South West Update (2025)

29/09/2025

DEVELOPER CONFIRMS FINAL PLANS FOR DARTMOUTH’S NEWEST RETIREMENT COMMUNITY - McCarthy Stone has confirmed its final plans for Mewstone Place, the new retirement community on Barton Way in Dartmouth, Devon.

Following the developer exploring options for Mewstone Place’s amenities and services, plans for a Bistro restaurant and on-site care services are now finalised. The new community will boast an in-house Bistro serving hot meals, as well as superb communal spaces including a stylish and spacious homeowners lounge – perfect for socialising and chatting with new-found friends over a coffee. A range of social events are also hosted in this space, with residents free to get involved as much or as little as they would like.

Mewstone Place offers independent living with support on-site, giving homeowners the best of both worlds – their own private apartment but with help on hand as and when it’s needed. There will be 61 one and two-bedroom retirement apartments, which are already proving popular with retirees, both local and some making the move from further afield. A CQC-registered Estate Manager will oversee the running of the new community, with a team of staff on-site to provide personal care and domestic support on a tailored basis according to individual needs.

The stylish show apartments were officially opened last month by The Mayor of Dartmouth Councillor Andrea Cates, but there’s no need to worry for anyone who missed out. The beautifully-styled apartments are still ready to view, and interested parties are invited to visit Mewstone Place and take a tour for themselves. Visits are available Tuesday to Saturday, 10.30am to 5pm and to arrange an appointment simply call 0800 153 3076.

Phyllis Dease, who currently lives in a small nearby village, has already reserved an apartment and is excited to be moving to Mewstone Place. She said: “I can’t wait to get settled in! I’m especially looking forward to having the Bistro on hand, as it means I’ll be able to eat well without worrying about all the preparation and cooking.

“It’ll also be lovely to have fellow residents to get to know, as I’m in a village at the moment which can be a little isolated. The location is also perfect as it means if I have to give up my car in the future, I’ll have everything I need close by.”

Rebecca Johnson, Sales Director at McCarthy Stone, commented: “We’re so pleased to have the final plans confirmed and the team are working hard to install all the fixtures and fittings as quickly as possible, ahead of us welcoming the first new homeowners when they move in this winter. I know our on-site team are looking forward to showing them how McCarthy Stone can help them get more from their retirement. We believe Mewstone Place is perfect for those seeking a varied, yet peaceful retirement.

“We’re already experiencing high demand for these apartments and we’d encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about the development and its wealth of facilities and services not to delay, and to pop along to see the beautiful new show apartments as soon as they can – our team will be ready to welcome them.”

The development is in a great location in this pretty coastal town with views over the countryside, and amenities including supermarkets, Dartmouth Health and Wellbeing Centre and Dartmouth Leisure Centre on the doorstep. It’s currently in the final stages of construction, with residents able to move in this coming winter. Anyone interested is encouraged to register now for further updates as the new homes will be completed shortly.

Purchase prices for one and two-bedroom retirement apartments at Mewstone Place start from £260,000 and £385,000 respectively. Or, for the over 55s, the Older Persons Shared Ownership (OPSO) scheme is a government-backed initiative and helps to reduce the costs of buying a retirement property, making it possible to enjoy a safe, secure and independent lifestyle for less. For example, purchase a 75% share of a one-bedroom apartment for £198,750 with no rent to pay on the remaining 25%, or a lower percentage of the property can be purchased, with a monthly rent payable on the remaining share.

Alternatively, apartments are also available to rent, with one-bedroom apartments from £2,840 per calendar month. Renting provides a quick and convenient way of moving to what may be a more suitable and manageable home, but without the commitment of ownership, and incurring the costs involved in selling and purchasing another property.

Mewstone Place offers homeowners a range of superb communal facilities on site. Socialise with neighbours and friends in the sophisticated lounge, unwind in the well-maintained gardens, and grab a delicious bite to eat in the chef-run bistro. Residents will have full access to all of these amenities, plus the development’s social events and activities, allowing them to enjoy the lifestyle to the max.

