Summary

  • Updates from Monday 23 April until Friday 27 April 2018

  • Maisie Duncan death: Police seek three witnesses after Looe road crash

  • Cornwall Council's £46k Cannes trip scrutinised

  • Ten Devon and Cornwall Police officers assaulted in single night

  • Parents campaigning to save 'inadequate' Plymouth free school due to close

  • Parade to call for more affordable housing on Rame Peninsula

  • Home-schooling stats reveal Cornwall in fourth place in UK

  1. Newquay flight forced to land after 'crack in windscreen'published at 11:56 British Summer Time 24 April 2018
    Breaking

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    A Flybe flight was forced to return to Cornwall Airport Newquay, external after take-off due to a "crack appearing in the outer layer of the windscreen" of the plane.

    The airline said the captain took "necessary action" on the flight that departed Newquay at 07:25.

    Road transport is being provided to the 92 passengers on board for them to complete their travel to London Gatwick.

    Flybe added that the safety of its passengers and crew is a "priority" and it's apologised for the inconvenience.

    newquay airport
  2. Hunt is on to find Devon's best churchyardpublished at 11:35 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    BBC Radio Devon

    A competition to find Devon's best churchyard has been launched by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

    The charity said it wasn't looking for "manicured lawns" but rather a "peaceful haven for people and wildlife".

    It added that it wanted to recognise the army of volunteers who looked after what was often the only unchanged part of the parish since Saxon times.

    Ivan Buxton. from the CPRE, said the competition was "open to all".

    "They are fantastic places but they don't necessarily need to be dating back to Pagan eras. They can be modern ones as well and still be a very special place."

    Entry is free and the competition closes at the end of the month.

    Devon churchyard
  3. 'Pay-to-pee' toilets set to be introduced in south Devonpublished at 11:23 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Daniel Clark
    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    People may have to pay to go to the toilet in the South Hams soon under plans being recommended to councillors.

    The district council's executive committee will decide whether to put the charging equipment needed for the service out to tender at a meeting on Thursday.

    Coronation Road public toilets in TotnesImage source, LDRS

    Councillors will also be asked to approve an additional pay-on-entry system for Mill Bay, East Portlemouth, and to close the storm-damaged Slapton Memorial public convenience.

    A report says it is hoped the charging equipment will save the authority nearly £250,000.

    Other public toilets included in the plan are:

    • Bigbury-on-Sea
    • Whitestrand and Creek, Salcombe
    • North and South Sands
    • Coronation Road, Steamer Quay and Civic Hall, Totnes
    • Fore Stree, Kingsbridge
    • Glanvilles Mill, Ivybridge
    • Wembury
    • Dittisham
    Quote Message

    The installation of the pay on entry proposes to create £16,000 income in 2018/19 and £36,000 by 2019/20. The option to do nothing will not deliver any budget savings to the council, and the savings identified would need to be found elsewhere within the council."

    Report to South Hams District Council's executive committee

  4. Porthleven Food Festival: Traffic problems cause 'chaos'published at 11:14 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Porthleven Food Festival, which took place at the weekend, has sparked negative comments about traffic queues and event parking from those that attended.

    At one point, the Park and Ride bus service had to be suspended because there were cars blocking its route.

    Long tailbacks on the main route into the festival from the A394 were also reported.

    Alec Short is one of the organisers of the festival and he says plans were made for parking but they didn't want to "lockdown the centre of the village".

    "I think the term chaos being banded about is slightly an overreaction. Chaos would have been not having a traffic management plan. There were some problems but we'll continue to learn from it.

    "There was clear signage and adequate staffing but some chose to ignore that. In future, the chosen diversion routes will be different."

    Organiser annoucementImage source, Facebook
  5. Murder trial told nothing found of woman 'except blood'published at 10:48 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Miles Davis
    BBC News Online

    A man beat his girlfriend to death and disposed of her body, a court has heard.

    Dean Lowe, 33, attacked Kirby Noden (pictured), who was originally from Winsford, Cheshire, in January 2017 at the flat they shared in Marazion, Cornwall, Truro Crown Court was told.

