Ian Payne is Leading Britain's Conversation A teenager has suffered head injuries after being assaulted by armed adults in a mass brawl on a Devon beach on Friday night Footage was posted on social media of the assault which took place during "large-scale disorder" which broke out on Teignmouth beach on Friday "Officers were called to reports of a young male being attacked by four people with weapons at approximately 8.45pm on Back Beach and attended the scene where 50 to 100 people were present during the incident," a spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said on Saturday which is thought to have involved teenagers and adults." Read more: Woman charged with murder after alleged fail-to-stop crash in Bournemouth that left motorcyclist dead Read more: Senior staff at EON and British Gas jailed for accepting millions in bribes, as profits skyrocketed added: "We have identified a teenaged boy who has sustained minor head injuries "He has been checked over in hospital and discharged." A man has been arrested on suspicion of affray and remains in police custody They have also asked people not to share footage of the attack online DS Boobyer said: "We are aware of footage circulating on social media and possible names being identified "We ask that people do not share this footage and we need to remind the public that any suspect under the age of 18 is by law not allowed to be identified "These rules are not solely for media organisations to adhere to Donna Murray-Turner discusses Parliament's inaction on knife crime "They also apply to members of the public and includes information posted via social media "This may be seen as interfering with a live investigation we therefore remind the public that it is vital that they do not speculate on the identity of any suspects in this case The force said there will be a heightened police presence in the area during the weekend See more More Crime News See more More UK News See more More Topics Police are calling for witnesses after a night of violence on Teignmouth back beach on Friday (May 2). Police attended the scene after receiving reports of a juvenile male being attacked by four adults with weapons at around 8:45pm. Around 50-100 people were gathered on the back beach at the time and police are asking for any additional victims or witnesses to come forward. Many youngsters had gathered on the beach to enjoy the sunset and celebrate the last official day of secondary school before GCSE exams get underway. Devon and Cornwall police said ‘CCTV enquiries are ongoing and there will be a police presence in the area’ over the weekend. Anyone with relevant information or footage are asked to contact police via the Devon and Cornwall Police website or by calling 101 quoting reference 50250109699. Comments Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 The Lib Dems are celebrating in Devon after winning the most seats in the Devon County Council elections – but no party has overall control. Sixty seats in 58 council divisions were up for election in Devon – with two divisions, Exmouth and Broadclyst, having two elected councillors each. The Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) won the majority of seats, 27, but they did not reach the threshold of more than 50 per cent – more than 31 – required to give the party overall control of the council. Reform UK also had a good night, winning 18 seats. It was, though, a disastrous day for the Conservative Party, which previously had overall control, but ended election day with seven councillors. The Green Party won six seats with two going to independent candidates. The Labour Party won no seats. There are an interesting few weeks ahead now as each grouping holds talks in a bid to agree a coalition. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Further Links This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page WELCOME to our live blog from Newton Abbot Racecourse for the Teignbridge division results of the Devon County Council elections. The Mid-Devon Advertiser team is at Newton Abbot Racecourse and will bring you the results throughout the day. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Reform UK has won its first seat on Teignbridge District Council as Steve Horner secures a majority in the Teignmouth West by-election Reform UK has gained its first ever seat on Teignbridge District Council after 400 Teignmouth residents voted for Steve Horner to represent them in the Teignmouth West by-election Steve Horner said he was ‘excited’ after winning with a majority of 28 votes Liberal Democrat candidate Penny Lloyd came a close second with 372 votes who was also standing in the Devon County Council elections said he was ‘delighted’ although he ‘would have liked to have won both’ Liberal Democrat Cllr David Cox was voted to represent Teignmouth at Devon County Council ‘It’s exciting because we’ve got a massive job to do at every level,’ Steve said adding that he had already spoken with Liberal Democrat councillors ‘who control things from a political point of view’ ‘I think we’ll get on just fine,’ he commented ‘My questions might be a little bit awkward,’ he added Steve Horner also revealed that he has applied to be co-opted onto Teignmouth Town Council There are currently two vacancies on Teignmouth Town Council following the resignations of councillor Steve Walsh and Deputy Mayor Chloe Myers. ‘I think the two (District and Town) are connected and a bit of connection between them that isn’t purely Lib Dem would be a good idea,’ Steve noted. In his election manifesto, Steve said he intended to focus on democracy in councils by pushing for a free speech policy and promoting accountability and transparency. He also vowed to audit and push for councils to use taxpayers money responsibly and to challenge anti-British and sex/gender ideologies in schools. ‘We will change the way things are done. It will not be business as usual,’ his manifesto promised. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Devon County Show has announced the addition of an irresistible feature to its 2025 lineup—its first-ever Alpaca Café this unique café experience will offer visitors a chance to socialise alongside four charming alpacas the ring will transform into a cafe complete with patio tables and chairs accommodating up to 24 lucky guests per session The stars of the show – Lakemoor Alpacas Ron Guests will be invited to feed them nuts and carrots while basking in their gentle company—and the experience can be captured on camera with alpaca selfies galore is thrilled to bring this novel concept to life: "We love coming to the Devon County Show each year with our alpacas This is a perfect chance to see how it goes Working with animals is always a challenge but these alpacas love people—and Hagrid will do just about anything for a carrot!" and only a handful of spots available per session Devon County Show expects the café to be a sell-out success Times: 11am & 3pm (Pre-booking required) Get ready for a one-of-a-kind experience that promises to be as endearing as it is unforgettable The event is free of charge but Devon County Show will be collecting donations for their charity of the year To find out more about Devon County Show and to book discounted tickets in advance, visit www.devoncountyshow.co.uk Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us DETECTIVES investigating a report of assault at Teignmouth Back Beach on Friday night have identified the victim and have made an arrest. It follows an appeal issued earlier today in relation to footage circulating on social media which showed a young person being assaulted on Friday, May 2. Officers were called to reports of a young male being attacked by four people with weapons at approximately 8.45pm on Back Beach, Teignmouth, and attended the scene where 50-100 people were present during the incident. Enquiries are ongoing to try to identify others involved in the matter. The incident was part of a wider, large-scale disorder, which is thought to have involved teenagers and adults. Detective Sergeant Emma Boobyer said: ‘We have identified a teenaged boy who has sustained minor head injuries. ‘He has been checked over in hospital and discharged. ‘We are continuing to urge anyone who was involved to come forward and we will be making further enquiries in the area over the weekend. ‘We are aware of footage circulating on social media and possible names being identified. ‘We ask that people do not share this footage, and we need to remind the public that any suspect under the age of 18 is by law not allowed to be identified. ‘These rules are not solely for media organisations to adhere to. ‘They also apply to members of the public and includes information posted via social media. ‘This may be seen as interfering with a live investigation we therefore remind the public that it is vital that they do not speculate on the identity of any suspects in this case. ‘If you do have any information, please report it directly to us.’ A male has been arrested on suspicion of affray. He remains in police custody. If you witnessed the incident or have any information or dashcam footage that could help with enquiries, contact police via their website or by calling 101 quoting 50250109699. