News in Honiton

Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall get a taste of East Devon's finest wares at outstanding inaugural food and craft celebration in Honiton

As well as meeting key local representatives, the Royal couple visited the stands, taking the time to speak to traders and sampling a wide variety of delicious and innovative wares on offer. Before departing home, an amazing birthday cake made by local baker Cathryn McCollum was presented to Prince Charles for his 70th birthday. A gift of locally produced gin and tonic was given to the Duchess who celebrated her birthday on Tuesday 17 July.

People living in the area of Clyst St Mary and Clyst St George are invited to share their ideas and comments on a proposal for a walking and cycling link to the Exe Estuary trail.

Section 4 – Clyst St Mary to the Exe Estuary Trail

Posted on: 6 July 2018

A series of essential improvements to reduce surface water on roads in Exeter are being put to Devon County Council’s Cabinet next week (Wednesday 11 July).

Councillors are being asked to approve a proposed £450,000 scheme for the upper Northbrook area of Exeter, which is at high risk of surface water flooding.

Devon County Council has been leading an investigation on the risk of surface water flooding in Exeter, working in partnership with Exeter City Council, South West Water, the Environment Agency and Network Rail to prioritise areas for improvements.

The report before Cabinet is recommending a phased delivery of flood improvement works.

The first phase of work would focus on the Upper Northbrook catchment where high intensity rainfall overwhelms existing drainage systems. Improvements would mainly cover Beacon Lane and the George's Close area of Whipton and Old Tiverton Road, which all have a history of surface water flooding going back over the last 50 years, with the most recent event being in October 2014.

The improvements are proposed at various locations in the Northbrook area, upstream of residential areas, in order to reduce runoff and restrict flows through built-up areas.

The main elements of the scheme include:

– Alterations to kerbing and parking at Guinevere Way/Round Table Meet to create a barrier to provide the Beacon Heath Children's Centre with greater protection from flood water;

– Installation of a 300 metre long low-level wall along the cyclepath/footway from Beacon Lane to Bettys Mead playing fields;

– Highway drainage improvements to divert water into the Northbrook watercourse where there is spare capacity. This would include construction of a low earth bund at George’s Close to create an above ground water storage area to reduce the risk of flooding from surface water;

– Provision of measures including flood doors, non-return valves and downpipe disconnections into the basement flats in Old Tiverton Road.

Councillor Roger Croad

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for the environment, said: “The investigative work has enabled the County Council to work with partner authorities to gain a better understanding of the risk of surface water flooding in the city. It has also highlighted the urgent need for the proposed flood alleviation works which will be prioritised within the city.

“Surface water flooding in the Northbrook area is exacerbated by the high intensity rainfall events being experienced more frequently. The scheme being proposed will aim to improve the current standard of protection up to a minimum of 1 in 75 year protection, and, for many properties, up to the 1 in 100 year protection.”

The business case for the scheme is currently being finalised and due to be submitted to the Environment Agency later this month (July) to request Defra Grant in Aid to support the funding of the scheme.

Detailed design is well advanced and the aim is to start construction this autumn.

Witnesses sought

The incident took place between 6.30pm on Wednesday 18 July and 12:30pm Thursday 19 July from a field in Doddiscombleigh.

Clarence House have confirmed that Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will visit Honiton

The incident happened at lunchtime on Saturday

Date: 16.07.2018
Time: 20:01
Location: Broadway, Woodbury

3 fire appliances from Middlemoor, Honiton and Newton Abbot were mobilised following calls from occupants of a flat above a post office, saying their kitchen was on fire.

Within minutes of the first appliance arriving and gaining entry to the first floor flat kitchen of the semi detached property, they located the fire involving a gas cooker. They set to work extinguishing it with 2 breathing apparatus wearers, 1 hose reel jet and a safety jet as a precaution.  

At 20:37hrs crews confirmed that whilst all occupants had been accounted for, 2 adults (a male and female in their 30s) and a 5 day old baby were suffering from smoke inhalation. They were initially checked over by fire service crews, until the arrival of the ambulance crew. 

At 20:41hrs the incident was confirmed to be under control. After extinguishing the fire, which started accidentally, the gas cooker was removed to open air. Damage was confined to the cooker and there was no fire spread. After making the scene safe, duty of care was left with the residents of the privately rented flat and Ambulance crew.  

Date: 18.07.2018
Time: 14:44
Location: Bakers Gate, Northleigh

One crew from Honiton was mobilised to a report of vehicle on fire at the side of the road.

Date: 18.07.2018
Time: 22:19
Location: Farm in the area of Mutterton, East Devon

Two pumps from Cullompton and Middlemoor stations, along with a water carrier from Bridgwater were initially mobilised to a report of an agricultural building on fire at a farm near Mutterton. A Hazardous Materials and Environmental Protection officer and a supervisory officer was also mobilised.
On arrival the officer in charge confirmed a barn that was filled with hay and straw well alight and shortly after requested an additional pump for extra personnel to help tackle the fire. The third pump was mobilised from Topsham.
Crews used two hose reel jets to cool the boundary of the building to prevent further escalation, and a light portable pump to relay water to the incident.
Throughout the night crews were mobilised from Honiton, Ottery St Mary and Wellington to relieve the crews in attendance, and they continued to use hose reel jets and water from the water carrier dam to cool the building.
At 0825 crews confirmed they were assisting the farmer in maintaining a watch on the barn, and allowing the contents to burn naturally.
At 1100 a pump from Middlemoor attended to relieve the Wellington crew. Steady progress was being made, and fire crews assisted the farmer using a telehandler to remove the saveable contents of the barn.
Full and final details were received at 16:49:
The building, which measures 23m x 18m and contained approximately 300 bales of hay and straw, was severely damaged by fire. Approximately 40sq m of the barn was damaged by fire and a further 40sq m was damaged by heat and smoke. A further 30 bales of hay in an adjacent property were damaged by fire.

In total 2 hose reel jets, 1 jet, a dam from the water carrier and a light portable pump was used to extinguish fire, cool the boundary of the building and prevent the incident from escalating.
The cause of ignition was determined to be accidental. 

Mental health services for adults in Devon have been rated as 'good' overall, but inspectors found some staff were 'stressed, exhausted and burnt out' due to the pressures of the Covid pandemic.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its inspection report on services provided by the Devon Partnership NHS Trust.