PLANS to cut £54.6 million from Devon County Council's budget were revealed this week.

The cutbacks will touch everything from school meal subsidies, road repairs, bus services, libraries, the arts and services for children and the elderly.

In the comprehensive spending review last October, the government said that local authority budgets would be cut 27 per cent over four years.

Next year, Devon's support from the government is being cut by 12.1 per cent or £26 million.

But the overall spending cuts are greater as the county council has to cover the cost arising from an ageing population and a rise in landfill tax.

In preparation for tough times ahead, last year the council made savings of £30m and imposed a pay and jobs freeze except for vital frontline jobs.

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