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Long-serving coach departs Sandy Park in wake of catastrophic 79-17 loss to Gloucester EXETER Chiefs have axed long-serving coach Rob Hunter in the wake of their catastrophic 79-17 loss to Gloucester - the worst defeat in the club’s Premiership Rugby history and a brutal low in an already faltering season. Hunter’s 13-year stint at Sandy Park ended with the club announcing his departure by “mutual consent” on Friday. However, behind the polite phrasing lies a clear message: standards have slipped, and heads are rolling. The loss to Gloucester wasn’t just a defeat - it was a humiliation. Eleven tries conceded, a defence in shambles, and a team that looked unrecognisable from the title-winning juggernaut of just a few seasons ago. The fallout was swift. Hunter and fellow coach Ali Hepher were both suspended while the club launched a full internal review. Hunter is now the first casualty. In a statement released by the club, it read: “On behalf of everyone at Exeter Rugby Club, I would like to express our gratitude to Rob for his dedication and the impact he has had during his time with us. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.” Director of Rugby Rob Baxter added: “Rob has been an integral part of our coaching team across multiple seasons. I want to personally thank him for his hard work, loyalty, and the positive influence he has had on the squad. “Although it is never easy to part ways with someone who has contributed so much, we look forward with confidence and enthusiasm as we continue to build on the strong foundations Rob has helped to establish.” Hunter is the second coach to depart this season, Omar Mouniemne left in similar circumstances back in October. As for the future for Hepher at Sandy Park, that remains unknown at this stage. In another blow for the Devonians, the club have confirmed that Greg Fisilau (shoulder), Joe Hawkins (ankle), Ben Hammersley (knee) and Max Norey (shoulder) will all miss the remainder of the season. The Chiefs are next in action this Sunday when they play host to Northampton Saints, who at the weekend booked their place in the final of the Investec Champions Cup with victory over Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us THE seaside towns of Dawlish and Teignmouth will continue to be represented by the Liberal Democrats at County Hall as the party retains its control in the Devon County Council elections. Town and district councillor Rosie Dawson will now represent Dawlish at Devon County Council after winning today’s election [Friday, May 2]. The Liberal Democrat said she was blown away after learning she had been elected to represent the town at County Hall. ‘It’s an absolute honour to be trusted by the public’ Rosie said. ‘I’m ready to start work this afternoon’ she added. Reform UK’s Christopher Hilditch came second. Liberal Democrat Councillor David Cox said he was ‘very pleased’ to have won the Teignmouth seat, but admitted it was very close. Councillor Cox won with a 165 vote majority over Reform UK candidate Steve Horner. ‘There has clearly been a national swing’ David said. With that, the Liberal Democrats retained their control over the two seaside towns. The party won Chudleigh and Teign Valley for the very first time, while retaining Exminster and Haldon and winning Bovey Rural. Newton Abbot MP Martin Wrigley, who is a Liberal Democrat, said he was pleased that his party had increased the number of Teignbridge seats on Devon County Council from four to five. ‘It was very sad to see the loss of Ipplepen and the Kerswells’ MP Wrigley said. ‘But I am delighted that we retained Dawlish and Teignmouth and that we gained Chudleigh for the first time’ MP Wrigley added. Reform UK won four of the ten Teignbridge wards in the election, with the Lib Dems taking five and the Conservatives just one. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us FIREFIGHTERS from across Devon have been battling to contain a wildfire on Dartmoor for the past 18 hours. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue control took multiple calls reporting a large fire in the Cut Hill area of north-west Dartmoor yesterday (Sunday, May 4) at around 2.30pm. Three appliances were initially mobilised from Okehampton, Hatherleigh and North Tawton, along with a water bowser from Exeter’s Danes Castle station and a wildfire support officer. Okehampton also took the decision to deploy their All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and 4x4 unit. “While on route to the incident, the Hatherleigh crew confirmed large amounts of smoke issuing from the moor and a second ATV from Tavistock was mobilised,” said a spokesman from DSFRS. “Once the Hatherleigh appliance arrived at the rendezvous point crews proceeded towards fire using an ATV to gain better observations on the scene and confirmed a fire front measuring approximately one mile and requested a further two ATVs which were sent from Bovey Tracey and Middlemoor, along with a drone from our USAR station.” Due to the remote location fire crews has difficulty in accessing the scene and by 5.30pm the fire front was measuring nearly two miles. “Additional crews were mobilised through the early evening and liaised with Dartmoor rangers at the scene to observe the fire and ascertain current size of fire front,” continued the spokesman. “An incident command unit (ICU) was sent from Totnes with a crew from Buckfastleigh to support them along with a 4x4 from Princetown, a welfare unit from Ivybridge and two relief appliances from Chagford and Princetown. A helicopter from the National Police Air Service also attended to provide aerial support.” In the early hours of this morning (Monday, May 5) additional relief crews from Moretonhampstead and Yelverton were sent to the fire with crews carrying out a watching brief from two strategic locations. Two more relief fire appliances from Tavistock and Crediton arrived at the scene at 8am this morning and an incident command unit also in attendance to relieve the ICU from Totnes. “Crews have confirmed the fire is still burning and in the predicted direction,” added the spokesman. “The 4x4 from Princetown has been remobilised to assist with access on the moor and following a multi-agency meeting early this morning two ATVs from Tavistock and Bovey Tracey have also been remobilised to access and extinguish the fire.” By 1.30pm this afternoon all fire fronts were extinguished and a drone overflew the area to check for any hotspots and at just after 5pm, more than 24 hours since the alarm was raised the fire, the fire was out. Approximately 12,500 acres of moorland were destroyed by fire. Firefighters were assisted by Dartmoor rangers and Commoners using firefighting equipment. Crews used five Argo Cat vehicles, fogging units, leaf blowers and a drone for environmental protection. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Teignmouth residents and visitors face a summer of roadwork misery as gas works close key town centre routes and restrict parking. Wales and West Utilities have this week begun a three-month project to upgrade the gas pipes around the town centre and seafront. The Esplanade and Den Promenade will be closed for nearly two weeks in June (June 9-20) and Hollands Road and Station Road will be shut for nearly three weeks from the end of June until mid-July (June 23–July 11). Parking suspensions will be in place on several roads around Teignmouth seafront and along Station Road. ‘The work is essential to keep the gas flowing safely and reliably to local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations to come,’ said a Wales and West Utilities spokesperson. ‘We know that working in areas like this is not ideal,’ admitted Roxanne Whittaker who is managing the gas pipe upgrade work in Teignmouth. ‘But it really is essential to make sure we keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area and to sure the gas network is fit for the future.’ ‘We’ll have a team of gas engineers on site throughout the project to make sure our work is completed as safely and as quickly as possible, while keeping disruption to a minimum,’ she added. The gas emergency and pipeline firm said it has worked closely with Devon County Council, to agree traffic management plans, such as rolling traffic lights, which will be in place as the works progress. Wales and West Utilities is spending £1.4 million every week to upgrade old, metal pipes to new plastic ones as part of a 30-year programme to ensure the gas network is fit for the future. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us IT WAS Clare Walpole who stole the show at Teignmouth Golf Club on the last day of April! Although taking third place overall in the Stableford competition, Clare, a key member of last year’s victorious Sheelah Creasy squad, scooped the Betty Burnett Salver silverware. Carding a brilliant 39 points was enough for her to put forward the highest score of her handicap category (playing handicap 27-36) and earned the title for her efforts. On such a beautiful sunny day, Clare made it look easy with an almost faultless round, going out with 20 points and then coming back with 19 to become the worthy winner. Clare was only a shot away from the (lower handicap) outright winner Jayne Wayman, who was first with 40pts. Christina Cornish was second on countback, also with 40, and in 3rd place was Jenny Mitchell on 39pts. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd. | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Win HappyPremiumSearch Rayogreatest hitsdevonnewsPolice investigating 'large-scale disorder' in TeignmouthOfficers were called to reports of people with weapons last night An investigation is taking place into reported 'large-scale disorder' in Teignmouth in Devon Police believe up to 100 people witnessed a young man being attacked on Back Beach last night (Friday 2nd May 2025) Officers are trying to contact the victim - and have yet to make any arrests so far "We are aware of footage circulating on social media showing a young person being assaulted in Teignmouth on Friday 2 May "Officers were called to reports of a young male victim being attacked by four adults with weapons at approximately 8.45pm on Back Beach and attended the scene where 50-100 people were present during the incident we have been unable to identify the victim of the assault and would ask that they come forward so we can check on their welfare which is thought to have involved teenagers and adults No arrests have been made at this time and an investigation continues into the matter Detective Sergeant Emma Boobyer from Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We would urge anyone who was involved to come forward “This incident will no doubt cause concern in the community “CCTV enquiries are ongoing and there will be a heightened police presence in the area this morning and over this weekend “We would ask that people do not share the footage but if anyone has any information if you witnessed the incident or have any information or dashcam footage that could help with enquiries please contact police via our website here or by calling 101 quoting 50250109699.” 