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Parents' shock as boy, 5, invoiced for missing school friend's birthday party

January 19, 2015, 3:57 am
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The parents of a five-year-old who was handed an invoice for missing his friend's Devon birthday party have expressed their disbelief at being threatened with court action. Derek Nash and his partner discovered a £15.95 "no show fee" invoice after it was slipped into their son Alex's bag while he was at school. The couple said they initially "thought it was a joke", but the issue has remained unresolved and the birthday boy's mother is now threatening small claims court. The family confirmed that their son would be attending the party at a Plymouth ski and snow board centre just before the Christmas holidays. But Mr Nash, from Torpoint in Cornwall, realised he had already arranged for their daughter to go on a day trip with her grandparents and had no way to contact the friend's mother. "We did not have a contact number, email or an address to let the mother know," he explained. "So on the day of the party we asked Alex what he wanted to do - he chose to be with his grandparents." Alex Nash returned to Torpoint Nursery and Infant School on January 6, but just over a week later the family received the bill. "My partner looked out for the friend's mother to apologise for Alex not showing up to the party, but didn't see her," said Mr Nash. "But on January 15 she looked in Alex's school bag and found a brown envelope. It was an invoice for £15.95 for a child's party no show fee. "I asked Alex's class teacher if the child's mother had given anything to her. She said, 'Yes, a brown envelope'. "I then visited Alex's school headteacher, who couldn't apologise enough that one of the teachers had passed this on. She said she would remind all staff that this was a breach of protocol." Mr Nash said he left the school to discuss the matter with the birthday boy's mother in person. "When she answered the door I told her I had found the invoice in my son's school bag and that I wasn't happy about it. "I told her I would not be paying her the money. I told her she should have spoken to me first and not put the invoice in my son's school bag. "I would have sympathised with her about the cost of Alex not showing up, but I just can't believe the way she has gone around it." The unnamed mother has since threatened the family that she would take the case to a small claims court, while the birthday boy will no longer play with Mr Nash's son at school.

Parents' shock as boy, 5, invoiced for missing school friend's birthday party

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Cullompton High Street to remain closed "until further notice" because of unstable building

January 19, 2015, 4:07 am
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Cracks in a hotel building have led to the closure of roads in Cullompton. Cullompton High Street is set to remain closed "until further notice" as investigations are carried out into an unstable building. Tiverton Road in Cullompton has been closed due to an unstable building. It has not been confirmed how long this closure will be in place and busses and traffic are being diverted during the period. Mid Devon District Council served a listed buildings repair notice on the Manor House Hotel last month having identified significant cracking in the facade of the building. One of the district councillors in Cullompton reported on Friday last week that the cracking appears to have increased. A visual inspection from the road has been carried out by a council building inspector but the officer has confirmed that cracks appear slightly larger than in photographs taken last June. The council say they are seeking engineering advice before deciding on further action. A council spokesperson said: "As a precautionary approach we sought the closure of the Tiverton Road and part of the High Street until such time as our structural engineer has provided more detailed advice on the stability of the structure. "We recognise this will cause significant delay and disruption but we must take a precautionary approach in this instance for public safety reasons." The spokesperson said further information about the re-opening of the stretch of road would be provided once more information is gathered. Stagecoach said the 1Abus service will follow a diversion and it will therefore bot be possible to serve stops on Langlands Road, Crow Bridge and the top part Swallow Way. The service will operate from Exeter via Swallow Road as normal, the bus will then divert into Colebrook Lane and via Exeter Hill and Fore Street to the War memorial in the High Street, where a normal route will be commenced. This diversion will apply in both directions, the company confirmed. Adding: "Passengers are advised that the nearest stops for the above services will be the War Memorial in the High Street, or on Swallow Way, at the junction with Colebrook Lane."

Cullompton High Street to remain closed “until further notice” because of unstable building

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Mauritius fire crews given training by Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service

January 19, 2015, 4:53 am
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Fire crews on an Indian Ocean island off the coast of Africa will be able to tackle emergencies that to new training from Devon The training was delivered by Red One, the trading company that is wholly owned by Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, to the Mauritius Fire and Rescue Service via Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service Academy Incident Command School. The risks in the Mauritius area range from an international airport, shipping, major flooding, motorways, industrial manufacturing companies and a number of high-rise buildings in the commercial centre. However, the majority of fires attended by MFRS are bush fires and sugar cane field fires, which account for nearly three-quarters of their daily calls. Red One designed bespoke training packages that were delivered over 14 days. Jon Chalk, Incident Command instructor said: "The training delivered in the islands capital of Port Louis, was extremely well received. " During the two weeks' course we all noticed a real improvement in standards that we felt would help the Mauritius service in achieving its prime objective of prompt response to firefighting, rescue operations and improving safety of the staff and public. "We also provided a 'train the trainer' course to two of the station officers within the training unit, enabling the cascade of the training across the rest of the service.
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Date set for Exeter trial of man accused of murdering his mother

