Latest news with #Totnes
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
High Street shop to close due to 'unfair' business rates
A picture framing shop in Totnes is closing its doors after four years, claiming it is because of "unfair" business 4 Street had been trading well, but owner Steve Fussell said it is not worth the effort when the combined taxes he pays are taking up a third of his business rates on his shop are high, he said, because he is paying the retail rate for the whole of his ground floor, even though only 10% of the space is used for Valuation Office Agency, which sets the rateable value on which business rates are based, said that if a ratepayer believes their valuation is wrong, they can use the online service to check the details. Mr Fussell said he had considered trying to reduce his bill by putting up a wall between the retail area and the it would cost him thousands of pounds and no-one would confirm whether the structural change to the shop would have any effect on what is judged to be retail space, he said."When you look at our turnover and all the different taxes, so the PAYE (Pay As You Earn), the NIC (National Insurance Contribution) the VAT (Value Added Tax), the Corporation Tax and the business rates - that's nearly £50,000 a year gone," said Mr Fussell."Well that's an awful lot of turnover to make a profit to pay that kind of bill." Tim Jones, the Chairman of the South West Business Council believes the current system needs to change."Business rates are currently at a 26-year high, probably double the tax you would pay in France or Germany," said Mr Jones."And it's one of those regressive taxes which you pay, whether or not you're doing any turnover."All of those are issues make this one of the most unpopular taxes we've got and it's having a really negative effect on our high streets," he added. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for setting the rateable value of non-domestic properties in England and Wales for the purposes of business rates, but it is not the same as the business rates bill. Councils use the rateable value to calculate business rates and then use a multiplier and apply any rates relief.A VOA spokesperson said: "Most of our valuations are based on rental values, as well as comparing similar properties nearby to make sure we take a fair and consistent approach."For small shops, we take an extra step to reflect differences in shape and use between properties. We split shops into zones from front to back, with each decreasing in value. Customers are more likely to stay near the front of the shop, so this area has the highest value."If a ratepayer believes their valuation is wrong or wants to check the details we hold about their property, they can use our online service."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Grand Designs project hailed the 'best ever' after three barns were transformed is on the market for £1.5million
A stunning Grand Designs project hailed 'the best ever' has gone on the market for the first time for £1.5million. It took more than two decades for owners Sue Charman and Martin Whitlock to lovingly restore Green Dragon Barn, nestled in the picturesque South Hams area of Devon. The couple first appeared on Grand Designs back in 2001 with the three connecting barns, which were three centuries old and had been left almost uninhabitable. The popular show revisited it 20 years later and discovered it had been turned into a breathtaking five-bedroom home that has been labelled a 'pioneering eco-project'. It has now been listed for sale for £1.5million by Stags and has already attracted strong interest from potential buyers eager to snap up the lavish country retreat. When Grand Designs went back to the stunning country pile, midway between Totnes, Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, host Kevin McCloud said: 'This is a home lovingly, painstakingly, time-consumingly transformed. 'Resplendent with 20 years of devoted care.' On its listing, Stags described it as 'the perfect home'. It added: 'Green Dragon Barn is an exceptional detached property created from three linked barns, quietly positioned in the rolling countryside between Totnes, Dartmouth, and Kingsbridge. 'Lovingly crafted over 20 years by its visionary owners, the house blends eco-conscious design with striking architectural detail, including a soaring green oak frame, cob and stone walls, and a distinctive combination of slate and thatch roofing. 'The accommodation is both generous and highly flexible, with light-filled interiors designed to adapt to modern family life, multi-generational living, or creative workspaces. 'At the heart of the home is a spectacular 30-foot reception space, framed by natural materials and open to the gardens and views. 'Set in approximately 1.3 acres, the property includes mature landscaped gardens, a sloping paddock with an orchard, a double garage, detached stone workshop with solar panels, and a private hot tub areaideal for entertaining or simply enjoying the peace and seclusion. 'This is a rare opportunity to own a home of genuine architectural significance and enduring quality.' Martin and Sue moved to Devon in 2000 and described the barn as a 'complete wreck' when they bought it. He added: 'It was three barns built together over three centuries, and a bigger project than we were planning, but it allowed us to really go to town and create some stunning rooms.' The site already had permission for conversion to two houses but the couple created a new scheme to make it into one. And despite taking 20 years to complete, there was never any thought of giving up, Martin said. He added: 'Although it took 20 years, it wasn't 20 years of work on the house. 'We moved into two rooms in 2001 and gradually expanded out from there as we found time to do the work in our busy lives. 'So every so often there would be new rooms or features to enjoy. It was a real adventure.'
