Exeter

Council aims to protect school crossing patrols

Plymouth City Council is looking to protect school crossing patrols in the city from the impact of Government budget cuts by asking schools to take more responsibility for them.

The patrols are not under threat as the alarmist headline in today's Herald suggests.

The Council is facing a £65m shortfall over three years as Government funding continues to be reduced and demand for...

Don’t let touts ruin Rugby World Cup, urges local MP

Plymouth MP, Alison Seabeck, has written to Sport Minister Helen Grant to encourage her to legislate so that touts cannot sell-on highly sought-after Rugby World Cup tickets, as was successfully done for the 2012 Olympics.

The Rugby World Cup is the third biggest international sporting tournament in the world and when tickets go on sale in August this year they will be in great demand...

PCE provides secure radio solution to Plymouth Albion

Exeter radio communication experts Premier Communication Electronics (PCE) has come to the aid of coaching staff at Plymouth Albion.

Albion’s head coach James Shanahan was keen to use a secure radio solution on match days to prevent others, including opposition teams, listening in to his instructions and conversations with other members of the coaching team.

PCE’s chief...

Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service shortlisted for two industry awards

Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service has been shortlisted for two separate awards by the Local Government Chronicle (LGC), recognising its ongoing work to protect residents and businesses against doorstep crime gangs and rogue traders.

The joint service, commissioned by Devon and Somerset County Councils, has been recognised from over 660 entries to this year’s awards, for its...

Beware cowboy builders taking advantage in flood-hit areas

Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service is warning people affected by the recent floods to be aware of rogue traders and cowboy builders.

Previous floods and severe weather in the UK have seen rogue traders offering a range of flood and damage recovery services as well as tarmacking, driveway cleaning, roof cleaning, guttering and garden maintenance.

Devon and Somerset...

Green spaces deliver lasting mental health benefits

Green space in towns and cities could lead to significant and sustained improvements in mental health, finds a new study published in the journal of Environmental Science & Technology.

Analysing data that followed people over a five year period, the research has found that moving to a greener area not only improves people’s mental health, but that the effect continues long after...

Children's homes future in doubt

The future of three of Devon’s Children’s homes - including one at the centre of a sexual abuse investigation- are in doubt as the council reviews its care of vulnerable children.

The Birchen Road home in Tiverton currently closed after concerns were raised about the potential sexual exploitation of residents outside the home and the placements to the Rifford Road home in Exeter...

Shelter research reveals household budgets ‘at breaking point’

One in eight people in the South West fear they won’t be able to afford to pay the rent or mortgage at the end of this month, according to new research from Shelter released today.

The research, based on a YouGov survey of over 4,000 British adults, suggests that millions of us across the country will be starting the New Year worried about whether we’ll be able to keep their home....

Royal Navy landing craft collides with Cremyll Ferry

A Royal Navy landing craft from HMS Raleigh collided with the Cremyll Ferry this morning.

The crash happened at around 10am near Mayflower Marina.

A spokesman for the Navy said there are no reported injuries.

The ferry has been taken out of service and the landing craft is returning to Devonport Naval Base.

The Cremyll Ferry operates from Cremyll in Cornwall...

Luke preparing for stardom despite failing to win top spot

Luke Friend is preparing for stardom, despite failing to reach the X Factor final.

The 17-year-pld from Teignmouth failed to secure enogh votes to go through to last night's sing off but despite that he is still being tipped for the top.

And among those singing his praises have been a number of celebrities.

Elli Goulding, who dueted with Luke, from Teignmouth, on...

Pages