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) Teignmouth Tuesday's 6-a-side league saw heart-stopping action on its twelfth week Teams from the Premier League left it all on the pitch delivering a night of thrilling football as we inch closer to the season's end Shaboing United put on a masterclass of football outplaying Real Sosobad in an impressive 9-0 victory Barnaby Edgar of Shaboing United was the man of the match scoring a hat trick and taking his place as the top scorer in the division It was youthful exuberance against experience as Crystal FC narrowly defeated Cheese On Bread 3-2 in a nail-biting encounter Tiki Toka demonstrated their dominance by trouncing Multiple Scoregasms 6-1; their slick passing and ruthless finishing were a sight to behold The night ended with Black Pearl Rovers securing a tidy 2-0 win over Old Dogs No Tricks FC Old Dogs No Tricks FC's Leon Aggett was named the week's most valued player proving that individual brilliance can shine With only two weeks remaining in the season Teams are battling it out in what promises to be an exciting close to the season If you haven't secured your place for the next season As we head into the penultimate week of the season the spotlight will undoubtedly be on the top scorers of each division His impressive goal-scoring run has been pivotal in Shaboing United's success and fans will be eagerly watching to see if he can continue his hot streak Stay tuned for more updates from the Teignmouth Tuesday 6-a-side league every save could make the difference between victory and defeat Many thanks to the referees for keeping this competitive league going strong Join the Teignmouth Tuesday 6 a-side league by clicking the link below or call Tom at 07943 049781 for more information https://www.leisureleagues.net/signup/teignmouth-community-college/teignmouth-tuesday THE 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE) takes place next week. And there are lots of events taking place across Teignbridge. All the events take place on Thursday, May 8, unless stated otherwise. • Teignmouth: From 9am, join the mayor for a shared moment of celebration while the flag is raised in the Triangle. At 11am, children from OLSP and Teignmouth Primary School will be performing songs in the Triangle including the Nation Anthem. Between 2pm and 5.30pm there will be free cream teas at Bitton House with live entertainment. And, finally, at 9.30pm the lighting of the beacon ceremony will take place at the War Memorial. • Newton Abbot: A wreathe laying ceremony will take place at 10.50am at the War Memorial, followed by a proclamation, delivered by the town crier, at 12pm at St Leonards clock tower. Evening celebrations include bell ringing at St Leonards clock tower and Highweek Church at 6.30pm followed by beacon lighting at Highweek, Wolborough and Buckland sites at 9.30pm. • Dawlish: The VE Day flag will be raised at 9am together with the reading of the VE Day Proclamation by the Dawlish town crier at the bandstand. Music and lunch at the Manor House between 12pm and 3pm. Lastly, a reading of the ‘Tribute’ by the town crier and lighting of the beacon at the bandstand at 9pm. • Chudleigh: The VE Day flag will be raised at the town’s War Memorial at 9am, which will be followed by a wreath laying at 11am. Chudleigh Parish Church will be screening the Westminster Abbey ceremony from 11.30am. The town’s celebrations will end at the church, with choir singing and a performance by the Shantymen from 6pm. • Buckfastleigh: The bowls club will be holding a street party from 2pm until 4pm at the clubhouse. Ticket price is £7.50, which includes refreshments, sandwiches, cakes and bakes. • Ogwell: The village’s commemorations get underway from 7pm. There will be food, a bar and a beacon will be lit. • Kingsteignton: The town council are holding a baking competition on Saturday, May 10, from 11am to 2pm at the Community Hall. Open to adults and children, and free to enter, competition forms must be submitted before 12pm on May. 2 • Moretonhampstead: Events kick off at 9am with a flag raising at the War Memorial, followed by a school tea party at 2pm and the Mardon beacon lighting at 9.30pm. On Friday, May 9, there will be a special VE Day quiz at the Union Inn at 7pm. On Saturday, May 10, a history walk and coffee morning will be taking place at the community club. For more information above the above-mentioned events, visit the respective town councils’ website. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us The astrologer looks to the stars for your horoscope for the week beginning Saturday, 3 May If a task you’ve taken on doesn’t go as well as you were hoping it would, don’t hesitate to request another chance at it. If you’re new to this type of work, keep in mind the saying: if at first you don’t succeed, try again. Stay positive and give it another go. You’re ready to leave a disappointing situation behind. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, you are looking for the next opportunity to improve your life. You expected a partner to be sceptical about our plans especially when these aren’t something they are normally interested in. A team effort brings out the best in you. Activities shared with others will be fun and stimulating. New people you are meeting now will bring excitement into your world. Just remember to keep in touch with old friends, too. The flow of your days will gradually improve as you strive for an important goal. Your ability to keep everything organised and calm will foster teamwork among everyone involved. The outcomes will surpass all expectations. You’ve always had a flair for the dramatic. Why not welcome a little extra give-and-take with your friends and loved ones? When they notice how open you are to compromise and not just focused on yourself, they will start treating you with a new respect. A younger relative will look to you for support in getting through a tricky situation. You may not be able to solve all their problems but you will be more than willing to lend an ear and offer comfort. There’s a genuine desire to help those nearby. Stay alert and keep your eyes open when dealing with legal and financial matters. If you miss something early on, there could be hidden issues that will lead to complications in the future. You have been unsure about ideas being discussed in the household. You’re getting on so well with a work or romantic partner that it’s almost as if you can read each other’s thoughts. This closeness will help you predict their responses and enable you to make suggestions that meet their needs and expectations. Get involved in a group project. Not only will you enjoy the challenges this brings, you will be making new friends along the way. Most people you meet will be friendly and supportive. This makes it a good week for accomplishing tasks as a team. It’s hard to overstate the magnitude of discussions going on in the workplace. You wonder how mistakes happened and how it went on so long before they have been revealed. Now that everything is out in the open you will stand up for those who need support. A household matter will not be easy to settle. You might think you've made your final decision regarding future plans, but others don’t agree. One of your housemates will want to revisit the conversation, hoping to persuade you to reconsider. A friend or neighbour will ask you to do them a small favour. This will open the door to even more requests and before you know it they will seem to expect you to be at their beck and call. Remember, you aren’t obligated to say yes every time they ask for help. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Feb 28, 2025 | the volunteer organisers of the annual Teignmouth Airshow have announced there will be no show in 2025 due to increasing challenge of raising funds and other uncertainties which would have taken place on the first weekend of July has in just a few short years become a very popular and well respected event with display teams and audiences the Teignmouth Airshow is organised and fundraised for by a small team of volunteers It first took place in 2019 and is very much a local community led event It does not receive financial support from Teignmouth Town Council Fundraising for the event takes a lot of effort and thousands of hours of unpaid work for the volunteer team organisers say ‘We rely heavily on sponsorships this year the organisers have found themselves well short of the £90,000 required to stage the event According to the open letter issued by the organisers a further complication this year has been a of in uncertainty caused by the demolition of an old Aquarium by the Town Council and how those works would affect the event ‘These challenges only increase the stress and uncertainty for our volunteers have driven the committee to the decision to hold off this year’s airshow,’ states the open letter there is hope the event will return in 2026 The Teignmouth Airshow Committee said ‘Despite not continuing with Airshow plans for 2025 this isn’t the end for Teignmouth Airshow The committee remains determined to bring this much-loved event back in 2026 giving us time to explore new fundraising oppotunities and to secure the backing needs to make it happen in a more financially sustainable way.