BBC Local Live: Devon & Cornwall

Summary

Updates from Monday 22 January 2018 until Friday 26 January 2018

Live Reporting

Councillor receives conflict complaintpublished at 07:41 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2018
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
Opposition Liberal Democrats on Torbay Council have made a formal complaint about a Conservative councillor, claiming he shouldn't be advertising his elected position on his business website.
Thomas Winfield is a director of a firm of chartered surveyors.
On the firm's website it states that he has the "benefit" of being elected as a local councillor for Torbay, and that he is on the Torbay Planning Committee.
The Lib Dems say this is inappropriate, because of a perceived conflict of interest.
However, Mr Winfield has told the BBC that he works in finance for commercial lending, as opposed to planning work.
Mr Winfield called the Lib Dems "small minded" for making an issue of it.
Emergency services team up for trainingpublished at 07:20 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2018
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
Two of the South West's emergency services have started training together.
A team of paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service is teaching firefighters from Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service lessons in medicine, whilst they learn about the dangers of hazardous environments.
It is hoped that this will result in the quicker and more efficient treatment of casualties.
Heddon Valley earmarked to save threatened butterflypublished at 07:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2018
Press Association
The National Trust is planning to develop 60 hectares (150 acres) of lowland heath and wood pasture in an effort to save the high brown fritillary butterfly.
Image source, Chris Lacey/National Trust Images/PA Wire
Conservation efforts will centre on the Exmoor and the North Devon coast, an area containing much of the butterfly's main habitat.
The trust has been working in the Heddon Valley, one of the high brown fritillary's remaining strongholds, for years with partners including Butterfly Conservation.
Its population has declined by two thirds since the 1970s, due to changes in the way woodlands are managed and more recently because marginal hill land has been abandoned.
Conservationists also warn that climate change and nitrogen pollution are likely to be contributing towards the butterfly's struggling fortunes.
The new £100,000 project, part of a larger £750,000 award from the People's Postcode Lottery, will focus on restoring parts of the natural landscape along the North Devon coast.
Concern over rockfall at Mullion Harbourpublished at 07:13 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2018
BBC Radio Cornwall
The National Trust is monitoring sections of the coast path on the Lizard after a "large" landslip.
The movement of rock and soil at Mullion Harbour and Kennack Sands prompted the trust to close sections of the path on Tuesday over fears further rockfalls were imminent.
Justin Whitehouse from the charity said continuing rockfalls are putting the future of Mullion Harbour into question.
Image source, Bob Felce
Quote Message
I wouldn't say it is the start of the end of the harbour but it is indicative of what we are faced with here. It is a very dynamic coastline. These cliffs are 300 million years old and they are collapsing, every year we are losing more and more sections.
Justin Whitehouse, National Trust
Flood alerts issued for South Westpublished at 06:57 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2018
BBC Weather
People in the South West are being warned to prepare for more heavy rain and possible flooding this morning.
The Environment Agency has issued a number of flood alerts for the area, external and says places affected by flooding on Sunday may be at risk again.
The agency says river levels are high, particularly the Upper River Tamar and West Cornwall Rivers.
Image source, Environment Agency
'From a home and job to sleeping rough'published at 02:16 Greenwich Mean Time 24 January 2018
Homeless-by-sea: How we ended up sleeping rough by the coast - 12 personal stories.
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Landslide threatens historic harbourpublished at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Further rock falls are "imminent" at Cornwall's Mullion Harbour, the National Trust is warning.
Read More
Flooding alerts issued for rivers in north Devonpublished at 17:22 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Four flood alerts have been issued for north Devon because of heavy rainfall expected on Wednesday morning.
Exmoor has been included in the alerts as well as Barnstaple, Braunton, Ilfracombe, Combe Martin, the middle Exe area and north Dartmoor.
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The Environment Agency says a band of heavy rain is expected to reach the north Devon coast at 07:00 and will last for about an hour.
