The latest news as it happens across Barnstaple Torrington & surrounding North Devon areas important updates and local opinions from Barnstaple Find leisure and lifestyle news from Barnstaple All the latest uplifting news from Barnstaple Torrington & surrounding North Devon areas from our local reporters property sales & property of the week in Barnstaple Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter Support our mission and join our community now you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism The people of Northam turned out to enjoy another popular Northam May Fair under clear skies on Saturday (May 3) The community event once again combined a mixture of traditional May merriment such as a parade and maypole dancing with plenty of entertainment and activities for people of all ages plus the Mayor of Northam Niki Tait and dignitaries Above: The opening procession to begin Northam May Fair aged five and Beatrix Kilby aged four were crowned followed by maypole dancing and judging of the fancy dress Above: Northam May Fair 2025 King and Queen Theo Fulford Brooke In keeping with the 80th anniversary of VE Day on Thursday (May 8) this year’s May Fair had a distinct 1940s theme with visitors encouraged to don VE Day-related fancy dress Throughout the day people enjoyed entertainment including Pucnh and Judy with local stalwart Dave Hendy plus Bideford Phoenix Morris and Appledore Band as well as spectacular bubble blowing displays by popular performer Bubbles the Pixie There were plenty of stalls and activities face painting and Exmoor Zoo took along exotic creatures to meet The annual dog show was held at nearby Bone Hill plus there were classic cars at Northam Hall and motorcycles in Cross Street See more pictures by photographer Graham Hobbs in our online gallery above " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news Torrington Mayfair brought plenty of splendid costumes – and sunshine – to the 2025 instalment of the traditional event Young revellers and the iconic Ilfracombe May giants arrive at the seafront for Ilfracombe's Jack-in-the-Green 2025 Bubbles the Pixie entertained the crowds with a bubble blowing extravaganza Hele Cornmill at Hele Bay in Ilfracombe is taking part in the Ilfracombe Art Trail on Saturday and Sunday The rediscovered bell in ‘the cupula’ at Barnstaple Guildhall – thought to date from the early 18th century Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm the council has been working with a range of partners including National Highways and Network Rail to bring forward a major project to replace and enhance the ageing Northam Rail Bridge and the DfT is supplying this funding to enable the council and its partner Network Rail to develop the Outline Business Case (OBC) which is the next step in securing Government funding to deliver the project Northam Rail Bridge is a major route into the city centre from the east and crossing the railway but it is an ageing structure which currently constrains all traffic passing through this crossing and which particularly impacts the bus services that use this route the proposal would see the replacement of the existing rail bridge with two new 2-lane highway bridges as well as a new pedestrian and cycle facilities improvements to the footbridge to St Mary’s Stadium and junction works The project is a key component of the infrastructure pipeline required for Southampton’s economic growth and renaissance unlocking new development opportunities in Itchen Riverside while also improving journey times and reliability for all modes of transport between the city centre the eastern suburbs and wider area in Hampshire The project is also anticipated to provide health benefits through improved air quality and enhanced pedestrian and cycle facilities as well as increasing biodiversity through new planting and landscaping we will begin to carry out survey works on the railway road and bridge to inform our proposals which may include lane restrictions or closures in certain areas and we will publish more information on these works in due course Sponsor for Network Rail said: “Network Rail are pleased to be working in partnership with Southampton City Council on this exciting and important scheme for the future development of the city and especially in the confidence shown by the council in choosing us to help develop the Outline Business Case Network Rail brings experience and expertise in complex bridge structure scheme design delivery and project management and we are looking forward to getting started.” Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport said: “We are extremely pleased in the confidence shown in the work undertaken by the council and our partners to date by the Department for Transport in making this grant available we are working in partnership with Network Rail and our other stakeholders in progressing this vital enhancement on this key travel corridor.” The Liberal Democrats have emerged with the most seats in North Devon and Torridge and the Green Party picked up one in Ilfracombe The council is made up of 60 councillors across 58 electoral divisions the following 13 divisions are being contested: Bideford West and Hartland - declared  Holsworthy Rural - declared  Torrington Rural - declared  Barnstaple North - declared  Barnstaple South - declared  Chulmleigh and Landkey - declared  Combe Martin Rural - declared  Fremington Rural - declared  This live feed will be updated throughout the day as results are announced Richard Leonard Alan Hopley (Reform UK) – 1,298 votes (Elected) Paul John Henderson (Conservative Party) – 1,263 votes David John Worden (Liberal Democrats) – 1,142 votes Steven William Hinchliffe (Labour Party) – 215 votes Mark Andrew Barry (Reform UK) – 1,117 votes (Elected) Linda Joan Hellyer (Conservative Party) – 637 votes Rachel Anne Clarke (Liberal Democrats) – 559 votes Cheryl Lavinia Cottle-Hunkin (Liberal Democrats) – 2,228 votes (Elected) Liana Raye Alexander (Reform UK) – 1,222 votes Thomas John Elliott (Conservative Party) – 1,023 votes Deborah Charlotte Darling (Labour and Co-operative Party) – 107 votes Dermot McGeough (Conservative Party) – 1,500 votes (Elected) Kerry Samantha O’Rourke (Liberal Democrats) – 819 votes Emma Louise Robbins (Labour Party) – 200 votes 12.37pm: Combe Martin Rural results in: Andrea Vivienne Davis (Conservative Party) – 1,365 votes (Elected) Kelvin Leigh McKechnie (Reform UK) – 1,038 votes Josh Rutty (Liberal Democrats) – 641 votes Oliver John Leslie Bell (Labour Party) – 123 votes Kyle James Chivers (Green Party) – 313 votes 12.35pm: Fremington Rural results in: Frank Lindsay Biederman (Liberal Democrats) – 2,284 votes (Elected) Gary Lionel Beglin (Conservative Party) – 362 votes Gemma Lorraine Rolstone (Labour Party) – 37 votes Sara Jane Wilson (Green Party) – 1,040 votes - Elected Paul Edward Crabb (Conservative Party) – 728 votes June Williams (Liberal Democrats) – 458 votes 12.25pm: Chulmleigh & Landkey results in Ed Tyldesley (Liberal Democrats) – 1,262 votes - Elected Glyn Lane (Conservative Party) – 811 votes David James Smale (Green Party) – 257 votes Valerie Jean Cann (Labour Party) – 58 votes Faye Marion Davies (Independent) – 28 votes Graham Matthew Bell (Liberal Democrats) – 1,310 votes - Elected Pru Maskell (Conservative Party) – 1,194 votes David Charles John Relph (Green Party) – 185 votes Syed Jusef (Liberal Democrats) – 1,433 votes - Elected Lisa Jayne Mackenzie (Conservative Party) – 324 votes Helen Mary Marini (Labour Party) – 149 votes 12.06pm - Barnstaple South results in The results for Barnstaple South are now in and the successful candidate is Caroline Frances Herringham from the Liberal Democrats Here's the full breakdown of the votes in order: 12.04pm – Holsworthy Rural Results In Holsworthy Rural Lynne Phyllis Rowsell from Reform UK has been elected Lynne Phyllis Rowsell (Reform UK) – 1,753 – Elected Nigel John Evan Kenneally (Liberal Democrats) – 1,665 Stephen Ralph Gibson (Conservative Party) – 1,099 11.40am – Bideford West & Hartland Results The first result of the day has been declared for Bideford West & Hartland where Robin Julian from Reform UK has been elected Robin Julian (Reform UK) – 1,079 – Elected Claire Louise Davey-Potts (Liberal Democrats) – 973 Jeff Wilton-Love (Conservative Party) – 519 What's on in and around Bitterne Park >>Free listings for not-for-profit events. List your event here >> Follow us on Bluesky Years of bumps and puddles may soon come to an end with potholes set to be repaired on an access road by Riverside Park Local Democracy ReporterThe search is on to find a new operator to run council-owned leisure facilities in Southampton while the authority considers its long-term investment plans Reach local readers and back community news: promote your product or service on bitternepark.info today, book online in minutes...>> The council has granted conditional approval to redevelop a site to the rear of Thorold Road with a two-bedroom detached dwelling with parking While thousands of people across the country will cast their vote in local elections this week residents in Southampton will be sitting this one out.Photo: LDRS Plans to demolish an existing log cabin and replace it with a residential annexe have been conditionally approved Bitterne Park Primary says that the aparent closure to the public of the fenced area of Riverside Park behind the school during at least part of the Easter holidays was an ‘oversight’ Sunday roasts and a summer-ready veranda planned are in place as Southern Water deal with an emergency on Bitterne Road East  A new children’s play park has opened in Bitterne Precinct • Delayed Bitterne Precinct revamp set for unveiling communal bins and new collection vehicles all on the menu as city gears up for 2026 food waste collection deadline A new urban green space and play park is set to open this week which Southampton City Council said would 'revolutionise' Bitterne Precinct Drivers are being warned of a one-day road closure in St Denys as carriageway repair works take place on Priory Road next Monday (April 28) MP Darren Paffey (Lab) has launched his own petition calling for a banking hub for Bitterne following the news last year that Lloyds and Halifax will also be closing their local branches in June Work to repair the pontoon in Riverside Park – closed to the public since early 2023 - is finally expected to begin on Monday (April 14) Riverside pontoon hauled out for repairs A carnival with a ‘mission to bring joy and happiness’ will be returning to St Denys on spring bank holiday (Monday A new partnership has been