News, views and Events in and around Bigbury, South Devon

Posts by Stuart Watts

Opportunity to hosting a Dutch student for a fortnight in June at your home

February 16, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Due to popular demand this year from the students of Wageningen University, Holland, we are looking to host 42 students in June 2019. Students are aged between 18-20 and already speak excellent English. We match up students to placements across Devon so that they can then undertake social research, conducted on issues facing people in your community. What they discover and find out can be insightful to you as well as to them.

Devon is the most popular of the venues offered to students; it is the welcome and care given by our hosts that has earnt us a reputation as the place to study. What they mainly require from you is bed and board and a little bit of local knowledge and assistance with travel. A modest payment of £350 per student accommodated will be paid to you. Over the years we have built up a pool of regular hosts, but we need to expand this due to the increasing number of students and need for additional locations.

If you or someone you know might be interested in hosting a student from Thursday 13th – Wednesday 26th June this year and wish to find out a little more about this opportunity, then we have attached an information leaflet as well as an expression of interest form. Please read and share the attached information letter and for those who wish to host, just complete the expression of interest form and return to info@devoncommunities.org.uk .If you would like to have an informal chat with us before returning the form, please call 01392 248919 and speak to Lisa or me.

Kind regards

Huw
Devon Communities Together

Bigbury Parish Council

Bantham ‘SWOOSH’ event: Avon Estuary

February 15, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

We wanted to once again notify you of the Swoosh swimming event which will be taking place in the Avon Estuary on Saturday 6th July 2019 with swimmers entering the water at Aveton Gifford from 9.20am and exiting at Bantham Beach by 12.05pm.
We are once again working very closely with Aveton Gifford Parish Council and the Bantham Estate on the event. We’ll be having another 6 swimmers fundraising again this year for the Aveton Gifford Community Swimming Pool.
If you’d like any further information about the event please let me know.
Many thanks
Abi

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Abi Moores (née Edgar)
The Outdoor Swimming Society
Tel. 07859 970709

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Scam Alert- South Devon

February 11, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

We have received a report of an elderly resident in South Devon being contacted by phone by a scammer purporting to be from their bank.
The cold caller gave the resident a genuine telephone number for the bank for the resident to return the call on and was able to deceive the resident into giving their card details.
Some goods purchased online by the scammer also turned up at the address of the resident the following day.
Please be vigilant and make relatives and neighbours aware of this type of scam, the scammers can be very convincing.
Please hang up on any similar calls, do not give out any personal information and do not follow instructions from cold callers.
Also, if goods are delivered to your address and you haven’t ordered them, refuse to take delivery.
If you have any concerns please email 101@dc.police.uk or phone 101.
Information on scams can be found on the Action Fraud website https://actionfraud.police.uk/
Before making another call from your phone please test your phone by phoning a friend or relative to ensure that you are not still connected to the scammer.
If you have been a victim of such a crime, please contact us via 101 email 101@dc.police.uk quoting crime CR/11636/19.
Thank you.

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Statement From Chief Constable Following Budget Setting

February 11, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Local authority precept agreed.

Following today’s Police and Crime Panel the 2019/20 local authority precept for Devon and Cornwall Police has been agreed.

Devon and Cornwall Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said: “I note the views of the Police and Crime Panel today and their agreement to raise the council tax precept by 41 pence a week for a Band C property.

“While I don’t under estimate the impact of rising costs for our communities, an increase in precept is the only way I can provide a sustainable policing service for the communities of Devon and Cornwall.

“I will now be working closely with the OPCC, emphasising my own priorities as well as those in the Police and Crime Plan.

“We still have some significant funding challenges ahead – financing a changing pension picture, increasing public demand for service and the huge swell of population summer brings to our region being just some of those areas.

“But I will do everything possible to work with the OPCC to maintain, and wherever possible, increase frontline policing across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”

Chief Constable Sawyer added: “Government funding remains a huge personal frustration as my force has for many years, and continues, to fall foul of the Home Office funding formula of police forces.

“The geography and population of Devon and Cornwall means we do not get a fair slice of funding compared to other – often more urban forces.

“Against the most basic national averages, our communities in Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly receives 26 pence of government funding per day per head of population compared to an average of 33 pence in other areas.

“If we received the average from government we could potentially invest £40m more into frontline policing – reflecting the enormous challenges of policing our rural, urban and coastal communities.

“I’ve also no doubt that Government funding will not be increasing significantly in the coming years – further austerity is a more realistic assumption. So to simply stand still we have to ask the public for more.

“That cannot be right and I am committed to continuing to lobby Government, with the OPCC, to remedy this long standing discrimination to our force.”

