East Devon Radio

Covid rates have risen slightly across Devon, fuelled by a sharp rise in cases in Torbay. In the latest complete seven day period (to Sunday 9 January) the county recorded 13,994 new cases, 191 (1.4 per cent) more than in the previous week.

A £280,000 refurbishment is on the way for The Den after councillors approved plans. The money, which will come from levies on housing developments, will pay for three new play zones, equipment and safety surfacing. Teignbridge District Council said the existing facilities had reached “the end of their useful life” after 16 years.

The funding system for special educational needs is “broken,” the boss of Devon County Council says, with the authority’s total overspend on the service set to rise to almost £90 million. The government has told councils to put overspends for supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) into separate accounts for three years until April 2023, while it develops a new plan to fund provision.

Ottery St Mary Police are currently looking to recruit volunteers to join our established scheme in Cranbrook. If you can spare a few hours a month please contact PCSO Jonathan Sims via email 30384@dc.police.uk.

Police are appealing for information after a number of distinctive and sentimental items were stolen in a burglary on Copp Hill Lane, Budleigh Salterton. The suspect is believed to have forced entry into the property between noon on Monday 27 December and 4.15pm, on Friday 31 December.

The decision, which is also being applied to garage rents and service charges, will mean an average weekly increase of just over £3 per property. The city council says the move is necessary due to tenants benefiting from an annual one per cent cut in rent between 2016 and 2020 as part of government policy.

Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant which recognises the impact that the Omicron variant had over the Christmas and New Year period.   Worth up to £6,000, it is aimed at business which have struggled in what should have been the most profitable time of the year.

Councillors will ultimately vote on any potential rise in the coming weeks, but if passed it will follow similar increases proposed by other local authorities in Devon in light of rising inflation and reduced revenues because of the pandemic.

A £280,000 refurbishment is on the way for The Den after councillors approved plans. The money, which will come from levies on housing developments, will pay for three new play zones, equipment and safety surfacing. Teignbridge District Council said the existing facilities had reached “the end of their useful life” after 16 years.

Ottery St Mary Police are currently looking to recruit volunteers to join our established scheme in Cranbrook. If you can spare a few hours a month please contact PCSO Jonathan Sims via email 30384@dc.police.uk.

The Churston Ladies members took part in a host of events and activities, raising £2,021 for the Devon Freewheelers. Russell Roe, Devon Freewheelers deputy CEO, said funds raised by the golfers would fuel a Blood Bike for more than 28,000 miles.

The Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust is appealing for help to rebuild its donation cairn after it was broken into during the festive period. The charity's CEO Dru Butterfield estimates that about £350 was stolen and with the box now out of use, until it is replaced with a more secure version, the charity will continue to lose valuable funds.

In this weekends local football Exmouth Town welcome fellow promotion chasing Bitton to Southern Road in what should be a highly entertaining encounter with both sides looking for victory to keep up the pressure on league leaders Tavistock.

In local Rugby on Saturday in the South West Premier Division, Exmouth Cockles have a difficult home fixture when they welcome second placed Old Redcliffians to the Imperial Ground, a side who narrowly beat league leaders Exeter University last week.

In local Rugby on Saturday in the South West Premier League Exmouth Cockles threw away a 13 points lead in the last few minutes to lose 31-30 at Old Centralians and return home with just a losing bonus while table toppers Exeter University also narrowly lost at second placed Old Redcliffians 21-19.

In local rugby tomorrow Exmouth Cockles travel to Gloucester to play mid table Old Centralians looking to keep up the pressure on the League Leaders Exeter University who are also on the road with their visit to third placed Old Redcliffians.