announced between TriFest who will be running the music side of this year’s event An application has been lodged to demolish property including a former public house on Portswood Road which could eventually become student housing A private SEN school has been granted conditional approval to demolish a pair of semi-detached cottages A Southampton councillor has called for the speed at which 20mph zones are introduced across the city to be increased may lead to lane restrictions or closures over the coming months The Friends of the Itchen Estuary has called for public discussion and consultation over the future of the Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre given concerns that it could be sold Friends of Riverside Park (FORP) volunteers got digging to plant around 30 new trees awarded by The Woodland Trust The city council (SCC) has announced that Active Nation which has been running leisure facilities across the city and Places Leisure will be stepping in to run facilities Council leaders have been accused of “secrecy” over the assets they are looking into selling.Photo: LDRS The council “is fully committed to keeping Woodmill Outdoor Activities Centre open as a facility for water activities and community use” according to a cabinet member which it's claimed is causing “widespread chaos and misery” A former Southampton City Council cabinet member has defected to the Green Party saying the Labour government has “broken my heart” Top Arts and Culture | Music | Interviews | Airport This website uses cookies to manage authentication you agree that we can place these types of cookies on your device View Privacy Policy Site content © 2005-2025 Bitterne Park's local website - bitternepark.info unless otherwise stated Please contact us if you wish to use our content vision and plans for the future and how we deliver our services We do more than tackle fires and rescue people Catch up with all the latest that we have been involved in We’re proud to support and protect the wonderfully diverse community in which we serve We’re committed to keeping our communities safe well and informed and our prevention and protection work plays a large role in this Behind every firefighter there are specialist support teams all playing their part If you need to get in touch or find a form We were alerted to smoke and flames issuing from a commercial property on Millbank Street in Southampton just before 10:30pm this evening Alton and Basingstoke are working to tackled the blaze The stop message was issued just before 3am and a reinspection of the site was carried out at 7am Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" the Northam Tennis Open House scheduled from 1-5 pm on Saturday has been canceled due to rain and storms in the forecast The Open House was planned as an exciting opportunity to meet the pro connect with our tennis staff and fellow members and learn more about the Greater Columbus Tennis Association Although the weather may have washed out plans for the Open House we’re happy to share that normal operations will begin at 8 am on Sunday Membership passes for the 2025 season are now available to purchase online. Click here to learn more Phone: 614-583-5000 Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The popular Northam May Fair is back next Saturday May 3 with a wide range of entertainment and activities for all ages to enjoy The traditional fair is a cornerstone of the village events calendar and this year it will also have a VE Day theme and VE Day fancy dress competition to mark the 80th anniversary of when the war in Europe was won with Appledore Band also playing wartime classics throughout the day Much of the entertainment will be focused around the Rectory Gardens but the village centre Square and community and church buildings will also have lots of stalls with things to see and do It begins at 10am with the traditional parade from Northam Library The grand opening at the Rectory Gardens will see the crowning of this year’s king and queen Throughout the day there will be entertainment from Bubbles the Pixie Bideford Phoenix Morris and Appledore Band A range of stalls and activities will include a bouncy castle rides on a miniature traction engine train face painting and Exmoor Zoo will be at the fair with plenty of exotic creatures to meet and marvel at There is a dog show at nearby Bone Hill plus classic cars at Northam Hall and motorcycles in Cross Street For more information about Northam May Fair, visit https://www.northamtowncouncil.gov.uk/May_Fair_31650.aspx fauna and history of Northam Burrows with a series of free walks this summer the Finding Nature’s Footprints team and local experts for a walk each month to enjoy some fresh air and company outdoors The ‘Nature’s Tonic’ walks on Thursdays are gentle short excursions lasting less than one hour on easy terrain They are perfect for people seeking some fresh air and companionship but who may not be very active or confident in outdoor settings If you fancy something a little more strenuous the ‘Good Start to the Week’ walks on Mondays cover longer distances and involve more challenging terrain There are various themed walks running in the next several weeks and into the summer May 1 with Skylark Song – Meet at the Westward Ho join a World War Two history tour of Northam Burrows Meet at the Appledore gate of the Burrows (EX39 1NL) There is an hour Spring Flowers walk on Thursday June 5 – meet at Northam Burrows visitor centre (EX39 1XS) at 3pm Explore the Summer Flowers of the sand dunes and coastal grasslands on Northam Burrows on Monday Meet at 2pm at the Northam Burrows visitor centre Beautiful butterflies will take up an hour of your time on Thursday July 3 – meet at the visitor centre at 3pm July 14 historian Dave Edgcombe will lead the History of Westward Ho starting at 1.30pm at WWH slipway and exploring the early days of the resort All events are free and no pre-booking is required but toll charges apply if you wish to drive a vehicle onto Northam Burrows.  