Local News

New BBC political show puts the spotlight on issues across England

“It’s never been more important to listen to people and the local issues which affect them,” says the Director of BBC England as she launches a new weekly politics show in the South West.

Local stories have the power to shape the national picture and that was proved like never before in the 2019 General Election, believes Helen Thomas, who says Politics South West will “put local...

Countryside campaigner CPRE Devon flags up concerns over plans for a huge new solar farm near Barnstaple

The Devon branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE Devon) is urging its members in North Devon and other interested parties in the area to attend a public exhibition next week to find out about plans for a massive solar installation to the south-west of Barnstaple.

CPRE Devon has learnt that Bristol-based Aura Power is considering developing a huge new solar farm on a site...

New partnership for local woodland

Holyford Woods Local Nature Reserve is now being managed by East Devon District Council’s Countryside Team in partnership with Axe Vale & District Conservation Society (AVDCS), following the dissolution of the long-standing Holyford Woodland Trust.

Holyford Woodland Trust (HWT) was formed in 2001 when South West Water put the wooded valley up for sale and the cost of purchase to...

Grants up for grabs for Dartmoor communities

Community groups are invited to apply for funding that’ll help them deliver projects which celebrate all that’s great about Dartmoor. Following on from the recent Moor than meets the eye-funded Parishscapes project, similar funding is now available so communities can develop projects that are important to their area’s history and heritage. • Conserve, enhance or celebrate the cultural,...

South West: Jobs for life become a thing of the past

A job for life is a thing of the past, a new survey had revealed, with people now moving job roles more frequently than ever before.

In the South West, 63 per cent of those surveyed agreed that a job for life was something they no longer expected, with only 13 per cent in the region having stayed working in a role for more than 10 years.

The research revealed that 57 per cent...

Zoo says good bye to Lucifer

Paignton Zoo is sad to announce that senior male lion Lucifer has had to be put to sleep.

Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling: “Lucifer was 17 years old, so he was a good age for an Asiatic lion. He was, like a lot of us, showing signs of wear and tear on his body. He had some weakness and ataxia – that’s wobbliness in his hind limbs – he would stagger occasionally, especially when going up...

National Trust launches 125th year with beacon lightings

The National Trust will be lighting beacons across the South West on Thursday 9 January as part of a national network of beacons to celebrate 125 years since the conservation charity was founded.

They will be lit at dawn to mark the moment that the charity was founded by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Canon Hardwicke Rawnsley to give people access to nature, to beauty and to...

Free talk on 'nature friendly' hill farming

Dartmoor farmers are invited to a free talk which focuses on how nature-friendly hill farms can be more profitable. Chris Clark, co-author of report ‘ Less is more: Improving profitability and the natural environment in hill and other marginal farming systems ’ is hosting the event which has been organised by Dartmoor Hill Farm Project. The event is taking place at the Two Bridges Hotel,...

Devon County Council spent over £100,000 on pothole damage compensation

Devon's roads contain so many potholes that it's one of the highest places for pothole-related compensation in the UK, according to figures acquired in a Freedom Of Information Act request.

The UK company Lease Car sent out an FOI request to Devon County Council to discover how much they have had to pay in compensation claims related to pothole damage.

They discovered that...

Signs that You Found the Right Car Financing Deal

It's not easy to commit yourself to a car finance deal. It takes a lot of time before you get finished with the payments. You also have to be consistent in paying before the due date. Otherwise, you will incur lots of charges and fees. You should only sign the contract if you're already confident about your decision. These are the signs that you found the right car financing deal that you won...

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