January 19, 2015, 5:01 am
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A date has been set for the trial of a man accused of murdering his mother in a Somerset village. Alexander McDonald, aged 27, appeared in person at Exeter Crown Court for the first time, his previous appearance in October having been by video link. He was due to be arraigned but the case was adjourned without him entering a plea at the request of defence barrister Mr Adam Vaitilingam, QC. McDonald, of Holly Park, Norton Fitzwarren, is accused of murdering his 57-year-old mother Catherine at the home they shared on September 30. Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, remanded him in custody and set a trial date of June 15, 2015. He extended custody time limits to June 19. He ordered any defence psychiatric evidence and the defence case statement must be served on the prosecution before March 6. The case is due to be heard at Exeter by a High Court Judge and is currently listed to last up to ten days.
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MP Neil Parish hits out at animal rights group, PETA, who called his red meat campaign 'out of touch'

January 19, 2015, 5:11 am
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Mid Devon MP Neil Parish has responded to accusations by animal rights group PETA that his campaign for a red meat month is "out of touch" and "irresponsible". The charity has written a letter to the Tiverton and Honiton MP, asking him to think again about his support for the meat industry. The charity, whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat", have questioned why the Conservative MP was recently re-elected as chairman of the all-parliamentary group on animal welfare, when he has previously made calls for more red meat to be served in restaurants at the Houses of Parliament. The charity sent a letter to the MP seeking to remind him of the high cost of meat for animals, the environment and human health, and encouraging him to reconsider his views. Parish told the House of Commons last month: "We have excellent beef and lamb produced on grass throughout all the country, it helps to keep our green and pleasant land the way it is." And he asked leader of the House, William Hague: "Could we have a red meat month so we can eat red meat sustainably". Mr Hague was supportive of the plan but US-based PETA, which campaigns against meat-eating, hunting and animal abuse, objected to the idea in a letter to the Tiverton and Honiton MP who managed the family farm in Somerset before entering politics and also campaigns on animal issues. Mr Parish told PETA: "I read with interest your argument that consuming red meat is 'out of touch' and 'irresponsible'. I am sure the millions of ordinary Britons who have enjoyed roast beef or a shepherd's pie will be surprised to learn that they are 'out of touch' and with good reason." He told them that the House of Commons had organised a 'World Vegan Month' for restaurants on the estate to promote veganism and that there was already a World Vegan Day and National Vegetarian Week but nothing to promote responsible, sustainable produced red meat such as beef and lamb. He went on: "It is only fair that we should have a 'Red Meat Month' to support British livestock farmers and to promote the industry's importance to rural communities, the local economy and biodiversity." Mr Parish warned that one of the greatest challenges for all nations was how to feed a world population, set to reach nine billion by 2050 He wrote: "Grazing cattle and sheep are often given disproportionate blame for carbon emissions from the agriculture sector and there is not enough recognition amongst some conservation groups of the role livestock farming, particularly grass-fed beef and lamb, plays in storing carbon, protecting biodiversity and utilising marginal land that cannot be used for arable crops but can grow very good grass." Many parts of the Westcountry are only suitable for growing grass, Mr Parish says, and overall in Britain 65% of the farmland is pasture, suitable for grazing sheep and cattle. "We should be utilising this marginal land, which cannot be used for arable crops but can grow good grass and provide good biodiversity and environmental benefits," he tells the animal rights group. He goes on: "Beef cattle and sheep play a vital role in food production, because of their ability to turn non-human food into edible proteins and nutrients. Limiting the role of British livestock will reduce the efficiency with which we use our land for food production and will therefore reduce our ability to be self-sufficient. "These points are often neglected, or at least not adequately considered, by those who advocate meat-free diets. If we were all to switch to a diet free of meat much of our agricultural land would be unfarmed and we would see a considerable drop in the efficiency of our land to food conversion, in addition to the negative impacts on biodiversity. "Red meat can play an important part in a healthy balanced diet as they have a wide variety of nutrients in a relatively small amount of food and is a major source of protein. It also an important source of B vitamins, including B12, which is not found naturally in fruits and vegetables. "I am afraid you have missed the point of my campaign to encourage Parliament to celebrate 'Red Meat Month'. This is about how we can support our livestock farming and encourage consumers to eat locally sourced meat that is bred to the highest animal welfare standards and is part of a traceable food chain. "The best way to achieve this is to buy British."

MP Neil Parish hits out at animal rights group, PETA, who called his red meat campaign ‘out of touch’

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Exeter charity rated safe, caring and responsive