    Prosecutor Paul Dunkels QC said Mr Lowe had got rid of Ms Noden’s body "so nothing has been found apart from her blood".

    Mr Lowe, of Beacon Road, denies murder. The trial continues.

    Kirby NodenImage source, Handout
  6. Exeter canal bridge opening could cause delayspublished at 10:18 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Twitter

    The canal bridges in Exeter are due to open today at about 12:30 and 15:00, Devon County Council has said.

    Delays in the area are possible on Bridge Road.

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  7. 'More than 17 tonnes' of rubbish collected from link roadpublished at 10:12 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Hayley Westcott
    BBC News Online

    Litter pick. Pic: North Devon CouncilImage source, North Devon Council

    More than 17 tonnes of rubbish has been collected during a major clean-up of the North Devon Link Road.

    The litter pick, carried out by North Devon Council, took place along a 34-mile stretch of road over a six week period.

    A three-man crew collected 1,601 bags of rubbish and the final weigh-in was "more than double" that of last year's, when almost eight tonnes was collected, North Devon Council said.

    Lead Member for Environment Rodney Cann said he was "so disappointed that people continue to dump their waste on the link road".

    Quote Message

    I'm horrified at the rise in the amount of litter the crew came across this year. Litter, especially plastic, is so damaging for our environment, and we will not tolerate it."

    Councillor Rodney Cann

  8. Statements released over future of Stadium for Cornwallpublished at 10:09 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Cornish Stuff

    The team behind the Stadium for Cornwall have now reported back in detail from last week’s meeting in London, external with Sports Minister Matt Hancock. Another statement has been released by Inox, the property developers who had originally promised money for the project but pulled out.

  9. High tide times for the regionpublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Alex Osborne
    BBC Weather

    If you're planning a trip to the coast or seaside, here are the high water times around Devon and Cornwall.

    Alex Osborne

    We'll have the latest forecast on BBC Spotlight at 13:30.

  10. Plymouth free school 'to close' in Septemberpublished at 09:33 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Hayley Westcott
    BBC News Online

    A school in Devon that specialises in sport and lifestyle services for 14 to 19 year olds has announced it is to close., external

    Plymouth Studio School has faced "significant challenges regarding its viability" and is anticipated to close in September.

    The decision in principle follows discussions with the Regional Schools Commissioner’s (RSC) office and the Department for Education.

    The free school, which currently has 155 students and was intending to have capacity for up to 300, has been open for just three years.

    It was rated "inadequate" in a recent Ofsted inspection.

    Head teacher Mark Cahill said he was "extremely sorry" to be announcing the news.

    Plymouth Studio School logoImage source, Plymouth Studio School
    Quote Message

    We recognise it will come as a disappointment to parents and pupils. Our primary concern now is the future well-being and best outcomes for our pupils. We are assured by the local authority that there are sufficient places in the city’s secondary schools to accommodate all Studio School pupils."

    Mark Cahill

    Free schools are independent and paid for by central government, not local authorities as with other state schools.

  11. Retail woes force hundreds of store closurespublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    James Graham
    Business reporter, BBC Radio 5live

    Maplin and Toys R Us. Pic: GoogleImage source, Google

    Nearly 650 shops and restaurants across the UK run by a handful of major chains have shut since the start of 2018 or are at risk of closure.

    Maplin and Toys R Us sites account for half that total, according to analysis by BBC 5 live's Wake Up to Money.

    Both chains, which have branches in Devon and Cornwall, fell into administration on the same day in February.

    The remaining Toys R Us stores will close on Tuesday, when the American chain finally disappears from the UK's retail parks and high streets.

    Administrators for Maplin are keeping its 217 shops open, but they are "under review" while a buyer is sought.

    The BBC's analysis shows that cities have borne the brunt of these retail insolvencies, but towns across the UK, as far apart as Inverness and St Austell, have also been affected. Many already have a high shop vacancy rate.

  12. Cornwall travel: Lorry fire on the A30published at 09:00 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    On the A30, at Launceston, there's a lorry fire westbound between the A388 Western Road and Bodmin Moor Services. The lorry is parked in a lay-by but there's slow traffic in the area as a result.

