Community News December 2024

£100k bill for polluting river

Taw and Torridge Coaches Ltd has been fined £25,500 and ordered to pay costs of over £80,000 after an estimated 1,000 litres of diesel leaked from tanks on their Barnstaple site into the Taw estuary.

In a case brought by the Environment Agency, the company’s managing director, Mark Hunt from Weare Giffard, admitted being responsible, but blamed the pollution on a nearby petrol station. Tests showed the diesel sold there was of a different type from that in the estuary.

Andrew Fuller of the Environment Agency said, “Mr Hunt consistently denied any wrongdoing even when the evidence was stacked against him and his company.”

Environment Agency and Fire Service staff removing diesel from the river

Top award for ‘young voices’

Exmoor Young Voices has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. It is the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK - the equivalent to an MBE. A spokesman for the group said, “We wouldn’t be here without you and we look forward to continuing our work to support young residents and workers on Exmoor.”

Rally club donates record £20k to good causes

South Molton Vintage Rally Club donated a record £20,000, raised through its events in 2024, to charities and good causes in North Devon. A special cheque presentation evening was held at the Assembly Rooms in South Molton.

The largest donation of £3,500 was to the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, a charity supported since the club was formed back in 1992. There were 18 other recipients of the awards.

Michael Buckley (right) says the latest donation takes the amount raised for the air ambulance to £60,000 over the last 32 years - pic George Tyacke

Michael Buckley (right) says the latest donation takes the amount raised for the air ambulance to £60,000 over the last 32 years - pic George Tyacke

Michael Buckley (right) says the latest donation takes the amount raised for the air ambulance to £60,000 over the last 32 years - pic George

SMVRC runs events throughout the year, but the main fundraiser is the vintage rally weekend which will be at Rackenford on May 31st and June 1st in 2025.

Devon Air Ambulance £3,500; Exmoor Search & Rescue £2,000; Saunders Trust £2,000; Rotary £1,500; Everything Ellie; £1,400; Families in Grief £1,400; South Molton Memory Cafe £1,000; Young Lives vs Cancer £1,000; South Molton junior rugby £1,000; South Molton Army Cadets £1,000; South Molton Town Band £1,000; 1st South Molton Scouts £500; Samba Band £500; Witheridge Fire Service £500; Skate Molton £500; Taw Vale Beagles £300; Barum Mowers £300; Foodbank £300; Purple Angles £300.