BBC Devon & Cornwall Live: 26 July

Summary

Two dead and two injured in Devon crash
Death crash glider pilot died in turbulent conditions
Teen in hospital after 'possible drug-related incident'
More than 100 999 calls for south Devon wildfire
Rail services disrupted by strike action
More than quarter of fire call-outs were false alarms
Hospitals run recruitment drive to get more men into nursing
Plymouth music festival due to get under way
Updates for Thursday 26 July 2018

Live Reporting

'Vase of Hope' will raise awareness of mental healthpublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online
Image source, The Invictus Trust
A giant concrete vase is to be placed in Victoria Gardens in Truro to raise awareness of mental health.
The 9ft (2.7m) sculpture - called the Vase of Hope - has been donated to teenage mental health charity The Invictus Trust
People will be invited to write messages of their hopes for the future and for mental health on it.
Image source, The Invictus Trust
Image caption,
The vase has been donated by sculptor Richard Austin.
Sculptor Richard Austin donated the vase to the trust after the charity did a workshop with him last summer.
Quote Message
I do a lot of workshops with people with mental health difficulties. We can really help people with depression and confidence issues by getting them in touch with creativity."
Richard Austin, Sculptor
The vase will be placed in the gardens in the next few days.
Thinking of taking a sheep-dip on a Cornish beach?published at 11:53 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Johnny O'Shea
BBC News Online
A woman from Newquay was surprised to find some woolly companions on Polly Joke beach as she walked her dog earlier.
Debbie Parsons found two sheep on the sand.
With the aid of Willow, who happens to be a border collie sheep dog, she managed to get them off the sand and on to rocks at the side of the beach where some of their flock were gathered.
She then encouraged the sheep further away from the beach as people were starting arrive after breakfast.
Who can blame them for wanting a paddle to cool down in the heatwave?
Image source, Debbie Parsons
Image source, Debbie Parsons
'Persecuted' and 'abused' gulls are 'misunderstood'published at 11:34 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Jenna Hawkey
BBC News Online
Gulls consistently get a bad press, but the RSPB and RSPCA insist they're just misunderstood and are issuing advice on how to get along better with the seaside birds.
The two charities say human-seagull "relations have broken-down".
Quote Message
Every year we receive calls about gulls which have been persecuted and the victims of abusive attacks. Many have stones thrown at them, others are left homeless after their nests are illegally destroyed and they may become the target of people taking pot shots at them with airguns."
Llewelyn Lowen, RSPCA scientific officer
Image source, RSPCA
Last summer, a gull was discovered on an industrial estate in St Austell with a crossbow bolt through its body, and had to be put to sleep.
But rather than resorting to violence and abuse, the RSPCA and RSPB say we should use "non-lethal methods":
- Don't feed the seagulls.
- Dispose of your rubbish properly.
- Limit nesting opportunities in urban environments.
- When eating food, stand next to a wall to prevent them attacking
Construction of Devon's new fire station under waypublished at 11:29 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Lauren Haly
BBC News Online
Construction of Devon's first fire station in 13 years is well under way.
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Expansion plans for Honiton Primary School approvedpublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image source, Google
Multimillion-pound plans to expand Honiton Primary School have been given the unanimous backing of councillors.
The scheme will see extra classrooms built at the school in Clapper Lane, as part of what Devon County Council calls a "phased expansion".
The project will raise the school's capacity from 420 to 630, in one phase at a cost of approximately £2.7m.
Image source, LDRS
The scheme will be funded by £1.5m met from a Section 106, external agreement regarding Baker Estates' Hayne Lane development and £1.2m from the council's own funds.
East Devon District Council, Honiton Town Council and Sport England had objected to the plans.
They said that the scheme would lead to a loss of sport pitches in the town, with Devon County Council's planning officers acknowledging that the proposal will impact on 21% of the overall playing field area.
Derriford nurse: 'We need more diversity'published at 11:10 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
BBC Radio Devon
Hospitals in the South West want to recruit more men as nurses.
The profession is one of the most gender segregated jobs in the UK with less than 11% of nursing staff being men.
The numbers have barely risen in the last decade and now the drive is on to address the gender imbalance in new recruitment.
Anita Dykes, matron of paediatric services at Derriford Hospital, says she would welcome more male nurses...
Can a computer game help redesign Exeter?published at 11:04 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
BBC Spotlight
The Exeter 2025 Minecraft Challenge, external is asking young people to build their dream city to help engage them in its future.
Using virtual building blocks and a Minecraft map based on Exeter, children are using the game to help build things to solve problems such as housing and pollution.
Exeter City Futures has been running the Minecraft meet-ups to try to get young people thinking about the city's sustainability.
Mark Jones from the organisation says this is all about making the city better...
Sailing club submits plans for new clubhousepublished at 11:04 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Flushing Sailing Club has unveiled plans for a new clubhouse on the waterfront.
The group has submitted a planning application to Cornwall Council for the building.
Image source, CAD Architects
The plans for a clubhouse at New Quay, Trefusis Road, include a sloping roof which forms to a point at the front.
If approved it will be a departure from the current clubhouse, which is a simple white building with a flat roof.
Image source, LDRS
The club says it will continue to carry out a consultation while the application is considered.
Teen in hospital after 'possible drug-related incident'published at 11:03 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Lauren Haly
BBC News Online
A 15-year-old boy is in hospital after a possible drug-related incident in Plymouth, police say.
Police were called by the ambulance service to Fox Field Close in Laira at about 19:45 on Wednesday.
The teenager is described as being in a stable condition.
Enquiries are ongoing.
Image source, Google
Image caption,
Fox Field Close, Plymouth
Sherford to gain new bus servicespublished at 10:45 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Lauren Haly
BBC News Online
Plymouth's newest town will get its first bus service from September.