For more information about any of the events please visit https://www.torridge.gov.uk/northamburrows or call 01237 497708 head of communities and place at Torridge District Council said: “The guided walks offer an ideal opportunity for people to join other like-minded individuals to get outside and enjoy the physical and mental benefits of being outdoors.  “We are lucky to have such a diverse range of beautiful landscapes within Torridge and these expert led sessions will help walkers learn just a little bit more about what our area has to offer.” Devon and Cornwall Police have announced they are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of 76-year-old Kenneth Marshall who has been reported missing from Northam in North Devon Kenneth was last seen at around midday on Thursday He is believed to be wearing a maroon/brown jumper He also visits pubs in the area and has been known to walk or sit around Northam Kenneth is believed to be on foot but does use the local bus network If you have seen Kenneth or know of his whereabouts Torridge District Council has issued a reminder to dog owners to exercise caution near sheep on Northam Burrows following concerns over the risk of sheep worrying.  where the local residents of Northam have grazed animals for centuries.  The area is currently home to a small group of horses and a large flock of sheep The council stated that the flock is particularly vulnerable at this time of year Newborn lambs are also at an increased risk of attack.  While it is always crucial for dog owners to keep their dogs under control the Northam Burrows Ranger team is urging extra vigilance during this sensitive time commented: “It is important to keep dogs under control in the park to avoid disturbing wildlife and livestock and other awareness-raising initiatives have been introduced resulting in fewer incidents in recent years I urge all dog walkers to please act responsibly when walking on the Burrows.” The council also reminded the public that sheep worrying is a criminal offence.  Anyone witnessing such an incident can report it to the police by calling 101 a North Devon-based charity dedicated to supporting disabled adults has been awarded Care Home Provider of the Year at the 2024 Leaders in Care Awards Held at the National Conference Centre in Birmingham the event brought together senior care executives from across the UK to celebrate achievements in innovation and person-centred care CEO Jo Howell stated: “We are honoured to receive such an award This is thanks in no small part to all the fantastic work each and every one of our staff do every day in supporting our guys to live their best lives We were up against some very large companies It’s a real privilege to be recognised nationally for the work we do.” The Northam Care Trust has been serving the North Devon community since 1978 providing essential services exclusively within the area.  expanding its supported living services and adding residential care options and a day centre for disabled adults.  self-funded social group for older community members to reduce isolation the trust has developed a disability-accessible training hub for specialist training which is also available to the local community It is now planning an ambitious new project: a hydrotherapy pool at its Rosehill site Get ready to cheer on the Saints like never before as we bring the exhilarating away game atmosphere straight to St Mary’s Stadium We're excited to introduce the Northam Fan Zone a brand-new space where fans can come together and experience the thrill of the game as if they were on the road with the team we’ll be screening the Bournemouth vs Southampton match on a gigantic screen ensuring you won’t miss a single second of the action Join the hundreds of Saints fans in the Northam Fan Zone giving you plenty of time to grab your spot your ticket includes entry to the Northam Fan Zone and a complimentary drink—choose from beer If you’re looking to keep the energy up throughout the match additional drinks will be available for purchase from our on-site bars so don’t miss out on this chance to be part of the action Secure your spot now and join fellow fans for an unforgettable evening of football at St Mary’s Buy Your Tickets A body has been found in the search for 76-year-old missing person Kenneth Marshall from Northam Mr Marshall was last seen last Thursday and searches were ongoing to locate him Formal identification is yet to take place but the family of Kenneth have been informed of this development Separately a search for missing 33-year-old Nathan