The Guardian
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Skinner helps Exeter defeat second-string Saints but Baxter issues warning
Sometimes there is just one acceptable outcome and, from Exeter's perspective, this victory was the absolute minimum requirement. Had the Chiefs been beaten by what was almost Northampton's third team, having folded embarrassingly at Gloucester last time out, the sound of teeth being gnashed would have been heard from Totnes to Tiverton. Not that Rob Baxter, now back in a more hands-on role following the removal of two of his senior coaches, sounded the least bit triumphal. He had been seeking a witheringly physical, no-nonsense response to the Kingsholm drubbing but made it crystal clear afterwards that standards had to rise significantly on and off the field if the Chiefs want to revisit the sunlit uplands of English club rugby. Despite the lopsided final scoreline, Baxter's side struggled to string together more than four consecutive phases in the first 40 minutes and this summer is set to involve plenty of brutal honesty. 'I am not going to give the lads an easy way out and say, 'Well done, five-point win, hallelujah, all our problems are solved,'' warned Baxter. 'I have gone in there and said, 'Guys, that is a regulation win against a Premiership second team and we have a lot to work on.' 'We have to get back to the core fundamental strengths we built the team on. That we don't beat ourselves first. If you don't beat yourself it takes a good team to beat you. We are beating ourselves in so many areas of the game at the moment that we have got to change that.' While Northampton's youthful mix-and-match selection, with six Premiership debutants in their matchday 23, deserved credit for hanging in there, Baxter's players were their own worst enemies at times, despite a simplified gameplan and a ton of pent-up motivation. It took them almost an hour to get a proper grip of an often bang-average contest and Baxter is now promising a root-and-branch review this summer. 'I'll do it myself. And I'll get it right. Then, next season, it'll be on me if it's not. By the time we start pre-season, I will have reviewed every bit: strength and conditioning, physio, everything. And, if it's not absolutely top notch, we'll be changing it. 'They're professional rugby players, I expect more from them. I've told them they're going to hear the same message from me until these things change. There are things that aren't acceptable. Professional rugby players do need to be able to pass the ball to someone who's five metres away. That is not being harsh on a player. That's an expectation they should have of each other. It shouldn't be me having to enforce that but at the moment it's going to be.' Scant room for misinterpretation there. Baxter had already acknowledged before kick-off that the home fans needed to have some faith restored and there are a few glimmers of hope on the horizon. Nick Lilley is one of a clutch of England age-group players with big dreams and here, on his debut, the 19-year-old University of Exeter student enjoyed the rare thrill of a try on his debut. On the other wing Paul Brown-Bampoe has also been a revelation this season, his pace and agility once again underlined in the first quarter as he burst clear and weaved past the cover. A second try four minutes from the end was his 20th in all competitions this season and he could yet be a contender for a place on England's summer tour. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion There was also an interception try for Harvey Skinner, a bonus-point try secured by the forceful Martin Moloney and a second try for Skinner in the closing moments but the meagre crowd of less than 9,000 was arguably a more accurate sign of the times. Winning the doubters back is yet another battle the Chiefs will need to win as they seek to make up lost ground on multiple fronts. Also conspicuous by their absence were Exeter's erstwhile coaches Ali Hepher and Rob Hunter, both unceremoniously relieved of their duties following the Gloucester debacle. Hunter has officially left the club but Hepher is still technically suspended, with Chiefs' plan to unveil Dave Walder still on hold as a direct consequence. Given that Hepher and Hunter both helped to mastermind the Champions Cup and Premiership winning campaign of 2020, it has been no minor upheaval. Saints, for their part, scored two tries through Jake Garside and Tom Lockett and might have had a third if one of their new faces, Rafe Witheat, had clung on a high pass in the left corner. There was also a Premiership debut for the strapping Reuben Logan, son of Kenny and Gabby. Their star players, though, all had their feet up ahead of their meeting with Bordeaux in Saturday week's Champions Cup final, a competition thrillingly won by the Chiefs less than five years ago. Baxter's current underachievers, however, can now expect to be taken to a much darker place this summer.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
New fleet of electric bikes available to hire in Totnes