For added peace of mind, an Estate Management team is on-site to oversee the development and provide bespoke support packages tailored to individual need. Additional reassurance comes from having a 24-hour emergency call system and door camera entry in every property.

More than nine out of 10 customers would recommend McCarthy Stone to a friend, ensuring it has received the full Five Star award for customer satisfaction from the Home Builders Federation. McCarthy Stone is the only UK housebuilder of any size or type to achieve this rating every year it has taken part in the survey.

To find out more about Retirement Living and Mewstone Place please call 0800 153 3076 or visit www.mccarthystone.co.uk/mewstone-place.

Shared Ownership prices are subject to availability. Other shares are available.

29/09/2025

CLINTON ROGERS ANNOUNCED AS HEADLINE SPEAKER FOR SOMERSET PREPARED COMMUNITY RESILIENCE DAY

Somerset residents are invited to join the annual Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Day on Wednesday 15 October at Taunton Racecourse Conference Centre (10am to 4pm). This is a free community event to find out more about being ready for emergencies such as flooding, severe weather, power cuts, or issues on the road.

Distinguished broadcaster Clinton Rogers has been announced as headline speaker for this year's event. Drawing on his long career in journalism, often witnessing aftermath of events such as flooding on communities, Clinton will inspire local groups to strengthen their emergency preparedness.

The event, hosted by the Environment Agency, Somerset Rivers Authority (SRA), Somerset Council and partner organisations, coincides with the Environment Agency’s Flood Action Week. Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Day offers locals practical skills, expert advice and real-world insights into protecting their communities from flooding and other emergencies. Residents can boost their skills, knowledge and resilience with a programme of interactive workshops.

The day’s workshops will include:

Testing emergency plans with Somerset Council's emergency planning response and recovery team;
Understanding the Bridgwater Tidal Barrier's role in flood protection;
Learning fraud and scam prevention from Avon and Somerset Police;
Finding out how to get flood prevention going in your community.

For the first time, local resilience businesses will showcase their expertise directly to attendees, alongside traditional emergency response organisations. This reflects the event's evolution from awareness-raising to practical action-taking.

Knole Flood Group will share their journey from identifying local flood risks to getting protection measures funded and built with support from the SRA, whilst Project Groundwater will demonstrate practical monitoring systems and early warning techniques that communities can implement themselves to be groundwater “flood-ready”.

During the day, Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Awards will be presented to individuals and groups who have made exceptional contributions to their communities' emergency preparedness, celebrating the grassroots heroes who often go unrecognised.

Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, executive member for Communities, Housing Revenue Account, Culture and Equalities and Diversity at Somerset Council said: "We're delighted to welcome residents to the Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Day. The enhanced programme of workshops and expert sessions provides an invaluable opportunity for communities and leading experts to meet and learn from each other, and the day is always full of lively conversation and spirit."

Dr Bel Deering, community engagement officer for Somerset Rivers Authority, commented: "Having Clinton Rogers headline this year's event demonstrates our commitment to bringing the very best expertise to Somerset communities. Community resilience is at the heart of effective emergency preparedness, and this event provides the knowledge and tools that can make a real difference when emergencies strike."

Emma Giffard, Environment Agency flood resilience engagement advisor, added: “After three wet winters in a row, and with climate change bringing more extreme weather, it’s easy to see how preparedness for flooding and other emergencies is more important than ever. This event is a positive example of how we can meet these challenges together. Attendees will leave with practical knowledge they can implement immediately to protect their communities."

Essential information

What: Somerset Prepared Community Resilience Day
When: Wednesday 15 October, 10am to 4pm
Where: Taunton Racecourse Conference Centre, TA3 7BL
Cost: Free entry
Registration: To reserve your spot, visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/somerset-prepared-community-resilience-day-2025-tickets-1122869215049 . Booking in advance is essential.

The event is open to all Somerset residents, community group leaders, parish councillors and anyone interested in improving their community's resilience to emergencies.

