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PRAISE FOR COUNTY’S HIGH PERFORMING WASTE MANAGEMENT SERVICE
Devon County Council's waste management service has received praise in an
independent report released by the Audit Commission.
The Government's watchdog on local authority performance gave the high
performing service two stars out of a possible three for providing residents
with a high quality, cost effective service and for reducing the overall
amount of household waste produced in the county. The service has been rated
as 'good' with 'excellent' prospects for improvement.
Devon has bucked the national trend of producing increased quantities of
waste. In response to the 'Don't Let Devon go to Waste' campaign, the
overall quantities of waste in the county have reduced in the last two years
and Devon is already meeting its statutory recycling and composting target
for 2005/06.
Inspectors did find some areas where improvements are needed. Despite
positive action on recycling, Devon County Council narrowly failed to meet
its statutory recycling and composting target for 2003/04 and it was felt
that the County was not managing its own waste as well as it could.
DEVON SCHOOLS IN TOP THIRD IN COUNTRY FOR GCSE PERFORMANCE
Devon’s schools were among the top third in the country for GCSE performance
while in the bottom third for national funding, according to new Government
figures.
The figures show Devon was 47th out of 150 local education authorities for
its performance in last year's GCSE exams.
But overall Devon ranks 129th out of 150 LEAs for the level of funding it
attracts from the Government.
The same figures, published by the Department for Education and Skills, put
Devon 44th nationally for its A-level results in 2004.
Four Devon secondary schools are highlighted in this year's DfES tables as
being among the most improved in the country.
Ivybridge Community College, Okehampton College, Holsworthy Community
College and St James High School in Exeter have all shown significant and
continuous improvement in their GCSE results from 2001 to 2004.
DEVON SCHOOLS AMONG “THE BEST OF THE BEST” IN THE COUNTRY
Six Devon schools have been highlighted today as consistently high achievers
among just 234 nationally.
The 234 schools on the national list have been particularly successful in
two Ofsted inspections over the last twelve years.
Devon has the most schools mentioned of any local education authority in the
South West.
They are Cockwood Primary School, West Down Primary in Ilfracombe, Central
Middle School in Exeter, Ivybridge Community College, Teign School in
Kingsteignton and Colyton Grammar School.
DEVON’S NEW YOUTH SPOKESPEOPLE
Devon’s youth has a group of new representatives after 23,535 young people
across the county cast their votes for the UK Youth Parliament for Devon and
the Young People's Shadow Executive.
Devon has three seats in the Youth Parliament whose Members are aged between
11 and 18.
Further information is available on www.ukypdevon.co.uk
NEW ACCIDENT FIGURES FOR DEVON’S ROADS
Provisional figures released by Devon County Council reveal that although 37
people were killed on the county's roads in 2004, the overall trend
continues downward.
Of these, five happened on the M5 or trunk roads, which are owned and
managed by the Highways Agency, and 26 occurred on rural, A roads with a 60
mph limit.
Victims were mostly drivers or passengers (16) but there were also 14 deaths
amongst motorcyclists. Four pedestrians lost their lives as well as one
pedal cyclist and one horse rider.
Most of the fatal collision sites (17) had no recent record of any other
injury accident. However Devon County Council accident investigators
continue to examine sites where there have been previous crashes to see if
any action can be taken to prevent further accidents.
OUR DEVON DEVON'S biggest public
consultation campaign ever was launched on Monday, October 3.The County
Council is inviting people to have a real say in shaping the county's future
in a special month-long "Our Devon" campaign.
Devon people will be asked to pick their top priorities
from a wide range of issues such as the environment, education, jobs,
affordable housing, social care, sport and the arts.
Residents will also have an opportunity to suggest
alternative priorities for the county.
The results of the consultation will go towards a
Strategic Plan to guide Devon's future development and tackle the county's
top priorities.
The whole of October is being devoted to the "Our
Devon" campaign.
All 56 County Council libraries will be taking part and
acting as community consultation centres. Residents will be able to collect
an "Our Devon" questionnaire from their local library and post it in the
special "ballot" boxes.
Alternatively people can give their views online from
home, work or the library on the County Council's award-winning website
www.devon.gov.uk. The website features a special webcast and signed
message for the deaf community and also offers help with translations into
other languages.
"Our Devon" questionnaires will also be popping through
the letterboxes of thousands of homes across Devon in a random survey of
residents' views.
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS FOR NORTH DEVON LINK ROAD
Work starts on Friday 11th February by Devon County Council to improve the
quality of a mile long section of the A361 North Devon Link Road.
The road between the Barnstaple side of the junction at the turning for
Landkey and the small roundabout at Portmore near Tesco will be repaired and
given a new surface of quiet asphalt.
The work will take up to six weeks to complete and drivers are being warned
to expect delays to their journeys during this time. The first week will
involve intensive works during the February half-term, with the remaining
weeks involving night time work under traffic signals and less disruptive
day time working.
From the 21st February to the 24th March work will continue on the road with
traffic able to travel in both directions. However delays are still expected
due to 40mph speed restrictions, temporary road surfaces and night time
working taking place under traffic lights.
IMPROVED ACCESS FOR BUSES AT BARNSTAPLE RAILWAY STATION
Work begins on 7th February to improve access at Barnstaple railway station
for buses.
Contractors South West Highways will be working on the Devon County Council
scheme which will make it easier for buses to pick up passengers at the
station and connect with the new, bus only link being built into the station
from the new Western Bypass road via a special underpass.
The scheme cost is £75,000.
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