West Country (W) Totnes

The Conservative MP for Totnes - a former family doctor - has been elected chair of the Parliamentary committee that scrutinises the work of the department of health.

Dr Sarah Wollaston was chosen by fellow MPs to lead the Health Select committee. She has in the past criticised several aspects of government policy- calling the failure to bring in plain cigarette packaging and unit pricing for alcohol "a day of shame".

A memorial garden's been built in Totnes to help grieving parents come to terms with the death of a baby.

A Portland stone sculpture sits at the heart of the garden. It's designed as a peaceful place for people to think about and remember their lost child. The charity SANDS says 17 children every day are still-born or die shortly after birth.

A controversial one-way traffic scheme which has led to massive protests in a town in Devon is to continue. TV presenter Jonathan Dimbleby was among hundreds of people who marched through Totnes earlier this week, calling for the council to ditch the scheme. Richard Lawrence reports.

The controversial new one-way traffic system in Totnes will remain after county and district councillors voted today to continue the experiment.

Earlier this week the veteran broadcaster, Jonathan Dimbleby, led a protest through the town of local traders who say the scheme is damaging their business.

Damage to one of South Devon's most historic buildings is being assessed.

Conker Shoe Company in Totnes, which dates back to the 16th century, partly collapsed in Friday's storms.

Much of the High Street had to be evacuated and remained closed while scaffolding was put up. Investigations show that much of the historic facade is affected.

High streets populated with thriving independent businesses have added an average of £40,000 to nearby house prices over the last decade, according to a study by American Express.

It suggested that homeowners living close to a flourishing high street could see their property value outperform similar homes elsewhere by as much as £70,000 over the next 10 years.

The study identified five "high street hot spots" it described as good examples: Whitstable, Kent; Marlborough, Wiltshire; Hungerford, Berkshire; Totnes, Devon, and Yarm, North Yorkshire.

The Taunton Deane MP Jeremy Browne says we need a debate on whether young Muslim women and girls should be banned from wearing a veil or Niqab in public. Claire Manning has been to Plymouth to assess reaction to the proposal.

The Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston says Islamic veils are an 'intolerable subjugation of women which should not be allowed to masquerade as freedom.'

Sarah Wollaston MP (Con, Totnes, Brixham and South Hams) says the niqab (a full-face Islamic veil) should be banned in schools and colleges. A Birmingham college last week reversed a decision to ban the garment on security grounds. Read more about that decision here.