Exeter & East Devon News

The Royal Navy Bomb Squad arrived in Sidmouth at around dusk to remove a thumbnail-sized bullethead spotted in the town, described by experts as a ‘one-inch short projectile’.

Public toilets across East Devon are undergoing major investment, with new facilities being provided at four locations, three further sites being transferred to other organisations to operate, while others will close permanently.

Exeter’s Riverside leisure centre is set to benefit from energy efficiency measures, including replacing an end-of-life heating system with air source heat pumps and a water source heat pump.

Following a long-term commitment to accessibility across the museum, Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) has been nominated for a Visitor Accessibility Award in the prestigious Museums + Heritage awards.

Efforts to raise the plight of Devon’s farmers in parliament are apparently falling on deaf ears, according to Exmouth and Exeter East’s MP who claims he is being “purposefully” ignored.

The Ted Wragg Trust has been shortlisted for two national education awards. The trust has been shortlisted for the SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) award at the MAT Excellence Awards, as well as the Best Practice in Inclusive Education Award at the Education Business Awards.

People are being invited to take part in two community tree planting events in Exeter.

Councillors have unanimously backed a submission which sets out the council’s case for a new unitary authority which includes the city of Exeter.

Another 2,000 homes in Exeter are set to receive weekly food waste collections.

Work has started on the installation of charging infrastructure at Exeter bus depot in readiness for the arrival of the new electric fleet later this summer.

Construction of the new community building and GP surgery proposed for South West Exeter is due to start in April.

Emergency ‘ash dieback’ tree works require night-time road closures on A3052 at Trow Hill near Sidford from Monday 31 March to Friday 4 April 2025 (inclusive) between 7pm and 6.30am.

The East Devon District Council (EDDC) Countryside Team has taken an exciting step towards attracting breeding osprey by installing an artificial nesting pole at Seaton Wetlands.

The Sidmouth Neighbourhood Police Team are delighted that a life-saving defibrillator has been donated and is now installed outside Sidmouth Police Station.

Volunteer crew from Exmouth RNLI lifeboat station departed early on Friday 14 March for the RNLI all-weather lifeboat centre in Poole. Their journey to collect Exmouth;s RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat, R & J Welburn, and return the David & Ruth Arthur lifeboat.

An Exmouth-based charity has seen an increase in visitors and referrals as East Devon District Council helped to expand the organisation’s services and improve its facilities.

There’s still time to register to vote in this year’s elections being held in Exeter

A proposal for a major scheme of up to 86 homes in an East Devon village will be decided at appeal after planners failed to make a decision.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) officers are now putting together a business case, in hopes of rolling out a district-wide scheme – looking at the financial viability and environmental sustainability.

The Custom House Visitor Centre on Exeter’s quayside is set to reopen on Saturday 22 March following key work to the building.

Exeter is set to pay tribute to all those who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic with a series of special commemorations, five years after the nation went into lockdown.

In a huge boost for learners, businesses and rural education in the South West, Bicton College is officially ‘Outstanding’.

Exeter City Council will embrace the opportunity to work with neighbouring councils to ensure local government reorganisation delivers outcomes for local communities.

Police are seeking the public’s help to identify these two individuals following a burglary and vehicle theft in Exeter.

The University of Exeter has held a special ceremony to mark the official opening of the new Sarah Turvill Multifaith Centre, located on the Streatham Campus.

There will be by-elections in two Exeter City Council wards on 1 May after two City Councillors decided to stand down.

The Liberal Democrats have held onto a council seat in East Devon after a by-election at which Reform UK nearly bagged second place.

During an event celebrating the work of local voluntary organisations, East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) Leader committed to champion anti-poverty work in discussions about the future of local government in Devon.

Residents and stakeholders in the city are being invited to share their views on the final draft of Exeter’s new Corporate Plan 2025-2028.

People are being given the opportunity to become one of Exeter’s famous Red Coat guides.

The RAF is landing in the heart of Exeter city centre for a weekend of free activities, live demos and hands-on fun.

A major refurbishment of the 190 year old Iron Bridge in Exeter is progressing well and remains on target to be completed this summer.

Exeter subjects from across both Science and Arts & Humanities have been recognised as being amongst the very best worldwide, according to an influential league table.

An Exeter man has been jailed for 27 months for a variety of driving and drug offences.

At the budget-setting meeting on 28 February 2025, the Council had to identify £3.5 million savings to set a balanced budget for the next financial year. Part of the measures to achieve this included a reduction to the budget of the Leisure Service of £586,000

A drop in overnight temperatures will see Exeter City Council introduce emergency measures to bring rough sleepers inside this week.

An Exeter family’s problems dealing with Devon’s services for children with special educational needs have been highlighted in parliament.

Theatre luminaries George Stiles, Anthony Drewe and Nick Allott to become Patrons of Exeter Northcott Theatre and supporters of the University of Exeter

Emily Bradley, 42, is wanted in connection to an assault.

Supermarket giant Aldi has announced plans to open a store in Exmouth, creating up to 40 jobs.

A range of new and increased planning fees could be coming to East Devon, partly driven by the high number of invalid applications.

Residents may have noticed an increased police presence in Manstone Avenue yesterday following reports of a sexual assault. After enquiries, the incident has not been proceeded with. The public is reassured there was no wider threat.

More community groups in Exeter are celebrating after winning crucial funding from the City Council. A total of 22 groups applied for funding in the latest round of the Exeter City Grants, with 12 successfully securing a combined total of £18,550.

East Devon is growing rapidly, but are we building homes in the right places? Now’s your chance to shape the future of our communities before the Local Plan is submitted to a Government inspector. Have your say today!

Work has started to remove scaffolding around Exmouth RNLI lifeboat station following the completion of the roof replacement project. Volunteers look forward to welcoming visitors back to the boathouse and shop once full access is restored.

Exmouth Town Council is delighted to announce that it has won the prestigious National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Climate Response of the Year 2024 award.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious collision on the A35 at Tower Cross, Honiton which happened on Wednesday 5 March.

A flurry of requests from people wanting the right to buy their council homes has been made in East Devon. A total of 49 new applications were made last November, in the week ahead of changes in chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget,

Police were notified at approximately 2.40pm on Wednesday 5 March to reports of a collision involving two vehicles on Bridge Road, Exeter.

The Custom House Visitor Centre on Exeter’s quayside is likely to stay closed for a little longer whilst essential maintenance, building and restoration takes place.

The proposed development site is being considered for a residential-led project that includes not only new homes but also employment space and areas for nature, all designed to meet the current and future needs of Exmouth.

The group that oversees an observatory near Sidmouth whose patron is Queen guitarist Brian May wants to take ownership of its buildings.

Cranbrook Town Council is proud to announce the ongoing success of its tree planting initiatives, which began in Winter 2024. By the end if this planting season, an additional 3,475 trees will have been added to Cranbrook Country Park, contributing to a total of 5,670 trees in the upcoming season

A forklift tractor fire on Monday morning (March 3) led to the closure of the B3180 between Higher Metcombe and the A3052 at Hidden Oak for two days.

The Royal Devon are delighted to welcome Professor Sallie Lamb to the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as a nominated Non-Executive Director from the University of Exeter.

The East Devon District Council Countryside Team has launched a new volunteering group in response to growing community interest in hands-on conservation work and the recent addition of Clyst Meadows Country Park.

The Crusty Cob, a well-known bakery established in 1969 and run by the same family of bakers, has closed all nine of its stores at 2pm today with immediate effect.

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.