Hudson who had been reported missing from Bideford has been called off after he located safe and well Police have thanked everyone who shared their appeal This claim is false and has been officially denied by company representatives Social media users have circulated yet another story claiming that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a suspicious purchase that exceeds his declared income the claim suggests that Zelenskyy has bought a controlling stake in Northam Platinum Ltd South Africa’s largest platinum mining company Propaganda narratives claim: “The South African media have already called this one of the biggest mining deals in years Ukrainians are dying on the front line while the Nazis enrich themselves.” These rumours began to spread on various platforms in early April 2025 The posts also mention that Zelenskyy will visit South Africa on 10 April 2025 to meet with President Cyril Ramaphosa and union representatives from the mine to “finalise” the deal Although Zelenskyy’s visit is indeed planned the story of the purchase of company shares is completely fabricated – as are many similar rumours about supposedly high-value purchases made by Zelenskyy or his wife during the war the lip movements of a Northam miner purporting to be interviewed do not match the audio suggesting a deepfake or voice-over fabrication StopFake has previously debunked similar fakes about alleged luxury purchases by Zelenskyy, including Fake: Zelenskyy Buys €18 Million Mansion, Builds Underground Bunker and Fake: Zelenskyy Bought a Hotel-Casino in Cyprus for Money from US The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Beachgoers and wildlife lovers can once again roam Northam Burrows freely – at least if they’ve got the right ticket in hand. With toll charges set to return in early April, Torridge District Council has opened up online and phone sales for its season passes From Saturday, April 5, visitors will once again need to pay to access Northam Burrows Country Park, a 253-hectare site in north Devon known for its wild beauty and environmental significance But the council is offering a way to beat the tolls with a £60 season ticket though two vehicles can be registered per ticket – only one of which can be used at a time Tickets are now available for purchase via the Torridge District Council website or by phoning 01237 428700 and selecting option 9 Physical passes will be posted to the buyer's home address tickets can be purchased in person at the park's toll kiosk from the start of April where both contactless payments and cash will be accepted The site, a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, includes salt marshes, dunes, grasslands and coastal plains teeming with rare plants and wildlife. It is also the primary access point to the Blue Flag beach at Westward Ho! via the Burrows car park The Burrows Rangers also organise various workshops and events throughout the summer season ensuring there is something for everyone to enjoy” Northam Burrows remains one of Devon’s most celebrated coastal attractions offering both ecological insight and access to some of the region’s finest seaside views visit the Torridge District Council’s season ticket page or contact customer services Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right The "froth" on the beach in Northam A Northam resident raised concerns yesterday (October 17) about what they thought was sewage washing up along Northam beach.  The resident reported seeing froth on the shoreline and noted “it smells too,” prompting them to send photos to the North Devon Gazette The Gazette contacted both South West Water and the Environment Agency to investigate the matter South West Water confirmed that the substance in question was not sewage but a natural algal bloom The Environment Agency explains on their website that large blooms of Phaeocystis often form in British coastal waters during warmer months.  they can create a frothy appearance on the water’s surface and emit an unpleasant smell Algal blooms are a natural part of the water's ecosystem but the decomposition of the algae can produce foam and release smells similar to decomposing seaweed or rotten eggs.  The agency advises avoiding contact with water during these events as it is difficult to determine if a bloom is toxic just by appearance the Environment Agency advises residents to call their hotline at 0800 807060 South West Water told the Gazette: “The photo sent to us shows an algal bloom breaking down which is commonly mistaken for sewage and creates a strong odour Our teams attended Northam beach yesterday [17 October] and found no issues or evidence of sewage on the beach.” Why not go along and join the Great British Spring Clean at Westward Ho People of all ages are invited to do their bit to keep Torridge tidy as part of the Great British Spring Clean Northam Burrows Rangers and Plastic Free Torridge are encouraging the community to join them for a beach and village litter pick event at Westward Ho Participants will be provided with equipment for the clean-up by the Rangers and will set off from the Westward Ho The event will provide a great opportunity for people to work together to collect litter from the beach whilst also enjoying the beautiful surroundings The Great British Spring Clean