Latest local news, sport, what's on, weather, travel from Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, South West

Stories for 7 August 2002

Chard News

Bringing the houses down

DEVELOPERS have started demolition work on part of a housing estate in Chard after three homes were found to be in breach of planning permission.  more...

Chard man left 'high and dry'

A CHARD man has been left high and dry by supermarket red tape which stops him buying an early-morning alcohol-free tipple.  more...

Pre-school joy at £360,000 windfall

CHARD Pre-school is celebrating gaining £360,000 funding towards new purpose-build accommodation at Jocelyn Park.  more...

Town in mourning after scaffold death of man, 60

TRIBUTES have been paid to a Chard man who died after falling from scaffolding at Air Control Industries, Chard, last week.  more...

Bus passengers left stranded

AT least 17 people were stranded in Tatworth on Monday after a bus operator suspended services through the village.  more...

Chard Sport

Brave Chard push visitors all the way

CHARD put in another much improved performance on Saturday, despite going down by 15 runs at home to Wembdon in the Somserset Division of the West of England Premier League.  more...

Robins gear up for first league match

CHARD Town play their final pre-season friendly this Saturday, when they take on Carlsberg South Western League side Liskeard at Zembard Lane (kick off 3pm).  more...

750 settle for winning draw

CHARD 750 maintained third place in Division Four SW of the Shrubbery Hotel 2nd XI League following their winning draw at home to Brent Knoll.  more...

Cornwall News

POLICE HUNT MISSING MAN

Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the safety of Jack Spong who disappeared last Wednesday evening from the Mexico Towans area near Hayle on his 22nd birthday.  more...

HOSPITAL WARD CLOSED BY BUG

A HIGHLY contagious stomach bug which causes projectile vomiting has forced Truro's main hospital to close the doors of one of its wards.  more...

Ilminster News

Police chief's tribute to Broadway officer

A CHIEF Inspector of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary has paid tribute to a policeman from Broadway who died tragically last month.  more...

New factory set for October

WORK on a new factory for Ilminster firm Gooch and Housego is on line for an October start thanks to local councils' work behind the scenes.  more...

No plans to close Ilminster station

QUESTIONS about police cover in Ilminster have been answered by the head of local police, Sgt Rob Smith.  more...

Stace is the new boy in the ring

A 17-YEAR-OLD man mountain from Ilminster will step into the ring with profressional wrestlers this summer as he takes part in a 30-date national tour.  more...

A matter of mind

WHEN PE teacher Dennis Aston was told polio had cost him the full use of his legs, his dogged refusal to give in earned him a reputation for being bloody-minded.  more...

Ilminster Sport

Level pegging at top of table

ILMINSTER'S promotion race with Westland Sports looks like going right down to the wire, after both sides won on Saturday to leave them neck and neck at the top of the West of England Premier League's Bristol and Somserset Division.  more...

Busy week for young wicketkeeper

TALENTED young Ilminster cricketer Sam Spurway was faced with a busy schedule this week playing in four big matches for Somerset and West of England sides.  more...

Table toppers back on track

ILTON returned to winning ways following their defeat at the hands of local rivals Barrington last week, with a three-wicket victory away to Evercreech in Division One of the Shrubbery Hotel Somerset League.  more...

Southwestfarmer News

'RESIST PAY RISE' MOVE

South West farmers are being urged to oppose pay rises contained in a provisional wages order which would lead to a minimum hourly rate of more than £4.90.  more...

MEP gives pledge on FMD report

WESTCOUNTRY MEP Neil Parish has pledged to ensure that harrowing accounts of the effects of foot and mouth will be recorded in an official report from the European Parliament's inquiry and demands that important lessons be learned for the future.  more...

Labelling proposals come under attack

South West MEP Caroline Jackson has condemned new proposals for the labelling of genetically modified food and feed as "unworkable and likely to prove as a cheats' charter."  more...

Survey backs hunts

An overwhelming majority of British sheep farmers oppose a ban on hunting with dogs, according to a major new survey commissioned by the Countryside Alliance.  more...

Fine weather for first trial on peninsula

THE first sheepdog trial on the beautiful Roseland peninsula, in Cornwall, proved a fine draw to competitors from all over the South West.  more...

Agronomy specialist leads FWAG walk

The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group's official launch of the Fal and Cober Projects took place with a farm walk at Restronguet Barton, Mylor Bridge, Cornwall, hosted by farming brothers, Matthew and Paul Dale.  more...

Success for Cotswold Show and Country Fair

Luck held and so did the weather for the 13th Cotswold Show & Country Fair, in Cirencester Park, for what organisers are hailing a resounding success.  more...

Sheep shearing classes to be held

For the first time in its 107-year history the Devon County Show is holding its competitive sheep shearing classes next month on a local farm even though the show was held back in May.  more...

Liskeard Show celebrates 99th year

The first Liskeard Show was held on July 24, 1883, in fields at Barras Cross. It was run by the Liskeard District Agricultural Association, which was formed in the same year.  more...

YFCs into Europe

NINE under 18-year- olds travelled to Uppsala, north of Stockholm for the annual 4H Swedish national youth camp.   more...

Hedge work is rewarded

The results of the 2002 Devon Hedge Competition have just been released and Ross Gray, the winner of the Whole Farm Hedge Management class, was presented with his prize by Peter Chamberlain, chairman of the Devon Hedge Group.  more...

Deal is ray of light

There was more good news for the region's dairy farmers this month with the announcement South West dairy co-operative Milk Link have invested a massive £30m to acquire significant processing capacity from Express Dairies.  more...

Farmer's USA trip

Farmer Michael Hart from St Ewe in Cornwall flew to the United States after receiving an invitation to talk to farmers there.  more...