  13. Police to investigate Porthcurno firepublished at 08:57 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    Arson is suspected after four fire engines were called to a fire near Porthcurno last night, external.

    Teams of firefighters from Penzance, St Just and St Ives wearing breathing apparatus used jets to extinguish the blaze and a large plume of smoke was visible in the area.

    Emergency services were called just after 18:00 and the fire was put out by 19:45.

    Police are investigating.

  14. Storm-damaged road should be fixed by autumnpublished at 08:51 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Daniel Clark
    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Road washed away at Slapton

    The storm-damaged road at Slapton should be fixed by the autumn, but councillors say they are worried that it could be the last time it is repaired.

    Part of the A379 was washed away during Storm Emma in March and other sections were covered in shingle.

    A379 at Slapton

    The government has promised £2.5m in financial support to re-open the road.

    Devon County Council said it hoped to have the road reopened by the end of the summer, or in the early autumn, and it would also look at improving the diversion route in case it happened again.

    Quote Message

    We need to get this road fixed as soon as possible, but I think the acceptance is that if this happens again in the near future, then that might be it for the road. If it lasts another 20 years, like it did the last time, then it might be considered a good investment. But if it is only another two years, then it might not be."

    Julian Brazil, South Hams District Councillor

  15. Skybus flights on hold due to poor weather conditionspublished at 08:40 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Twitter

    At Land's End and Newquay airports, Skybus flights to and from the Isles of Scilly are currently on hold "due to low cloud and reduced visibility".

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  16. Weather: Rather cloudy and misty with spells of rainpublished at 08:36 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Alex Osborne
    BBC Weather

    This morning will be mostly cloudy and misty with occasional rain.

    This afternoon the rain may turn more persistent and locally heavy.

    Maximum temperature: 11 to 14C (52 to 57F).

    Alex Osborne
  17. Devon travel: Plymouth traffic lights failpublished at 08:29 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Twitter

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  18. Plan to demolish care home recommended for refusalpublished at 08:11 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    Daniel Clark
    Local Democracy Reporting Service

    Planners are being recommended to refuse a second application to knock down a care home and replace it with sheltered housing for the elderly.

    In September, a planning inspector threw out Churchill Retirement Living's appeal against East Devon District Council's refusal to allow it to build a new property in Sidford.

    Site in SidmouthImage source, LDRS

    Now the company has submitted revised plans to build 39 one and two-bedroom flats on the site, up from 36 previously.

    The plans have no provision for on-site affordable housing, but include communal facilities, landscaping, parking for 24 vehicles and access to the Drakes Avenue site.

    The Green Close care home was built in 1971 but closed in 2014 after Devon County Council cutbacks.

    East Devon District Council's development management committee meets next Tuesday.

  19. Cornwall Air Ambulance launches £2.5m helicopter appealpublished at 07:56 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    new air ambulanceImage source, Via Cornwall Air Ambulance

    Cornwall's Air Ambulance is launching a £2.5m appeal to buy a new aircraft.

    The charity said the next generation helicopter - an AW169, external - would serve Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for 20 years.

    It hopes to be able to buy the new air ambulance by April 2020 - the date the lease runs out on its current aircraft.

    The overall cost is £7.5m but the charity said it had already saved £5m towards it.

    new air ambulanceImage source, Via Cornwall Air Ambulance

    Cornwall Air Ambulance Chief Executive Paula Martin said a "faster, better-equipped helicopter" would "change lives every day".

    Quote Message

    It will provide our aircrew of critical care paramedics, doctors and pilots with the technologically advanced features and equipment they need to truly exploit their lifesaving skills. It is the air ambulance this county truly deserves."

    Paula Martin

  20. Cornwall travel: A389 crash and loose horses in St Blazeypublished at 07:40 British Summer Time 24 April 2018

    BBC Radio Cornwall

    • In Washaway, the A389 is partially blocked by a crash between a car and a bus at the B3266, near the caravan site.
    • In St Blazey, four horses are reported to be on the loose around Porcupine Road, the A390 and Pontsmill Road. Approach with care.