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A NEW Premier Inn will open in Exeter city centre in May. The company said the new property will contribute more than £1.1m to the local economy and generate 45 new jobs. The 120 bedroom hotel is situated in Southernhay Gardens. It has its own restaurant, offering a breakfast and dinner menu for guests. Mark Whitlock, of Premier Inn, said: "We are really excited for the opening of Exeter City Centre Premier Inn. "This investment will add more opportunity along with our existing sites within Exeter to offer our quality brand to even more guests." Each bedroom caters for up to two adults and two children, aged 15 and under. They will include an en-suite bathroom; a king size bed; remote control TV with Freeview; tea/coffee making facilities, and a desk area with WiFi internet access. £ 1.1 MILLION INVESTMENT MADE TO EXETER BY WHITBREAD PLC THANKS

New Premier Inn to open in Exeter in May creating 45 new jobs

SOME Exeter residents could soon find themselves living in a different ward. If the Boundary Commission accepts a submission from the city council, Exeter's 18 wards would be reduced to 13 and the number of its councillors reduced from 40 to 39. The city council has had to look at its wards because some are too big and some are too small in terms of size of their electorate. However it could mean that some residents vote in one ward for county elections and another for city. If the Boundary Commission approves the changes it would mean all out elections be held in May 2016, with the continuing cycle of city council elections by thirds commencing in May 2018. An extraordinary meeting of the city council is to discuss the recommendations next week. A spokesman for the city council said: "If the city council agrees the recommendations next week, and then these are accepted by the Local Government Boundary Commission the following week, the Council size will reduce to 39 councillors and we shall continue to have elections by thirds. "The commission states that there is a presumption that in such a case, all wards will have three councillors, which will mean a reduction in the overall number of wards from the 18 we currently have. "It cannot be said at the moment which wards this may effect, as part of the process will be for all of the wards to be looked at in detail to ensure as fair a balance of electors as possible, but also taking into account community identity and effective and efficient local government. The spokesman added: "The next stage of the process is for the Boundary Commission to undertake a public consultation exercise during which any interested parties (individuals, groups and bodies) can submit their proposals for the city wards. Work will commence in the very near future on the city council's suggestions for these new ward boundaries, which will feed into this consultation. "Any such proposals will be subject to council consideration in March. "The Boundary Commission is also currently undertaking a review of the Devon County divisions. The consequences of the two reviews could lead to a situation where the boundaries of some or all of the city wards and county divisions, are no longer coterminous." There are currently 62 seats on the county council. It is proposed that this would reduce to 60 but the changes would not affect Exeter.

Exeter wards to disappear in new boundary plan

EXCITING times lie ahead for Exmouth Sea Cadets following approval by East Devon District Council's cabinet of a phased lease for their new two-storey building during the first five years. And zero rent for the first year of the lease means building work can be completed while the cadets remain in their existing building. In November, the cabinet approved a £150,000 grant to enable the cadets to relocate to a site as part of the council's regeneration of the Camperdown Creek area of Exmouth. This was followed with planning permission for the construction of their new headquarters. Permission was given for the demolition of the existing shed and construction of a 2-storey sea cadets building with external parade ground and boat storage with access from Camperdown Terrace. The 50-year lease enables the Sea Cadets to secure funding from various charitable sources towards the cost of the new building as well as the £150,000 from East Devon District Council. Councillor Andrew Moulding, deputy leader of East Devon District Council and chair of the Exmouth Regeneration Programme Board said " The council is committed to supporting Exmouth's regeneration for the benefit of all residents, businesses, visitors and wider community. I look forward to seeing the new facilities when built and wish the cadets every success in the future." The new sea cadets building will be part of an area focusing on creative, marine engineering and leisure-based industries. The building and facilities will be available for other community groups to hire as well as the sea cadets. The development of Camperdown Creek is part of the Exmouth vision to change Exmouth town centre and seafront to establish the resort as an attractive 21st century destination for residents, businesses and visitors.