It says the rainfall will cause river levels to rise in the area and could cause flooding in low-lying land and roads that are already saturated.
Call for money to replace Grenfell Tower-type claddingpublished at 17:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
BBC News England
The government should pay to replace Grenfell Tower-type cladding so lives are not put at risk, the head of a group representing property managers said.
Residents of some privately-owned tower blocks have been asked to foot the bill for replacement panels since the Grenfell disaster claimed 71 lives.
Tests in June 2017 found the cladding on three tower blocks in Plymouth to be made of similar material to Grenfell Tower.
Housing association Plymouth Community Homes, which runs Mount Wise towers, says the panels will be removed and replaced after a building regulations review is carried out.
The towers were among 228 buildings across England found to have cladding that may require replacement or modification.
Image source, Derek Harper
Image caption,
The Mount Wise towers are a major landmark for the Devonport area
Cornish artist's animated film is nominated for an Oscarpublished at 16:47 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
BBC Spotlight
A film worked on by a Manaccan artist has been nominated for an Oscar.
Sarah Wimperis was one of 129 professional artists who spent five months hand-painting each frame of the movie, Loving Vincent.
Sarah was picked from 5,000 international applicants and helped to create 65,000 Van Gogh-style paintings in a warehouse in Poland.
Poldark stars Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson appear in the animated film and play characters brought to life from some of the painter's most famous works.
The movie has been nominated in the best animated feature category.
Quote Message
I think it’s a fantastic validation of independent film making. This film didn't have a huge blockbuster budget and the nomination recognises the hard work and dedication of the directors, producers and the 129 artists who painstakingly painted this animation frame by frame. The painters came from all over the world so we are celebrating and sending messages to each other."
Sarah Wimperis, Manaccan artist
St Ives lifeboat volunteer clocks up 30 years servicepublished at 16:28 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Del Crookes
BBC News Online
Image source, St Ives RNLI
John Chard has been presented with a long service bar after working for more than 30 years at the RNLI in St Ives.
He says he was first introduced to the volunteer lifeboat service in 1983 by his friend, and coxswain, Tommy Cocking, having previously worked as a "skiff boy" and fisherman around Cornwall.
Image source, St Ives RNLI
John started out as a tractor driver for the service after stepping in to help out when another crew member became ill.
He is now head launcher of the lifeboats and trains recruits outside his day job as a photographer.
His son, David, is also a crew member and helm of the inshore lifeboat at the St Ives RNLI station.
Eleven-year-old girl shaves head for Grandadpublished at 16:19 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
Image source, Sophia McBeath
Image caption,
Ella after the sponsored head-shave
A young girl in Devon has shaved her head to raise money and awareness for a charity who helped her granddad.
Ella McBeath lost her grandfather a few years ago to motor neurone disease and "has missed him every day".
Ella told the BBC her granddad was "so ill he couldn't move his arm, so I'd move his arm for him so we could hug".
Having decided she wanted to help others who might be suffering, Ella set upon shaving her head for sponsorship money, and has raised more than £1,100, with donations still coming in.
Image source, Sophia McBeath
Image caption,
Ella before the sponsored head-shave
Her mother said she has had "such a positive reaction from so many people", and that her "personal pride for her is immeasurable".
Dangerous stretch of coastal path at Kennack Sands closedpublished at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Del Crookes
BBC News Online
The South West Coast Path (SWCP) close to Sea Acres Holiday Park in Cornwall has been closed because it is close to collapse after recent heavy rainfall.
A temporary diversion is now in place between Poltesco and Kennack Sands taking walkers along the road through Kuggar.
Image source, National Trust
The National Trust says it is working closely with Cormac, the SWCPA and its neighbours to find a more suitable and long-term solution.
The organisation says the crack is getting wider and a ranger's shovel was put in the hole to show people how deep it is.
Image source, National Trust
Image caption,
The shovel was placed in the gap to show its depth
Mullion Harbour has also been closed following a "large" landslip.