‘ A GoFundMe.com page has already been set up to held raise funds for Teignmouth Airshow 2026 – https://www.gofundme.com/f/teignmouth-airshow-2026 Pilgrims are undone at the death as Leeds United are confirmed winners of the Championship PLYMOUTH Argyle head coach Miron Muslic refused to be drawn on his future as his side ended their Sky Bet Championship season with a 2-1 loss at home to champions Leeds United at Home Park. In what has been a testing campaign for the Pilgrims, they were unable to avoid the drop back into League One, an outcome which has left a bitter pill for many of the Green Army to swallow. Muslic - who only arrived in January following the departure of Wayne Rooney - has overseen a marked improvement in both performances and results since his arrival, but it was all in vain as Argyle joined Cardiff City and Luton Town in being relegated. “We are relegated now for seven, eight days. Believe me, I’m empty,” said Muslic, whose side took the lead against Leeds only for the Yorkshire giants to hit back and secure the win with an injury-time winner from Manor Solomon. “I don’t have the power right now to think about the potential future because that takes a lot of focus, a lot of concentration, a lot of energy. I don’t have this energy right now. I need to go back to my family to see them, to recharge, to breathe and then again we have enough time to think about the future.” Although the season ultimately ended in disappointment, Muslic was quick to reflect on his time so far in Devon.“I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to work in a fantastic club, a fantastic organisation,” he said. “So when I look back over the last four months I’m proud, but also very disappointed because in the end we could not make it. “I have nothing but true love and respect for the Green Army, I feel very fortunate to represent Plymouth Argyle as the head coach. Their effort over the last four months was just mind-blowing for me.” Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Majority of Devon and Cornwall Police officers struggling financially with nearly a quarter eyeing the exit MORE than three-quarters of police officers in Devon and Cornwall say they are worse off financially than five years ago — with nearly one in five unable to afford basic essentials — according to a damning new report released. The 2024 Police Federation Pay and Morale Report reveals a deepening crisis within the force, as soaring living costs and stagnant wages fuel growing dissatisfaction, so much so that nearly a quarter of officers are now considering leaving the job entirely. Despite a 4.75 per cent pay rise this year, real-terms police pay has plummeted by 20 per cent since 2010, leaving many questioning how much longer they can afford to serve. Worryingly, the survey — which is based on 1024 responses received from Devon and Cornwall Police officers — revealed 23 per cent of officers said they intend to resign from the police service either ‘within the next two years’ or ‘as soon as [they] can’. Rob Greening, secretary of Devon and Cornwall Police Federation, said: “The pay and morale survey for Devon and Cornwall Police makes stark reading and unfortunately, when compared to previous years, the situation does not seem to be improving. “Our members work in extremely stressful and dangerous situations, to afford the public the safety and protection they expect and deserve. Governments, over the years, do not seem to have provided the Police service with the same level of commitment and have allowed Police officer pay to reduce in real terms by over 20 per cent. “Our members are aware public finances over the past 15 years have been pushed and that they should bear some responsibility for cuts that have to be made. However, 15 years of cutbacks and low funding by governments have brought us to the position we now find ourselves in.” He added: “We cannot afford to lose the experience within the front line of policing. The protection of the public depends on officers knowing their job and being able to pick up on the small clues, which may indicate a member of the public is in danger. “Workloads for officers are unmanageable and this is when mistakes are made and tell-tale signs are missed. “Officer numbers have risen since 2010 by about 4,000 yet the UK population has increased by 5.5-million. Investigations have become far more complex as technology advances and the case files officers produce, to ensure offenders are charged to court, have become unnecessarily complicated and timely to complete. “There has been a perfect storm brewing for the last 15 years and it has now hit land. Officers are not willing to put up with the continued increasing expectations and heavy workloads, lack of perceived respect from the government, constant pay awards that are below the rate of inflation and they are voting with their feet. Our members join the police to serve the public and keep them safe, but currently feel that they are not able to do this to the best of their ability. “If the government wants a police service they can be proud of then we need to retain the experienced officers, to enable them to impart their wisdom to those with less experience. “To do this there are many changes that need to be made, however a quick win for the Government is to sit up and listen to the officers. What the police take home is criminal. Officers have copped enough. Things need to change.” In response to the report, Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Constable James Vaughan, said: “The pay and morale survey from the Police Federation of England and Wales is always important to us and I want officers to be assured that we will be taking time to scrutinise the report and to discuss the issues in detail with Federation representatives in Devon & Cornwall. “Policing remains a very challenging and difficult job, and despite increased demand and limited resources, our dedicated officers continue to fight crime and protect the public every day to make Devon and Cornwall safe. “Since my appointment in December 2024, I have met over 2000 officers and staff in stations across the force area, to understand their roles and listen to their views, challenges and ideas. I will continue to spend time with staff and officers, to understand where support is needed to protect our workforce and improve morale. “I’m also nearly at the end of a series of roadshows that have allowed me to meet with all Sergeants and Inspectors, to understand the challenges they are facing, as well as to set out Force priorities and expectations – with a particular emphasis on improving our standards, behaviour and culture. “It is clear from the survey officers across the country, not just in Devon and Cornwall, see workloads as an issue. The number of officers we have on the frontline is an important factor in this and a key priority for me has been to return officers to the frontline through a review of our senior ranks – starting with the chief officer team. “We now have record numbers of officers after a very successful Uplift programme and these are supported by professional and capable enabling departments and a strong cadre of volunteers. “Officer numbers will continue to be boosted through the government’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, an investment into neighbourhood policing which will support the increase of neighbourhood officers in years to come and alleviating the pressure on our frontline. “I want every member of the organisation to feel confident that their wellbeing is taken seriously and that they are being properly supported. I am committed to ensuring officers know that we are listening and feel valued and supported. "While some factors in the survey such as pay are outside of our control, we will continue to make advice and support on topics, including financial assistance, available to everyone in Devon and Cornwall Police, including signposting to those who can help. “Devon and Cornwall Police is made up of amazing officers and staff and we are committed to continuing to make improvements for all those who work so hard to keep our counties safe.” Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us OFFICERS from South Devon took the trip to Sidmouth to learn all about proper handling of donkeys. Several officers the Devon & Cornwall Police Rural Affairs Team, including PC Lucy Wyatt and PC Clarke Orchard, who is Neighbourhood Beat Manager covering Bishopsteignton, recently spent time at the town’s Donkey Sanctuary. The trip was a part of a national push to highlight equine issues. Operation Gallop sees police forces across the UK work with partners to tackle all aspects of equine crime and welfare. The operation aims to improve collaboration between police forces and partners and increase awareness of equine road safety and the importance of passing horses safely, as well as reduce equine related crime - including theft of horses, horse boxes and tack. The 2023 NFU Mutual rural crime report found the cost of rural crime rose by 22 percent in 2022. It also highlighted that ‘soaring second-hand markets and demand’ had led to a 66 percent increase in trailer thefts in 2022, totalling £2.9m. Rural Affairs Officer at Devon & Cornwall Police, PC Lucy Wyatt, who is based in South Devon, said: ‘We visited the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth earlier this year to give them some crime prevention advice around property marking and they kindly offered to carry out a training session for officers in return. ‘As a Rural Affairs team, we need to be aware of many different issues affecting our rural communities and, as Devon and Cornwall are largely rural areas, we know that many people enjoy horse riding or keep donkeys. ‘As a force, we have a responsibility to protect animals from neglect or cruelty and the training offered by The Donkey Sanctuary has been invaluable in educating the team about how to spot potential welfare issues. ‘Many people don’t realise that donkeys behave very differently to horses. ‘They are more stoic, prone to foot problems and obesity, and respond differently to stress and handling. ‘Training helps to ensure that officers don’t make incorrect assumptions based on horse behaviour. ‘We are always looking to improve our knowledge and are grateful for the time the sanctuary staff have spent with us today.’ Devon & Cornwall Police is encouraging the equestrian community to consider property marking where possible so that any stolen items can be traced and returned to their rightful owners. Motorists and horse riders are also reminded of the importance of sharing the roads responsibly. Road users are also reminded to be mindful that the horse and rider may not hear them approaching and are encouraged to carefully make their presence known on approach to avoid startling the horse. In 2023, the British Horse Society received reports of 3,383 road incidents involving horses, resulting in 66 horse deaths and 86 horse injuries. Head of Welfare for The Donkey Sanctuary, Hannah Bryer, added: ‘Welcoming the Devon & Cornwall Rural Policing Team to The Donkey Sanctuary this week is a valuable opportunity for officers to learn about the needs and behaviour of donkeys and mules. ‘This knowledge will help them in the field and give them a greater understanding of the support available through our welfare team. ‘Partnerships like this play a crucial role in helping us reach more donkeys and their owners. ‘By working together, we can strengthen our impact within communities and continue our mission to improve the lives of donkeys every day.’ Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Teignmouth is likely to be without public toilets on the Den close to the busy seafront and town centre for several weeks just as the busy summer season kicks off Planning permission for the temporary toilet block that has been on the Den for the past two years is only in place until March 31 Teignbridge District Council has confirmed that it ‘does not currently intend to extend its temporary planning consent’ for the toilets on the Den in Teignmouth The temporary toilets were installed on the Den in October 2022 to bridge the gap between the loss of the old facilities and the construction of new toilets by Teignmouth Town Council on the site of the former aquarium near the pier Although demolition work at the aquarium site took place last June construction of the new toilets is yet to start and Teignmouth Town Council only agreed on a preferred contractor at its January full council meeting Teignmouth Town Council is hopeful that it will finally get its new toilets built in the very near future took place last week to finalise timings for the construction programme Teignmouth Town Council clerk Iain Wedlake said: ‘‘There may be some opportunities to speed up the construction timetable for the toilets on the Den’ ‘We are pushing the need to move as quickly as we can,’ reassured Teignmouth mayor Cate Williams the public toilets in Teignmouth are under the jurisdiction of Teignmouth Town Council rather than Teignbridge District Council Teignmouth Town Council hopes investing in state-of-the-art facilities will ensure the town is unaffected by potential cuts in facilities at District level. In November, Teignbridge launched a consultation on the future of its 30 public toilets with fears raised over the future of public toilets in many towns in the area As well as building new toilets on the site of the former aquarium Teignmouth Town Council plans to construct public loos in the Eastcliff car park and Quay car park and to refurbish toilets on Lower Brook Street and at the Point car park The new facilities will be ‘pay-to-pee’ with users able to pay via contactless card or, for those who predominantly use cash, by purchasing a prepay card from local shops, cafes or pubs. All the toilets will be gender neutral with fully enclosed cubicles containing a toilet as well as hand washing and drying facilities. Customers will be able to see if cubicles are free via a series of lights above the doors. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us The new owner of a health food shop in Teignmouth has big plans to promote sustainable and ethical living. Helen La Trobe bought the Teignmouth branch of Poppadums earlier this month and has named her new venture Happy Bean Health. The owners of Poppadums, which had been a stalwart of Teignmouht’s Waterloo Street for 40 years, sold the shop as they try to ‘take it a little easier’. They will continue operating Poppadums in Dawlish. Happy Bean Health will continue to sell the same items as Poppadums but will ‘squeeze in a few more products and ideas alongside’. Helen, who is originally from the Teign Valley, has recently returned to Devon after spending 18 years working for non-governmental organisations and charities in Ghana, West Africa. Passionate about sustainable and ethical living, Helen is keen to ensure Happy Bean Health contributes positively to people and nature. She will install a water machine in the shop so people are able to refill their reusable bottles, and the shop will feature on the refill.org.uk map so anyone can find it and pop in and refill their water bottle for free. Products in the shop will be sourced from ethical suppliers and workers’ cooperatives, such as Suma and she plans to phase out products with palm oil. While Helen is keen to integrate more fairtrade products to support communities around the world, she is also keen to champion businesses and organisations based in and around Teignmouth and there will be a space dedicated to advertising local products and services. She also intends to donate some of the shop’s profits to support local projects and charities. ‘There’s so much going on locally that’s helping the push for sustainability,’ Helen commented. ‘Right on the doorstep is Inspirwood who made the shop’s signboard and A-board. Using local products and services has so many benefits for local economies and helps avoid the leaky bucket,’ she added. To underpin her commitment to sustainability, Helen will also offer a small sewing repair service, repairing holes in a seam, a hem that’s fallen down or replacing a button that’s fallen off. ‘I enjoy sewing but not everyone does, and it’s all part of sustainability by making clothes last a bit longer. While Helen has a degree in natural resource management and a PhD based on researching the sustainability of local food marketing schemes, she admitted that ‘I don’t know much about herbal remedies and their healing properties’. However, she is keen to learn. ‘I’m a very rigorous researcher and promise to do my very best to help when anyone comes in with health needs.’ Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow 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 A ship that was grounded in Teignmouth Harbour for most of the day yesterday (April 10) was finally freed after being stuck for almost 12 hours The cargo vessel, known as Scot Bay, ran aground early on Thursday morning with the Teignmouth Harbourmaster acknowledging the incident at around 7.15am The Teignmouth Harbour Commission Facebook page posted: "Please note that I am aware of the situation within the river regarding the cargo vessel and I will be coordinating with our partners to rectify and get the vessel to where it needs to be safely I will of course update as and when I can." A later update at 10.30am assured that the vessel and those aboard were safe and there were no pollution concerns the ship managed to get free on high water at around 6.20pm on Thursday evening and was properly brought alongside the harbour to be moored The commission shared an update this morning: "Busy week this week which was compounded by a challenging day yesterday We managed to get MV Scot Bay underway last evening on the high water and safely alongside "A big thanks to the Teignmouth Harbour Team and Associated British Ports for your help yesterday Great to see so many out enjoying the sun and supporting us 'Scot Bay' had sailed from IJmuiden and had just reached its Teignmouth destination when it became grounded while entering the port The Harbourmaster said it was "business as usual" at the harbour today adding: "Investigations are taking place but that is standard whenever something like this happens just to make sure the vessel is okay." Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right POLICE are investigating reports of an assault in Teignmouth earlier today, Saturday, April 12. Officers received a report of a serious assault at around 2am this morning. The assault is said to have occurred on Exeter Road. A crime scene is currently in place in parts of the seaside town, the Mid-Devon Advertiser understands. Devon and Cornwall Police are asking for any witnesses with information to contact the police quoting log 70 of April 12. