BBC Radio Devon

Thousands of pounds worth of cuts and a 3% increase in council tax in the South Hams can be avoided, according to the district council's Lib Dem opposition.

The cuts and tax increase are expected to be agreed by the Conservative-led Devon council later.

It says it is looking at different ways of funding public toilets and an increase in parking charges.

Julian Brazil, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, says there is more than enough money in reserve to avoid having to cut services.

"Every single day when we close up, we have £20m sitting in our current account," he said.

"That's the type of money we're talking about, which we think we can use to work for the people of the South Hams so that we don't have to make these cuts."

Cornwall Live

Police are investigating after a girl was beaten up outside a school in Bodmin., external

BBC Radio Cornwall

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

A Cornish MP has expressed his delight over the announcement that 100 jobs could be created at Goonhilly Earth Station in Cornwall.

The station is set to develop the world's first commercial communications network for Deep Space after being awarded nearly £8.5m to track future missions to the Moon and Mars.

West Cornwall MP Derek Thomas, who sits on the Science and Technology Select Committee, said: "I'd like to congratulate the team at Goonhilly and those at the LEP for all the hard work that has gone into securing this investment.

"Goonhilly Earth Station has established itself as one of the most strategically important sites in the world-wide space sector and has the potential to provide jobs not just at Goonhilly but across West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

"All of us rely on space technology in some way or another and Goonhilly Earth Station is now set to become a major player in this modern age."

BBC Spotlight

A trial using cows to graze on the sand dunes at Woolacombe Beach, Devon, has been hailed as a success by the National Trust.

Nine Ruby Reds have been breaking up the scrub to improve conditions for other species.

They are wearing special collars to stop them wandering off.

BBC Radio Devon

A 40-year-old man has admitted attempting to rob a village post office in Devon before being chased off by a teenage girl.

Daniel Shaw, of Temple Crescent, Tiverton, entered the Kentisbeare post office on 24 January with his face partially obscured by a plastic bag.

He ran away empty-handed after the 19-year-old shop assistant forced him out of the store.

Image source, Google

Shaw denied seven other charges of burglary or attempted burglary at Exeter Crown Court.

The case has been adjourned to allow him more time to consult with his defence team.

Shaw has been remanded in custody.

BBC Radio Cornwall

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) is apologising to people who have had operations cancelled due to continuing winter pressures.

Ellie, from St Columb Major, rang BBC Radio Cornwall to say she has had four hernia operations cancelled in 18 months - three because of no beds being available and one because of a priority operation.

She says she is now in bad pain and losing money as she is struggling to work as a coach driver.

"I know the NHS is in a state of disrepair at the moment, but is it any wonder when the operations are being cancelled four times?

Image source, Google

"And this is at a cost. After 28 weeks, I've cost them £2,000. After 52 weeks, it was £5,000. That's £7,000 I've cost them so far. Where does that money go to?"

The RCHT says it has not been able to provide as much planned surgical care as it wanted to due to growing demand for hospital beds at Treliske, Truro.

Communities across Devon and Cornwall are signing up to a national plastic-free initiative.

BBC Radio Devon

In Tiverton, Castle Street is blocked in both directions due to an accident between Newport Street and Silver Street.

On the A380 around Kingsteignton there are lane closures and a speed restriction due to roadworks. Traffic is slow moving heading towards Penn Inn.

Advance Warning - At Kennford the A380 Telegraph Hill will be closed southbound, heading towards Newton Abbot, from Splatford Split to the Great Haldon Junction for overnight roadworks between 7pm and 6am. A diversion will be in place.

Cornwall Live

A buyer who spent nearly £200,000 on a brand new house in Truro that's already mouldy and showing cracks has been locked in a battle with the developer he says is refusing to fix the problems., external

Guernsey's Andy Priaulx and Exeter-born Harry Tincknell will team up with Brazil's Tony Kanaan in the 2018 Le Mans 24 hour race, Ford has announced.