January 19, 2015, 5:24 am
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THE quality of care provided by a charity for people with disabilities in Exeter and East Devon has been rated as outstanding. Domiciliary Care East Devon is one of the first services to receive the top rating under the Care Quality Commission's new methodology for inspecting adult social care services. The service is provided by Robert Owen Communities, a Devon and Cornwall-based learning disability charity. The agency provides support with personal care for 30 people with learning disabilities, other sensory and physical disabilities, and mental health problems in the Honiton, Exmouth and Exeter areas. At an inspection in July, inspectors found that people were receiving care which was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led, from compassionate staff who delivered care with dignity and respect. Welcoming the publication of their findings, chief executive David Wilson said: "ROC is delighted to have earned the recognition of an outstanding rating from the new CQC inspection. "We are proud to be the first organisation that supports people with learning disabilities to receive this top-level rating. This is full acknowledgment of ROC's aim to fully embed personalisation and demonstrate what services should be like now and in the future." The inspectors found people who used the service were encouraged and supported to challenge themselves, and to be active members of their local communities. They were also encouraged to keep fit by taking part in sporting activities. Staff were trained to use a range of different ways of communicating with people to ensure their views were heard. People who used the service told inspectors that care and support was easily available and that staff made them feel safe and secure. This included in emergencies – one person told inspectors that extra support had been provided after they had broken their arm which meant the individual did not need to stay in hospital longer than necessary. Adrian Hughes, deputy chief inspector of adult social care in the South, said: "We found that Domiciliary Care East Devon was providing an outstanding service to the people it supported. "Individuals were supported and encouraged to be part of their community and the team there should be extremely proud of the work they do. "We were struck by the extent to which the agency places the people it supports at the heart of everything it does. "While this should be standard practice across the sector, we don't see it often enough – and this, amongst other good practice found, is why this agency has received the highest rating we can give." "The support provided was designed to meet not just to meet people's individual needs, but also to meet their aspirations and celebrate their achievements. We saw that people were active members of their local communities, and that they were supported to gain new skills and increase their independence. "One person who had never used public transport before had been supported to do so independently, and another had been supported to attend a day centre on a regular basis. People were overwhelmingly positive about the care they were receiving. We would encourage other providers to look closely at our findings here – as there is much some could learn from what we found. Andrea Sutcliffe, the CQC's chief inspector of adult social care, added: "The quality of care which our inspectors found here was exceptional and I am very pleased that we can celebrate the achievements of this agency. "An outstanding service is the result of a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment. I would like to thank and congratulate everyone involved." The inspectors said staff were proud to work for the agency and felt valued for their work, and many of those inspectors spoke to had worked there for a long time and had developed strong long-standing relationships with those they supported. Leadership was strong. Managers led by example, and the agency had an open culture. The CQC identified a clear commitment from both staff and management to continually improve the support they delivered.
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Feature: Exeter homeless man launches appeal to put a roof over his head with help from the Big Issue Foundation

January 19, 2015, 5:26 am
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A HOMELESS man who has been living rough for 18 years, has launched an appeal with support from the Big Issue Foundation in Exeter, to help him finally put a roof over his head. Glen Walker shares his remarkable story with Fran McElhone AN abusive home life drove Glen Walker on to the streets at a desperately young age. Picked up off the streets by social services after running away from home, the 12-year-old, who lived in Bristol at the time, was put into foster care. This lasted a matter of months before he had no choice to return home for another two years of abuse at the hands of his step-father, after suffering abuse, shockingly, at the hands of his foster carers. Now aged 32, Glen admits he still finds it hard to trust anyone. So, what does a teenager do who believes he can trust no one to take care of him? He "falls off the radar" and seeks a life avoiding detection from the police and social services, and his parents. He decided to head to nearby Bath, and with the help of a new found friend was shown a place to lay his head in the shadows under the railway arches, singing A cappella by day, busking for food but falling into the grip of heroin addiction "because it numbed the cold". He was recorded as a missing person so couldn't stay long in case he was recognised and sent home. So commenced his nomadic existence. The teenager found himself living in a treehouse commune at a quarry protest site in the Peak District for two years. Glen has never had a home since, spending a total of 18 years on the streets. I ask him to tell me a few of the towns and cities he's lived alfresco, over the years, he laughs and says it would be easier to tell me the ones he hadn't - he's been everywhere from Lerwick in the Shetland Islands to Land's End. November was the second time Glen ended up in Exeter – the first occasion was when he achieved the tremendous feat of getting himself off heroin, aged 18: Somehow amid all his suffering, he had the foresight to realise that shoplifting and drug taking would only make his life worse. Becoming a Big Issue seller aged 19, saved him from a far darker existence, giving him light, hope, purpose, self-respect, self-confidence, he tells me. But now, finally, he's ready to find himself a home. Not a flat, but a boat. And from the Big Issue office in Exeter he launched an appeal on social media to raise the £3,500 needed to buy one of some sort, in order to have a roof over his head, but one that wouldn't restrict a freedom that has come to be his only constant. But, as luck would have it, thanks to a kindly city stranger buying a Big Issue off him on the High Street, a family member of hers subsequently offered to give Glen a sailing boat, moored a little further away than he reckoned, in Majorca. This twist of fate has changed Glen's plan somewhat – with this offer, the aim now is for the funds raised to help get himself a passport and his ticket out there, a couple of sailing lessons, and help him realise his dream of being homeless no more and set up an outdoor catering business. Glen recalls the abusive childhood that forced him onto the streets. "I finally left when my step dad threw a meat cleaver at my heard and it narrowly missed," he says. "I decided I was going, and was going to make sure I was never found until I was old enough to be allowed to be on my own and away from my family. My plan was to jump off the radar." Glen says the hardest things about his lifestyle have been the cold, and the threat of abuse from vigilante gangs, he say were a particular menace to the homeless community in Liverpool, when he watched a companion getting beaten up, managing to chase off his attackers. This sort of thing he says happened infrequently however, and the majority of the time, mercifully, he's been treated with kindness. "When I was 17, I went back to Bath and walked into a police station and told them to stop trying to find me," he continues. "And, realising I'd manage to survive on my own and keep out of their way, they left me alone. "Until this point, I wasn't choosing a life on the streets, but to be away from my parents and abuse. "I didn't realise I had become addicted to heroin," he admits. "When I came back to Bath to start selling the Big Issue, I hadn't had any for 24 hours and felt really ill, I didn't realise I was clucking – experiencing withdrawal symptoms – and decided I never wanted to feel like this again. "So I came to Exeter, and stayed in a car park for three days, with a bag of cannabis which helped to get rid of the stomach cramps, and three days later I felt much better. I felt physically secure but not mentally, so thought I'd test myself, and with money in my pocket, I headed back to Bath where I knew I could score, so I could prove to myself I was strong enough to leave it alone." Which, testament to his tremendous resolve and steely attitude for life, he did. Glen says he's been overwhelmed by the support he's had for his appeal so far, and he wouldn't have been able to do it without the support of the Big Issue Foundation. "In November, I woke up one morning and didn't want this life anymore," he says. "I've lived in caravans and tents over the years, and spent a few months on a friend's boat and really enjoyed it. "I feel like my freedom's gone when I'm inside for too long and I start feeling depressed, so I thought a boat, which I've always had a passion for, would be the sort of go between the outside and in. It could take my travelling lifestyle much further! "I feel more positive than I ever have before," he adds. "I feel like I have a future now." To donate visit, Glen's Big Issue Boat on Facebook or visit, www.indiegogo.com/projects/glen-s-big-issue-boat