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us A golf club in Devon says it is 'devastated' after all of its trophies were stolen Teignmouth Golf Club was broken into during the night on Wednesday 2 April It says the trophies represent a hundred years of history and are irreplaceable It is the fourth time the club has been burgled in seven months General Manager Martin Hucklesby said the incident was "Just shocking because there's so much heritage that had been lost in such a short space of time The club celebrated its centenary last year and staff said much of what was taken had very little monetary value - but it was worth a huge amount to them as many of the trophies were inscribed with the names of past members which overlooks the mouth of the River Teign was designed by the same architect as Augusta National where the Masters is about to get underway in America The trophy cabinet looks a bit bare with nothing in it members are enjoying the sunshine and playing golf Devon and Cornwall Police said its enquiries are continuing and has asked for anyone with information or relevant footage to get in touch The skies above Teignmouth will not be roaring to the sound of the Red Arrows this summer. Organisers of the Teignmouth Airshow have confirmed that this year’s event will not take place due to difficulties in raising enough money and uncertainty surrounding the construction of a new toilet block on the seafront. ‘Securing the necessary funds of £90,000 needed to host a safe and successful airshow has proven increasingly difficult,’ a spokesperson for Teignmouth Airshow said. ‘We rely heavily on sponsorships, donations and grants. Unfortunately, this year we are drastically short of the financial support required,’ the spokesperson added. Teignmouth Airshow added that the ‘strained relationships’ and lack of clear communication from Teignmouth Town Council over the works at the former aquarium had further complicated event planning. ‘These challenges only increase the stress and uncertainty for our volunteers, which, when coupled with the financial strains, have driven the committee to the decision to hold off this year’s airshow,’ explained the spokeperson. The airshow, which is free-to-attend, is organised by a small group of volunteers. ‘What most people don’t see is the sheer amount of work that goes on behind the scenes planning every detail,’ Teignmouth Airshow said in a statement. The Teignmouth Airshow Committee said the ‘tough decision’ not to go ahead with the air show this year ‘was not made lightly’. However, they plan to use the time to explore new fundraising opportunities to secure the backing needed to make bring the event back in 2026 in ‘a more sustainable way’. A GoFundMe page has already been set up to start to generate the necessary money to run a 2026 Teignmouth Airshow. The airshow organisers thanked all their supporters for their enthusiasm and generosity in making ‘a great community event’ adding that ‘we appreciate your understanding and support’. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us This morning we were faced with drizzle and cloud - but that never stops our keen parkrunners and volunteers Endless excitement today as not only did we battle with the weather we had to completely move the start line because of some mysterious holes that appeared on the turning point of our usual course one of which was our call to parkwalkers and were joined by a fair few hardcore walkers even in these suboptimal conditions We also had the pleasure of welcoming 2 young runners who were running 10k in support of Devon Air Ambulance and they bravely stood up to briefly educate us about who they were running for- well done boys- courageously carrying on after we had all finished our 5k Teignmouth’s very own girls’ rugby club also paid a visit this morning while we paid tribute to our friends doing the London marathon tomorrow Very well done to 9 year old Libby for completing her 50th park run today Looking forward to next week for even more parkrun fun If you would like to join our volunteers to make this wonderful event take place every week please email: teignmouthpromenade@parkrun.com © parkrun Limited (Company Number: 07289574) No part of this site may be reproduced in whole or in part in any manner without the permission of the copyright owner A seaside takeaway is to rise from the ashes after being destroyed in a devastating fire. LJ's Beach Shack in Teignmouth is planning a grand reopening next month It comes after friends raised thousands through a fundraising campaign A blaze tore through the building in January and left owners Louis and Amy fearing all was lost It turned their lives upside down and took a toll on their mental health. But they have now shared a positive update and thanked all those who have rallied round to help them rebuild saying "something magical happened" when the town showed its support "We are overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible support from our community," they said. "Words will never fully capture how much it means to us that so many of you showed up - physically helping us clean and rebuild donating generously to get us back on our feet as quickly as humanly possible and offering emotional support when we needed it most "You reminded us that we’re not alone turning what felt like an impossible situation into a testament to the power of kindness and friendship within a matter of days and incredibly hard work the walls were being built back up and the roof was due to go on However the recent storm with its strong winds has delayed us from progressing much further once the roof is safely on we are able to do a lot more we are hoping to reopen by the very latest March 2025 This rebuild of our business is not taken lightly at all and we want to pour this love back into the community that have saved us and would love for everyone in the community to be involved enjoy food and drinks from us and have fun DevonLive recently visited Teignmouth to speak to business and people who live in the town Louis and Amy said the "spirit of unity reminds us that hope and resilience are the heart of any thriving community" They added: "Any remaining funds after the rebuild will be donated to local charities so we can continue to keep that spark alight We will be highlighting all the local businesses that have also pulled together to support us in the rebuild in a separate post thank you to all involved in this process (you know who you are) There were dozens of children in Teignbridge living in short-term housing last year There were dozens of children in Teignbridge living in short-term housing last year Homelessness charity Shelter called on the Government to unlock "urgent investment" in the upcoming spending review to tackle the national housing crisis It comes as separate analysis from the charity found 206,000 children in England could be living in temporary housing by 2029 – a 26% increase on current figures Communities and Local Government figures show 72 homeless children in Teignbridge were living in temporary accommodation as of December 81,060 households with 165,510 dependent children were living in temporary accommodation at the end of last year – both the highest figures since records began in 2019 The number of families living in temporary homes was only up 0.7% from September but showed a 13.7% increase from December 2023 Living in temporary accommodation means being provided short-term housing by a local authority director of campaigns and policy at Shelter said the housing crisis "has reached critical levels" She added homelessness will continue to soar and local authorities will risk bankruptcy if no significant investment is unlocked She said: "In the absence of enough social homes people are being funnelled into and trapped in temporary accommodation for years on end while billions are spent on sticking plaster solutions "Families are stuffed into unsuitable spaces living on top of each other and out of suitcases never knowing if and when they’ll be forced to uproot their lives." She urged the Government to commit to the "ambitious investment" of building 90,000 social homes a year for a decade in next month's spending review deputy chief executive of campaign group Generation Rent said: "Behind every statistic are thousands of stories of people facing some of the most stressful traumatic and insecure times of their lives "More and more children are spending their formative years trapped living in temporary accommodation often in overcrowded and unsafe conditions and at huge cost to local authorities "This is a national scandal that demands government action." He welcomed the national house building plan but called on the Government to address soaring rent prices and unlock Local Housing Allowance for those on lower incomes An MHCLG spokesperson said: "Through our Plan for Change we’re taking urgent action to fix the broken system we inherited investing nearly £1 billion in homelessness services this year to help families trapped in temporary accommodation we are developing a long-term strategy to tackle homelessness driving up housing standards and delivering the biggest boost in social and affordable homes in a generation." Anyone who is facing homelessness can get free and specialised advice from Shelter at www.shelter.org.uk/get_help Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Saturday was due to see a non-hostile (honest!) parkrun ‘takeover’ by local running club who wanted to show their appreciation for our small group of highly devoted volunteers our pink-adorned high-vis heroes quietly (well Paul aside maybe ☺) go about their business to put on this fabulous So giving up just one morning to help out was no big deal to 30 of our members as atrocious coastal conditions meant that Run Director Frankie had to make the difficult (but correct) decision to cancel the event upon arrival for pre-event setup Whilst this was really disappointing for everyone it gave those of us who turned up to help at 07:30 a new-found appreciation for the work required to hold this event every weekend We stood there admiring Frankie and co for a good five minutes before rapidly departing and heading off to the wave-free Haldon Forest mud-bath We will be back another day to help (date TBC) but in the meantime I’d like to mention two important things… some of you will have seen that our regular parkrunner is taking on the London Marathon next weekend and had spent most of Good Friday baking cakes to help raise money for her chosen charity she was able to find other ways to sell her tasty treats but I’m sure she would be extremely grateful if you would consider adding to her fundraising attempts via the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/catherine-merrick-1734598135350?