Thursday 22nd April 2010 Surfwear jobs saved
When Braunton-based Saltrock was forced to go into administration the
future of the 80 jobs at the company in Devon looked at risk. It now
looks like the jobs are all safe after the firm was bought by private
investors. The firm was originally founded in 1988 and has seven
outlets in Devon, Cornwall and Wales. It is also sponsoring the 2010
Saltrock Open surfing contest in Croyde.

Angus Thomson, spokesman for the firm told the press: "The most
important thing was that everyone kept their jobs. We did everything
we could to stop the business going down. But we now have significant
investment in the business and it gives us a clear chance of success.
The firm is now hoping to increase its number of stores and marketing
for the brand." Devon

Tuesday 6th April 2010 Abandoned meerkat doing well in Devon
Devon zoo have said that a baby meerkat abandoned by her mother and
left for dead in freezing weather is making a very good recovery.

The meerkat, named Simples after a character in a television advert,
weighed just 18g (0.6oz when she was born at Exmoor Zoo and is the
only survivor of three pups abandoned by their mother in February.

The meerkat is being raised by the zoo's Lynn Reynolds who told the
press: "She eats chicken, mincemeat, scrambled egg, hard-boiled egg,
some fruit and she loves her insects." Devon

Thursday 1st April 2010 Cargo ship out of fuel off Plymouth
A cargo ship is being monitoring by coastguards in Devon after it ran
out of fuel and was left drifting south of Plymouth. Brixham
coastguards reported the 82m (270ft) long Taigeta as in difficulties
on Tuesday evening while on its way to Rotterfam with 11 crew on
board. 45 knot westerly winds and a 20ft swell meant that no fuel
cannot yet be taken to the Dominican Republic-registered vessel.

The vessel has dropped two anchors in an attempt to rest its drift and
the coastguards said they were consulting with the ship's owners. Devon

Monday 22nd March 2010 Camera car proposed for Plymouth
The Devon and Cornwall Safety Partnership have been testing a spy
camera car that drives around catching evidence of bad driving for
prosecutions. The car records offences such as jumping a red light,
driving while using a mobile phone, driving without a seatbelt on,
illegal parking and driving in a bus lane. The film is then used as
evidence to gain a conviction. It is expected the £70,000 car will
generate £50,000 in revenue from fines each year.

The partnership have been reported to have chosen the IQ for its
compact size and manoeuvrability. The car is fitted with a pole that
rises from the roof with a camera attached - hardly discreet. The
pictures taken by the camera can be viewed from inside the car. The
camera partnership denied the new car was simply designed to increase
revenue from fines, they claim instead that it will be used to
increase road safety and save lives. Devon

Tuesday 9th March 2010 Devon canal restoration plan
Plans to restore the 18th century Stover Canal in Devon have moved a
step closer to being realised. The Stover Canal Society was formed in
1999 to restore the weed-filled waterway for leisure use. Now that
Teignbridge District Council have sub-leased the land to the Stover
Canal Trust the plans can move forward, hopefully to realise the dream
of reopening the canal. The restoration is expected to cost in the
region of £5m and all plans must first be approved by Network Rail,
the canal owner. Roger Harding, chairman of the Stover Canal Society,
said some work had already been carried out by volunteer parties. He
warned that there was still much work to be done even before
restoration of the fabric of the canal could begin. Devon

Monday 8th March 2010 Older cars penalised in Devon parking plan
Teignbridge District Council has announced proposals to scrap their
present free parking policy. The controversial plan has suggested
older cars, made before Jan 2001, would pay £1 a day while other cars
will only pay 50p. The proposal has drawn vociferous criticism from
unions saying it penalises low paid staff who earn less and cannot
afford newer cars.

Christine Bolton of the union Unison told the press: "My car is
registered prior to 2001 so I would pay the higher charges. I question
how green it is to encourage people to change their cars. I would have
thought, with the energy to produce newer cars, it would be better for
people to hold on to the cars they have got if they are running
efficiently." Devon

Tuesday 23rd February 2010 Devon beach closed by 5,000-tonne rock slide
Poor weather is being blamed for a 5,000 tonne rock slide on Sunday
night at Oddicombe Beach in Devon. According to Torbay Council the
slide is the second major rock fall in the area in the last eight
years.

A Torbay Council spokeswoman said: "The 5000-tonne rock fall was from
the unstable sandstone cliffs to the rear of the north beach, and has
covered a large section of the previously-closed foreshore. This area
of beach has been closed off since 2002 when the degree of cliff
instability was first identified. This is the second major rock fall
since this time, reinforcing the decision to close this section of the
beach." Devon

Wednesday 27th January 2010 Panels to be installed to improve salmon habitat
Specially designed panels are planned to be used in the River Culm in
Exeter in an attempt to improve the habitat for salmon. Three types of
panels, costing £180,000, will be installed in the river to allow
various aquatic species to avoid the weir in their passage up and down
the river. Sea trout, eels, lampreys as well as salmon are among a
number of species expected to benefit from the project funded by the
Environment Agency.

Kevin Woodley, from the Environment Agency, said: "This scheme will
open up previously inaccessible stretches of the River Culm to a wide
range of fish species and should achieve some major environmental
gains and benefits. We are hoping to see a significant rise in the
fish population as species colonise new areas and have greater
breeding success." Devon

Tuesday 12th January 2010 Lundy made Maritime Conservation Zone
England’s first Maritime Conservation Zone (MCZ) has been created off
the coast of Devon. Lundy Island has been granted the protection under
new government powers. It is planned that Lundy will be the first of
many coastal areas of the British Isles that will benefit from the
status in an attempt to conserve these important environments and
their unique wildlife.

Huw Irranca-Davies, Minister for the Marine Environment, said: "With
the new Marine Conservation Zone around Lundy Island we have taken the
first step in creating a network of marine protected areas. We can't
always see what is happening to the wildlife and habitats under our
seas, but they need just the same protection as those on land and this
world-first in legislation will provide that." Devon

Monday 2nd November 2009 Kite flyer hospitalised
Horse riding or motorcycling both carry well recognised risks to life
and limb, but flying kites is not normally thought of as dangerous
sport. However, a man flying a kite on a beach in south Devon was
seriously injured after being dragged into the sea while flying a
kite. The man was pulled along the beach by his kite and into the
water. He was spotted unconscious in the water by a passing doctor in
an incident that happened at Bigbury, near Kingsbridge, in Devon.

The kite flyer was taken to hospital with a suspected punctured lung.
The Bigbury coastguard service, Salcombe lifeboat and a coastguard
helicopter were all called to attend the accident. Devon