Devon County Council

More Devon families get first preference secondary school

More families in Devon will receive their top preference secondary school this year.

Devon County Council announced today that 92.6 per cent of families who applied for a place next September have been offered their first preference - up more than one per cent from 91.5 per cent last year.

In all, 97.6 per cent of families will get one of their three preferences.

On...

Huge drive for green jobs in Devon as council partners with Retrofit Academy to create energy careers

Fully-funded training programmes across all levels are opening up new opportunities in energy-efficiency sector at a crucial time

The Retrofit Academy - one of the UK’s leading not-for-profit training providers - is partnering with Devon County Council to build a skilled green workforce at a time when energy-efficiency roles are more critical than ever.

Drawing on resources...

Devon Work Hubs network expanded

The award-winning Devon Work Hubs network has expanded with the opening of three new hubs across the county and expansion of a fourth.

Devon County Council secured funding from the Heart of the South West LEP Getting Building Fund last year, which has now enabled three new Work Hubs to open in Great Torrington, Newton Abbot and Teignmouth. The extension of the Tavistock Enterprise...

Condition of Devon's roads has 'significantly improved'

Extensive preventative work by highways teams has improved the overall condition of Devon’s roads, with 27 per cent fewer potholes recorded than four years ago.

The figures coincide with National Pothole Day, an annual opportunity to take stock of the ‘health’ of the nation’s highways.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management...

East Devon economy bouncing back fuelled by green growth

More widely known for its Jurassic coast and rolling hills, East Devon is showing strong signs of a green economic recovery in response to Covid-19.

The pandemic has brought acknowledgement of the link between health and outside spaces. This recognition and a need to transition to net zero carbon means businesses see wellbeing and the environment as priorities.

East Devon...

Devon ready for winter

With temperatures tumbling this week, Devon is prepared and ready to cope with the challenges of winter on the county’s roads.

Road surface temperatures are forecast to drop below -2C in some parts of Devon tonight and gritters will be out on all of the county’s primary salting routes from 6pm this evening.

The County Council is starting the season with its gritting depots...

Devon County Council, Ash dieback, trees, Devon

Devon taking action to remove Ash dieback infected trees

Urgent action is being taken to remove almost 1,500 Ash dieback infected trees from alongside Devon's major road network this summer in order to protect public safety on the county's roads.

Devon County Council has already started an essential programme of work, with almost 150 infected trees alongside the A388 at Holsworthy currently being felled. From Monday (12 July) work will...

Trading Standards urges renters not to be caught out by banned tenancy fees

Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service has launched a new campaign to help prevent renters in the region being caught out by fees that have now been banned.

The law on what landlords and letting agents can charge tenants when beginning, ending or changing their contracts has changed.

It means renters can no longer be asked to pay extra for things like...

Devon County Council is ‘making caring vsible and valued’ this Carers Week

New figures suggest that there are now more than 130,000 people in Devon who are carers, the figure having risen by half again because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Worryingly though, just 21,000 of that number – roughly only one in every six – are accessing vital information and support that is available to them. 

This week is Carers Week, and Devon County Council, NHS Devon...

Meal boxes delivered to families with young children across Devon

Two thousand meal boxes are being delivered to families with young children this Easter holiday in an initiative designed to help those who are struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Devon County Council initiative, called 'The Goodie Box', sees ingredients and simple recipe ideas delivered to families’ front doors this week.

Included within the Goodie Box are...

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