A new fleet of electric bikes will be available to hire in Totnes next 'Catbikes' are being introduced as part of South Hams District Council's commitment to promoting cycling. The bikes will be available from several places across the town and accessed by a mobile is hoped the bikes will provide people visiting and living in Totnes the chance to travel around the town and surrounding areas in a greener, more sustainable way. Councillor Victor Abbott, South Hams lead member for community services, operations and leisure, said: "We're absolutely delighted to be launching the Catbikes scheme. "Totnes is a town that is known for its commitment to sustainability, and this exciting project will give people living and visiting here to get around sustainably."The e-bikes are a fun way to travel, and the extra boost that you get from an e-bike should make cycling up hills and around town a breeze. When the scheme is up and running, we hope that it will encourage more people to cycle."The council will have representatives showing off the bikes at the Transition Town Totnes' Energy Wise and Eco-Homes Show at Totnes Civic Hall on Sunday, from 11:00 to 16:00 BST.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- The Sun
I travelled to every country in the world – there are 4 things the UK does better than anywhere else (including Greggs)
THE youngest man to travel to every country in the world has shared his thoughts on the UK - including what he misses the most. Luca Pferdmenges from Germany recently finished travelling to every single country in the world. 4 Looking back on his experiences, the 23-year-old travelled to the UK several times, including staying in the country during the Covid-19 lockdown. He said: "The first time I actually went to the UK was in 2018. Just after New Year's, I went to Manchester with a friend of mine. "It was like one of the first international trips that I did." However, later in 2019 he returned to the UK for the European Juggling Convention - the biggest juggling festival in the world. It was here that he met his ex-girlfriend, who lived in the UK and for the following four years Luca would often travel back to the country. He said: "I really started to like it. "I spent a lot of my time in the south west, in Totnes (Devon). "I definitely miss a lot of things about the UK [...] like the supermarkets. "I really miss a good Morrison's. I like Greggs for their vegan sausage rolls [too]." Luca explained how often he found UK supermarkets to generally be cheaper than in Germany and even other European countries. north wales staycation "I feel like a lot of the times in the supermarkets, you [can] get those basic products - like spaghetti hoops or baked beans - it's just so cheap in the UK supermarkets," he added. But it wasn't just the prices that surprised Luca. He said: "[There is some] really good stuff there as well." For example, on his trips to Morrison's he would like the variety of vegan cakes and pies, like rhubarb or cherry pie. And across all supermarkets, he raved about the concept of meal deals. "We don't have anywhere else in Europe, I don't think. We don't have them in Germany," he added. "It's just convenient." Luca also commended the food he experienced in the south west. "You have a lot of great vegan food in the region," he revealed. "It's a very hipster place, very like gentrified in a way. Like all the hip Londoners move to the south west and move to places like Totnes. "For young people sometimes in the region, in Devon, there's not that much to do. It's very nature-y, very alternative, very hippie. But that's quite what I like about it." More widely, Luca admitted: "A lot of people always hate on British food, but I think British food is pretty decent. Like I really enjoy good English breakfast once in a while." Luca even managed to may his way onto the Exeter University darts team - despite not being a student there - after heading to the pub and meeting other players. He commented: "I feel like when you go to a pub, it's very easy to just talk about things and then you get invited for a pint of beer or you play darts together. "I feel like British people are a bit more approachable than others. 4 "They're just kind of party people, especially the people that go out - and I quite like that about the UK." However, there are some things he definitely does not miss. "The things that I miss the most about the UK? Definitely not the weather. "I think that's one of the worst things about the UK - it's nice in summer, but quite bad in winter, to be honest." Looking back on his visits to the country, Luca admitted he hasn't explored as much as he would have liked to - especially Scotland. He added: "In Scotland, I've only ever been to Edinburgh. So that's definitely a place I want to go back to." Luca does have many friends in the UK though, and consequently asserted that he is likely to keep coming back to the country and venturing to more UK destinations. Luca also s hared his most surprising favourite destinations. Plus, the woman who travelled to every country by 21-years-old. 4