Rob Baxter admits his Exeter Chiefs side are under-performing at the moment after they suffered a fourth straight loss. Sunday's last gasp 28-26 defeat against London Irish at the Madejski Stadium came after Sale, Bath and Gloucester recorded wins against the Chiefs. The losing bonus point Baxter's men picked up saw them climb a place to fifth in the Aviva Premiership going into the four-week break for European and LV= Cup action. However, the Sandy Park boss was in honest mood as he reflected on the latest setback, admitting his players are not handling the pressure of competing at the top very well. Baxter thinks the players have to go back to playing as they did earlier this season, when they won eight matches on the spin, and not expect things to happen for them. "We're aware we're under-performing a bit at the moment. I'm not going to make any excuses for it, it's for us to deal with as a team as we mature and move forward," Baxter said. "We got ourselves in a great position early in the season, and as much as we've tried to talk to the players about it being positive pressure it's still a different kind of pressure that we've got to learn to deal with. "We haven't dealt with it that well. The Sale game you can almost put down to an away-day blip in difficult conditions, and the Bath one was tough but last weekend's game (against Wasps) shows they're a good team, particularly at home. Those two games you can almost take in isolation. "We know we've under-performed in the last two weeks (against Gloucester and London Irish) and the truth is we haven't dealt with the pressure of needing to get points in those two games as well as we would have liked. We've got to discuss that, and there are probably various reasons for it. "It's not like it's a consistent theme for us. It's partly people trying a bit too hard combined with expecting something to happen in the game. If we run a play that gained us great ground or we won a penalty or we scored a try from earlier in the season, I think we hope and expect we'll have the same result. It won't always have the same result because things are different week by week." Exeter had dropped from third to sixth following their defeat at home against Gloucester but travelled to Reading as hot favourites to win given the Exiles' lowly league position. The visitors turned around 13-5 up, but were 22-13 down after 58 minutes as Irish scored their fourth try through Blair Cowan. Dave Ewers pulled a try back for the Chiefs which Gareth Steenson converted to cut the gap to a point, with the fly-half then kicking two penalties to one from Tom Homer to lead 26-25 with four minutes to go. There was still time for the Exiles to have one last chance, and Shane Geraghty dropped a goal with the last kick of the game to win it. Baxter is keen for his players to learn to handle the pressure that has been their undoing, rather than shield them from it. "I don't want to take all the pressure off the players because that's how we'll learn to deal with it," he said. "However, by understanding the nature of the pressure we can ease it off ourselves a little bit and get back to each player doing their job very well, almost relaxing and feeling confident that if they do things well and are very direct in what they want to do, ultimately that's what creates the big team performance." Steenson had earlier opened the scoring with a penalty before Cowan's first try of the game. The Exeter fly-half landed another penalty and also converted Dean Mumm's try. Tom Guest gave the Exiles a good start to the second half with a try that Geraghty converted before Alex Lewington dotted down their third.

Rob Baxter: Exeter Chiefs need to handle pressure better

Emergancy services were called to a building fire in Exeter last night that left a kitchen badly damaged. The fire service were called to reports of a blaze on Lower Argyll Road, St Davids, Exeter at 20:20. Two engines from Danes Castle were sent and on arrival at the scene crews requested a further appliance, one appliance from Middlemoor was sent. At 20:30 crews confirmed a fire in a second floor kitchen of a four storey premise. The fire was put out by 21:09pm, Crews extinguished a fire in a kitchen involving a microwave and kitchen units using four breathing apparatus, one hose reel, positive pressure ventilation and small tools. The kitchen was thirty percent destroyed by fire and forty percent by heat and smoke.

A building was badly damaged in a fire on Exeter University campus in the early hours of this morning. Fire crews were sent to Mardon Hill on the campus at 00:25am this morning following a report to the Fire Service Control Room of a workshop on fire at Mardon Hill. On arrival at the scene crews confirmed a single storey building used as a workshop well alight. Firefighters got to work with breathing apparatus and hose reels to extinguish the fire. After an hour the officer in charge of the incident requested an additional appliance to attend the scene, one appliance from Crediton was sent. By 02:27 the fire as out and had damaged a single storey out building used for prop storage. The building was twenty percent damaged by fire with a further forty percent damaged by heat and smoke. Crews extinguished the fire using six breathing apparatus, two hose reels, positive pressure ventilation fan and small tools

Building badly damaged by fire on Exeter Uni campus

A collision involving a car and a lorry which was carrying logs on the A39 in North Devon has left one man seriously injured. The man has been left with potentially life-threatening injuries after a crash involving his car and a lorry that has closed the A39 between the Instow turn-off in Bideford and Roundswell Roundabout, Barnstaple. The lorry has overturned, shedding its load of logs across the carriageway two miles out of Bideford, towards Barnstaple. At 6.53am emergency crews were called to the scene and paramedics treated the car driver. He has been taken to North Devon District Hospital with potentially life threatening injuries, say police. Serious collision investigators are carrying out an investigation into the cause of the collision and the road has been closed at Westleigh and Roundswell, Diversions are in place and the road is expected to remain closed for most of the day. Traffic problems are expected in the area as a result and officers are assisting Highways with traffic management. The incident is also causing severe delays to bus services in the area. A spokesman for Stagecoach South West bus services said: "We are currently experiencing severe disruption to our North Devon services as people seek alternative routes to complete their journeys. "There are delays of up to an hour on the 21 North Devon Wave and services 85, 85C, 319 and 5B, which were using the North Devon Link Road due to the diversion at Newton Tracey, are also having to now use the back roads. "We expect the road closure to remain in place all day." Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to call police on 101 quoting reference 114 of 14/01/15.