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=015 A community centre in Teignmouth that supports thousands of residents each year has received a £4000 boost from the Devonshire Freemasons and the Masonic Charitable Foundation The donation to the Alice Cross Centre combines £1500 from the Devonshire WAKE Fund, £500 from the Benevolent Lodge No 303 in Teignmouth and £2000 from the national Masonic Charitable Foundation The funding aims to support the centre’s wide-reaching health and well-being programmes including meal deliveries and social activities for older people and those living in isolation Founded in the 1950s and operating from its current site since 1989 the Alice Cross Centre serves as a vital hub for the local community It offers a range of services aligned to its four pillars of health: food with hot meals served daily except Tuesdays and a delivery service offering not just nutrition but essential social contact and safety checks for housebound individuals including a community band that performs in care homes during the festive season said: “The generous £4000 donation from the Masons will significantly enhance the Alice Cross Centre's ability to serve our community This vital funding will support the centre's ongoing programs for the residents of Teignmouth including our hot and frozen meal delivery service The donation arrives at a crucial time when many charities face financial challenges The Masons' contribution demonstrates the power of community organisations working together to strengthen local support networks ensuring that the centre can continue its mission of maximising our contribution to the well-being of our community” Assistant provincial grand master Tim Golder added: “It is so nice to once again visit the Alice Cross Centre As a local resident I have known about the centre since Alice herself was heavily involved in it and it is lovely to see it continuing to thrive It is an honour to represent the local Freemasons in presenting this donation and I’m glad it will be helpful in making sure your building is fit for purpose for the good work you do” the centre receives no statutory funding and must raise around £200,000 annually to cover running costs It currently employs six full-time staff supported by 78 volunteers plans are underway to open a second memory café as the existing service is now oversubscribed Devonshire Freemasons contribute to the Masonic Charitable Foundation, one of the UK’s largest grant-making charities, funded entirely by Freemasons and their families. More about the local lodge can be found at devonshirefreemasons.org.uk permanent banking hub has opened in Teignmouth today (Friday December 6) will be open Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm where customers of all major banks will be able to withdraw cash pay utility bills and check account balances Registered business customers will also be able to collect change There will also be a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank in a private space about more complicated matters on the day their bank is represented in the hub The new permanent banking hub replaces a temporary banking hub that has been running in Teignmouth’s Post Office since June when the town’s last bank, Lloyds, closed Teignmouth was chosen to receive a Banking Hub after LINK the UK’s cash access and cash machine network identified the need for enhanced cash deposit services following bank branch closures in the town there are currently six banking hubs open across Devon at Axminster In Dawlish, the service is provided at a temporary hub in the Strand Centre until Cash Access can secure a permanent premises in the town a not for profit company funded by ten high street banks Its services are operated by the Post Office within the Teignmouth banking hub ‘it is only post banking services and not a full post office service’ that will be available Cash Access secured the Bank Street premises in the Summer and has spent the last few months fitting out the hub. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us This year’s annual Shaldon and Teignmouth bonfire and fireworks display is under threat after Teignmouth Town Council threatened to withdraw support for the event. The annual Teignmouth and Shaldon bonfire and fireworks is the only free-to-attend pyrotechnic event in the area. It is organised jointly by Teignmouth Town Council and Shaldon Parish Council with a bonfire lit on Shaldon beach and fireworks launched from the Point Beach in Teignmouth. Funding for the event is partly generated by donations made on the night with additional resources being provided by Teignmouth Town Council and Shaldon Parish Council. Councillors at a Teignmouth Town Council events committee meeting held on January 7 proposed that the Council should ‘not move forward with the fireworks this year’. However, Shaldon Parish Council were ‘totally blindsided and shocked by the decision’. ‘Shaldon Parish Council feels very let down,’ said Shaldon Parish Councillor and chair of the bonfire and fireworks committee Jo Cumbley. ‘We have not been told the reasons, but we understand it is not financial,’ she added. Speaking at the latest Teignmouth Town Council meeting on Tuesday January 21, Jo urged Teignmouth Town Council to reconsider its decision to withdraw financial and logistical support for the event. She cited the event as a great example of two neighbouring councils working together to produce the hugely popular event that attracts thousands of people who spend money in local businesses outside the main summer season. She urged Teignmouth Town Councillors ‘as true representatives of the townspeople’ to ‘urgently reconsider the decision not to support the bonfire and fireworks’. Teignmouth Mayor, councillor Cate Williams reported that the town council had arranged a meeting with Shaldon Parish Council to discuss the matter on February 5. Teignmouth Town Council’s events committee will then revisit the issue at their next meeting before a final decision is made at the next full Teignmouth Council meeting. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Teignmouth Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) came to the aid of a yacht experiencing steering problems off Dawlish last night (Sunday April 27). Volunteers from Teignmouth Lifeboat Station were paged at 8.11pm to assist a yacht at Boat Cove. The vessel, which had one crew member on board, was experiencing issues following the loss of the rudder. Four RNLI volunteers responded to the callout and launched onboard the Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Claude and Kath. They safely secured the vessel and brought the yacht crew to shore where the Dawlish Coastguard team provided further assistance and advice. Teignmouth’s RNLI volunteers returned to the station where the waiting tractor driver and shore crew were on hand to recover the lifeboat, which was back on service shortly before 10pm. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us LIFEBOAT volunteers were alerted to help two crew members on board a vessel which had run aground at Shaldon. Teignmouth lifeboat was scrambled to the Ness on Tuesday evening after the alarm was raised. The call for help came in at about 10.25 pm last night. Four crew from Teignmouth launched the Atlantic 85 lifeboat and found the two casualties onboard the yacht which had run aground on the rocky shoreline at the bottom of the Ness just outside the mouth of the River Teign. The crew helped the casualties to safety, while leaving the casualty vessel at anchor, supported by members of Dawlish Coastguards. The casualties were recovered to Teignmouth Lifeboat Station where they were further assessed, and assisted by the waiting shore crew. Teignmouth Lifeboat, Claude and Kath, was cleaned, refuelled and back on service shortly before midnight. Further Links A LOCAL artist’s exhibition portraying Devon’s people and landscapes is coming to Teignmouth. Paignton artist Allison McSparron-Edwards will be presenting her upcoming solo exhibition, 'My Devon,' at Teignmouth Arts Action Group (TAAG) from May 25 to June 6 Allison, 70, has created what she describes as ‘bold, fun compositions often with vibrant colours, capturing the beauty of nature, human connections and emotions.’ Her series, ‘An Ode to Nature’, uses a contemporary style to blend modern realism with abstraction. Visitors can purchase the paintings on display, or be inspired to commission specific work, including portraits. This exhibition marks a significant milestone in Allison’s artistic journey, transitioning from a four-decade corporate career to full-time artist. Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1955, Allison has a rich Irish, Scottish, and Yorkshire heritage. Her life has been shaped by extensive travel, living and working in various parts of the UK and Canada, before settling by the sea in Paignton. Living by the ever-changing Devon coastline and countryside, she finally pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist in 2020. Her work is deeply influenced by the landscapes she has lived in and the people she has met. Her oil paintings include Dartmoor’s wild vistas and wildlife, portraits of locals and people generally having fun. Her creative journey began with watercolours, before transitioning to painting in oils in 2020. She studied under several renowned artists, including Martin Kinnear RCA, David Grey, Tina Garrett and Cesar Santos, refining her craft and expanding her artistic vision. Inspired by artists like Bouguereau, Sargent, and Monet, she has continued to study, developing her creativity, and embracing new genres and techniques. Time permitting Allison will be demonstrating some of her techniques whilst the exhibition is in progress. ‘My paintings are a celebration of the human form and our intrinsic connection to nature’ Allison said. ‘Through bold colours and compositions, I aim to evoke the powerful emotions that landscapes and local communities inspire in me’ the artist added. TEIGNBRIDGE beaches have been issued with sewage alerts following yesterday’s heavy rain Dawlish Town and Teignmouth Holcombe beaches have been flagged by Surfer’s Against Sewage Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in these three locations within the past 48 hours, the charity’s interactive tracking map shows. The alerts come after yesterday’s heavy rain. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for heavy rain on Tuesday, April 15 Devon saw between 20 and 40 millilitres of rain, with some areas experiencing as much as 70 millimetres. Sewage discharge is common after heavy rainfall, as storm overflows are used to prevent drains being overwhelmed, but such circumstances sees sewage discharge leaked into the sea. A popular Christmas ‘winter wonderland’ in Teignmouth will open its doors this Saturday (December 14) despite damage inflicted in recent storms. Sally Beers will be opening her garden and garage at 12 Portland Avenue to the public at 3pm on Saturday, having spent the last few weeks replacing the fake snow on her lawn after it was ripped up by Storm Bert. Repairs were further delayed by the most recent storm - Darragh. Visitors will be able to visit a dazzlingly huge model Santa’s village in Sally’s garage and marvel at the festive displays and lights on the lawn. The festive attraction, that draws hundreds of visitors each year has a couple of new additions this year, including a log cabin, which will become an elf’s house. The winter scenes include a complete Santa’s village with a post office, a Christmas cracker toy shop and Santa’s grotto and a Victorian street. It will be open from 3pm until 8pm on Mondays and 3pm until 9pm every other day until the end of January. Entry is free, but donations will be gratefully passed on to charity. This year, Sally is supporting Wildlife Rescue and Rehab. Last year, Sally raised money for Parkinson’s UK, a cause close to her heart as her partner, Anthony, had the condition until he passed away in 2022. In previous years, Sally has raised money for the Dog’s Trust, Children’s Hospice South West. Sally started collecting Christmassy items in the 1980s and 1990s and the scenes have since developed into a fantastical creation in the garage that is at least 16 feet long. Some pieces were brought over from the United States. ‘It was a big thing out there at the time,’ Sally explained. A second Teignmouth Town Councillor has resigned in less than a month. Deputy Mayor Chloe Myers is the latest departure from the Town Council following the recent resignation of Steve Walsh. Chloe said her resignation was ‘on good terms’ and that she hopes to continue supporting the town council. At last night’s Town Council meeting, Teignmouth mayor, councillor Cate Williams, said she wished to publicly thank both councillors Myers and Walsh for their service to the council. Teignmouth Town Council published a notice of vacancy on Monday (January 20), which gives the electors of Teignmouth 14 days to demand a by-election. If ten people do not request an election, the council will advertise for people willing to be co-opted to the vacant councillor role. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us THERE are several police surgeries coming up throughout the month of May. First up, police will be present at Dawlish Lawn on Saturday, May 3 from 2pm until 4pm. Then on Saturday, May 10, officers will be on hand at Haldon Forest. On Wednesday, May 14, police will be at the Den Promenade in Teignmouth between 12pm and 2pm. And finally, on Saturday, May 17, officers will, depending on the weather, be present at Teignmouth Harbour. The surgeries are an opportunity to meet your local police team, share your concerns and receive useful crime prevention advice. ‘We look forward to seeing you there’ the Coastal and Rural Teignbridge Neighbourhood Team said. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us THE Estuary Cup is in its third year and has previously won by Teignmouth and then Okehampton, reports Judi Hellier. Jane Mclellan, Teignmouth prop, began the tournament which is sponsored by Ohana Beauty. Five women’s teams came together on Good Friday to compete in 10 games of 12-a-side, 12 minutes each way. The tournament looked like it wouldn’t go ahead due to standing water on the pitch, however Teignmouth women worked hard together to clear the pitch and despite the rain that continued all day, it went ahead. Try scorers for Teignmouth across their five games were Jacci Evans, Jane Mclellan, Emily Sutcliffe, Chloe Sutcliffe and Felicity Dunn. They had two successful conversions kicked by Beth Wreford and Teignmouth’s player of the day went to Jane Mclellan, sponsored by Glen Group Ltd. Vice-captain Emily Sutcliffe, who is sponsored by Tozers Solicitors, was awarded with the player of the tournament trophy, sponsored by Greenwood Accountancy. Emily rallied the team together to clear the pitch of standing water, played in nine out of the 10 games and played for three other teams besides Teignmouth, showing true TREDS spirit. A huge thank you to the referees for the day who volunteered their time- Ryan Hallett, Phil Laws, Graeme Gillard, Elliot White and Charlotte Rogers. The Estuary cup was won by Cullompton with Bideford coming a close 2nd. Easter Saturday then saw the third edition of the annual Coronation Cup. Two years ago, it was won by the Dawlish Black Swans and last year by the Mighty Teigns. Dawlish arrived in style with smoke and flares pushing a black swan. Junior player Larry Aldworth carried the Swan’s flag on to the pitch ahead of the team to start the game. Rio Cooper was the first to put points on the board with a penalty kick for the Swans, 0-3. Jordan Hellier was next with a try for Teigns, 5-3. The Swans came back with a try from a maul which was successfully converted by Rio Cooper, 5-10. Mathew Dowrick levelled the score back with his try, 10-10. A yellow card was awarded to the Swans and as agreed, this was just 3 minutes, but they had to stand in the ‘naughty corner’ of home corner. 10-10 may have been a nice place to end but there was still 20 minutes of the match remaining. Charlie Muir saw an opportunity and scored take it to 10-15. This time a yellow card went to Teigns so it was their turn in the ‘naughty corner’. Rio Cooper had another shot at posts from a penalty and took the score to 10-18 before the final whistle. There is nothing like a local derby to arouse passion in players and enthusiasm in a crowd and so when that rivalry is even closer to home, a great day is almost inevitable. This was all about pride in a town, passion for a club, and a will to inspire future generations of TRFC players and supporters. The rugby season has now finished and there will be a lot of work happening over the summer, I would like to end this season’s report by just adding that all three of my children scored in the senior games this weekend making me a very proud report writer. See you in September when the 10th season will begin for the women! Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us Calls for an independent review into how Teignmouth Town Council is managed were overturned at a recent extraordinary council meeting. A motion put forward by town councillors David Cox, Penny Lloyd, Mike Jackman, Vanda Rudge and Daniel Comer proposed that ‘a suitably qualified consultant’ should be appointed to look at the governance of Teignmouth Town Council. The motion also demanded that ‘a suitably qualified accountant’ should be appointed to look at the town council’s finances. Councillor Cox explained that Teignmouth charges a high precept and the townspeople deserve to know where their money is being spent. Furthermore, he added, there are real concerns about governance. On three occasions, articles have not been added to meeting agendas, he claimed. ‘It’s not about accusing anyone of doing anything wrong,’ added councillor Lloyd. ‘But the public needs reassuring.’ However, Teignmouth mayor Cate Williams pointed out that the town council’s standing orders – the written rules that govern councils - are based on model documents and were most recently reviewed in 2023. ‘We are absolutely prudent in every way possible,’ Cate asserted. The council’s finances are subject to multiple reviews, she pointed out. Since 2022, the council has used an independent RFO (Responsible Finance Officer) from the Local Government Resource Centre (LGRC). The council’s finances are audited internally by qualified accountancy and auditing solutions company who work specifically with councils. The finances are also audited externally by one of the largest accountancy firms in the country, PKF. ‘Why do we need someone else?’ Cate questioned. The cost of appointing a consultant to review governance and finance could cost around £2,500 per week, added Teignmouth town clerk Iain Wedlake. However, councillor Cox argued that ‘a philanthropist had offered to pay for the reviews’. To help reassure the public about finances, the Teignmouth Town Council ‘is about to release documents showing where money is spent’, Cate reassured. Tel: 01626 336600[email protected]Follow us