Feature: Exeter homeless man launches appeal to put a roof over his head with help from the Big Issue Foundation

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Exeter Golf and Country Club to go ahead with course redesign after two years of negotiations

January 19, 2015, 5:39 am
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EXETER Golf and Country Club has secured funding from Charles Church, part of the Persimmon Group, towards the redesign of its golf course. It spells the end of the earlier proposal to erect a massive safety net to protect people from errant golf balls. The deal comes after two years of negotiations between the club and housebuilder over how to ensure the safety of residents of Great Woodcote Park, a new housing development being built next to the golf course. The club had been advised by two separate specialist golf architects that the houses were sited too close to the boundary, increasing the risk of golf balls leaving the course and causing injury or damage. The redesign of the golf course will overcome this problem by repositioning three holes of the 18-hole course. It will be overseen by international golf course architects Mackenzie & Ebert with works designed to minimise disruption to members. An 18-hole golf course will be maintained throughout the work with the use of temporary holes where necessary. It is hoped that building work will start in September 2015 and will be completed by spring 2016. Will Gannon, Chairman of Exeter Golf and Country Club, said: "This new agreement with Persimmon is excellent news as it secures the future of the golf club, which has a 120 year-long history in the city and is very much part of the community here. "When it emerged in 2012 that houses planned by Persimmon would pose a threat to safety because of their proximity to the boundary, we started negotiations to try and resolve the situation. "At one stage, we considered erecting high safety netting around part of the boundary to solve the issue but the redesign of the course is a much better solution for all concerned. "We are very pleased that we have reached this agreement and can push ahead with this project, which we could not have afforded to do without this significant funding from Persimmon. "The architects have come up with an elegant redesign which will ensure our members can continue to enjoy the quality of golf they have come to expect at the club for many years to come." Leading property consultancy JLL advised Exeter Golf and Country Club throughout the negotiations with Persimmon. Mr Gannon added: "We have been delighted with the support JLL has provided throughout this period." To celebrate the securing of this new funding from Persimmon, Exeter Golf and Country Club is offering to waive the normal joining fee for new golfers until April 1, 2015, representing a saving of £300. The club has also extended its young adult membership category so that all golfers between the ages of 18 and 30 now benefit from a reduced membership subscription as well as the no joining fee offer. Exeter Golf and Country Club, in Countess Wear in Exeter, was founded in the city in 1895, but moved to its current site in 1929. It has 750 golf members and 4,000 other members who use the additional facilities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis, squash, a bridge club, fitness centre and a range of classes. The club has recently added to its offering to members by opening its own ESPA spa, Wear Park Spa.

Exeter Golf and Country Club to go ahead with course redesign after two years of negotiations

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Breaking: Topsham Road closed after elderly woman seriously injured in collision with lorry

January 19, 2015, 5:44 am
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Topsham Road in Exeter is currently closed because of a serious collision between an elderly woman and a lorry. There are long delays between Countess Wear and Burnthouse Lane because of the incident. Emergency services were called to the scene at the pedestrian crossing at 1:15pm today. The woman is being treated by paramedics at the scene. Bus Company Stagecoach are currently diverting busses around the area. A spokesperson added: "Due to a serious incident on Topsham Road, the section between Burnthouse Lane and Countess Wear is currently closed to traffic. For the duration of this closure our services will divert outbound via Burnthouse Lane, Rifford Road, Middlemoor and the bypass, returning to their normal route at Countess Wear roundabout. Inbound this diversion will apply in reverse. This diversion affects services J/K/T, Hop2, X38, 39, X46, 57, X64"Updates as we have them

