Updates from Monday 11 June until Friday 15 June 2018
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David Braine
Weather Forecaster
A generally dry start to tonight but cloud will then increase from the west bringing patchy light rain and drizzle. Brisk south-westerly winds.
Minimum Temperature: 8 to 11C (46 to 52F)
Tomorrow the morning will be mostly cloudy with showery bursts of rain moving in from the west.
A few locally heavy bursts are likely. Turning drier and brighter from the west in the afternoon.
Maximum Temperature: 15 to 18C (59 to 64F)
Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
The police in Penzance have urged people to report anti-social behaviour offences to them directly and immediately.
The call follows a public meeting in the town this week where people voiced concerns about increased street drinking and drug use.
Officers, along with Cornwall Council's anti-social behaviour team are regularly visiting known trouble spots and carrying out patrols.
While there is not an outright ban on people drinking alcohol in the street, Penzance town centre is covered by a Public Space Protection Order which gives police the power to require an individual to stop drinking or surrender alcohol.
Quote MessageWe are aware of the concern in the town about the increase in bad behaviour on the streets and are working closely with our colleagues in the Safer Penzance partnership to do what we can to discourage this behaviour... but to do this we must be told at the time a problem is occurring so we have the opportunity to deal with it. Recent commentary on social media and in local media suggests that not all crime is being reported to the police at the time it occurs, and in some cases it is not being reported at all. We need people to report issues to us direct."
Nicholas Clarke, Penzance police inspector
Rob England
BBC News Online
Two men from Devon have been jailed for their involvement in a gang who avoided £12m in tax by smuggling illegal tobacco inside fridges, microwaves and vacuum cleaners.
Kyle Langdon, 31, from Torre Close, Ivybridge, was jailed for two years and Andrew Carver-Trotter, 35, of Montgomery Drive, Tavistock, for one year.
The sentences were passed in March but can only now be published due to trials for connected offences that have only recently concluded.
Image source, HMRCThe packets of illegal tobacco were hidden in hollowed out appliances
They were part of the 11 member gang who organised the fraud from a tobacco outlet in Marmer, Luxembourg.
HMRC, working with Border Force and international agencies, investigated the gang, tracking their illegal activities, the freight consignments, suspicious travel abroad and recorded their meetings in hotels and restaurants.
Langdon and Carver-Trotter are thought to have helped coordinated the distribution, packaging and sales of the operation and were convicted of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue.
Quote MessageThis gang took smuggling and tax evasion to the limits and made a serious assault on the UK public purse, stealing millions of pounds from the taxpayer, robbing public services of vital funding and undermining legitimate, local businesses."
Tony Capon, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC
Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
Anti-social behaviour workers will be increasing patrols in Penzance and police are set to hold drop-in sessions in the town centre following concerns raised by the local community, Cornwall Council says.
During this week's public meeting, people in the town voiced concerns about street drinking and anti-social behaviour, as well as drug paraphernalia being discarded in the town centre.
As a result, members of Cornwall Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour team and the police have stepped up joint patrols in Penzance, and the council’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team has brought in additional outreach support.
Towards the end of the month the police will begin drop-in sessions for members of the public to share any concerns they have.
Rob England
BBC News Online
"Significant financial uncertainties" and questions over governance are among the reasons a Truro pre-school will close its doors at the end of the current term.
In a letter to parents, the Pottery Pre-School, which is owned and run by Truro Baptist Church informed them of the "difficult and painful decision".
Image source, GoogleThe school is at the back of Truro Baptist Church
"We fully appreciate that this will have major implications for all the staff, children and families of the pre-school, particularly those who have signed up for the September term" the letter reads.
Staff have offered "advice" on alternative places for children at the school.
The Pottery School has been open for more than 30 years, and will remain open until the end of the term.
A Facebook Group has been started to "Save The Pottery Pre-School, external".
Tamsin Taylor posted in the group: "I have been so impressed by the school over the last 18 months.
"The staff are so passionate and energetic about providing the best for the children. It would be such a shame to see it all go to waste if there is still a possibility for future funding."
Investigation works are being carried out on the Mayflower Steps in Plymouth after a routine inspection found some damage to the steps and neighbouring wall.
The steps have been closed off to enable structural engineers to look at what is causing cracking before a schedule of works is drawn up to carry out repairs.
The inspection was part of a planned programme to review the steps as well as the area around the pier on the Barbican ahead of works for Mayflower 2020, external.
It is believed the damage has been caused by tidal lag which has created stress and movement in the historic structure on the Barbican, which is close to the site where the Mayflower sailed from in 1620.
Quote MessageIt makes sense to do this now. We have identified a problem, we're getting a solution sorted and need a period of good weather to progress this. It's going to be an unusual project as much of the work can only take place on a low tide."