Following a review of the city's subsidised network, Plymouth City Council revealed it will be launching the new service.
Running every 20 minutes, the service will be run by Stagecoach South West to link the new community to other areas.
Councillor Mark Coker, cabinet member for strategic planning and infrastructure, said: “Where many councils across the country have been reducing or withdrawing their bus subsidies we are really pleased to have managed to retain our full network, with only minor changes, as well as replace services being withdrawn by commercial operators and introduce a new service into Sherford.”
Two dead and two injured in Devon crashpublished at 09:18 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Breaking
Lauren Haly
BBC News Online
Two men have died following a crash in Devon.
Emergency services were called to a single-vehicle crash at 21:30 on Wednesday at Pulworthy Cross.
A 32-year-old from Jacobstowe and a 26-year-old from Hatherleigh were pronounced dead at the scene.
The back seat passenger, a 21-year-old man, was also airlifted to Derriford Hospital where he is being treated for serious injuries.
A fourth passenger, a 29-year-old man from Okehampton, sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital by ambulance.
The road was closed for eight hours while forensic examinations were carried out.
Fire crews worked alongside the police and ambulance service.
Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone who was travelling from Holsworthy to Hatherleigh.
Police investigate 'very serious' crashpublished at 09:09 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
BBC Radio Devon
Police are investigating after a "very serious" crash in Devon, external on Wednesday night.
Emergency services were called to the single-vehicle crash on the A3072 in Pulworthy, near Hatherleigh, just after 21:30.
Fire crews from Hatherleigh, Holsworthy, Okehampton and Middlemoor worked alongside the police and ambulance services to rescue four casualties.
The details of the casualties' injuries are not yet know.
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BBC Devon & Cornwall Live: 26 Julypublished at 08:46 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Bringing you the news, sport, travel and weather for Devon and Cornwall
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Saltash train station upgrade plans approvedpublished at 08:43 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Richard Whitehouse
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Image source, Saltash Town Council
Saltash train station is set to be upgraded after plans for a major refurbishment were approved.
The local town council says the refurbishment will provide better passenger facilities including toilets, waiting areas, a cafe and offices.
Under the proposals the office area would be let out to professional or financial service companies.
Image source, Saltash Town Council
The station building was sold by Network Rail in the 1990s but it has since been bought by Saltash Town Council.
It first opened in 1859, originally had departure and arrival buildings and platforms and a goods shed opened in 1963. The station was rebuilt in its current form in 1880-81.
Golf courses suffer 'driest conditions in over 40 years'published at 08:41 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
BBC Radio Cornwall
Cornwall's golf courses are suffering from some of the driest conditions in more than 40 years.
Greenkeepers are starting work in the early hours of the morning to make sure the greens are properly watered.
Rob Cook, course manager at Perranporth Golf Club, says conditions are "very, very dry"...
Public urged to help garden wildlife in hot weatherpublished at 08:40 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
BBC Radio Cornwall
Wildlife experts in Cornwall are asking the public to help look after creatures that visit their gardens across the South West.
They say long periods of hot weather can dry out soil, making it harder for animals to find food.
Cheryl Marriott, from Cornwall Wildlife Trust, said there was one easy place to start.
"People could gently turn over their compost heap being careful because there could be slow worms in there," she said.
"By occasionaly turning over your compost heap you are bring some of those invertebrates to the surface and the blackbirds will thank you for it."
People are also being encouraged to put out water and food to help adult birds with young.
More than 100 999 calls for wildfirepublished at 08:14 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Amy Gladwell
BBC News Online
More than 100 people called 999 to report a wildfire in south Devon, external on Wednesday.
It broke out near the A380 close to the Passage House Inn in Kingsteignton just after 18:30.
Image source, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service
The fire involved trees, grassland and hedgerows.
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service said it had 113 calls in 18 minutes.
No-one was injured and the fire is believed to have started accidentally.
Image source, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service
Quote Message
Please again can we urge everyone to be especially careful during this very hot period. The ground, grass, trees and hedgerows are very dry.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
Police investigate 'pasty' graffitipublished at 08:07 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
BBC Radio Devon
Image source, Devon & Cornwall Police
Police in North Devon are investigating a spate of graffiti that's appeared in Holsworthy.
It features the words "pasty" and "sloth" in a number of places around the town.
It's believed it was sprayed on to the objects on Tuesday night.
Officers are appealing for witnesses, external.
Image source, Devon & Cornwall Police
More than quarter of fire call-outs were false alarmspublished at 08:05 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Daniel Clark
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Nearly a third of all call-outs to the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service last year were false alarms, it has been revealed.
The service attended nearly 20,000 incidents in the two counties between April 2017 and March 2018.
Image source, Getty Images
Of the 19,799 call-outs, revealed in the fire service's annual performance report, 4,143 were fires, 9,762 were special service incidents like road crashes or medical emergencies and 5,894 were false alarms.
Threatened Victorian building 'saved'published at 07:59 British Summer Time 26 July 2018
Neil Gallacher, Business & Industry Correspondent
BBC Spotlight
One of Devon's most important heritage sites has been saved.
The empty Shapland and Petter door factory in the middle of Barnstaple was cited recently as one of the top 10 threatened Victorian buildings in Britain.
Its future has now been secured with a deal to turn it into homes and commercial space. Designs are currently being worked up.
One former lifelong employee, Paul Bailey, is among those who say they are relieved…