Latest update 30th July

Tesco gears up for four-day inquiry

THE Dawlish supermarket saga could be set to take another twist after Tesco was handed an appeal date by the Planning Inspectorate Teignbridge councillors went against officers’ recommendations in March when they chose Sainsbury’s application for a multi-million pound store at Shutterton Bridge over Tesco’s bid to build at Lady’s Mile Holiday Park. Having already dragged on for several years, the battle looks set to continue for a while longer after an inquiry into Tesco’s appeal against refusal was set for October 12, commencing at 10am at Forde House, Newton Abbot. The council chamber has been reserved for four days Courtesy Dean Macey Dawlish Gazette

Teignmouth mum gets on her bike to highlight prostate cancer

A TEIGNMOUTH mum-of-five is saddling up for a gruelling 171-km charity cycle after three men in her family were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Sarah Morris, of Coombe Vale Road, is following in the tracks of professional cyclists at this year's Tour of Britain by aiming to complete a pre-race charity ride. The keen cyclist is doing it because her dad and two uncles have all been treated for the disease, which is the most common cancer in men in the UK. Professional cyclists will start a challenging 171km rolling route from Minehead to Teignmouth on September 14.The fourth stage of the eight-stage race, it will be the first time a major cycling event has visited South Devon since the Milk Race came to Paignton 25 years ago. As tour partner, the Prostate Cancer Charity is holding charity tour rides across the UK. Ahead of the main race, amateur cyclists will be able to measure themselves against the pro-riders by taking on one of three South West rides; the full stage at 175km, a 70km ride from Honiton to Teignmouth or a family-friendly circular route around Teignmouth. All three will happen on Sunday, September 5.

Cycle path to shut on racing days for fear of spooking horses

TWO town councils say they are 'disappointed' parts of a new £2.4million cycle path linking Newton Abbot to Kingsteignton will be shut on certain days to allow horse racing at Newton Abbot. Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton town councils voiced their concerns before plans for the 2.3km footpath and cycle route linking Kingsteignton with Newton Abbot go before planners at Teignbridge Council. It is believed the racecourse vetoed the route being open on race days because passing cyclists may spook horses, potentially endangering the safety of animals and jockeys. The cycle path and pedestrian scheme is part of a substantial transport investment by Devon County Council. The section will form part of the Connect2 cycle network and will become a part of national route running from Dover in Kent to St Austell in Cornwall. The plans are for existing footpaths between Passage House and Greenhill Way to be widened for cyclists, a toucan crossing on the B3193 and a new link on the south-east side of Hackney Marshes to Woodmere Way.

Rare civets welcomed at zoo

A SOUTH Devon zoo has welcomed a pair of new arrivals to its growing brood of animals. Shaldon Zoo, run by Shaldon Wildlife Trust, is now home to a pair of the rare Owston's palm civets, a shrew-like creature that lives in the forests of Vietnam, Laos and southern China. It was only in 2005 that the first six Owston's civets were allowed out of Vietnam to three UK zoos to start a breeding programme. Shaldon took delivery of the pair from Newquay Zoo. The civet's pointed face is quite shrew-like and it has a tawny grey body and is easily identified by four dark bands across its back. It eats earthworms and other invertebrates. Although nocturnal, civets can be seen through a special viewing window. They are at risk from illegal wildlife trade and trapping for their fur and meat.

Jailed care home worker stole £7,000 from elderly resident

A FORMER care home worker has admitted stealing almost £7,000 from an elderly resident — four months after she was jailed for an almost identical theft. Elizabeth Clark, 55, of Grange Drive, Teignmouth, took £6,955 from Margaret Willis between June 4, 2008, and June 10, 2009, while working at Sefton Hall in Dawlish. In March she was jailed for eight months for stealing almost £8,000 from another resident, 88-year-old Gladys Peters. At Exeter Crown Court on Friday the prosecutor described the thefts as 'almost identical' while the judge criticised South Devon Magistrates Court for not dealing with both crimes at the same time Judge Graham Cottle said: "The magistrates by their decision to proceed to sentence piecemeal have presented serious difficulties to the Crown Court." The court was told Clark was in charge of administration at the care home and had access to the Mrs Willis's bank account and pin over a number of months Prosecutor Lee Brembridge said Clark would pay Mrs Willis's bills and was trusted by the family to do so. He said Clark was found out when a 'considerable shortfall' was discovered in the account. On March 22 this year Clark was sentenced to eight months in prison by magistrates in Torquay for stealing from Mrs Peters. At that time she claimed she needed the money to pay off debts. She was released in May. Mr Brembridge said the offence against Mrs Willis came to light while offences against Mrs Peters were being investigated. Magistrates sentenced for the matter involving Mrs Peters but declined jurisdiction on the other. Judge Cottle criticised this decision. He said magistrates should have been advised by the court clerk to delay sentence until all matters could be considered together. "It makes no sense at all to proceed to sentence piecemeal," he said. Pre-sentence reports were ordered and the case was adjourned until August 13.