25/09/2025

PRETTY POVERTY IN CORNWALL: NEW REPORT REVEALS GOVERNMENT FAILURE TO MEASURE RURAL DEPRIVATION

The deprivation in Cornwall’s picturesque rural villages and coastal towns is being overlooked in the government’s use of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) which misrepresents rural experiences, leading to poor service provision and inappropriate policy making.

This is the key finding of a major report from the Diocese of Truro and Plymouth Marjon University. The Pretty Poverty Report: Cornwall Rurality Matters, is the result of an 18-month long research project led by Marjon's Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope, with researchers Victoria Brown and Elpida Achtaridou, and is predominantly funded by the Diocese of Truro.

The report has thrown into question the government’s official measure for deprivation in England and found it doesn’t reflect the harsh reality of life in disadvantaged areas of rural Cornwall.

Researchers explored the lived experience of people in six rural areas of Cornwall: St Blazey West, St Day, St Buryan and Sennen, Bodmin St Mary’s Ward, St Dennis South, Looe North and St Mary, while considering how the IMD reflects these experiences as the governments measure for disadvantage.

These communities rank in the bottom 20 to 30% of disadvantaged communities of the latest Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) published in 2019. This is the government standard measure, which the researchers examined to see if it correctly reflects the experiences of people living in these rural areas.

The report raises concerns that existing tools for measuring deprivation - especially the IMD - are failing rural communities. Researchers point to key technical flaws, including the use of large areas that mask pockets of hardship, and a system that gives too little weight to issues that hit rural areas hardest, such as poor transport links.

Transport barriers account for just 9.3% of one part of the IMD, even though access to transport is a major factor shaping quality of life in rural areas.

According to the report, rural hardship is frequently hidden behind a façade of scenic views, tourism economies, and a cultural narrative that equates countryside living with prosperity. This “pretty poverty” is misunderstood, under-measured, and chronically underfunded — and the tools used to allocate public investment and support are simply not built to capture the complexity of rural deprivation.

“Cornwall has a hidden rural tax,” says lead author Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope who designed the research, led the project, undertook the full analysis and wrote the report. “What we’ve uncovered is a systemic failure by government measures to recognise the distinct context of rural living. These communities are resilient, but this strength masks just how precarious life can be in remote rural locations, where without a car to access health care, education, employment and even supermarkets, just living becomes a struggle. The report also begs the questions as to whether rural deprivation is being mis-measured throughout the whole of the UK.”

The Rt Revd David Williams, Bishop of Truro, said: “The church here has always looked beyond the pretty views, and beyond our well-placed pride in Cornwall, and understood what lies deeper. That’s why the church is at the forefront of work through foodbanks, debt advice, crisis support, education, and a thousand other ways to be Good News for those most in need. I welcome this report, it will be a support for those who are committed to this work, and a challenge for leaders in every sector to look more deeply and act differently. The Gospels call us to be servants to those who are most in need, these findings help us to heed that call.”

Simon Cade, Diocese of Truro Diocesan Secretary, said: “Commissioning this work helps us to understand Cornwall. The report allows people in communities that are often overlooked to be heard, and it helps to focus the attention of policy makers on change that grows from the grassroots. The report gives a voice to the experience shared by thousands of Cornish people, a voice that must be heard and acted on.”

Key findings from the report include:

· Transport Dependency: In rural Cornwall, car ownership is often a necessity rather than a sign of affluence with limited or non-existent public transport. Residents rely on cars to access jobs, schools, and healthcare — creating a hidden cost burden. High ownership figures equate to necessity rather than luxury. This “rural tax” on mobility is not factored into national deprivation data.

· Housing Displacement: The report highlights a housing crisis fuelled by second homes, holiday lets, and Airbnb conversions. Over 20,000 homes in Cornwall are not in full-time residential use, pushing property prices beyond local incomes. Many young people can no longer afford to stay in the communities they grew up in.

· Employment Precarity: Work in these areas is often seasonal, low-paid, and insecure. Cornwall’s economy is heavily reliant on tourism and care sectors, amplifying instability even for those with skills and qualifications. Underemployment, part-time contracts, and zero-hours roles are common, while opportunities for career development are scarce.