Breaking: Topsham Road closed after elderly woman seriously injured in collision with lorry

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Police appeal for witnesses after 87-year-old woman suffers life-threatening injuries in Exeter collision

January 20, 2015, 2:55 am
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An 87-year-old woman suffered life-threatening injuries after being in collision with a lorry in Exeter on Monday. Police and emergency services were called to Topsham Road around 1.15pm after the elderly pedestrian was in collision with the HGV. The woman, from Exeter, sustained a serious leg injury and was taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. The driver of the 18-tonne truck, a 43-year-old man, was interviewed by police and has been released while police enquiries continue into the circumstances of the incident. Police closed the road for two-and-a-half hours while officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit examined the scene. Officers are appealing for witnesses to the collision and anyone with information is asked to contact the Exeter Serious Collision Investigation Unit via 101, quoting log number 346 of 19/01/15.

Police appeal for witnesses after 87-year-old woman suffers life-threatening injuries in Exeter collision

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Video: Judge orders report on man who admitted terrifying Honiton antiques shop robbery

January 20, 2015, 3:37 am
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A judge has ordered pre sentence reports on a robber who was caught on CCTV as he raided an antique shop in Honiton. Edward O'Hare fled to Belgium after stealing jewellery and valuables worth an estimated £150,000 from the Banwell Antiques shop on March 22 last year. A security camera at the shop captured the moment when he entered the shop while wearing a distinctive flat cap and attacked the assistant. Watch the video below She was left terrified after being grabbed around the neck and tied up by O'Hare, who did not disguise his face during the robbery in which he loaded more than 300 items of jewellery into a black rucksack and blue holdall. The raid took place as the shop assistant was opening up the store in Honiton's High Street on a Saturday morning. She was attacked as she put the shop keys in her handbag and dragged to the ground by O'Hare, who bundled into the back of the shop, out of sight of the window. He escaped with items including gold rings, bracelets, necklaces, a diamond studded opal, and diamond pendants. O'Hare admitted robbery after being traced by police in Belgium and extradited back to Devon in November. He was due to be sentenced at Exeter Crown Court but Recorder Mr Kevin de Haan, QC, adjourned the case and ordered the probation service to prepare a pre sentence report. O'Hare, aged 45, from London, will now be sentenced in March. He was remanded in custody. The case against co-defendant Kevin Neal, aged 52, from London, has been dropped by the prosecution. He had been accused of being the driver of the car which took O'Hare away from the scene by Mr David Bowen, prosecuting, offered no evidence. Mr Paul Light, defending, asked for the case against O'Hare to be adjourned for a report.

Video: Judge orders report on man who admitted terrifying Honiton antiques shop robbery

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Theatre for Exeter Group responds to city councillors' claim that plans are not viable

January 20, 2015, 3:46 am
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CAMPAIGNERS hoping for a new city centre theatre are determined to keep the issue on the agenda. Responding to comments by city councillors casting doubt on the viability of a new theatre in last week's Echo, Chairman of Theatre for Exeter Group CIC Pete Goodwin outlines why he believes the development would be a major asset for the city. THE Theatre for Exeter Group (TfEG) has been encouraged by the increase in letters in the Express and Echo over the last few months supporting the idea of a new theatre in the city. In addition to these letters, the results of the newspaper's recent online poll showed that 52 per cent of those polled were in favour of a theatre as opposed to a swimming pool, etc. However, recent articles from leading councillors have cast doubt that it will ever happen, suggesting that it's a great idea but financially impossible. The TfEG view is different. Both Cllr Edwards and Cllr Bull have chosen two of the most expensive regional theatres in the UK as their examples. Councillor Edwards uses Plymouth Theatre Royal as an example of how much subsidy is required to keep a theatre running – £1.8m annually. There are theatre managers all over the country who would welcome a fraction of that amount! The TfEG prefers to look at Theatre Royal Bath as an example; a theatre that programmes three auditoria and is hugely popular yet draws absolutely nothing from the public purse. Councillor Bull in last week's Echo looks at the construction costs of the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre at approximately £47m (although other sources have it at £42m). Originally costed at £26m by the district council, the architects designed bespoke timbers and a curved, sloping roof adding hugely to the eventual price. The TfEG prefer to look at the Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury which cost £25.6m or Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury which came in at £20.1m. And the group is not calling for Exeter to immediately commit to a new theatre. We've done the research; we know that a new theatre is going to cost money to build, that some theatres are costly to run and a few struggle to survive despite receiving generous public subsidy. But we also know that some new theatres have been built at a relatively low cost to their local councils and that a lot of theatres receive little or no public subsidy whilst putting on popular and fantastic shows. And one fact remains: every new theatre that has opened this millennium – and there are several – has brought regeneration to the locality and a huge boost to the economy of the area. Other businesses have invested nearby and people are staying in the city centre long into the evening enabling cafes, bars, and restaurants to open and the local hotels to thrive. So if we aren't calling immediately for a new theatre what do we want? Above all, we want debate on the options for a new theatre from those involved in the provision and development of culture in this great city. We applaud the city council for its commitment to the RAMM, for its support for sport and art and its continuing investment in the Northcott and other theatres and venues. Exeter is currently ranked third in the country for its spend on culture, contributing 53p per person per week, against the national average of 16p. That's fantastic and deserves a huge round of applause if not a standing ovation! But what of the future? The city is expanding at a rate that nobody would have thought possible when the Northcott was opened in 1967, theatre going has increased with younger audiences coming in, theatre breaks are seen as an important attraction for tourism and, as the Echo has found out, there is strong support in Exeter for a new theatre. The TfEG wants to look at the provision of theatre in Exeter over the next 10, 20 and 30 years and find out what the options are for a new theatre that could work with the Northcott and our other excellent venues to keep Exeter at the top of the cultural league. Above all, we want to do this with Exeter City Council, Exeter Northcott, Exeter University and other partners who have an influence on theatre in the city. To this end, we have a meeting with Cllr Rosie Denham scheduled which we hope will start a constructive conversation with the city council. We have already met with an Arts Consultant to begin the process of looking at an options appraisal for the city and we have had informal meetings with the University and with the management of the Northcott. We accept that a theatre is unlikely to be built as part of the bus station redevelopment – there may be better sites in the future anyway but let's try and plan for the future, look at some options and see what could happen. Because if we don't we will never know, we will lose our standing in the national cultural landscape and be forever driving down the A38 to Plymouth to see shows that should be playing in Exeter.

