Local News

Devon & Cornwall Police have received reports of residents receiving scam letters purportedly from South West Water, which have been hand delivered.

Matford Brook Academy in Exeter has expanded its facilities for the new school year, with additional accommodation providing more space for teaching, creative learning, sport and play.

Devon County Council has agreed to reinstate its Rural Support and Wellbeing Programme, providing dedicated support for farmers facing the ongoing impacts of the 2026 bluetongue outbreak

Flu and other winter viruses are already circulating across Devon, and local hospitals are starting to see the impact. Public Health and NHS leaders are urging residents to take simple steps now to protect themselves, their loved ones and those most at risk of serious illness.

Parts of southern England have been declared in severe drought following months of below-average rainfall and increased demand for water during the hottest summer on record.

A local community-led festival honouring those who have passed away is set to take place in St Thomas later this month.

Friends and family of a well-known Starcross resident have rallied to raise nearly £10,000 to thank the hospital that saved his life earlier this year.

A 45-year-old woman from Hemyock has been jailed for 25 months after admitting smuggling 51.2kg of cannabis from Thailand on a flight to the United Kingdom, following a National Crime Agency investigation.

The site of a former Exeter leisure centre is set to become a huge development of affordable ‘extra care’ homes.

A campaign has been launched by Sideshore Community, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company which runs year-round events and workshops focusing on sea safety and environmental awareness while promoting wellbeing. Sideshore Community has been operating from a small hut since it was established two years ago.

Torbay Hospital must make changes immediately to make sure people can escape during a fire, after warnings from both fire and health regulators.

The “unsung heroes of Exeter” – council workers who keep Exeter spick and span - have been recognised at a special awards ceremony.

Plans to give young people more opportunities and help them build a positive future in Devon have been backed by councillors.

People in Exeter are being urged to play their part in helping to crack down on illegal fly-tipping. 

Devon County Council’s Cabinet has rubberstamped an extra £4.5 million to be spent repairing local roads, improving key diversion routes and tackling drainage problems across Devon.

The long-awaited opening of Newton Abbot’s new Market Hall remains on hold while ‘due diligence’ is carried out around its future operations.

Campaigners who fought to keep cars out of an Exeter commuter route are preparing to mount a legal battle.

County leaders are demanding answers from the Government on its stalled plans for local government reorganisation to allow funds to be freed up for frontline services.

The University of Exeter has launched the largest philanthropic campaign in its history to support life-changing research and student opportunities.

Teignbridge District Council is advising residents that Public Open Space legal notices relating to several green spaces and areas of land across the district will be published shortly.

Recycle Devon is joining more than 1,000 community groups, businesses and schools around the world to celebrate the tenth International Repair Day on Saturday 17 October.

Business support events are to be held in Dawlish and Newton Abbot over the coming weeks, following the success of an initial event in Teignmouth.

A campaigner from Exeter has taken her battle against the city’s ‘dangerous’ bus stops to 10 Downing Street.

Farmers affected by bluetongue need urgent wellbeing and financial support as the disease takes a heavy toll on livestock, businesses and rural families, councillors have heard.

People passionate about Dartmoor can once again help shape the National Park's long-term ambitions through a major new public consultation.

In the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) third century of lifesaving, the charity’s rescue work is increasing in demand and as vital as ever – but the way people are using the coast and the water is changing, which will require an evolutionary response from the RNLI.

Staff and students at the University of Exeter have been honoured for their commitment to boosting social mobility in the South West and beyond.

The opening marked an important milestone for the new 10-hectare site, which forms part of the Clyst Valley Regional Park and was created to provide an accessible, nature-rich space for local residents and visitors to enjoy.

Flood Action Week runs from until Sunday 18 October. With autumn here and winter approaching, now is a good time to prepare for wet and windy weather.

A scheme to spend nearly half a million pounds on re-opening a closed Exeter road to traffic has been rubber-stamped.

Seven new residents’ parking schemes for the streets of Exeter have been endorsed by local councillors, but they struggled to agree on what order to do them in.