· Healthcare Withdrawal: Centralisation of services and a shift to digital-first healthcare models are excluding some rural residents — particularly older people and those without reliable broadband or mobile connectivity. Travel distances and costs further complicate access to GPs, specialists, and mental health support.

· Educational Isolation: Students face lengthy commutes, limited school or college choice, and poor connectivity for online learning. There are high rates of special educational needs in rural schools, compounded by inconsistent access to support services. Young people often face constrained opportunities for training and employment, forcing many to leave the county entirely.

· Community Resilience: Local communities are often tight-knit and resourceful, with strong networks of informal support. However, this resilience can lead to misleading assumptions by policymakers and funders — masking underlying deprivation and making it harder to secure investment.

Camborne and Redruth MP Perran Moon, who wrote the foreword to the report, said: “Those of us who live in Cornwall see and feel the effects of “pretty poverty” every day— realities that visitors often miss. No single, sweeping reform—no matter how radical—that can reset the pressures that Cornwall faces. But Central Government should be deeply concerned that remote coastal deprivation, as detailed in this report, is not adequately captured by current indicators. This oversight disadvantages people facing educational isolation, barriers to services, and precarious employment. While the IMD has its strengths, relying solely on it risks overlooking the deep structural issues affecting our communities.”

“The data we rely on to make policy decisions needs to evolve,” said researcher Victoria Brown. “Otherwise, we risk leaving entire communities behind simply because their struggles don’t fit into existing categories.”

The authors advocate for new, rural-specific measurement models, that consider indicators such as:

· Proportion of income spent on transport

· Broadband speeds and fixed-line coverage

· Under-employment and seasonal work rates

· Local housing stock allocated to second homes or short-term lets

Cornwall was ranked 83 out of 317 local authority areas for overall deprivation in 2019’s IMD, with the living environment featuring as 23rd most deprived. The top six most deprived neighbourhoods in Cornwall according to the IMD are all predominantly urban.

In addition to measurement reform, the report makes a series of policy recommendations, including:

· Better transport options – Investment in flexible, demand-responsive rural transport to help people access jobs, healthcare, and education

· Tighter housing rules – Strengthening regulations around second homes to protect access to affordable housing for local residents

· Smarter public services – Delivery a combination of digital tools and in-person support in local areas.

· Fairer funding – Funding formulas that reflect the higher costs of delivering services in rural areas

· Local jobs and skills - Support for rural job creation and training linked to the specific needs of local communities.

Beyond the data, Pretty Poverty is also a portrait of resilience. It highlights how communities in Cornwall are finding ways to support each other — through mutual aid, food banks, and informal care networks. But the authors caution that community strength should not be mistaken for sufficiency.

The report will be shared with local and national policy makers with the hope it leads to better support for the residents living in deprived rural areas of Cornwall. With growing pressure on NHS services, escalating housing unaffordability, and chronic workforce shortages, the report warns that failing to act now could push already-struggling communities into deeper hardship. It calls for a complete re-evaluation of how rural need is measured and addressed.

“This isn’t about asking for special treatment,” added Professor Tanya Ovenden-Hope. “It’s about place-based equity. Measurements treat rural areas as being the same as urban areas, which they are not. It needs to be recognised that rural poverty looks different. The data relied on to make policy decisions needs to evolve.”

24/09/2025

DEVON UNIVERSITY MOVES INTO THE TOP 10 FOR TEACHING QUALITY - Plymouth Marjon University has secured its place among the UK’s best, rising five places overall in the prestigious
Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 and earning a Top 10 national ranking for Teaching Quality.

This recognition reinforces Marjon’s reputation as a leading light for teaching excellence, with similarly strong results across student experience and social inclusion.

Out of 130 universities featured, Plymouth Marjon now sits 70th in the UK, a five-place leap up in an increasingly competitive sector.

