Exeter & East Devon News

Devon County Council will receive the total over four years, from April. The funding needs to be spent on developing and constructing facilities for walking and cycling, as well as network planning and Bikeability cycle training.

East Devon District Council’s Countryside Team is celebrating a strong year, detailed in its 2025 Annual Review. The report highlights key achievements in wildlife conservation, visitor engagement & community involvement across East Devon’s natural spaces.

Work to remove a set of bollards that risked the progress of extension work at an Exeter doctor’s surgery has finally got underway after months of back-and-forth.

Students at St Luke’s Church of England School have been doing their bit for the environment this term by planting 105 new trees on the school grounds.

The latest addition to a network of pre-surveyed night-time landing sites for Devon Air Ambulance is now up and running – bringing the total to 207 sites spread across the county.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a serious injury road traffic collision on Swan Hill Road, Colyford.

People getting a takeaway in Exeter are being encouraged to report any food or drink outlets supplying single-use plastics.

Footage has emerged of a person reattaching flags to lampposts along one of Exeter’s busiest roads just moments after they were removed.

A new late-night bus service for Cranbrook has been hailed as a win for the growing town.

Exeter College and Petroc College to merge in January, creating a regional powerhouse for young people and skills

South West Flood and Coastal (SWFaC), the shared service between East Devon District Council (EDDC) and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP), is celebrating the completion of the Seaton Hole Coastal Protection Scheme. The major £1.4m project now provides increased protection for cliff-top homes, cherished public spaces and one of East Devon’s most iconic stretches of coastline.

East Devon’s Liberal Democrats have taken another district council seat after winning a by-election in Seaton.

Scammers pretending to be from local authorities have been sending texts claiming that the recipient has an unpaid parking fine.

The University of Exeter is a finalist for Apprenticeship Provider of the Year at the Apprenticeship and Training Awards 2026.

A patient in Exeter has become the first in the UK to trial an innovative 3D imaging technology designed to detect rheumatoid arthritis at its earliest stages, helping to avoid permanent damage to joints.

The cost of connecting just one home to broadband in a rural area of East Devon could cost around £60,000, it has emerged at a debate about pushing for better internet connectivity.

Pupils at Exwick Heights Primary School are on a mission to thank Exeter’s community heroes.

On Wednesday 10 December, the NHS released the results of the 2025 CQC Maternity Survey. The Royal Devon performed well against the national average, and better than most Trusts in 14 of the survey questions.

Honiton Town Council and Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) have revealed a new art installation at the Beehive in Honiton

Exeter City Council is to borrow more than £1million to kit out six of its buildings with solar panels.

People living in some of Exeter’s hundreds of new homes are facing poor service and rocketing costs for the basic maintenance of their roads and parks.

The Otterton Reindeer Run, held in the eponymous East Devon village last Saturday, has raised £3,000 for community good causes thanks to an event that continues to grow in size and appeal

A University of Exeter employee is the first ever Apprentice of the Year at the inaugural West Country Women Awards, recognising her exceptional achievements and leadership journey.

There’s still time to take part in an online survey about Exeter’s Green Circle walking route.

A row of tankers has been witnessed at a popular East Devon beach as maintenance on the sewer system takes place.

More than 800 student flats and ‘co-living’ studios are to be built on the site of Exeter’s old police station despite neighbours’ fears that their homes will be overshadowed.

There’s more bad news for BT from a Devon council as plans for four more high street ‘hubs’ are rejected.

The new colours for Sidmouth’s beach huts have been proposed as work continues to upgrade the iconic structures.

South West Water has started work on the next phase of a £12m project in Sidmouth to improve the town’s sewage network, reduce the use of storm overflows and protect the quality of its bathing waters.

Isca Academy welcomed Councillor Andrew Leadbetter for a visit this term. During his time at the school, Councillor Leadbetter toured the school’s facilities and gained insight into the vibrant learning environment enjoyed by students.

West Exe School has been recognised for its outstanding achievement in introducing Classics. The Exeter school was awarded a ‘Secondary School of the Year - Highly Commended’ certificate by Classics for All in their 2025 Impact Awards.

The two latest shops closed for trading in illegal tobacco have strong links to organised crime intelligence suggests.

A Devon wildlife park is hoping to create a special home where beavers can temporarily stay before being introduced into the wild.

Exmouth’s Liberal Democrats have held onto a district council seat for the town’s Halsdon ward in a by-election prompted by the death of a former councillor.

A campaigner fighting to get an Exeter road re-opened for traffic has urged councillors not to delay a vital public consultation.