Devon Air Ambulance are calling on communities across Devon to help secure the future of the charity’s lifesaving service after reporting a £1.1 million deficit in its latest Annual Report.

The Leader of East Devon District Council has written to the Prime Minister warning that councils are being put in an impossible position when planning for new homes.

East Devon District Council's Countryside Team have adopted a new Local Nature Recovery Plan, providing a clear framework to guide nature restoration, target investment and deliver biodiversity improvements across the district.

Devon & Cornwall Police has strengthened its approach to tackling anti-social behaviour as part of the Government's Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee. The Guarantee recognises the significant impact that anti-social behaviour can have on victims, communities and public confidence, and places neighbourhood policing at the heart of the response.

Pressure around a potential reduction in the number of librarians across Devon has ramped up after campaigners urged local politicians to scrutinise the process.

A total of 13 people have been sentenced to more than 80 years and five months in prison for their roles in organised crime conspiracies that flooded Devon with millions of pounds’ worth of illegal drugs.

Members of the public across Devon and Cornwall may begin to notice officers carrying a new Taser device as Devon & Cornwall Police starts the introduction of Taser 10.

Devon County Council’s efforts to recruit and retain foster carers are beginning to reverse years of decline, creating more opportunities for vulnerable children to grow up in safe, loving family homes close to their communities.

Campaigners fighting proposals to install a major battery energy storage system have claimed a victory after an appeal by the developer was dismissed.

Organisers behind an Exeter LGBTQ+ festival have altered the set-up for one of the events that previously courted some controversy.

A new website providing victims and survivors of child sexual abuse and exploitation with information and support, as well as options in relation to requesting a review of a previously closed case, has been launched today.

Residents are being encouraged to take advantage of the final Open Eco Homes Devon weekend offering a unique opportunity to step inside homes that are warmer, greener and cheaper to run.

A popular water play facility in Exeter is set to close for the year following unseasonably warm September weather.

Teachers, headteachers and trust leaders from across the South West have gathered in Exeter to consider how schools can re-energise the early secondary years and make students’ experiences across years 7 to 9 more ambitious, engaging and purposeful.

New community hubs, face to face courses and a free online programme will help more older people stay active, connected and independent.

Residents in Exmouth hit by the closure of a pavement linked to ongoing roadworks on the edge of the town can secure free taxis on a specified route.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has launched a consultation exercise on its latest draft five-year strategic plan.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a burglary at a convenience store in Whimple, just outside of Cranbrook.

Heart of the South West Trading Standards is reminding retailers about important new laws coming into force on Thursday 29 October 2026 that strengthen restrictions on the sale and promotion of tobacco, vape and nicotine products

Citizens Advice Exeter has celebrated its 80th anniversary with a civic reception at the city’s Guildhall, bringing together civic leaders, charities, funders, staff and long-serving volunteers to mark eight decades of service to the people of Exeter.

The University of Exeter has strengthened its position as a key partner in driving regional economic growth, achieving the highest possible rating for local growth and regeneration in the latest Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF).

Victims of crime across Devon and Cornwall will benefit from enhanced support, improved access to information and additional safety measures thanks to £195,000 in government funding secured through the Ministry of Justice’s Prison Early Release Surge Fund.

East Devon District Council has awarded the contract for the future operation of its sport and leisure services to Sports and Leisure Management Ltd, trading as Everyone Active, following a competitive procurement process and approval by Cabinet. 

A local organisation tackling food waste is one of 11 projects benefitting from the latest round of Exeter City Grants funding.

An unexpected request to propose Exeter host a pepper spray trial looks set to be discussed by Devon’s largest council.

Exeter’s much-loved farmers’ market could be on the move from its current ‘windy’ home to a new location in the city centre.

South West Water has applied for a ban on non-essential water use for some businesses across parts of Devon and West Dorset, after a lack of significant rainfall following the hottest summer on record.

A care home and a charitable trust have been charged with corporate manslaughter in connection with a fatal boating incident at Roadford Lake near Okehampton.