Theatre for Exeter Group responds to city councillors’ claim that plans are not viable

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Cold Case: Legal high burglar jailed after home owner catches him blue handed in the freezer

January 20, 2015, 4:14 am
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A burglar has been jailed after a shocked home owner caught him red-handed as he rifled food from his freezer. Richard Harrison had taken a mixture of legal highs and valium before setting out on a crime spree in which he raided three homes in the same morning. The 44-year-old thief was caught in the act by householder Christopher Cornish who found him trying to steal food out of the freezer in his home in Milton Place, Bideford. Harrison tried to lie his way out of trouble by telling him a friend had asked him to fetch something and he had gone to the wrong house but Mr Cornish called the police. The Devon and Cornwall helicopter was launched to help the search which ended when Harrison was found in the garage of a house in Meddon Street. He is a former heroin addict who was so wrecked on legal highs that he has no memory of carrying out the three burglaries, Exeter Crown Court was told. Harrison, of Geneva Court, Bideford, who has also been living at Castle Hill Gardens, Torrington, admitted three burglaries, escape from custody, and asked for the theft of two charity tins to be considered. He was jailed for nine months by Judge Kevin de Haan, QC, who told him:"You need to watch it as far as burglaries are concerned. If you clock up too many you know how long you will get. "Bearing in mind your plea, your lack of similar convictions, the scale of the property taken and that it was fortunately recovered, this sentence is appropriate." Mr Ian Graham, prosecuting, said police arrested Harrison for shoplifting in Bideford's High Street ten days before the burglaries but he escaped from the officers and ran away. He carried out the first burglary at a home in Torridge View, Bideford on the morning of September 23, where he searched the building and stole items including jewellery, a camera, and food from the freezer. He moved on to Milton Place where he stole a saw from one house before breaking in through an insecure door to Mr Cornish's house where he was disturbed as he was stealing food from the freezer. Mr Graham said:"He was found in the freezer room by the owner and there was a discussion in which he said his mate said it was okay but he must have got the wrong house. "The householder ordered him to leave and contacted the police and he was arrested later that day and all the stolen items were recovered." Mr Nigel Wraith, defending, said Harrison is ashamed of himself and wants to apologise to the victims. He has no memory of what happened because he had taken a mixture of legal highs and valium. He said:"Mr Cornish caught him on his premises and gave him a boot to help him on his way as he saw him out."

Cold Case: Legal high burglar jailed after home owner catches him blue handed in the freezer

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Bid to secure future of East Devon beaver colony receives "overwhelming" public backing