Man seriously injured after lorry sheds logs on A39 in Devon

Devon is set for some unsettled weather over the next two days with more freezing temperatures, gale-force winds and rain forecast throughout the day. Hail and thunder hit the region on Tuesday night, but fears of a snowy white-out were largely unfounded. Roads took a covering of hailstones and driving conditions were briefly treacherous, but by dawn the layer had melted away. However, on higher ground there was more snowfall, and on Dartmoor a layer of snow was still lying on roads and fields on Wednesday morning. See a selection of pictures below

Snowy here on Dartmoor as dawn breaks pic.twitter.com/2m8AndoZXs
— Sarah Ransome (@Sarah_Ransome) January 14, 2015

A snowy walk to school for these guys in Princetown on Dartmoor this morning! #MattandCaroline #Snow⛄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/lsWxEINlVU
— Heart South West (@heartsouthwest) January 14, 2015

Lovely sun rise #Whiddon #down #dartmoor bit of s chill when arrived tunnels clear of #snow now pic.twitter.com/d9sKAPBGWM
— herbs & edibles (@laurelfarmherbs) January 14, 2015

Police and council officials were warning drivers that conditions could still be tricky in places. The coldest place in the county was Halwill Junction near Okehampton. Now a warning of heavy rain and strong winds are in place for today and tomorrow. As lunchtime approaches strong winds will move in with more heavy showers. The rain will become increasingly heavy with winds reaching up to 80mph in exposed areas. Despite the rather grim outlook temperatures will pick up this evening with 9c possible. It will remain very windy overnight with gales or severe gales, strongest over exposed coasts and hills. The rain will become heavy and persistent, but will clear to the east by dawn with scattered showers following. Temperatures will be around 4c. A Chief forecaster for The Met Office said: "Another Atlantic low pressure system is expected to deepen significantly as it tracks towards the UK. The strongest winds will initially be across England and Wales during the second half of Wednesday into early Thursday before moderating. This may also lead to large waves on some coasts of Wales and southern England. A separate area of very strong winds is likely to affect more northern areas of the UK through Thursday, particularly affecting Northern Ireland and the Central Belt of Scotland. "As well as the very strong winds, a band of squally rain is likely to sweep eastwards across many parts through the period. "The exact track of this system is still open to some uncertainty as is the location of the strongest winds, particularly across the north on Thursday and this warning will be updated as and when necessary to fine tune the areas at risk from the impacts."

Pictures: Parts of Devon sees snow as new weather warning of strong winds and heavy rain issued for region

It appears the wheels have come off Exeter City's bid to mount a push towards the play-off and automatic promotion places. Saturday's performance against Northampton Town was arguably the worst City fans have endured at home this season – even when the Grecians went seven games without a win at the start of the campaign they picked up credible draws against Portsmouth and York City at St James's Park. Once they went behind against the Cobblers on Saturday the prospect of them getting anything out of the game seemed fairly remote. And this is from a side that had been renowned for rousing comebacks this campaign – wins against Cambridge, Dagenham & Redbridge, Wycombe and Shrewsbury all happened despite City conceding the first goal. So why were City so incapable of turning the Northampton game around when they were so brilliant at it earlier in the season? I think a lot has to do with the fact that they managed just one shot on target after going behind – and a rather weak one at that. They seem to have lost a bit of their creative spark going forward. The poor run of form has coincided with Matt Grimes' departure to Swansea City for £1.75m. The fact that he is no longer in the side goes some way to explaining why City aren't creating the amount of chances they were when the Grecians, lets say, recorded their best comeback of the season against Shrewsbury. It was of course Grimes who got the revival going with his ball into Tom Nichols for City's opening goal that day. Manager Paul Tisdale does have other options available to him though in trying to get City creating more. Firstly he could decide to bring Matt Oakley out of the centre of defence and play him in a more advanced, midfield role. He did this recently, when City were searching for a winner against Burton Albion in Decemeber, and praised the 36-year-old's movement in and around the box. If he did that again it would of course leave a space open in the centre of defence, but that is one that would be easily filled by Jordan Moore-Taylor. And while, it was Danny Butterfield who failed to win the near post header for Northampton's opener on Saturday, you feel replacing Oakley for Moore-Taylor might give City a bit more presence in the air when defending balls into their box. Tisdale could also switch back to the 3-5-2, or 5-3-2, formation that was employed so well as City won six from 10 league games in September and October. This formation is suited to the players City currently have at their disposal and should see them create more going forward. For me, with Grimes gone, Christian Ribeiro is City's most creative player. The 3-5-2 system allows him to get forward more and that would provide more crosses for the City strikers to get on the end of. Craig Woodman, on the left side, is also very good at delivering a telling ball into the box. Changing to 3-5-2 would more than likely prevent Tisdale from moving Oakley out of the centre of defence – he is not overly blessed with options at centre-half with Pat Baldwin out for the rest of the campaign. However, there is money available. Tisdale has said that he won't be signing lots and lots of players in the January transfer window, but if the right player became available they could change things. You imagine that 'right player' might be a commanding centre-half. It would enable Tisdale to tweak things to give him more options going forward and also help sure things up defensively – because, let's face it, three clean sheets from 26 games isn't good enough either.