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ONLY TRAVEL IF ESSENTIAL – AMBER WEATHER WARNING

January 31, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Police are advising the public to only travel if essential, following an upgrading in the weather warning for snow, effecting large areas of Devon and Dorset.
The Met Office have put in place an amber weather warning from 2pm today which lasts throughout tomorrow, which will lead to challenges for road users in the area.
Chief Inspector Adrian Leisk, Head of Roads Policing for the Alliance, said: “We are aware of the upgraded weather warning for this afternoon and tomorrow, which is an amber warning for snow encompassing parts of Devon and Dorset.
“It is vitally important that the public take these warnings serious. It is in place from 2pm today meaning that it will impact rush hour traffic, therefore we advise that people give serious consideration to their journey home from work and the school runs; we recommend that people do not travel unless essential.
“The biggest reoccurring error that we see from road users is that during times of severe weather, they do not alter their driving habits. Many of us have the luxury of a car with air con and mod cons that see us in a protective bubble, and can see drivers oblivious to the perilous conditions on the roads.
“Please can all road users reduce their speed, give extra breaking distance between them and the vehicle in front, and if you must travel, leave both extra time for your journey and prepare for the worst – ensure you have a full tank, food and water in the vehicle, shovel and stop signs, a full charged phone and warm clothing; all the things to prepare you in-case of a breakdown.
“Let’s learn from the severe weather of last year. Please heed these weather warnings, and only travel if essential.”
For the latest on the weather, please see the Met Office weather warning webpage: www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/warnings for the latest on roads affected, please see the Traffic watch website on www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/news/traffic-watch

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SNOW WARDEN UPDATE WEDNESDAY 30TH JANUARY 2019

January 30, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

We are keeping an eye on the Met Office Yellow Warning for snow tomorrow through to Friday morning. We are being told to expect:

1-2cm wide spread
5-10cm higher ground >250m?
10-20cm highest routes >300m

Risk from lunchtime Thursday through to Friday morning.

We could be looking at challenging driving conditions on high ground and with that in mind we will be doing high ground secondary routes out at first light tomorrow morning. Possible legacy issues Friday morning especially on the Moors. We are planning to send gritters out tomorrow morning at 11am County Wide. Please keep a ear to local radio and weather bulletins.

Thank you

Hugh Griffith
Highway Operations Control Centre Manager

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Wanted – Horatio Harrison

January 29, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

Has links across South Devon

Police in South Devon are seeking the public’s help to trace a 27-year- old man from Totnes who is wanted for recall to prison.

Horatio Harrison was originally charged with burglary offences in 2018 and is wanted for failing to comply with licence conditions following his release from prison.

Enquiries are ongoing by the police to locate and arrest him.

Police are asking the public for information as to his whereabouts and to report any sightings of him.

Harrison is described as a white ma, around 5ft 9ins tall and of slim build.

He has connections to Totnes, Newton Abbot and wider South Devon area.

Anyone who sees Harrison or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact police on 101@dcpolice.uk or calling 101, quoting log 361 of Monday 31 December 2018.

You can also report information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Please find the link to the image on the Devon and Cornwall police website: https://www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/News/NewsArticle.aspx?id=c24ba451-b561-4a03-af85-c5298036a6b5

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SNOW WARNING

January 29, 2019 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart Watts

PRESS RELEASE

Devon County Council is urging people to be prepared for the possibility of snow this week.

The Met Office has issued a Yellow Warning of snow and ice conditions from midday tomorrow (Tuesday 29 January) which could have the potential to cause travel disruption.

Although any snow is not expected to be widespread, the current forecast is that higher ground, such as Dartmoor and Exmoor, could face up to 5cm of snow. Haldon and Telegraph Hills may see a small amount of snow, some of which could affect tomorrow evening’s rush hour.

Road surface temperatures will be close to zero in most of the county overnight tonight, but it will fall below freezing in East Devon, Mid Devon and Dartmoor.

The County Council’s gritters will be treating many of the main routes across the county overnight, with a widespread heavy frost and icy conditions expected tomorrow morning. Untreated surfaces could be hazardous.

Devon County Council, Highways England and Devon and Cornwall Police have been liaising closely and multi-agency conferences have been held to ensure that the Haldon/Telegraph Hill Plan is ready to be activated if needed.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “There is a risk of snow this week, with the first spell of wintry showers expected from tomorrow afternoon, so we would urge everyone to be prepared. Our advice is to plan your journey, keep an eye on the weather forecast and please take extra care when travelling.”

The County Council is reminding people of the following advice:

• Avoid overnight travel unless absolutely essential as roads will always be more hazardous at night with less traffic and colder temperatures;
• Never assume a road has been salted. Remember that showers or rain will wash salt off roads leaving them prone to ice, and in extreme cold even salting will not stop ice from forming;
• Allow additional time for your journey and reduce your speed;
• Drive with care and according to the conditions;
• If you have vulnerable or elderly neighbours, think about how they could be helped through the cold spell;
• Try to maintain indoor temperatures to at least 18C, particularly if you are not mobile, have long term illness or are 65 or over;
• Listen to local radio for updates on current weather conditions and ensure you are stocked with food and medications.

For more information and travel advice from Devon County Council visit: www.devon.gov.uk/winter_travel or for updates on Twitter follow @DevonAlert

Thank you

Hugh Griffith
Highway Operations Control Centre Manager

Telephone: 01392 38 0383
Twitter: @DevonAlert

Bigbury Parish Council