January 20, 2015, 4:33 am
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A LEADING conservation charity's bid to secure the future of a beaver colony near Ottery St Mary has received "overwhelming" public backing. Eight landowners and around 100 members of the public attended a recent Natural England organised meeting to gauge public opinion regarding the Devon Wildlife Trust's application for a licence for a project that would monitor the beaver population. There are now thought to be around 10 of the animals living on the banks of the river near Ottery St Mary. Experts still have no idea how the beavers came to be in the area, but they are thought to have resided there for at least five years, with some sightings dating back 10 years. During this time their impact on the surrounding environment has been negligible – contrary to popular misconception, they have neither created a dam, nor removed any of the undergrowth. Since the Department for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) announced that it would be capturing the beavers, the Devon Wildlife Trust has been working tirelessly to ensure their safe return. Defra authorised their capture with Natural England granting the licence, so they can be tested for the Echinococcus multilocularis parasite – a rare parasitic tapeworm. Backed by East Devon MP Hugo Swire, the charity applied for a licence from Natural England for their re-release in October. The licence would give the charity permission to set up a five-year monitoring project called the River Otter Beaver Trial. The project will oversee the population, range and health of the beavers and the effect they have on the local landscape and people. It will focus on the beavers' impact on wildlife, vegetation, water flow, water quality, communities and infrastructure. But it will cost about £54,000, of which around £40,000 has already been raised through donations, such is the depth of feeling surrounding their release. Devon Wildlife Trust conservation manager Pete Burgess, said public support is "vital" in securing the beavers' return. He said some concerns were raised at the meeting by both the landowners and public, but the charity was able to address and appease these and ultimately, there was overwhelming support for the beavers to stay. "People really wanted to see them remain as part of their community," he said. "We had the chance to explain that we have a pragmatic framework in place to effectively manage the population after the trial. "The purpose of the trial is to see what issues may arise and how to deal with them. "But the beavers have been living on the river for at least five years with no negative impact, and an overwhelmingly positive effect." Mr Burgess said landowners' concerns including the issue of flooding, for example if a water table forms as a result of a dam built by the beavers. He explained that the trial will enable officials to identify the risks and how best to deal with them. "We recognise that the farmers have businesses to run and they want to know," he continued. "They left having more confidence that we will work well with them. "During the public meeting, concerns were raised over the welfare of the beavers including the impact of interaction with people; the potential impact on otters. "These things are right to consider, but since the beavers have been on the river, there are now twice as many otters, and there have been no negatives relating to human interaction." To donate visit www.devon wildlifetrust.org/devons-wild-beavers-appeal or phone 01392 279244.

Bid to secure future of East Devon beaver colony receives “overwhelming” public backing

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Thieving Exeter healthcare worker forced to sell his home to repay his employers

January 20, 2015, 4:44 am
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A thieving healthcare worker is being forced to sell his home to repay his employers the money he made by stealing products and selling them on eBay. Graham Rust has been given six months to sell his home at Rewe, near Tiverton, so he can repay £33,608.14 under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA). He was a clerk at the Alliance Healthcare warehouse in Cofton Road, Exeter for 24 years until he was caught taking stock which he sold in eBay under the pseudonym monkey01. Single father Rust, aged 50, of The Hollies, Rewe, received an eight month suspended sentence and 200 hours unpaid community work in July last year after admitting stealing £19,259.11. He returned to Exeter Crown Court for a POCA hearing at which he was ordered to repay £33,608.14 within six months or face an 18 month jail sentence. The amount he must repay is higher than the amount he admitted stealing because it is calculated on the basis of the amount he received through Paypal for selling items on eBay. Recorder Mr Kevin de Haan, QC, rubber stamped the order after being told the amount by which Rust benefited from crime had been agreed and that his total available assets were £272,375. Miss Janice Eagles, prosecuting, said:"It is not in dispute that the amount available is clearly more than the benefit figure. He says he will be selling his house to meet the confiscation claim." Mr Joss Ticehurst, defending, said the figures are agreed but Rust will need time to sell his home and raise the money. During the case last year the court heard how Rust started stealing because he felt under valued and put upon by his employer after 24 years of loyal service. He was trapped by an internal investigation in which a check was made on Alliance products being sold on eBay from addresses close to their warehouses. It flagged up an account called monkey01 in which large numbers of items including glucose test strips were sold at prices which undercut their own. Rust was not represented at that hearing but told the Judge he had not acted out of greed. He said:"The money did help make a better life for me and my son but that is not why I did it. I am not the most dynamic person and all my life I have tended to be put upon and abused. "That was the case with Alliance Healthcare. They had a very poor history. I would not have done it otherwise. It was not in my nature, it was just the place and the time."

Thieving Exeter healthcare worker forced to sell his home to repay his employers

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Exeter to host second World Pancake Racing Championship

January 20, 2015, 4:52 am
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EXETER is hosting the 2nd World Pancake Racing Championship, on February 17, Shrove Tuesday. Competitors need to be able to toss a pancake four times along the designated track in Princesshay. The official charity for the event is Age UK Exeter, Princesshay's charity of the year, but entrants can raise money for any charity through sponsorship. Any business, club, charity or local organisation can enter as long as they are over 18 years old and fancy dress is encouraged. Special race pancakes are being supplied by ABode Exeter Teams will take part in a series of knock-out relay heats, stopping to toss pancakes, four times along the short course. The overall winners will receive a trophy and immense kudos. There are also prizes for the finalists including a gorgeous lunch for two in Michael Caine and vouchers from Princesshay. For more details see info@wackynation.com
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Man in his 50s found dead on Sidmouth seafront

January 20, 2015, 4:55 am
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A man in his 50s was found dead in Sidmouth this morning. The man, who was understood to be homeless, was discovered by an East Devon District Council StreetScene worker at around 7.45am who called 999. He was found in the Port Royal shelter along the Esplanade. A police spokesperson confirmed that ambulance paramedics pronounced the man deceased at the scene. The man's identity is known to police. The spokesperson said the death is not being treated as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

Man in his 50s found dead on Sidmouth seafront

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West Hill residents hope to form parish council