CITY OPINION: New defender could be key to Exeter City's creative problem

Martyn Rogers is targeting two wins from two home games to revive Tiverton Town's ailing play-off hopes. The Yellows, whose match on Tuesday away to bottom side Bishops Cleeve was postponed, entertain Cinderford Town at Ladysmead on Saturday. A trip to North Leigh follows before Shortwood United come to Ladysmead. Tivvy have not won in seven games in all competitions following Saturday's 0-0 draw at Bridgwater Town, but Rogers says two home wins would leave things looking much healthier. "We have got two home games coming up and we need to hopefully get maximum points from them," he said. "What I said to the boys was that if we can get maximum points from the two of them then the Bridgwater point becomes a really good result. "If we don't then it makes the result poor, so it is important we get a couple of wins, especially in front of our own fans. "If we can get a couple of wins then we will really start moving up the league." Tom Gardner could feature, although Rogers feels he probably still needs move time to recover his match fitness following a torn thigh muscle. Owen Howe will not play regardless of whether a proposed move to Dorchester Town comes off as the striker still has two games to run on his four-match suspension. Even with those two key players missing, Rogers remained confident that his Yellows side could rediscover the winning touch. "We are capable of beating most of the sides above us, it is just about how we approach the game," continued Rogers, who had no further news on Howe's potential move. "We are more than capable of giving anyone a game. I think we drew up at Cinderford and lost at Shortwood but both games were very tight and I don't see this one being any different, but we need to get back to winning ways." Rogers hailed his players' fighting spirit after they came away with a hard-fought point at Bridgwater Town on Saturday. The Tivvy manager had stern words for his side in the build-up to the match, following a poor 3-1 away defeat to Clevedon Town on New Year's Day. But his team responded with a battling performance to secure a point in blustery conditions, and could have nicked the win but for a crucial block by former Yellow Nathan Rudge. "I was happy with the work the players put in. They were back to what I knew they were capable of. With a bit more luck, we could have come away with three points," he said. "It was disappointing just to draw but I was more concerned about the lads having a right pop after the Clevedon game – we needed that and hopefully we can take it forward from there. "I thought the pitch was very difficult to be fair – it made things really tough to play any constructive football. "A consequence of that was that we had to dig in, and I was very pleased with the response of the players following that defeat to Clevedon. I don't think Bridgwater managed to create one chance, which was good from our point of view." As promised earlier in the week, Rogers recalled wideman Josh Searle, while former Tivvy youth player Ollie Seymour, who signed last week from St Albans City, looked bright off the bench. James Richards had a fearsome late free-kick narrowly diverted off target by the head of Rudge to ensure the scores remained level. "By the end of the second half I thought we could have come out of it with a win," Rogers went on. "Everything that we hit well always seemed to be blocked, they always got someone in the way."

Martyn Rogers wants home wins to breathe new life into Tiverton Town's season

What has happened to the Exeter City team that was playing such superb, flowing football in their rise up the table from the bottom of the league to just outside the play-offs? I think the problem lies not with the players, but the manager Paul Tisdale. Admittedly, some of the players are performing well below the standard required, plus you cannot replace a player like Matt Grimes. However, Tisdale for me plays too many players out of their best position. When we were playing 3-5-2, Christian Ribeiro was superb going down line and getting some quality crosses in. Tisdale then leaves out our top goalscorer Tom Nichols at Stevenage, sticks Dave Wheeler down the middle when his best position is on the wing, and signs Alex Nicholls as a centre striker and plays him wide! Where is the sense in that? I'm afraid he (Tisdale) gets it wrong as many times he gets it right. Also I think it's time to put Christy Pym back in goal for James Hamon, who has proved he's going to be a good keeper but has had a couple of dodgy games now. Against Northampton all we did was go back to the long ball forward, without much hope of creating anything. Paul, please get back to the formation that we used in our wonderful winning run. The fans get fed up with you switching things around when there is no need. Kenny Cleal Feniton

CITY POSTBAG: Paul Tisdale's changes to blame for Exeter City's loss of form

A driver has been seriously injured in a collision on Dartmoor this morning. The collision on a road near Princetown on Dartmoor is believed to be between a car and an army truck. The incident was on the B3357 between the Princetown turn-off and Two Bridges. Police have closed the road and are turning people away. It's understood that the driver of the car was trapped inside her vehicle. There are numerous fire crews at the scene as well as ambulances. The woman will be taken to Derriford Hospital for treatment. The army are on exercise on the moor throughout this week. The army lorry had been dropping soldiers off at Fogin Tor just before the accident. It's about half a mile from the scene.