Councillor Mark Lowry, Plymouth City Council
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Cornwall Council has apologised to motorists who have been unable to park at a beach's car park due to the ticket machine being broken for several days.
People were concerned they'd face fines if they left their cars at Porthowan without a ticket.
Little mobile phone signal in the village means paying online isn't possible either.
The authority has now said no fines will be issued for the period when the machine is out of order and it is "working hard to get it fixed asap".
Eleanor Parkinson
BBC Spotlight
One of the oldest silver bands in Devon is losing its home.
Hatherleigh Silver Band has been rehearsing in an old vestry for more than 100 years, but have now been told the building is unsafe.
Baritone player Jim Reynolds has been sharing his memories of when he first started playing with them...
The band is looking for a new place to rehearse.
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online
A teenager has been airlifted to hospital after a tombstoning accident in North Devon, external.
Coastguards received a "desperate" 999 call from one of the boy’s friends just after 20:00 yesterday evening, saying that he was in "serious trouble" after being swept into the sea by a wave at Baggy Point, Croyde.
Croyde Coastguard Rescue Team, Appledore RNLI Lifeboats and the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at St Athan were all sent to the scene.
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The 14-year-old eventually managed to grab hold of some rocks and climb a short distance up the cliff but was in danger of the waves crashing over him again.
The location was difficult for helicopter crews to access due to the overhanging rocks but they were eventually able to reach the teenager and airlift him to safety.
The boy was later flown to North Devon Hospital for treatment for minor lacerations.
Quote MessageThis young lad had a very lucky escape – the alternative ending doesn’t bear thinking about. Tombstoning into the sea from rocks, piers or other structures can be extremely dangerous and always carries great risk. In this case the young lad went under the water quite a few times and was in danger of being swept out to sea."
Steve Mann, Duty Controller for HM Coastguard
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online
Image source, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue ServiceOwners of a hotel in Torquay kept fire doors wedged open and stored mattresses along escape routes.
Mr Bashir Rana and Mrs Veena Bahl, who own the Sherwood Palm Hotel on Belgrave Road, have been given suspended prison sentences for a string of fire safety breaches according to Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, external.
The hoteliers appeared before Exeter Crown Court on Thursday, having previously pleaded guilty to three offences.
Image source, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue ServiceFailures included the lack of an appropriate fire detection and warning system, lack of fire doors, fire escapes that were kept poorly maintained, and escape routes that were left blocked.
They were both sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and fined £40,000.
Image source, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue ServiceQuote MessageHad there been a fire, residents and staff would have been at serious risk of death or injury as a result of the poor fire safety standards and management. The severity of the fines imposed by the court shows that those responsible for the safety of others cannot ignore their responsibilities.”
Paul Bray, Business safety manager
Image source, GoogleThe young animals were found "cold and distressed" in their nest after a dog attack.
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Brent Pilnick
BBC Sport
Both Devon sides have been handed tough draws against Championship opposition in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Image source, Getty ImagesPlymouth Argyle face a trip to Bristol City - who beat them 5-0 at the same stage last season.
The Robins went on to beat Premier League sides Watford, Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Stoke on the way to losing to winners Manchester City in last season's semi-finals.
Meanwhile Exeter City's new manager Matt Taylor's first cup game in charge is a home tie against Ipswich Town.
Scientists at the University of Plymouth are developing ground-breaking technology which could help fruit and vegetable growers when harvesting crops.
A team has built a cauliflower-picking robot that will be trialled in Cornwall to work alongside workers.
The project has been partly-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, external and Cornwall Council.
Dr Martin Stoelen is a lecturer in robotics at the university and has been explaining how the robot operates...
Frank Lampard's first cup game as Derby manager will be away to Oldham Athletic in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
Read MoreEleanor Parkinson
BBC Spotlight
A championship-winning silver band has rehearsed in an old church vestry - that's been its home for 100 years - for the last time.
The Old Vestry in Hatherleigh has been condemned by church insures and the Hatherleigh Silver Band, whose history goes back as far as 1827, external, is having to find a new home.
The band completed a hat-trick of wins at this year's West of England Championships and will be representing the region for the third time in a row at the national finals in September.
Adrian Edwards is one of the conductors and says the band has been an "integral" part of the town...
More than 1,000 school children are at Croyde in North Devon for a day of exciting beach activities as part of the annual OceanFest, external event.
The 10 and 11-year-olds will learn about the local environment and take part in activities including "beach flags", an elimination event (pictured above) where children run and dive to compete for short sticks in the sand.
There will also mass participation Zumba on the festival's main stage and a code breaker challenge, which tests their physical and mental strength.
The annual event is funded by North Devon Council and coordinated by Petroc college, external.