January 20, 2015, 5:05 am
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RESIDENTS in an East Devon village have joined forces in the hope of establishing a parish council. West Hill Parish Campaign Group is currently seeking support from residents for a new parish council which would provide improved services, local representation and better support for local voluntary and community organisations. The group believes a council would give residents a greater influence over the issues that affect their community. Group chair, Dr Margaret Hall, said the establishment of a parish council would reduce its reliance on nearby Ottery St Mary Town Council. "This is about us controlling our future rather than relying on Ottery St Mary Town Council," she said. "This is a very exciting time for our village. People have talked about having a Parish Council for quite some time, but we feel that now is the right time. The village has expanded in recent years and with over 850 houses." The group is seeking at least 250 signatures to petition East Devon District Council to undertake a Community Governance Review with the aim of seeking a new parish council. The group is holding drop in sessions on Saturday, January 24, and Saturday, January 31, from 9am – 12pm outside McColls shop in the village. A public meeting has been arranged on Friday, March 6, at 7.30pm at West Hill Village Hall for people to find out more about the benefits.
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Pair face jail after they admit taking Exeter boy on vigilante terror ride

January 20, 2015, 5:12 am
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A man and woman have been warned they face jail sentences after they changed their plea and admitted subjecting a terrified teenager to a revenge ordeal. Laura Linsell and Luke Haworth pleaded guilty on the second morning of their trial at Exeter Crown Court to the false imprisonment of the vulnerable 17-year-old boy. They have admitted holding the victim, who was in council care, against his will during a journey in which they took him from Bideford to Exeter. They were trying to get him to repay £700 he had stolen from Linsell's home near Exeter a few days earlier when he was staying with her. He was lured into Linsell's car at the Morrison's supermarket car park in Bideford in the belief he was going for a walk in the country with her dogs. As soon as he got in he was joined by Haworth, who he did not know, and who had been recruited by Linsell to help her recover the missing money. They took him to a friend's home where he had been staying in Appledore to collect his keys and then onto his supported accommodation in Exeter to search for the £700. When the money was not there he was driven off again and decided to escape because he feared he would be killed. The teenager escaped and raised the alarm by smashing a rear side window of Linsell's BMW on Dunsford Hill in Exeter and jumping out barefoot into the face of oncoming cars. Police were called after he took refuge in a nearby house where he arrived on the doorstep with his face bruised and covered in blood. Linsell, aged 30, from Shillingford, near Exeter and Luke Haworth, aged 31, of Hawthorn Road, Taunton, admitted false imprisonment. Further charges of kidnap, blackmail and assault have been dropped and the jury has been discharged from reaching verdicts on these allegations. All charges against a second woman who had been in the car with them have also been dropped. Charlotte Statham, aged 27, of Pintail Road Minehead, was found not guilty and discharged. Miss Bathsheba Cassel, prosecuting, said Linsell and Haworth admitted false imprisonment and accepted most of the case against them. She said:"The pleas are on the full facts save that Haworth says no weapon was involved and it is fair to say the CCTV at the shop in Bideford does not show him with a hammer. "Linsell pleads guilty on the basis she was not involved in the threats or violence. The views of the complainant have been sought and the pleas are acceptable." Recorder Mr Rufus Taylor told them:"I shall order pre sentence reports. You must both understand you have pleaded guilty to something incredibly serious and the sentence is almost inevitably going to be immediate custody." He told the jury that although the case had ended on the second morning, they had played an important part in the proceedings. He said:"When defendants attend at court, even if they have had a case hanging over them for almost a year, it is sometimes not until they start the trial that they change their pleas. "They may not have done so without you. Please don't go away thinking this has been a complete waste of your time."

Pair face jail after they admit taking Exeter boy on vigilante terror ride

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Devon couple among the longest wed pair in the country (and claim they have never had an argument)

January 20, 2015, 5:24 am
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A Devon couple are celebrating being among the longest wed pair in the county. Between them Ernie and Renie Hills survived Hitler's Blitz, a bout of tropical thrombosis and a stint in an iron lung - also their dog once saved their lives during 74 years of marriage. Ernie, 97, an ex toolmaker and serviceman-come-milkman, and Renie, 93, who worked in London's factories during the Second World War, first met when she was pushing a bike near her home, when a man shouted, "Oi, would you like to hold me up like that?" "That was it, we were together after that. And you know what? We've never argued since that day," he explained. The couple, from Tiverton, say the key to such a long marriage was mutual discussion, a clear understanding of one another's needs, and, in their case, a good bout of luck that has kept them alive. Ernie, who served in the Second World War, contracted tropical thrombosis, a life threatening condition, while serving in Mombasa, Kenya and was rushed home. Renie was terrified for Ernie's life, but when he eventually recovered, she described how she felt: "It was as if the heavens opened up for me on that day. And it's like they've never closed since." Renie also recalled the same feeling when, later on, Ernie had a lump removed from his lung causing him to spend weeks in an iron lung - but true to form, he recovered again. They also described how one night, while playing cards in Renie's mother's home, their dog, suddenly leapt up and sought refuge under an iron-framed piano and wimpered. "Somehow the dog knew a bomb had been dropped," Renie said, "so we all went and hid under the stairs," Ernie added.

Devon couple among the longest wed pair in the country (and claim they have never had an argument)

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