News | Page 24

Thousands of households in Devon suffered power cut after Newton Abbot sub-station was hit by fire. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue confirmed that crews were called to the facility at just before 11:00 BST today (September 19, 2012).

The toilets at Exchequer Quay in Penryn could be reprieved. It was revealed at last week’s meeting of the town council that a local resident asked councillors why the toilets had to close.

The prospect of regional pay, plus cut holiday and sickness entitlements is said to have been discussed by the group of 20 health trusts in South-West England.

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer commented on the situation where Devon and Cornwall police officers claim they are being forced into retirement.

A GP performing locum work at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital was accused of doing so while signed off sick. A court heard that Dr Lucy Dawson pocketed £7,840 for a total of ten shifts.

Some pupils in Wiltshire who are truanting are being escorted to school by police officers. The force, in partnership with the council and local schools, began the initiative in Amesbury recently.

The chief constable of Wiltshire Police gave his response to figures that his staff do not think the force has enough personnel to do the job properly.

A photograph has been circulated of a man Devon and Cornwall police believe caused £200 of damage on a bus. The pictures show a young man travelling on the bus in Paignton on a brief journey.

St Agnes Parish Council is to keep open toilets at Porthtowan and at Trevaunance Cove but said it would close those in Trelawney car park, saving £8,494.

Devon and Cornwall is one of three police forces that may not be able to provide a “sufficiently efficient or effective service” in the future.

Unauthorised building work to toilets at a Helston pub has caused town councillors to turn their noses up.

More than a third of practices in Cornwall and about 20 per cent in Devon were affected by GPs taking industrial action. Doctors on Thursday protested against having to work longer before receiving their pensions.