NHS dental van for South Molton?

With Mydentist in South Molton closing its doors, and the town’s Whitehall practice stopping NHS treatments, North Devon MP Selaine Saxby says she is pressing health bosses for urgent help.

The government announced new plans in February to improve access to NHS dentistry with £200 million of extra funding, and targeting rural areas with new ‘dental vans’.

“I look forward to seeing dental vans in South Molton and continue my work with the Health Minister to encourage health care staff to come to North Devon to help fill the gaps in our health, workforce and particularly dentists,” said the MP.

Despite new cash incentives, dental practices in North Devon have reported difficulties recruiting new staff, adding to issues with “loss making” NHS contracts.

Chulmleigh goes wild!

Volunteers from Sustainable Chulmleigh have received a new ‘Wilder Community’ award from Devon Wildlife Trust.

The judging panel said, “We’ve been inspired by your community group creating space for nature, protecting wildlife, and connecting people and landscapes.”

Sustainable Chulmleigh is made up of residents in and around the town who care deeply about their local environment and say they want to ensure its future for generations to come. “Climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem destruction are very real problems, but we can all help to be a part of the solution,” said spokesman Nick Withers.

If you would like to get involved, you can find Sustainable Chulmleigh on Facebook.

Installing 50 nest boxes to encourage species such as the pied flycatcher is one project

Burrington blaze

Stables, a holiday let and a workshop were destroyed by a major fire at Burrington on January 30th. Fire crews from South Molton, Witheridge, Torrington and Barnstaple battled for several hours to stop the flames spreading (right). Locals set up a Crowdfunder to help the family affected.

Storm hits rail travel

Rail services between Exeter and Barnstaple were cancelled due to bridge damage (right) as Storm Isha swept through on January 21st. The A377 was partially blocked near Kings Nympton by a landslip, and power lines in the village were sparking overnight with fire crews standing by as a precaution.

School is top of class

Chulmleigh College were the only comprehensive secondary school in the South West peninsular to achieve ‘significantly above average’ in every one of the 16 GCSE Department for Education Progress measures given to schools in England. The school also impressed Ofsted inspectors recently, who said it could achieve ‘outstanding’ status.

Village shop could open soon

Volunteers planning a new community shop in North Molton say they’re making rapid progress towards announcing an opening date. Planning approval has been granted for The Old School building and a National Lottery grant of £19,550 has been awarded.

“We are still some £20,000 short of our target, but with a bit of arm-twisting we believe we can reach the £75,000 needed to fund our opening and first six months of operating costs,” said Dave Heath, vice chair of North Molton Community Shop Ltd.

“We will be approaching local businesses to see if they can help, and have extended our share offer to March 14th.”

If you can help, go to: northmoltonshop.com or phone 07547 811836