Teaching quality: TOP 10 IN THE UK (8TH) and FIRST IN THE SOUTH WEST (out of 13 universities)

Student experience: TOP 10 IN ENGLAND (out of 108 universities), SECOND IN THE SOUTH WEST, and 30th IN THE UK

Social inclusion - 12th IN THE UK

The Sunday Times Good University Guide is one of the strongest indicators of overall university performance in the UK. It pulls together a wide range of other statistics including the National Student Survey, the Research Excellence Framework, entry standards from UCAS, graduate outcomes in the jobs market or further study, student retention, First-class and 2:1 degrees awarded, and student-staff ratios.

Professor Claire Taylor, Marjon’s Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, said: “Our mission is to end social inequity through life-changing teaching, learning, research and knowledge exchange. With our focus on preparing students for impactful roles within public services, professional and community sectors, and drawing on our strengths in education and teacher training, nursing and allied healthcare, sport, media, business and social sciences, these results affirm our mission and the impact of an ambitious approach
that listens to and supports every student.

“We look forward to welcoming future students to our upcoming Open Days and showcasing all that Marjon has to offer."

There are upcoming open days on 4th October and 26th November 2025 and places can be booked at https://www.marjon.ac.uk/courses/open-days/

24/09/2025

CHILDREN ADD CREATIVE TOUCH TO FLOOD DEFENCE WORKS - Children aged 2 to 11 at Mousehole Primary School in Cornwall have picked up their paintbrushes to transform construction hoardings into works of art as part of major flood defence improvements at the school.

The immersive painting event allowed pupils to put their personal stamp on the temporary barriers surrounding the ongoing culvert replacement works.

These works are designed to reduce flooding in the school playground and wider Mousehole community. Organised by the project team from construction company Kier and the Environment Agency, it was another opportunity for the children to ask questions about the work taking place in a less formal environment.

This event built on earlier engagement with Mousehole Primary School, where pupils explored joint materials from the Environment Agency and Department for Education, deepening their understanding of flood resilience and its importance to their local community.

Mousehole is particularly vulnerable to flash flooding due to its steep valley location and two main watercourses - the Paul Stream and Tumble Tyn - which flow directly through the village before discharging into the harbour. The existing culvert systems restrict flows, and are frequently overwhelmed during heavy rainfall, creating the potential for significant flooding events.

The Environment Agency is taking comprehensive action to improve flood resilience in Mousehole through an integrated approach that combines multiple measures. This includes working with local landowners and farmers to slow and reduce flood flows into the village whilst improving the natural environment. This also involves better protecting properties that remain at risk through property flood resilience measures, such as flood doors.

The school project forms a key part of this strategy, involving the replacement of the existing culvert under the school playground with an oversized traditional design that will provide additional storage capacity during periods of heavy rainfall.

The new infrastructure includes enhanced channel drainage to capture overland flow and maximise the capacity of the Paul Stream watercourse. Owing to the flooding impact to the school, the project was partially funded by the Department for Education.

The construction works were timed to coincide with the school summer holidays to minimise disruption to pupils and staff and the artwork was added to the hoardings during the new school term.

Ben Johnstone, Area Flood & Coastal Risk Manager for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly at the Environment Agency, said: "Mousehole's unique geography makes it particularly susceptible to flash flooding, but we're taking decisive action through our integrated approach. This school project is a vital component of our comprehensive flood resilience strategy, working alongside natural flood management measures and property-level resilience to better protect this historic coastal community."

Philip Ramsay, Operations Director, Kier Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks, commented: " While we're working hard to protect the community from flooding, we want the children to feel involved about what’s planned and how it might affect them. As part of our extensive engagement with the school before construction started, we invited pupils to vote for their favourite painting theme and were thrilled when they chose local wildlife and scenery to brighten up the site. It’s clear from the fantastic paintings that the children have both artistic flair and a strong relationship with nature and the environment where they live.”

Sarah Trow, Headteacher, Mousehole Primary School, added: "Our pupils had a wonderful experience designing and creating their class boards to decorate the hoarding. Thanks to the support of the Kier and Environment Agency team, the children were able to access the activity and gain a clearer understanding of the current culvert work that is happening in their playground and what the outcome will be which we’re all excited about. We are looking forward to seeing the designs up on the hoardings and when the work is completed plan to recycle the boards for future generations of pupils to enjoy.”