campaign kicked off yesterday (March 21) and runs until April 6 The annual initiative invites people across the country to join organised clean ups and litter picks or to do their bit in their own local area lead member for leisure at Torridge District Council said: “I hope people will join us for the Beach Clean at Westward Ho but maybe also think about organising their own grand or small-scale clean-up in a town “Litter-picking is a simple action that anyone can to make an immediate and visible to the environment where we live Crayford and Abbs has launched a new Subaru dealership in North Walsham adds to the company’s existing Nissan and MG dealerships in Holt and Mundesley The dealership with nine staff has space for 30 used cars and a workshop that will provide MOTs and servicing known for its engineering excellence and loyal customer following We’re delighted to bring Subaru to north Norfolk and look forward to helping drivers find the perfect vehicle to suit their needs.” said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be opening a Subaru dealership in north Norfolk reliability and performance is outstanding and we can’t wait to welcome customers to discover what makes these vehicles so special.” Tagged with: UK Car of the Year shares category winners ahead of main award announcement Subaru UK & Ireland celebrates retailers at annual awards New Forester e-BOXER available to order through Subaru’s UK dealer network Kia nearly new cars most ‘commonly clocked’ says carVertical Subaru unveils all-new Forester Subaru dealer helps promote mental health in schools You must be logged in to post a comment a UK based car finance provider authorised and regulated by .. Wishing all our customers and connections a super successful handover day #NewRegDay Use the affordable Keytracker intelligent locker system to securely automate the drop-off and collection lockers .. renowned for their top-quality paint and fabric protection systems We are pleased to share the launch of our new partnership with live-streaming service How will you adapt to higher National Insurance and general employment costs View Results Due to the high risk of storms in the forecast the ribbon cutting event for the renovated Northam Tennis and Pickleball Courts We still invite you to join us for the Northam Tennis Open House from 1–5 pm on Saturday This is a great opportunity to meet the pro and learn about programs including the Greater Columbus Tennis Association and member/guest nights Normal operations at the newly renovated facility will begin on Sunday, May 4. To learn more about the Northam Tennis and Pickleball Courts, click here. Monday - Friday 9am-12pm / 2pm-6pm GMT + 1 All financial news and data tailored to specific country editions The site at Northam Burrows owned by Sally Jobson-Scott A ‘ridiculous’ decision to ban an international horse breeder and trainer from putting temporary jumps and food and drink feeders on an exercise space for her animals on Northam Burrows has been overturned by Torridge District Council Horse of the Year Show 2023 winner Sally Jobson-Scott was granted retrospective consent in February by the council for the all- weather area on the edge of the protected Northam Burrows Country Park a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Fears that ‘equestrian paraphernalia’ would detract from the landscape resulted in officers and lead councillors placing a condition on the permission banning any jumps mobile or temporary structures or buildings on the land off Appledore Road who has operated her Follyfoot showjumpers business in that area since the 1990s said the condition makes it impossible for her to operate her new set up as she can’t put water troughs and hay feeders on the exercise area or portable poo pickers or machinery items necessary for horse welfare and training needs She said a hardstanding area used during wet weather doubled up as a training area for young horses when it was dry again against the advice of planning and conservation officers so only buildings would be banned in future Northam independent councillor Chris Leather said he had been appalled by the way the application had been handled in February as the council had made such a ‘big song and dance’ about it when it should have been straightforward He said the authority even drafted in a heritage officer from Devon County Council to speak against the plan There is lots of horsey culture all along the Appledore Road.” The council’s conservation officer said it would be harmful to introduce equipment that was not of a natural form or was brightly coloured into an area of natural landscape on the fringe of the country park He was concerned that temporary equipment could remain there as there is no authorised storage on site Cllr Doug Bushby added his voice to say the council needed to support successful local businesses like this and jumps and additional items are essential to break in and train young horses He said he had driven along the road and couldn’t see the site from his vehicle Mr Bushby said there would be additional screening as that is part of the planning conditions and that people probably wouldn’t see it even if they were in a double decker bus Cllr Jane Whittaker said she was sorry the applicant had to come back to the committee