South West

Outdoor festival launches with most iconic trail

A new outdoor festival with one of Britain’s toughest trails is promised to be one of the highlights of the South west festival.

The running event is to take place in the heart of Heddon Valley in North Devon this September 23-25.

There will be a mixture of trail running challenges, with three distances to choose from which are a full off road marathon length race, a half...

Better journeys on the way for SW rail passengers

Plans to give rail passengers along the South Western network more trains, more space and faster journeys were announced yesterday (4 July) by Rail Minister Claire Perry.

The Department for Transport has published documents setting out how bidders for the new South Western franchise will be required to provide plans for:

  • At least 95 additional services on weekdays from
  • ...

People with high blood pressure wanted for clinical trial

PEOPLE in the South West suffering from high blood pressure are being given the chance to take part in a major clinical research trial which could herald a ‘new era’ in the treatment of the life-threatening condition.

The ‘WAVE IV’ trial at the Royal Devon and Exeter Foundation Trust is testing a new one-hour, one-off non-invasive treatment which aims to reduce blood pressure...

Research reveals SW's love of local charities and community spirit

New research released to celebrate Small Charity Week (13-18 June) reveals that the South West is a community-minded region, embracing small local charities and community groups and the charitable services they provide. Findings show that almost half of residents in the South West have received the support of local charities in their community, with 78% of those having benefitted directly from...

EU Single Market critical to regional economy

The UK’s membership of the European Union has helped boost job creation and growth in the South West for more than forty years, with as many as 250,000 jobs in the region currently linked to exports to the Single Market, the CBI argues.

According to figures from HM Treasury, there is the potential to create 74,340 future jobs for the South West if the UK remains in the EU, and...

Bid writing company launches in Plymouth

A new start-up based in Plymouth is aiming to make a real difference to schools and charities throughout the South West.

Trust Bids, founded by Clive Martyn, is a specialist bid writing company based at the new Thrive Business Hub in the heart of Plymouth City Centre.

Trust Bids was established to help schools, academies and charitable trusts find and win the grants, funds and...

South West Classic Car Show comes to Redlake

Classic buses, cars and vintage vehicles to take over heritage building at Redlake – 23rd July 2016

Fundraising and income generating for the charity set up to help young people – The Eddystone Trust – continues at The Clay Factory, Redlake (5 minutes from Endsleigh) with yet more varied events.

Following the massive success of last year’s inaugural Christmas Extravaganza,...

Is SW coast the next target for desperate immigrants?

Concerns have been raised that the SW coast could become a new target for desperate immigramts after Coastguards intercepted a dinghy carrying 18 Albanians trying to reach the Kent coast.

It has emerged that the number of Border Force boats patrolling Britain’s coastline was reduced to three after one was deployed to the Aegean Sea to patrol for migrant smuggling vessels.

The...

Researcher runs across the Westcountry for dementia charity

A final year PhD student from Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, who is part of a team working towards effective therapies for dementia, has committed to running a number of half marathons over the coming months in support of dementia research charity, BRACE.

Tracey Evans is part of a team investigating the role of proteins in the development of dementia...

Right to Buy extension will cost SW councils millions

The average council in the South West will need to pay a staggering £19.4 million a year to the government to fund their flagship Right to Buy extension, new research by Shelter reveals today.

The policy, now being put through parliament as part of the government’s Housing and Planning Bill, would force local authorities to sell off a proportion of their council houses on the open...

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