Devon Live

An alleged conman sent young people onto the streets of Devon with ‘charity’ collection buckets – but pocketed at least £37,000 for himself, a court has heard., external

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

Two men who originally received suspended sentences for sexually abusing two 14-year-old girls have been sent to prison after the Solicitor General appealed their sentences.

Initially, Lee Pollard and Marc Allen were each sentenced at Exeter Crown Court to 15 months imprisonment suspended for 24 months for the offence of sexual activity with a child.

The men were 24 at the time the offences took place, during a party in Dawlish while the young girls were under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Both were aware of the ages of their victims.

Via the Court of Appeal, Solicitor General Robert Buckland succeeded in replacing the original sentences with immediate prison terms.

Pollard has been sentenced to two years and nine months and Allen three years and six months.

The Solicitor General said: "I hope that the increased sentences will bring some comfort to the girls’ families."

Sarah Gosling
BBC News Online

The body of a woman was discovered earlier today on Sandy Bay beach, Exmouth.

Police officers closed off the Sandy Bay side of the beach whilst the incident was investigated.

Formal identification is yet to take place, but the incident is not believed to be suspicious.

BBC Radio Devon

Devon

At Coffinswell, Ridgeway Lane is closed in both directions between Willowpark Lane and St Marychurch Road due to an accident/recovery work

Advance Warning - On the A30 Alphington to Fingle Glen there will be an Okehampton bound carriageway closure between 8pm and 6am. Diversion will be in place

Cornwall

In Helston the A394 is partially blocked at Meneage Street due to an accident

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Jubilee Pool in Penzance has won an award , externalat a ceremony held in Plymouth, which celebrates the application and design of concrete in great structures.

The Jubilee Pool was praised for its 155 rock anchors, which were embedded into the granite below the lido with "extensive grouting carried out to the terraces and outer sea walls" and the creative use of blue-coloured concrete.

The Bodmin Town cycle project and the strengthening of the cattle creep arch structure at Kea were highly commended by the Devon and Cornwall Concrete Society.

Image source, Cornwall Council

Image source, Kea Parish Council

All three were built by Cormac, Cornwall Council's highways, engineering and construction arm.

Jubilee Pool, which originally opened in 1935, won another award last year from the Institution of Civil Engineers, external.

The Grade II listed tidal saltwater open air lido, one of the last of its kind in Europe, was officially reopened by Prince Charles in July 2016 after a £3m restoration project.

It was wrecked in storms that ravaged the South West in January and February 2014.

Image source, www.jubileepool.co.uk

BBC Radio Devon

The University of Plymouth has finished a study that aimed to help children from bilingual families improve their language skills, external.

Four hundred families with a two-year-old child were interviewed during the three-year study , externalcarried out with the help of eight other universities.

Researchers say those learning English, and phonetically similar languages such as Dutch or German, knew more words in their other languages than those learning more distant languages such as Mandarin.

The university says its findings will help health visitors assess how a bilingual child's speech is developing.

Image source, Getty Images

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

Image source, Mark Hemsworth

A common dolphin has been safely returned to the sea in Cornwall after being stranded in the shallows at Mylor Bridge.

The dolphin was scooped up by members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue team and transported in a wet tarpaulin to Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth, in the back of a car.

A team of 15 people, including a vet, then carried the dolphin into the sea where it was successfully released.

Image source, Mark Hemsworth

Image source, Mark Hemsworth

Image source, Mark Hemsworth

BBC Radio Devon

A large clump of cannabis plants has been removed by police from a stream in Ilfracombe.

Image source, Ilfracombe Police

Police said they were alerted "after a number of cannabis plants were located blocking up the stream" at Runnamead Gardens.

A spokesman said they would be "more than happy to help anyone who would like assistance in disposing of their cannabis plants" and suggested emailing them to "save you the inconvenience of going out in the cold and fly tipping in a river".

An £8.4m upgrade to a satellite at Goonhilly Earth Station will track missions to the moon and Mars.