Local News

When Love Becomes Advocacy

As Carers Week prompts conversations about supporting unpaid carers, I’ve found myself reflecting on something that has touched both my professional and personal life recently: advocacy.

And more specifically, what it feels like when advocacy is not a professional role, but something...

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Police appeal to track three wanted men in Plymouth

Police are turning to the public to help them locate three men; two on a recall to prison and one for failing to appear at Plymouth Magistrates Court.

27-year-old Christopher Shakespeare (left in picture) has failed to comply with the conditions of his license and is wanted for a recall to prison. He is described as approximately 5’9” tall of slim build with short brown hair.

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Think before calling 999 or 101

Devon and Cornwall Police is asking everyone this festive season, and throughout the coming year, to think carefully before calling 999 or 101 and to only do so in an emergency or to report a non-urgent crime.

The Force’s two contact centres in Plymouth and Exeter receive more than a million calls a year. Although many people use the service responsibly there are still a significant...

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SW house prices to increase by 5% in 2016

House prices in the South West will see an increase of 5% over the course of next year according to the RICS housing forecast for 2016. This is lower than the national average increase of 6% but the same as London and Northern Island. The North East is likely to see the most modest price rise with a predicted increase for 2016 at 3%.

Transactions nationally will edge up to between 1.25...

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Getting crafty for canines at Christmas

Dogs Trust Ilfracombe has been getting crafty to help their homeless hounds feel as at home as possible this festive season, as staff prepare for what is expected to be another busy Christmas.

A local volunteer named Michelle Hindes, who makes bespoke embroidered bandanas for the dogs, has created festive decorations and personalised an array of Christmas stockings for some of the...

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Christmas Dance raises £1,000 for SW Mesothelioma Support Group

A great time was had on Saturday 12 December, with 132 dancers attending what was Wally’s Dance Party’s last dance at City College Plymouth.

An evening of ballroom and sequence dancing, plus a raffle, raised £1000 for the South West Mesothelioma Support Group, every penny of which will be going to the charity, thanks to the generosity of Plymouth solicitors Novum Law who generously...

Police reassure public about 'unfounded' terrorist attack rumours

Devon & Cornwall Police have released a statement following rumours of planned terrorist attacks in the region.

The statement reads: “The current threat across the UK from international terrorism remains ‘severe’, meaning an attack is highly likely.

“The increased level of activity is matched by UK police, security and intelligence services who are working tirelessly and at...

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Mild weather set to stay through Christmas

With just a few days to go until the festive holidays begin, what weather can we expect this Christmas?

The Met Office say after the mild, unsettled start to December it looks likely that this theme will continue through until the end of the year with some spells of windy, wet weather but also drier, brighter periods with some showers. Although temperatures will remain above average,...

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Rising tide of tourism on the South West Coast Path

Figures released last week about the South West Coast Path show that walkers using England’s longest National Trail spent around £468m during 2014, an increase of almost 23% in the past five years. It bucks the trend for tourism in the region as a whole, which increased by 12% overall but has remained fairly static in the past two years.

With one million more visitors spending an...

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Devon’s JSA claimants fall in November

The number of people in Devon claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) in November fell by 85 compared to the previous month.

And 65 of those people were aged under 24.

At the end of November the total number of claimants stood at 3,693.

Overall the claimant rate for Devon – the percentage of Devon’s working age population claiming JSA – is 0.8%, far below the UK average...

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Rail line disruption faces dramatic increase

Rail services to and from the South West of England could be disrupted for more than 10 per cent of each year by 2040 and almost a third by 2100, a new study suggests.

The cost of maintaining tracks and sea defences could also soar as predicted sea level rises, coupled with coastal storms and floods, pose major challenges for rail operators and governments.

The research,...

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