Exeter City Council is introducing a new text messaging service in October to help residents stay on top of their Council Tax payments and avoid falling into arrears.

Plans for a major new leisure, wellbeing and community hub at the heart of Cranbrook have been given the go-ahead by East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) Planning Committee.

New mental health support benches are being installed in communities across Devon to help make it easier for people to find information and support when they need it.

Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are carrying out an inspection of services and support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Devon.

A move to cut the cost of garden recycling for some of Exeter’s poorest households has been kicked into the long grass.

Exeter City Council has spent almost £1million preparing for a massive local government shake-up that may not happen.

Devon & Cornwall Police Cyber Protect are warning the public about a scam involving fraudsters impersonating Amazon.

A public consultation on the Exminster Neighbourhood Development Plan is now open, giving residents, businesses and stakeholders the opportunity to comment on proposals that will help shape the future of the parish.

Local community groups, especially those from certain wards, are being encouraged to apply for a Ward Grant, which offers up to £350 to support community initiatives.

Campaigners calling for Exeter road to be re-opened to traffic six years after it closed have urged councillors to ‘get on with it’.

The Government has given a vote of confidence in Devon’s progress on SEND, approving the county council’s reform plan and announcing an indicative £191m grant to repay 90% of the council’s accumulated overspend on SEND up to the end of 2025/26.

The University of Exeter run PROTECT study will be tested in the NHS as part of an £80m government drive to diagnose dementia faster.

East Devon tenants are taking the lead in a review of communal areas, gathering feedback from residents and identifying improvements to shared spaces in council housing across the district.

UKHSA marks World Meningitis Day (5 October) with a call for young people across the South West, especially freshers, to get vaccinated against this devastating disease

Inspiring providers, volunteers and organisations from across Devon are being recognised for their outstanding contribution to the Devon Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme, as public voting opens for the 2026 Celebration and Impact Awards.

East Devon District Council's Countryside Team has secured funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to launch an exciting two-year project dedicated to improving and restoring hedgerows in community spaces across East Devon.

The economic squeeze is hitting the ability of many of Devon’s fire stations to recruit people willing to be on-call to respond to emergencies, according to a longstanding commander.

The future development of Woodbury Parish will now be guided by a community-led plan after East Devon District Council formally adopted the Woodbury Parish Neighbourhood Plan.

Devon’s libraries are joining forces this Halloween to help families swap, share and reuse costumes following a spooktacular response to last year’s scheme.

Exeter’s MP has pledged to work alongside the city council to spend the city’s share of a government handout aimed at bringing boarded-up high streets back to life.

When plans for new homes come forward anywhere in Devon, you’d bet your house on there being fears about a lack of services to cater for the new residents.

A pub in a Devon seaside town is eyeing an expansion that would see it include a virtual games room as well as a snooker hall.

Calls have been made for the county’s fire service to hold a summit so key local and national decisionmakers can hear of the “perils” facing it.

An NHS Trust in Devon is leading the UK’s clean energy charge following the switch on of a new 1.042 MW solar array and battery storage solution at Langdon Hospital in Dawlish, Devon.

New figures released by Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) reveal that trespass caused 9,437 minutes, equivalent to around six and a half days of delays to customers across the South Western network last year.

Community organisations, charities, town and parish councils, and local partners are being invited to apply for funding to help transform libraries into more accessible, welcoming and inclusive community spaces.

Dawlish Town Council is inviting residents and visitors of the Dawlish Aviary* to take part in a public consultation on its future.

Teignbridge residents who rely on heating oil to keep their homes warm are being urged to check if they can get financial help as the colder months approach.

The doors of a much-loved Devon museum will remain closed while a legal wrangle runs its course.

Dissent emerged amid a vote to push the pay of Devon’s fire chief over the £200,000 mark amid potential wider forthcoming reforms of remuneration across the service.

Residents of Devon’s newest town could be nearing the end of a long wait for major facilities as triple-pronged plans for a leisure centre, shops and a possible fire station have been lodged.

