North Devon Now

🔥 Field Fire in Newton Tracey - advice for locals from the incredible fire and rescue services.

We currently have a number of appliances dealing with a field fire in Newton Tracey, North Devon.

Steady progress is being made, however local residents are asked to keep their windows and doors closed while there is a large amount of smoke in the air.

💦South West Water issue a Hosepipe ban covering most of the South West. All customers in Devon, Cornwall, parts of Dorset and Somerset and the Isles of Scilly should not use hosepipes for certain activities (These included watering gardens, washing cars, patios and boats or filling up swimming and paddling pools.) due to significantly below average rainfall and high demand!

Hosepipe ban issued by South West Water after 'high demand' South West Water says the restrictions will come into force from from Saturday.

Military aircraft to carry out late-night tactical landings in North Devon this week

Residents across North Devon could notice increased military aircraft activity this week as tactical landing exercises are scheduled to take place around Royal Marines Base Chivenor.

According to the notice, military aircraft will be conducting tactical landings within a five nautical mile radius of the base between Monday 3 August and Thursday 6 August.

The planned activity is due to take place at the following times:

Monday 3 August: 5:30pm to 10:30pm
Tuesday 4 August: 4:30pm to 11:45pm
Wednesday 5 August: 5:00pm to 11:45pm
Thursday 6 August: 4:30pm to 11:45pm

People living in Barnstaple, Instow, Fremington, Braunton and surrounding areas may see or hear military aircraft operating during the evening as crews carry out the exercises.

Tactical landing training is a routine part of military operations, allowing aircrews to practise landing procedures in realistic conditions and maintain operational readiness.

While the activity may result in increased aircraft noise, there is no indication that the exercises pose any risk to the public.

Residents are advised not to be alarmed if they notice military aircraft flying in the area during the scheduled times.

Sunday is a day to relax so grab the family and invite your friends to join you at the Carlton for a beautifully cooked Sunday lunch.

Very sad news from Devon and Cornwall police

char.gy and Devon Council partner on kerbside EV charger trial to boost local charging access

Devon, UK, 30th July — Leading on-street charge point operator char.gy is set to begin a trial of new on-street electric vehicle (EV) charge points in Devon, marking an early example of the Government’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund moving from award into delivery.

The trial will see 30 new on-street charge points installed across Devon, helping to improve access to convenient, residential charging for drivers without off-street parking: a key barrier to EV adoption in many parts of the county. The installations will be delivered via LEVI, with a portion of funding released per charge point installed.

The trial is expected to begin in early to mid-August and represents an important step in turning LEVI commitments into infrastructure on the ground. If successful, the trial will inform the next phase of installations, helping Devon understand how on-street charging can be scaled effectively to meet local demand.

According to Zapmap’s latest data, the UK has around 87,000 public charging points across more than 45,000 locations as of late 2025: a rapidly expanding network but one where regional disparities persist. The South West has historically ranked below many urban areas in charger provision, reflecting the challenges of rolling out infrastructure across large, rural counties. This trial phase signals the start of a more coordinated approach to expanding local charging access and supporting residents who rely on public infrastructure to make the switch to electric.

char.gy operates the country’s fourth largest on-street charging network, with more than 5,000 public charge points currently in operation nationwide. All chargers installed as part of the trial will be powered by 100% renewable electricity and supported by char.gy’s driver-friendly pricing, designed to make neighbourhood charging more affordable for everyday drivers.

John Lewis, CEO of char.gy, said:

“This trial is an important step in turning LEVI funding into real, usable infrastructure for communities. For many drivers in Devon, access to reliable on-street charging is essential to making the switch to electric. By starting with a focused trial, we can learn what works locally and help lay the foundations for a wider rollout that gives residents confidence to go electric.”

Councilor Jaqui Hodgson, Devon County Council’s Cabinet member for Environment and Biodiversity said:

“On-road transport makes up more than a quarter of Devon’s total carbon emissions and the delivery of more publicly accessible EV chargers is of vital importance to help address the climate emergency.
“Making it as easy as possible for people to charge their vehicles when and where they need to — outside their home, on streets, in public car parks and even on lamp posts — is crucial to encourage the take-up of EVs.

As Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue report their busiest month for 10 years, we are mindul to remind people to help prevent wildfires by taking extra care outdoors. Following long dry spell of hot weather, its important not to light fires in the open, including BBQs. Why not take sandwiches or a great British Bake Off style picnic on your day out in North Devon and keep our countryside, wildlife and communities safe.

NORTH DEVON HOSPITAL NEWS ⚡ The Royal Devon has taken the difficult decision to begin planning for the temporary suspension of births at North Devon District Hospital from Tuesday 11 August 2026, due to insufficient medical cover available to safely maintain births.
⚡ Patients calling an ambulance from parts of North Devon will now be taken to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital instead of North Devon District Hospital 🚑
The temporary change affects EX36, EX20 and EX22 postcodes as the NHS works to ease pressure on emergency departments

Crash on the Barn Henge roundabout, causing queueing on the New Bridge on the side travelling towards the roundabout, aswell as some queueing on Braunton Road.

It's likely to take a while to clear as a driving instructors car os at 90 degrees to the road with another car crashed into it. Police and ambulance on the scene.