the volunteers moving as the South West prepares for a rise in...

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Keep Britain Singing with Rock Choir

Rock Choir is the largest contemporary choir of the UK and remains unique with over 32,000 Members participating in approximately 400 local communities across the UK. With coronavirus gripping the country and with many of their Members in isolation, Rock Choir Founder and Creative Director, Caroline Redman Lusher , has announced how Rock Choir will ‘Keep Britain Singing’ .

Rock Choir...

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Rock Choir

singing

5 styling tips to make any outfit look instantly cooler

You may be under the impression that style bloggers and celebs have unlimited wardrobes, but in actual fact, they just make small changes to basic outfits in order to make them stand out and look chic. Somehow, they’re able to put together items that you’d never even dream of in order to create next-level, fresh looks. There are a number of things you can do to make any outfit look amazing....

Learning where bread comes from in one of Britain’s oldest working mills

Primary school pupils from North Devon travelled to the east of the county for a lesson in how grain was milled 1,000 years ago.

As a part of their ‘Farm to Fork’ topic, pupils aged between four to six years old, from Umberleigh Primary Academy and Brayford Academy, visited the East Devon village of Otterton where the ancient water-powered mill produces stoneground wholemeal flour in...

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Stagecoach extends free bus travel for Devon's elderly and vulnerable

Stagecoach is working with local authorities to temporarily relax time restrictions on concessionary travel to allow earlier access to bus services

Bus company Stagecoach South West has announced that it is working in partnership with local authorities to temporarily relax time restrictions on concessionary travel across Devon to allow travel for the elderly and vulnerable early in...

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