Eligible members of the public can get their flu vaccination from today, Thursday 1 October.

British Transport Police (BTP) officers investigating a hate crime on a train in Devon are appealing for a number of witnesses to come forward.

Students at West Exe School in Exeter have marked two years of fundraising for Hospiscare by presenting the charity with a £3,917.33 donation.

The Council wants to hear form tenants on how to improve communication and transparency and create more opportunities for residents to influence housing services and neighbourhood improvements.

The University of Exeter has made a significant jump in one of higher education’s most influential international league tables.

The Exeter Sustainability Awards are returning for a fifth year, once again putting a spotlight on sustainability success stories across Exeter.

Campaigners opposing parts of a major years-long process to decide where to put homes across a Devon district are eyeing the possibility of frustrating the entire plan.

A new strategy setting out a shared vision for the future of Exeter city centre over the next five years has been approved by the Council’s Executive.

A bi-annual community sea dip event took place on Exmouth beach after a pollution warning lasting 14 days was lifted at the eleventh hour.

Library users across Devon will no longer face fines for returning books late, from Thursday 1 October 2026.

The organisation that oversees Devon’s libraries has claimed it would be “inappropriate to comment” on the potential cutting of librarian jobs.

A Devon village is the target location for a proposal for 66 homes even though strong opposition to the plans by residents includes the view it is “madness”.

Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage following a roadside altercation along the B3179 towards Woodbury Village on Woodbury Common in East Devon.

The National Trust is hoping to create a new path so that a circular walk at one of its prime East Devon destinations can be restored.

A new Dartmoor Challenge Badge is putting Dartmoor’s unique landscape, history and culture at the heart of exploration and discovery.

RNLI lifeguards are urging people visiting the coast this autumn to choose lifeguarded beaches and check seasonal patrol times, following a busy summer that saw RNLI lifeguards respond to numerous incidents.

A pair of talented young artists have been celebrated for their creative interpretation of the enduring legacy and cultural impact of film icon Marilyn Monroe.

Businesses, charities, community groups and organisations from across Dawlish are being encouraged to attend a free Business Support & Networking Event this October.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) has launched EdenServ, its new provider for household recycling and waste collection services across the district.

A major discount supermarket has submitted formal plans to develop a store in Devon’s newest town.

Police officers are appealing for witnesses and information following a fatal road traffic collision near Cullompton, Devon.

There’s a curious quandary with Britain’s aspiration of building more homes and it’s been perfectly captured in a major Devon district.

Essential surface maintenance and bollard improvements are planned on two sections of the Exe Estuary Trail near Dawlish at the end of September.

Prolonged hot and dry conditions brought an increased risk of outdoor fires across Devon and Somerset, creating challenging conditions for communities and a sustained period of high demand for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

As well as checking routine childhood vaccinations are up to date, families are being reminded about vaccines that help protect against meningococcal disease, a rare but serious infection that can cause meningitis and septicaemia. The illness can become life threatening very quickly.

Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez says she has full confidence in the Chief Constable of Devon & Cornwall Police following the performance reclassification of the force by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

Eight community projects across Teignbridge, including play area upgrades, new BMX pump tracks and a community-owned village shop, are set to benefit from £200,000 of funding.

Exeter’s King George V Playing Fields project is already starting to take shape just a month after work began on the transformation.

If you still have any unused TV stamps, don’t forget to claim your money back before the deadline.

A landmark building in Exeter that was once hailed as the future of city shopping has almost disappeared.

A popular ferry which carries passengers across the River Exe has had to be modified after an incident involving a drunken passenger and a heavy electric bike.

The government’s controversial ‘tourist tax’ proposals have been created to benefit big cities, according to a Devon MP, at the expense of rural holiday locations.

Former Devon & Cornwall Police officer James Stillman, 32, of Chard, has been jailed for two years and four months after pleading guilty to three counts of Misconduct in Public Office. He was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Friday 19 June.