Devon Renaissance welcomed the opening of the new Amory Centre in South Molton on Monday 3 November as a superb new facility for the whole community. Fiona Edwards, project officer for Devon Renaissance, attended the opening ceremony and was very impressed by the new facilities it offered, “The Amory Centre is an excellent concept and will be a major step forward in helping people in a rural area to access knowledge, information and assistance.” Devon Renaissance, the regeneration partnership organisation for the county, has contributed £65,000 to the project, which as a facility will centralise services and information for the rural community of South Molton and the surrounding twenty-six parishes, making them more accessible and easier to use. Community facilities were previously in scattered, cramped buildings and were unsuitable for the disabled. The 1.24 million project has been funded by Devon County Council, South Molton Town Council, North Devon District Council and Devon Renaissance to create a one-stop-shop for residents, by bringing the three councils and the services they provide under one roof. The Amory Centre will also house a new library, a computer suite, meeting and conference rooms and a reception area. While the existing features of the town house have been preserved in the rebuilding, the latest techniques have been employed to construct an energy efficient building with a modern interior. The new centralised reception area will have staff trained in aspects of all the agencies based at the Amory Centre to help residents find the information they need or put them in touch with the relevant department. Improvements to the Community website and newsletter will improve online access to services and information, and residents will be able to use the new IT facilities in the Library’s multifunctional resource centre. The conference facilities will also include a much needed training and Learn Direct suite with online and tutor led training. In addition the new centre allows for flexible accommodation, which will provide rural outreach facilities for both existing and new agencies such as the Pensions Agency, Cruse Bereavement Care, Relate Counselling and Family Mediation. Ends

A scheme helping people access work and training has now added motorcycle MOTs to the services it offers. Devon Wheels 2 Work is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, which helps people from rural areas of Devon get to their work place or training centre by arranging the hire of a motor scooter at a fraction of the normal cost. The new MOT service is now up and running and three MOTs were completed on the first day with the system working smoothly. There has since been a lot of interest in the new service which is available to the general public and not just existing customers. They are currently carrying out MOTs on Saturdays by appointment only. However they have the capacity to MOT twenty vehicles per day and also have full servicing and repair facilities on site at Halwill Junction, Beaworthy. As part of the service a vehicle can be picked up and dropped off or recovered if required. Max Jowett of Devon Wheels 2 Work says that more and more people are turning to the Wheels 2 Work solution and now that they have added another string to their bow it has brought in even more customers, “We set up the transport scheme because we recognised that it can be very difficult for people living on a limited income in an isolated area to travel to work. Providing the MOT service is a very valuable addition to the whole package we offer and our pick-up and drop-off facility means our customers are not stranded at a garage while their vehicle is being worked on.” Wheels 2 Work can provide everything needed to get started with a vehicle from as little as £20 per week, including road tax, insurance and clothing. Training can be arranged in the form of a one-day course which must be completed by the individual before a lease agreement can go ahead. For more information contact Devon Wheels 2 Work on 08450 944308 or visit www.devonwheels2work.co.uk Ends

Tesco’s vision for the first phase of the regeneration of Seaton will be unveiled this week. The plans and proposals will be on view at a two day public exhibition at the Eyre Court Hotel in Queen Street, Seaton from 11am to 7pm on Friday 3 October and from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 4 October. The exhibition will display site plans, proposals and artist’s impressions. Representatives from Tesco will be on hand to discuss the proposals and answer any questions. Tesco has a vision for the entire regeneration site but will be asking the public for feedback on the first phase of development, which will include the new food Eco-store, fuel station, retail kiosks, car parking, public open spaces and various road, pedestrian and cycle access improvements. A survey of over 600 residents in Seaton and the surrounding areas, held earlier this year, revealed a demand for more and better facilities in the town; that more should be done to attract tourism; a demand for more job opportunities, better skills training, and more affordable housing. A spokesman for Tesco said: “We are delighted that we are now in a position to show the public of Seaton our vision for the future of their town. We feel our proposals will address the demand for better facilities in Seaton and will help to attract new visitors to the area and encourage local residents to stay within the town for their shopping needs.” Tesco has held a number of meetings with Seaton Town Council, East Devon District Council and the Seaton Regeneration Board in order to put together plans and proposals that will benefit Seaton. Other organisations in Seaton have been invited to a preview of the exhibition before it opens to the public.

Shoppers at West Country Tesco stores can now buy fresh South West squid on the fish counters. It’s the latest line in local fish at the supermarket, which is putting more and more local lines in stores, and other new additions include ray wings and megrim. The fresh fish lines include West Country lemon sole, Cornish mackerel, Cornish sardines, West Country scallops, West Country monkfish, and West Country plaice. South West Squid is caught by hook and line and by trawlers around the local coastline. It is much sought after in Europe and many British people try it for the first time while on holiday. It can be prepared for cooking in less than 1 minute and only needs to be cooked for 1-2 minutes offering a very fast and healthy meal. West Country megrim is a species which is in abundance in the South West and is currently being passed by the Marine Stewardship Council as a sustainable fishery. It is an under-rated fish in the UK but highly sought after in Spain. With the help of Tesco the British public are being made aware of this rich flavoured flatfish which is available all year round in the South West. Megrim is suitable for baking and grilling. The three species of ray wings available are recommended by the Marine Conservation Society as being sustainable and are in abundance in the South West. They are caught by both trawlers and netters. Tesco’s fresh fish lines are supplied by Falfish, a leading multi-species seafood processor located in Cornwall in the heart of Europe’s richest and most diverse fishing grounds. The company was established in 1979 and has rapidly grown over recent years. Jo Wren, Tesco’s South West Regional Marketing Manager, said the new fish lines are an exciting development. “To be able to offer local squid on our fish counters means our customers can enjoy a dish they might have thought was only available when abroad. “Squid are really easy to prepare and cook, and other lines like ray wings and megrim also offer the opportunity to try something different.” Local food and drink are an increasingly important part of Tesco’s offering. “It’s what our customers want and is good business for us,” says Jo Wren. “We also make sure our local lines are sustainable and we work closely with the Marine Conservation Society to ensure this.”