Woman seriously injured in collision involving army truck on Dartmoor

Former Yeovil Town defender Jamie McAllister is weighing up a contract offer from Exeter City. The 36-year-old Scot, who usually plays at left-back, is without a club after returning to the country from a spell playing for Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League, but it is believed he has spent the past few weeks training with the Grecians. "I've been training with one of the teams locally in the Football League. I can't say who at the moment. I have been training since I have been back," he said. "There's a little bit of interest down here that I'm thinking about, so hopefully I will make the decision soon." Craig Woodman has been a virtual ever-present for the Grecians this season, either as a left-back or left wing-back, while first-year professional Connor Riley-Lowe has also been used sparingly. McAllister has a wealth of experience, having started his career at Queen of the South in Scotland, but it was at Aberdeen and Bristol City where he really made a name for himself. He then joined Yeovil in 2012 and captained them to victory in the League One play-off final in his first season with the Glovers. McAllister was a regular for Yeovil's sole season in the Championship but was released by Gary Johnson at the end of last season, before he decided to move to India. McAllister may not be the only 30-something joining the Grecians this week, with manager Paul Tisdale keen to tie down Clinton Morrison for the remainder of the campaign. Although the former Republic of Ireland international striker has not scored in his six appearances so far, the manager is pleased with the way he is working with Tom Nichols. "I'm looking to keep him here," Tisdale said. "I think he's done extremely well and I think him and Tom Nichols were very effective in the first 20 minutes [against Northampton], but after that, we didn't give them much of a chance. "Clinton is looking better and better and this is all about us winning games. It is not always about who plays well and who is looking good, it is about how effective the team is looking as a whole, but, yes, we want him to stay."

Jamie McAllister mulling over contract offer from Exeter City

An Exeter mother of two was viciously stabbed to death by her estranged partner in 2001 after a long-term relationship dominated by domestic violence against her. Now, the devastated parents of Colleen Chudley have told Echo reporter Adam Walmesley of their horror about the prospect of his imminent release from prison. THE heartbroken parents of an Exeter woman brutally murdered by a Gulf War veteran 14 years ago have expressed fears he could be released within months. Mother of two Colleen Chudley, 27, was stabbed up to 40 times with three knives at her home in Silverton, on January 16, 2001. Ex-Royal Artillery gunner Paul Delaney, now 43, was jailed for life in July 2002 after being found guilty of unlawfully killing his former girlfriend. But his 'tariff' – the minimum term he must serve behind bars before parole is considered – was set at 14 years. Now Stuart, 69, and Sylvia, 68, Chudley, who live in Pinhoe, are concerned he may be released this year – and claim he should never be allowed out of prison. Mr Chudley said: "We didn't get justice for Colleen. Life should mean life. His tariff of 14 years was nowhere near enough. What he did to her was absolutely horrendous. "He stabbed her 40-odd times and he left three knives in her. They should bring back hanging for a murder like Colleen's. It was a terrible, terrible crime." The couple, who raised Colleen and Delaney's children, admit they will be scared for their family's safety when he is released. Mr Chudley said: "I fear for all of us, because I don't believe prison will change someone like him. We won't feel safe with him out. We'll be on edge all the time, and we won't be able to sleep." Delaney joined the Royal Artillery at the age of 17, and took part in the Gulf War conflict in 1990-91. After returning home, his behaviour deteriorated rapidly. Delaney was dishonourably discharged from the army in 1992 – the year he met Colleen. They lived together in Countess Wear during an eight-year relationship plagued by drunken domestic violence. During the trial the court heard how he made Colleen's life 'hell'. He was controlling, possessive, violent and regularly attacked her. She was too frightened to make a police statement or press charges. Mrs Chudley said: "He was against her from the beginning, but he wouldn't go away. He abused her mentally and physically, and in the end she didn't know where to turn." Colleen eventually managed to gain the courage to end the relationship shortly before the killing. Mr Chudley said: "I would urge anyone who is the victim of domestic violence or knows someone who is the victim to get help. But I know if it's going on behind closed doors, it's very difficult to get help." Colleen moved to Silverton in December 2000, while Delaney went to Plymouth. She kept her address a secret in an effort to escape from him. On the day of the killing, Delaney received court papers detailing a bid by Colleen to send him to prison for allegedly breaching an order to prevent him harassing her. After catching a bus from Plymouth to Exeter and another to Silverton, he found her house and battered his way through the front door with a piece of wood. Colleen died almost immediately when Delaney stabbed her between 30 and 40 times with three different knives. Her body was found by police who were called to an address in Park Close after neighbours heard screams. Their two children, a girl and a boy – then seven and four – were upstairs in the house at the time of the attack. Delaney called his sister and the police to tell them he had killed his girlfriend, before leaving the house and driving off in Colleen's car. He denied murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Delaney had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after the Gulf War. At his first trial in March 2002 the jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict in 13 hours. At the re-trial in July 2002 the jury took just 70 minutes to convict him of murder. Sentencing him at Exeter crown court, Justice Hallett said: "You are a walking time bomb. It is not clear when you will ever be anything else than dangerous." Fourteen years after Colleen's murder, Mr Chudley said time had been unable to heal his anger and grief about what happened. He said: "She's been gone 14 years, but it never goes away. It's as raw today as the day it happened for both of us, and the rest of the family including the children. People seem to think as time goes it heals and gets better, but in this situation it doesn't. It seems to get worse, and it's with you 24/7. I'm full of hate towards him. That's never changed and never will change till the day I go to the grave." Mr and Mrs Chudley said they have tried to continue their lives, but would always miss Colleen. "We miss Colleen so much. She was a lovely, bubbly girl who lived for her children. She didn't do anyone any harm, and she didn't deserve what she got. She was everything to us," said Mr Chudley. To mark the anniversary of Colleen's death, the couple have written in memory of their daughter: "Remembering our darling Colleen. 14 years ago taken by Evil. A day to remember. Silently kept. No need for words. We will never forget. Forever in our hearts. Heartbroken." Anyone suffering domestic violence can call Refuge's 24-hour helpline on 0808 2000 247.