Man seen taking indecent pictures

HOLIDAYMAKERS saw a man taking photos up a young girl's skirt on a South Devon beach, a court has heard Ernest Heap, 55, from Burniston Close, Plymouth has been given a community order, involving nine months of supervision, for the incident at Golden Sands holiday park in Dawlish Warren. He was also given an electronically-tagged 90-day curfew to stay at his home between 7pm and 5.30am daily. Heap has pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs of a child, who was around five years old, on the basis he was drunk and could not remember doing it. Judge Stephen Wildblood QC said: "This was truly pathetic and ridiculous behaviour involving a young girl. "It is disgraceful behaviour and understandably caused those who observed it to be immensely angered by what you did." Prosecutor Joss Ticehurst said the holidaymaker was playing pool when he saw Heap behaving suspiciously at the holiday park's arcade at about 9.30pm on September 26 last year. The same holidaymaker later left but fetched the resort manager when he returned and saw Heap again standing on his own near the slot machines. When challenged by the manager, Heap dropped his mobile phone and walked away. Police discovered several indecent photographs viewing up a young girl's skirt.

Brainwave to open its 20th charity shop in Dawlish

FAMILY charity Brainwave has chosen Dawlish to open its 20th charity shop. The national charity will open the new branch on Friday, August 6 it has been announced.The shop will be in Richmond Place and Brainwave has appointed locally based Amanda Sainsbury as shop supervisor. The shop will stock donations of clothing, books, bric-a-brac and furniture from local residents and businesses. National charity Brainwave provides home based therapy programmes for children with cerebral palsy and other conditions such as development delay. The charity was founded in the South West and has its head office in Bridgwater, Somerset. The charity works with families to deliver individual, home-based therapy and exercises for children with disabilities and development delay to reach their full potential. Christine Cryne, Brainwave chief executive, said: "Inquiries to Brainwave about our services have been growing at 30 per cent a year and we have almost doubled the number of families on our programmes in five years. "We receive no funding from Government and so our shops are a really important source of income that helps us to provide our programmes to hundreds of children. "We are certain that the people of Dawlish will support our traditional charity shop both by shopping there and by donating goods to us.

Teignmouth girls £1,000 walk in memory of her mum

A TEIGNMOUTH woman has taken part in a walking challenge to raise money for a cancer charity. Katrina Gale raised £1,000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer after watching her mother battle cancer. She decided to take up the challenge after her mother died from the disease in 2002. Known as the Breakthrough Breast Cancer's £1000 Challenge, the event is the charity's flagship fundraising campaign and encourages fundraisers to come up with innovative ways to raise money. After raising £1,000, Challengers are honoured with a dedicated name on the wall at Breakthrough Breast Cancer's research unit at the Institute of Cancer Research at the University of Edinburgh, where scientists work to develop pioneering new breast cancer treatments. The Breakthrough £1,000 Challenge has raised £15million with over 7,000 people reaching the milestone. Katrina did a weekend walk and asked for donations. She wrote to her mother's family and friends who generously gave to her fund. She said: "After seeing my mother diagnosed with breast cancer I decided to become a £1,000 Challenger, but never thought I would be able to reach my target. "It is through the support of my fundraising that I have been able to come here today and see the ground breaking work that the doctors and researchers are doing. "It's a great achievement and I would encourage everyone else to take part in Breakthrough's £1,000 Challenge." Katrina was invited to the research centre where she saw her chosen name on its wall of honour and had a tour of the centre to see how money raised is spent.