Cornish Stuff

Cornwall Council commits to become single-use plastic free by 2020., external

BBC Spotlight

Plymouth residents are being encouraged to make more use of open spaces on their doorstep.

Active Neighbourhoods, external is a scheme working to get locals fitter, and out in the fresh air.

Devon Wildlife Trust and Plymouth City Council are running the project with the help of cash from the Big Lottery Fund.

A wildlife trust urban ranger will be working with local residents close to:

• Budshead Wood
• Ernesettle Creek
• Kings Tamerton Wood
• Efford Marsh
• Teats Hill

BBC Radio Cornwall

A cluster of Post Office services in South East Cornwall are in jeopardy with some residents wondering what the future of rural services will look like, or if they will still exist.

Some of the closures at the Barbican, Looe and the village of No Man's Land are temporary and the Post Office says beyond its control.

It's working to supply temporary services - and in the case of Downderry - seeking a new person to run the services after March as the postmaster there has resigned.

Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online

Bosses at a cafe where a fire broke out on Plymouth's Barbican on Tuesday evening say they are "shocked and hugely saddened".

Managers of Cafe Fandom said they will "be a Phoenix and rise from the ashes better and stronger than before" after the blaze damaged the building.

Image source, Cafe Fandom

Image source, Google

The cause of the fire has not been confirmed.

Image source, Jenny Kumah

John Danks, BBC Spotlight

Part of Plymouth's Barbican was evacuated after a fire broke out on the waterfront on Tuesday evening.

Customers managed to get out of Cafe Fandom, on the ground floor, before fire crews arrived. A number of residents in flats above were evacuated.

At least three fire engines were sent as smoke was seen billowing from the building.

There were no reports of injuries and the fire was out by about 21:45. The cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed.

Late goals from Jordan Moore-Taylor and Jayden Stockley see Exeter come from behind in dramatic fashion to claim a 2-1 win at Crewe.

Jamie Collins scores a last-gasp penalty as Sutton beat relegation-threatened Torquay to move second in the National League.

Image source, Police handout

A fresh police investigation into the death of a man after a party on the Isles of Scilly more than two years ago has ruled out murder.

The body of bar manager Josh Clayton - who was 23 and from Taunton - was found on rocks near Tresco in September 2015, 10 days after he went missing.

His family always believed his death was not an accident.

Devon and Cornwall Police was ordered to reopen the case last year after new evidence came to light at Mr Clayton's inquest but the force said it found no evidence of foul play.

Del Crookes
BBC News Online

A woman who was going to be charged more than £3,000 for a disabled parking bay outside her house, says an announcement that the cost will be cut to £350 "doesn't go far enough".

Cornwall Council leader Adam Paynter also said on Tuesday afternoon that anyone who had paid the higher amount recently would be refunded.

Debs Race, who has multiple sclerosis, decided against paying the cash for a space at her home in St Austell.

She says no-one got in touch to tell her about the changes but thinks the charge should be even lower.

"This cut doesn't go far enough," she said. "Most other councils charge around £100, so £350 is still a substantial amount.

"The system is all stacked against the disabled driver.

"I'm also glad about the refunds, but they could have gone further and charged nothing."

BBC Spotlight

A man has carried out an assault with a crowbar in Torquay, police say.

Morgan Avenue was closed by police investigating the incident which took place at about 15:40 on Tuesday.

Image source, Google

It is not known if the victim was male or female or how old they were.

Police said the victim is in hospital but their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

A man is being held in police custody.

BBC Radio Cornwall

People living in Cornwall are set to pay nearly 5% more in council tax after a new budget was approved on Tuesday afternoon.

The rise will mean an average band D household will pay £1.60 more a week in council tax.

The leader of Cornwall Council, Liberal Democrat Adam Paynter, said they were forced to ask for more money because of a funding cut of £70m from central government.

The leader of the Labour group on Cornwall Council, Tim Dwelly, says he is disappointed with the budget because it did not include his party's proposal to give more money to children's services.

He said: "We were proposing that there should be £1m more spent on children's services and we found a way to cover that without putting up council tax.

"Unfortunately that's been rejected. We would have, for example, made sure that young people going to college wouldn't have to pay extra for their bus passes."

BBC Weather

Chilly and dry for many tonight with lengthy clear spells.

Northerly winds will gradually ease too, perhaps with local mist forming later on.

Minimum temperature: 0 to 3C (32 to 37F).

On Wednesday, most places will remain dry and bright with spells of sunshine through the day together with some areas of cloud. With gentle to moderate north-easterly winds.

Maximum temperature: 6 to 9C (43 to 48F).

Devon Live

Repairs to Torquay’s fire hit homeless hostel could take another 10 days, external.

While most of the 40 people evacuated from the £2m Leonard Stocks centre after the fire last week have now returned, repairs are continuing and half a dozen people have had to be accommodated elsewhere in the meantime.

Tamsin Melville
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Cornwall

Could Cornwall's clay country soon be the setting for skiing and snowboarding?

Some already refer to the area near St Austell as the Cornish alps, and now a plan is being prepared to build the county's first dry ski slope and alpine centre in the area.

Dan Olford, a member of the farming family behind the idea, said those behind the plans were "really determined to make it work".

He said: "We think it's going to be great for Cornwall as a whole and specifically for the kids of this area.

"There's going to be something really fun and engaging to do - kids can put down their video games and be involved with an outdoor sport and activity."

The plans go to public consultation next week.

BBC Radio Cornwall

Long-term empty properties in Cornwall are to pay full rates of council tax, the county's unitary authority has ruled.

Homes which were unoccupied and unfurnished for two years and more have only had to pay 50% of the levy since April 2013, external.

They will have to pay 100% of the council tax premium from April 2019, Cornwall Council said in its budget statement.

Image source, Cornwall Council

Anyone who paid more than £3,000 for a disabled space outside their home will be refunded.

Cornish Stuff

There has been an update on the Stadium for Cornwall plans at today’s meeting of the full council in Cornwall.

Cllr Bob Egerton, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economy confirmed that the council has responded to the stadium group’s request for funds and that a package of support is being developed that the full council will have a chance to vote on.

In 2010 the council rejected a proposal to input public funds into a Stadium project and in 2012 passed a motion that there would be no public money without a full council vote. That vote will now come in April, external.

Josh Clayton's family always believed his death was not an accident.

BBC Radio Devon

In Barnstaple, Whiddon Drive is blocked in both directions near Barton Road due to an accident.