to get permission to place water drinkers and feeders on site but she was concerned about the jumps and did not want to see show jumping training all year round Planning manager Helen Smith said it was normal procedure for the chair and vice chair of the committee together with officers to be delegated permission to come up with conditions on planning applications if councillors had voted against officers’ advice Northam Platinum has reported a 49.7% decline in half-year profit on lower metal prices and slashed its dividend by 85%. The South African miner posted headline earnings of R238.24 million (US$12.89 million) in the six months to December 2024, down from R473.38 million previously. It declared an interim dividend of R0.15, down from R1 previously. Northam’s sales revenue decreased by 3.1% to R14.5 billion, reflecting the impact of lower metal prices, while the cost of sales increased by 6.9% to R13.4 billion. “We operate a largely fixed cost business and consider increasing production, and doing so efficiently, to be our best defence against current global inflationary pressures and persistent weak metal prices,” Northam said in a statement. Northam increased its refined platinum group metal output by 3.7% to 451,213 ounces during the six months to December 2024. Join over 65, 400 subscribers and receive our weekly eNewsletter! Please check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. Please check your inbox to confirm your subscription. Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayogreatest hitsdevonnewsFirefighters in attendance at a house fire in NorthamThe blaze is at a large derelict house A blaze has broken out in a two story derelict house in Northam Fire crews have been battling the fire throughout the night A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue service said: Crews attended a large two storey derelict property which was well alight on the arrival of the first appliances They requested a total of 6 fire engines and an aerial ladder platform which were mobilised from surrounding stations along with the water bowser and command support unit increasing to 3 main jets and the aerial ladder once back up had arrived Crews made steady progress through the night Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app. Company number 01176085; Bauer Radio Limited Company number: 1394141Registered office: Media House Peterborough PE2 6EA and H Bauer Publishing Company number: LP003328; Registered office: The Lantern London NW1 2PL All registered in England and Wales VAT no 918 5617 01H Bauer Publishing are authorised and regulated for credit broking by the FCA (Ref No: 845898) said profit fell almost 30% in the last fiscal year as lower prices countered higher production at the South African miner Northam – a smaller rival to Anglo American Platinum Ltd. – said the average price received for platinum-group metals declined sharply during the period including a 38% drop for palladium and a 61% slump for rhodium Platinum miners in South Africa – the largest producer of the metal – have been cutting costs and shelving expansion projects after the industry flipped from a boom in the early part of the decade to a slump as prices fell Northam marginally increased its workforce last year as it is ramping up annual output of platinum-group metals from its three mines toward 1 million ounces Consistent production growth “continues to underpin our defensive position and resilience in the face of the current soft metal price environment,” Northam said PGM output rose 10% last year to 893,000 ounces with production from the country’s “aged and underinvested” mines set to decline in the coming years Northam chief executive officer Paul Dunne said after the company released its results Impala CEO Nico Muller made similar remarks a day earlier saying it’s “highly improbable” there will be investment in new assets Johannesburg-based Northam posted earnings of 1.8 billion rand ($101.3 million) in the 12 months through June down from 2.6 billion rand the previous year according to a statement released on Friday but profit in fiscal 2023 was cut by impairments of 6.8 billion rand on one of the firm’s mines and its investment in Royal Bafokeng Platinum Ltd. which was part of an abortive takeover bid Northam declined over 9% in Johannesburg trading but the contribution of chrome — extracted as a byproduct of platinum mining — increased significantly to a tenth of total sales Profit before some one-time items – known as headline earnings – fell almost 82% to 1.7 billion rand Devices used to curb emissions from gasoline and diesel vehicles are a major source of PGM demand Producers of the metals are focused on finding alternative long-term applications for PGMs as electric vehicles increase their market share and website in this browser for the next time I comment Gruyere gold mine joint venture partners Gold Fields and Gold Road Resources reach agreement on a friendly deal to consolidate ownership. The initiative will be delivered through the regional joint venture established by Fleet Space Technologies and Tahreez. The US central bank is widely expected to hold rates steady in this meeting. Romania has major reserves of rare earths, gold and copper, which have attracted interest from Canadian and American firms.