“Life should mean life” - Exeter parents’ fears over release of ex-soldier who stabbed mum-of-two to death

TO look back over the last year you have to look back over the past five. In May 2010, the country was on the point of economic implosion. The UK's credit card had been wafted about with such extraordinary largesse that we (you, me, the tax-payer, our children and grandchildren) ended up on the hook for a debt approaching a trillion pounds (that's £1,000,000,000,000). What was ruinously worse was that, far from paying off this mountain of misery we were actually adding to it by £150bn per year – more than we spend annually on the NHS and defence. We teetered on the brink of economic collapse. And the economy matters. It is not about abstract figures and meaningless metrics – it is about people having the security of a pay packet, providing for our families, about ensuring an effective NHS, educating our children, defending our country, policing our streets and more. In short, if the economy is ruined you can forget the rest – just ask the Greeks. In 2010, we joined with the Lib Dems to form a coalition government with its most important objective being to turn the economy around. We never said it would easy, and indeed it has proven to be far from it. Since 2010 there have been the economic headwinds of yet further crises in the Eurozone (our major trading area) plus a slowdown in China and the world economy. But by taking the tough decisions we have reduced the deficit by more than a third, cut business taxes and restored confidence to our economy. And as a result we now have the fastest growing economy in Europe, with two million more private sector jobs and 760,000 more businesses. Unemployment has nosedived. Here in Devon it has fallen by around a third in the last year alone. Inflation is well under control. Real wages are rising and taxes have been cut. Together we are pulling through. But the warning lights are still flashing. The greatest danger now is that we forget all the above and fall for the idea that the job is pretty much done – that we can turn on those spending taps again. We can't. We still have the rest of the deficit to eliminate and that will take most of the next parliament. And it is not until we have done this that we can plan our future on the basis of economic surpluses and growing strength. In May, the British people will deliver their verdict on this government and their judgment on the alternatives. Some will argue that May 2015 is all about health, or immigration, or renewable energy, or Europe. It will of course be about all of these vital matters. Yet there is one issue that binds them all – the economy. And on that I say stick with us – danger lurks if we falter now, but better times await if we are trusted to get on and finish the job. Last week was I was flat out right across my vast constituency. I had a great time in Okehampton opening the sales in Red Lion Yard – with discounts of up to 30%, this enclave of superb shops and cafes is well worth a visit. I toured several exciting retailers including the Boomerang Toy Shop which sells a wide selection of puzzles and toys (many of them crafted in wood – as I remember them as a boy), Rockin' Beads (where I watched beads being handmade with the glass melted at 1,000 degrees), Purple Penguin (expanding fast on the strength of great value, high quality jewellery), kudos and Abstract (offering great fashion). All these excellent businesses run by local people providing outstanding service. The general mood is cautiously optimistic with a number reporting a promising start to the year. Then I was off to Exbourne to canvass views door to door. In Crediton I met up with local councillors and paid a visit to the Crediton Coffee Company – this booming café roasts and grinds its own speciality coffees that taste fantastic. Whilst in Crediton I had a further look at the dual purpose parking bays that have led to many visitors being inadvertently ticketed. Last week I met with our roads minister and it looks like we are going to be able to resolve this and save hundreds of people a parking ticket. In Bovey I met at the hospital with local councillors and the League of Friends. The hospital is to have its beds temporarily removed and I have been pressing the CCG to ensure they are replaced as soon as possible. I have received an assurance and I will be keeping up the pressure. In Bradninch I met up with local councillor John Berry for a quick catch up.