Earlier this month, the coast path between Porthleven and Loe Bar was closed because of erosion.
Homeless Cornwall man 'just wants a quiet place to sleep'published at 15:41 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
BBC Radio Cornwall
Official homeless figures are due to be released by the UK government later this week, including the number of rough sleepers in Cornwall.
John lives in a van in Hayle with his dog, works six months a year as a flower picker and says all he wants is a quiet place to sleep at night.
Media caption,
John spoke to BBC Cornwall's Hannah Stacey
Campaign to send disabled teenager to Disney Worldpublished at 15:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Del Crookes
BBC News Online
Image source, Deborah Hoey
The family of a 15-year-old boy from St Blazey have started a fundraising page to try to send him to Disney World in Florida.
Cavan Hoey, who has epilepsy and two other life-threatening conditions, has been offered the chance to travel to America by the charity Caudwell Children.
But Cavan's mother, stepfather and sister will have to raise about £12,000 to cover the cost of the trip.
Image source, Deborah Hoey
Image caption,
Cavan was awarded a Child of Bravery Award by Prince Harry in 2011
Cavan is a pupil at Doubletrees School and has had to undergo chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant during the past 10 years.
His conditions have left the 15 year old with complex medical, physical and learning disabilities.
If enough money is raised, Cavan will join 24 other children on the Destination Dreams holiday in December.
Woman rescued from Dartmoor 'almost hypothermic'published at 15:21 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
A "poorly equipped" young woman was rescued from Dartmoor last night in a hypothermic state, after apparently becoming lost while geocaching.
Two teams from Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton were called out at about 02:55 this morning in response to a call from the young woman, who was "cold, wet and lost".
The woman, who is believed to be in her 20s and from Hertfordshire, managed to give the search manager enough information to narrow her location down before her phone ran out of battery.
Image source, Dartmoor Search & Rescue Ashburton
Al Pewsey, a call-out member of the search and rescue team and one of those involved in the search, said that conditions were "wet and misty, with very poor visibility".
The woman was found at about 05:15 "exposed on the top of a hill" in wet jeans with only a pink handbag and a torch, and exhibiting symptoms of early hypothermia.
She was treated on site by a doctor, and was able to walk with the team to safety.
Mr Pewsey said he "would encourage anyone to go out and enjoy the moors, as long as they're properly equipped. Knowing how to read a map and compass is absolutely vital".
Boardmasters expansion plans submittedpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Cornwall Live
Organisers of Cornwall’s Boardmasters festival are planning to expand the site and increase the capacity by a further 3,000 for 2018 and beyond., external
Mullion Harbour closed as land slipspublished at 14:44 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
Image source, National Trust
Image caption,
A significant portion of the Mullion harbourside has become dislodged
Mullion Harbour in Cornwall has been closed following a "large" landslip.
Justin Whitehouse of the National Trust said that the harbour was closed as a precaution in case the section should become completely dislodged.
Image source, National Trust
Photos provided by the National Trust clearly show that some of the rock face has already become detached.
Mullion Coastguard are asking people to stay away "for your own safety".
Image source, National Trust
Cornwall stadium needs £6m public fundspublished at 14:28 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Cornish Pirates and Truro City say they need £6m of public funding by May to build the Stadium for Cornwall by 2019.
Read More
Landslip forces Mullion Harbour closurepublished at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 23 January 2018
Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online
Image source, Mullion Cove Hotel
A Cornish harbour has been forced to close today due to a landslip.
Mullion Coastguard tweeted initially to say that the Mullion Harbour area was closed, after a "large" section of the harbour became dislodged.
Image source, Twitter
Justin Whitehouse, the National Trust warden at Mullion Harbour, confirmed the area is closed as a precaution in case the section should fall away completely.
A smaller section of the harbour fell away recently following bad weather.
The area has been monitored in an ongoing assessment for the past two years.