The BMP, produced with South West Flood and Coastal, the Environment Agency and AECOM, says ageing defences, rising seas and climate change raise risk. Without action, Exmouth could face £800m in flood, erosion and beach-loss damage in 100 years.

Running from November 2025 to March 2026, the programme teaches children how reducing food waste helps the environment and why using their food waste caddy at home is important. 

New rules mean all postal vote applications are now only valid for a maximum of three years.   Those who applied for a postal vote before 30 January 2024, will need to reapply by 31 January 2026 to continue voting by post.  

Despite knowing its listed status—and having consent only for limited works—Mr Bruce Philipps oversaw the wholesale stripping of the historic interior, taking the building back to bare brick and removing floors down to the earth.

Devon County Council has won praise from Ofsted for big improvements in care-leaver services. Leader Julian Brazil says the endorsement shows the progress made since the new administration made children its top priority after May’s elections.

Developers plan 800+ student and co-living apartments on Exeter’s old police station and magistrates court site, claiming past planning issues are resolved. The seven-block scheme could be approved at the city council planning meeting on 8 December.

Over 50 homes are planned for the ‘Topsham Gap’ after planners agreed they would be out of sight. Heritage Developments will build 54 houses on the former Topsham Golf Academy driving range off Exeter Road, having previously developed nearby Berkeley Park.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thorne said the digital evidence system aims to deliver faster results for crime victims. Since introducing NiCE Investigate in summer, police have completed over 1,600 business requests and 12,000 citizen requests.

Exeter residents are invited to help shape a new cultural strategy. The city council and local cultural groups are urging people to complete an online survey on Exeter’s cultural future. The survey runs until 12 December and takes only a few minutes.

Police are seeking 33-year-old McFetridge after an incident on the 28th November in Exeter involving threats of violence and criminal damage. He is from Exeter with local links. He is about 5ft 3in, medium build, with brown hair and a light brown beard.

With rising costs and tempting online bargains, parents may choose cheaper toys—but these can hide risks. Heart of the South West Trading Standards warns that toys bought from non-UK sellers or unverified sites may fail safety standards.

Members of the Exeter City Council planning committee voted unanimously to reject a plan from developer Waddeton Park for 65 homes off Nadder Park Road after hearing how the new homes would be visible right across the city.

East Devon District Council is carrying out essential tree works at Manor Gardens in Exmouth, following confirmation that a large Turkey Oak tree in the grounds has died and now poses a safety risk. 

The region’s Careers Hub will lead work to test the new “equalex” model that gives young people multiple, high-quality experiences with employers totalling 10 days across their secondary education.

East Devon District Council is inviting residents, community groups, and stakeholders to take part in the final stage of consultation on the new East Devon Local Plan – the blueprint for where new homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure will go across the district over the coming years. 

Toddlers in tinsel and trail runners in Santa hats joined forces to raise funds for Hospiscare yesterday at the charity’s first ever festive Jingle Jog and they raised over £20,000

Devon & Cornwall Police took part in the national Sceptre knife safety campaign last week.. It ran from Monday 17 to Sunday 24 November 2025 and is part of the wider national strategy to remove dangerous weapons from the streets and keep communities safe. 

Help shape how East Devon’s heritage is preserved in the years up until 2042, by taking part in the district council's consultation on a new Heritage Strategy

Exeter City Council and Plymouth City Council have joined forces to submit a single, shared proposal to Government for local government reorganisation (LGR) in Devon.

A popular Devon beach that secured an internationally recognised award for the first time this year looks set to lose the accolade in 2026.

A plea for creativity has emerged as residents have scrutinised an updated proposal aimed at improving Exmouth town centre.

Police officers will be policing a protest in support of Palestine outside Central Station, Queen Street, Exeter, on Saturday 29 November.

Trading standards and police have closed yet another business for selling illegal tobacco – despite repeated warnings and dramatic attempts to escape with contraband.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a serious road traffic collision which took place last night [Wednesday 26 November] on Exeter Road, (the old A30) in Gittisham, Honiton.

A million-pound bridge that should have connected Exeter businesses while getting rid of a dangerous bottleneck has been shelved.

Police were called shortly before 2.30pm on Wednesday 26 November following a report of a collision involving a white Ford Transit panel van, on the A375 at Sidbury. Sadly a man has died following the collision.

A business case for reshaped and reimagined local services has been given the green light for submission to the government by members of East Devon District Council.

Exeter has a vital role to play in Devon’s forthcoming devolution deal despite being in the ‘second tier’ of councils involved.

Supporters across the heart of Devon opened their gardens to raise vital funds for hospice charity amidst funding deficit. 55 gardens opened during 2024 in support of Hospiscare, the local hospice charity for Exeter, Central and East Devon.