A Letter from MP Mel Stride: Trust us to finish fixing economy

A FUGITIVE drugs baron who used a grandmother as a heroin courier and then fled to Spain to escape justice has been arrested in Tenerife. Liverpool-based Stephen Blundell, who brought drugs into Devon and Cornwall, was jailed for almost 10 years in October, despite being on the run. He was apprehended on a European Arrest Warrant on Monday, when he handed himself in to the Spanish authorities at a police station in Tenerife. Extradition proceedings will begin today, when Blundell appears at the Spanish National Court in Madrid. As part of a £1 million heroin plot, Blundell controlled a network of couriers and dealers who operated through three generations of the same family in Cornwall and a distribution hub in Devon. Devon and Cornwall Police targeted Blundell as part of an 18-month long investigation into the supply of heroin from Merseyside into areas such as Bodmin, Exeter, Tiverton and Torquay. The other members of his group received sentences totalling 77 years. The plot was foiled when grandparents from Cornwall were arrested as they transported £50,000 worth of heroin from Torbay, hidden under four Cornish pasties in a bag. In April 2013 Michael Wood, 75, was jailed for six and a half years, and his wife Teresa, 63, and grandson Jake, 24, were both jailed for four years. All lived at Furze Hill. Sons Ivan Wood, 43, was jailed for nine years and his brother Calvin, 41, for six. They both lived at Monument Way, Bodmin. Blundell, 36, of Leather Lane, Liverpool, admitted conspiracy to supply heroin between 2009 and 2011 but fled the country before he could be sentenced. He was jailed for nine years and eight months in his absence by Judge Phillip Wassall at Exeter Crown Court in October. Detective Constable Jason Braund, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said enquiries revealed Blundell was hiding in Tenerife. He said: "We are now working closely with the National Crime Agency to ensure he is returned to the UK to serve his sentence. "We will continue to hunt down those that abscond from justice whether they be here or overseas. The dismantling of Blundell's drug network highlights we will not tolerate the supply of drugs in our communities and will continue to make Devon and Cornwall a safer place to live." Hank Cole, head of international operations for the National Crime Agency, said Blundell would have been "constantly looking over his shoulder" after his mug shot appeared across Spain as part of the Captura 'unlucky thirteen' campaign. "It was only a matter of time before he was caught as the Spanish national police have been carrying out intelligence-led operations in Tenerife," he said. "The law enforcement net was tightening and I believe he handed himself in when he realised his days on the run were numbered. "We will continue to work with our partners to pursue fugitives wherever they are on the world. Spain is not a safe haven. Sixty four fugitives have been caught since Captura was launched, and many more linked to other operations."

On the run fugitive drug dealer responsible for flooding streets of Exeter with heroin arrested in Tenerife

A picture taken from the skies over Devon yesterday shows how much snow fell on Dartmoor. The picture was taken by an air steward on a local flight in Exeter. The snow came after days of warning from the Met Office and ahead of yellow warnings of high wind and heavy rain sweeping across the city. Steward Mark Buck took the picture on a Flybe flight as it came into the county from Gatwick.

Amazing picture taken by Flybe air steward shows Dartmoor covered in snow

EXETER Cathedral has applied for multimillion-pound funding to unveil Exeter's Roman bath house buried under Cathedral Green, the Echo can reveal. The scheme will cost £12.8m and the cathedral has applied to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the majority of the funding. It will find out if it has been successful in the next few months. These new images are the first unveiled by the cathedral as part of the project, which it claims would attract at least 100,000 extra visitors to the city annually. The scheme would see the construction of an underground centre, with interpretation to help visitors understand the remains. The underground centre will also tell the story of Roman and Saxon Exeter. The Anglo Saxon Exeter Book and the Exon Domesday – two of the Cathedral's greatest treasures – would also be put on display. Above ground would be a new café and shop for visitors. The project to uncover the remains – which are some of the most significant Roman structures in the UK – has been developed over the last 12 months, with the support of English Heritage, the city council and the public. The cathedral hopes to construct an underground centre, with interpretation to help visitors understand the remains. Building the main visitor centre underground will ensure that the Cathedral Green with its view of the iconic West Front is unimpeded. The project, which has been called Foundations, is the first step in a larger programme to develop Exeter Cathedral and improve its facilities for visitors and worshippers. The project will cost a total of £12.8m – and £8.7m has been sought from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help achieve the ambitious target. The remainder of the funding would be raised by the cathedral and as well as other grant-making bodies. The Dean of Exeter Cathedral, the Very Reverend Jonathan Draper, said getting this far was the result of a joint effort across the city. He said: "The project has been submitted to the HLF for funding, and it is a highly competitive process. "We have been helped enormously by English Heritage in putting this bid together and we are really grateful for the support we've had from across the city. "We will hear if the bid has been successful in April. "But we'd love to hear people's views before then, and are putting together a website where people will be able to see more details and proposed drawings of the underground visitor centre, which will also be on display in the cathedral." Councillor Pete Edwards, leader of Exeter City Council, welcomed the progression of the plans. He said: "It is important that this goes ahead, that we find ways of doing this. "It is important not just for Exeter but for the whole region and therefore the whole region should contribute towards the cost." Derek Phillips, chairman of the Exeter and Heart of Devon Tourism Partnership and vice president of Exeter Chamber of Commerce, said: "We all think this is a tremendous opportunity to bring a really world class tourist attraction into the city. "It's been looked at in the past but with technology moving forward now we have a chance to do something really spectacular. "I'm sure it would have a huge effect in terms of tourism marketing, particularly the short break market, which is a growing market in Exeter. I think 100,000 extra visitors a year is a conservative estimate. "You only have to look at Bath, which is one of the top tourist attractions in the country, built around the Roman baths. "It's very exciting and it adds to the attractions of the area. With the Jurassic coast, the RAMM and fantastic shopping in Princesshay, the redeveloped Guildhall and the bus station site, this will all add up to a package which could be really attractive to overseas visitors. "We fully support this tremendous scheme and very much hope that it happens." Archaeologist Paul Bidwell, one of Britain's leading specialists in the study of Roman bath houses, has described the Exeter Baths as 'one of the first two monumental masonry buildings built in Britain' being completed cAD60.They are of international historical, architectural and archaeological significance. They became the site of the Anglo-Saxon minster which became Exeter's Cathedral in 1050. To get involved and support the project while the cathedral waits for the HLF decision, get in touch on 01392 285974 or email foundations@exeter-cathedral.org.ukHow work revealed site's story THE remains of the Roman bath house were discovered in 1971 when work started on Cathedral Green for the construction of an underground car park. One of the first trenches cut revealed an Anglo-Saxon burial, which itself had been cut into a Roman floor, edged with blocks. This turned out to the remains of a large public building, later revealed as the town basilica. Further excavations in 1972 then uncovered the large, richly decorated and well preserved Roman caldarium, or hot room of a bath house, built around 60-65AD. The excavations of the bath house and its associated buildings marked a turning point in the understanding of the spread of the Roman military in Britain, which had previously been thought to have only a token presence Devon and Cornwall. The bath house would have accommodated several hundred bathers at any time and was more advanced in design than most of those in Italy at the time; the bath houses in Pompeii and Herculaneum at the time of the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD were not as large or regularly planned as the one in Exeter.