While flooding risk cannot be completely eliminated in the area due to downstream restrictions, the new infrastructure will significantly reduce how often flooding occurs. The design involves minimal above-ground changes whilst delivering enhanced protection for both the school and wider community as part of the Environment Agency's broader flood resilience programme for Mousehole. As a legacy of this investment, the project also presents a valuable opportunity to enhance the playground setting for the school.

21/09/2025

A former Devon General Bristol VRT bus from the late 1970s which bears the name of an old aircraft carrier and now owned by a Plymouth vintage bus enthusiast was among dozens of buses from bygone times running on the roads around Kingsbridge yesterday. Read more on the link below and see if you can pick out this bus in the album of photos.

18/09/2025

Wired for the Weekend, the page for local medical news and information about a weekly magazine-style radio show with health and wellbeing items included.

01/09/2025

Open Gardens event for Hospiscare on Sat 6th September. 20% of admission price to be donated to Hospiscare.

31/08/2025

FARMERS URGED TO SOW WINTER CROPS TO MITIGATE AGAINST WATER RUN OFF - Now is the ideal time for Devon and Cornwall farmers to cultivate soil and plant grass and winter crops, according to Environment Agency experts.

The Agency is warning that what happens next in the post-harvest period could mean the difference between a good and bad winter if land isn’t prepared ahead of heavy winter rains.

Laura Bentley of the Environment Agency said: “Winter is our busy period as heavy rain falling on bare soil causes run-off, especially where the land is compacted and sloping, with disastrous consequences for pollution and flooding.

“Now is the time to cultivate and turn that compacted ground into permeable soil that rainfall and roots can infiltrate, then plant grass, cover crops or winter cereals so that the crop can establish itself by the middle of October.

“Having a back-up plan is equally important. Difficult conditions in autumn can lead to cover crops failing, soil becoming capped with a hard, impenetrable crust and becoming slumped whichcan lead to runoff and erosion.”

The hot, dry weather has affected Cornwall and Devon differently, with Cornwall enjoying a summer of sun and rain while a lack of rain in Devon has resulted in hard, dry fields. Regardless, winter rains will carry the same consequences unless farmers prepare by:

· Breaking up compacted soil to improve infiltration

· Establishing crops early in dry conditions

· Making sure soils aren’t too wet, particularly at depth, before working to plant for winter crops

Two farmers who have already started getting winter ready are Mark Button and son-in-law Sam Trudgian of CP Button Ltd at Polshea Farm in Bodmin, Cornwall, where maize has been grown for 40 years. They are preparing for winter by establishing their winter barley early.

Mark said: “We average 1300mm of rain and, as the majority of our land is sloping, we were acutely aware of soil erosion on uncropped maize stubbles. We opted to follow the maize crop with winter cereals.

“This started off as a three-crop rotation: maize, winter wheat and winter barley. More recently we have dropped the wheat and now just alternate maize and winter barley.”

In the past, the farm used to leave barley stubbles untouched over winter, before ploughing them up in the spring to plant maize. But the soil was cold, compacted and needed a lot of diesel to power the different implements needed to produce a seed bed.

Now the farmers follow the winter barley with a hybrid ryegrass blend, cutting it for silage before planting maize again. If winter cereals cannot be established due to poor conditions, maize stubbles are ploughed or rough cultivated to reduce the risk of runoff.

Mark said: “This rotation has proven to be sustainable both, financially and also for soil health.”

The farm is also undersowing maize ground with a secondary crop of rye grass where autumn cultivations may be hard to achieve, or where erosion risk in the field is higher. This is simply done by broadcast spreading the seed when the maize is at knee height, to reduce costs.

Trials carried out by the Environment Agency and Maize Growers Association demonstrated that undersowing can be an effective mitigation method to reduce the risk of soil erosion over winter.

Ahead of winter, farmers have also been urged to check they have enough capacity to store slurry without the need to spread, which could breach Farming Rules for Water and cause pollution.

South West Update

29/09/2025

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