Show to run competition

Owners of recorded dairy herds of any breed in Devon are invited to enter this year's Devon Dairy Herds Competition run by the Devon County Show.  more...

New parlour enhances management system

A 20:20 50 degree herringbone parlour installed in July 1999 is fitting in well with the management approach on a Devon dairy unit - and helping the business achieve a margin of around 18 pence per litre over all purchased feeds.  more...

Ballington Manor Farm chosen for award final

Ballington Manor Farm at Wylye has been chosen as one of six farms to compete in the final of the 2002 Farmcare FWAG Silver Lapwing Award.  more...

Reduction in agricultural accidents

FORTY-ONE people died in agricultural accidents during the past year - the joint lowest figure since records began - according to a report released by the Health and Safety executive (HSE). However, farming deaths in the South West went up from four in 2000/1 to eight in 2001/2.  more...

Fine home with considerable potential

Offers in excess of £585,000 are being invited for Alsia Farm at St Buryan, near Penzance, by the agricultural and equestrian department of Miller & Son.  more...

Unspoilt gem in a delightful location

Set in a delightful location near the village of Wadeford only about 11Ú4 miles from Chard in South West Somerset is an unspoilt traditional farm being brought to the market by the Stags Honiton office.  more...

NFU membership must make its feelings known

Here we are in August and I'm glad to say the pressures of last month's weather and whether we could ever get any sileage/haylage done are over. What a bonus - the quality is good and the amount of crop is unbelievable.  more...

Pig herd problem

The influence of Porcine Dermatitis and Nephropathy Syndrome (PDNS) and Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS) is an on-going problem in the national pig herd.  more...

Inquiry reveals shocking reality of foot and mouth

These have been hectic times. Firstly, the European Parliament's inquiry into foot and mouth conducted a fact-finding tour of the South West and Wales. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who gave evidence to the committee. Though obviously a very painful experience for all concerned, the shocking reality of what happened here in Devon caused profound shock amongst the committee members. I have no doubt that they went away with a stark and vivid picture, which I hope, will help when they draw together their conclusions in the report.  more...

Farmer's plight a story to behold

I RECENTLY heard the following tale from a farmer.  more...

From the mid-West to the South West

Different country - same problems. Declining farm incomes, a collapse of rural communities, massive disconnection between consumers and producers, loss of biodiversity, and one thing above all - the market power of the big players.  more...

Many reports of orf reported in South West

There were many NADIS reports of orf in lambs in the South West during May and June.   more...

Thinking of 'Great British Breakfasts'

"I know we are in the middle of summer but already we are thinking about the Great British Breakfast" next year. The organisers of the event, the Home Grown Cereals Authority (a body funded by levies on the UK cereals and oilseed industry), are now planning for 2003. The date will be January 19-25, 2003, and anyone concerned with production and retailing are urged to get in touch with the HGCA and find out how they can participate.  more...

Back to the real world of domesticity

Richard Williamson is Farms Director for Velcourt Group plc, which manages 150,000 acres of arable and grassland, together with almost 5000 dairy cattle, on behalf of private and institutional investors in the UK and Europe. The company also has management programmes in a number of other countries, including Africa and Australia.  more...

Why this one is a 'Big Deal'

A huge psychological change confronts us all. Milk Link is now a major milk processor. We are now running a much larger, more diverse, integrated dairy business - the UK's fourth largest and we all have to recognise this will be very different to running a business where we just 'marketed' milk.  more...

Sundayindependent Cornwall News

Lilla's telly debut at 86

ON Tuesday, August 6, one of the region's best-loved comediennes made her small screen debut - at the age of 86.  more...

Sundayindependent Cornwall Sport

Score a hit with your Indy

  more...

Lowndes is instant hit

PLYMOUTH Argyle's supporters saluted a new goal-scoring hero in the bustling, all-action form of Nathan Lowndes, as they drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest in Home Park's last pre-season friendly.  more...

Caradon overcome damage to rudder

THE so-called `friendly' action returned to the Cornish Pilot Gig regatta circuit with events at Teignmouth and Port Isaac.   more...

Top Cornish regattas on way

THERE's little doubt that Plymouth 2002, the summer-long maritime festival is proving a huge success - bringing both hundreds of people, and cash, into the city.  more...

Sundayindependent Devon Sport

Lowndes is instant hit

  more...

Score a hit with your Indy

  more...

Chiefs are reaching for the sky

`REACH For The Sky' is the buzz phrase for Exeter Chiefs as they embark on a fresh assault on gaining promotion from National Division One.  more...

Sundayindependent Somerset News

Model way to save earth

SHE is the woman who has everything - a glamorous job, a body to die for and an adoring family - and yet Melinda Messenger is as down to earth as they come.  more...

Sailing first bid around Ireland

A TELEVISION journalist from Wiltshire has mounted a sailing first by embarking on a charity fund-raising voyage around Ireland.  more...

Dog owners in pro-hunt move

THOUSANDS of dog-loving protesters lined the streets of Dorchester on Saturday, August 3, in a bid to highlight the dangers of a hunting ban.   more...

Sundayindependent Somerset Sport

Score a hit with your Indy

  more...

Graydon raring to start

RAY Graydon is looking forward to getting Bristol Rovers' League campaign under way after a summer of thrills and spills since taking charge of the Pirates.  more...

Goodison stars in Robins romp

BRISTOL City found the goals touch at last with a 5-0 victory at Hereford with Jamaican World Cup star Ian Goodison scoring one of the goals on his debut.  more...

Grecians are sent packing

EXETER City's penultimate pre-season warm-up ended in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of West Country rivals Yeovil at St James' Park.  more...

  
Restrict search to 7 August 2002