Exeter Roman baths centre to attract 100,000 visitors to city as Cathedral applies for multimillion-pound funding

Drivers are being warned of widespread disruption this morning after Devon was hit by heavy rain and strong winds overnight. Trees have fallen, roads are flooded and a trampoline has even been blown into a road as Met Office forecasters warn that winds could reach 75 mph. Rivers in Exeter and East Devon are on flood alert and coasts including Exmouth and Sidmouth remain on flood alerts due to the heavy rain. A train struck a tree that had been blown onto the tracks at Ivybridge at roughly 6am - causing delays throughout the morning. Flooding has hit roads across Exeter with police warning drivers to take extra care on the junctions of Cheneygate Lane and Harrington Lane and Widgert Road and Pinhoe Road. Crockwells Road in Exminster was partially blocked at roughly midnight last night after a trampoline blew on the road. In Kenton the A379 at Exeter Hill was blocked because of a fallen tree at 11pm yesterday. On the B3179 at Woodbury the road was closed at 1am last night in both directions between the B3180 junction and the Marley Road junction because of a fallen tree. Rivers and coasts across the region remain on flood alert including The River Exe, the Exmouth coast and rivers throughout East Devon.Follow live coverage from of road disruption from social media in the box below:

The extreme weather hit the region after a yellow warning for wind was issued for this morning, as hail and sleet makes way for wind and rain. Dan Williams, spokesman for the Met Office, explained: "There will be a fair bit of rain tonight and into tomorrow. Temperatures will increase but so will the wind. "There will be gusts of between 50 mph and 60 mph but some exposed parts could see winds of 70 mph to 75 mph "So it will be pretty windy and unsettled tonight and we expect that to continue until about 8am or 9am tomorrow morning. "Yellow weather warnings are in place so we could see some disruption to travel and also some power disruption as the gales are so strong." "It'll stay fairly windy throughout the day tomorrow, at around 50 mph." Mr Williams went on to say that there will also be a chance of showers tomorrow bit there will be sunny spells and temperatures are expected to be around 7C. "Friday will bring much of the same – generally unsettled weather. There will be sunshine and showers and the temperatures will drop slightly to around 5C or 6C. Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council's Cabinet Member for Highway Management and Flood Prevention, said: "Our teams are dealing with extremely changeable weather at the moment. Following the wintry showers and ice overnight, we're now facing the prospect of possible flooding and strong winds. Our teams are on standby to respond to issues on our road network, if there is any debris such as trees or branches which may be blown down. Anyone out on the county's roads should also be aware that there may be surface water. We would advise people to take extra time for their journey and remember not to attempt to drive through floodwater."

Live Coverage: Fallen trees, flooding and trampoline blown onto road as storm hits Devon

Emergancy services were called to Sidmouth last night after bad weather caused an eletrical fire. Three engine from Sidmouth, Ottery St Mary and Seaton were sent to East Street following a report of a fire involving an electrical installation at 19:32. On arrival at the scene crews confirmed one mains electric cable on front of domestic thatched property arcing due to being damaged by bad weather and requested the attendance of Western Power. Crew made the scene safe, incident left in the hands of Western Power.