Devon News

South Western Railway (SWR) is offering free travel to serving military personnel and veterans for Remembrance Sunday events. 

NHS Devon is sharing some helpful hints and advice on how to keep young children safe and well this October half-term. Families can follow a few simple Halloween themed steps to keep everyone healthy and well over the holidays.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities has launched a new campaign to alert young people to the dangers of ketamine, counterfeit medicines which contain synthetic opioids (nitazenes) and vapes which purport to contain THC, a cannabis derivative, but which actually contain harmful synthetic cannabinoids commonly referred to as spice.

At Halloween, 30.4 million pumpkins are bought for carving, and of these, a whopping 15.8 million pumpkins will go to waste, left uneaten - that’s £26.7 million worth of  food.

A Care home provider has been ordered by Exeter Magistrates' Court, to pay £200,190 after it failed to provide safe care and treatment to three people, resulting in the death of two people at an outdoor activity centre.

The government’s Schools White Paper, originally expected earlier this year, then autumn, has been delayed again, now until the new year.

Devon has moved closer towards bringing in an external firm to amplify savings in adult social care and to keep more people out of care homes and hospitals.

South West Water has reached a major milestone this Unblocktober, having prevented more than one million litres of fats, oils and greases (FOG) from entering its sewer network thanks to its ongoing partnership with Environmental Compliance and Services (ECAS).

A pioneering intervention that gives children and families on-demand access to a therapeutic mobile game designed to tackle childhood anxiety is driving positive mental health outcomes in Devon.

With the clocks going back an hour this weekend (Sunday 26 October) as British Summer Time ends, all road users are being reminded to take extra care over the autumn and winter months.

Every year, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service ask local residents and businesses to take part in their annual precept survey. The five-minute form asks how people feel about the service they receive, and will influence the amount the Service receives from council tax in 2026/27.

Plans to raise on-street parking charges have been defended because the roughly £4 million in cash raised is vital for funding a host of highway-related schemes, including bus routes and verge cutting.

The Devon Bus Enhanced Partnership has been shortlisted as a finalist in the UK Bus Awards 2025, under the Partnership for Excellence: The Peter Huntley Memorial Award category.

NHS Devon is encouraging residents to take control of their health this winter through the NHS App.

Thirty projects to improve life in Torquay are to be submitted to the government in a bid to secure shares of a £20million funding pot.

One of Devon’s last great untapped sources of history will reveal some of its best-kept secrets with the publication of a new book this week.

With Halloween (October 31) fast approaching, Trading Standards is urging families to prioritise safety when buying costumes, decorations and novelty items.

Bereavement charity 2wish has today officially launched the expansion of its vital support services locally, as part of a wider rollout across multiple English counties.

South West Water is reminding customers of the importance of using water wisely all-year round following the warmest summer on record for the UK.

There’s still time for Devon residents to help shape a new strategy aimed at reversing the decline in wildlife and restoring the county’s natural environment.

Devon County Council are asking families and residents from all walks of life to consider adoption — not because they’re perfect, but because they’re ready to offer a child a safe, loving home.

People in Devon most at risk of becoming seriously unwell from flu this winter are being urged to get their flu vaccine as cases of flu start to rise.

Devon MP Richard Foord has highlighted the plight of pharmacy staff in his constituency who claim they have had to resort to “begging for pay”.

Devon’s district councils have collaboratively joined forces to respond to government proposals to reorganise local government in the county.

Six Liberal Democrat councillors have collaborated on a bid to challenge a decision by their own cabinet member that could allow parking fee hikes of up to 50 per cent

A Devon village has complained about what it believes is a “disappointing” response from police over a spate of vandalism.

Devon County Council has announced the extension of its successful Prosper business support programme until March 2026, offering a vital lifeline to entrepreneurs and small businesses across East Devon, Mid Devon and Exeter

A partnership that carries out vital health research across the South West Peninsula to directly benefit patients and NHS services has been awarded £15.5 million by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Devon County Council has published the findings of transformative project to reshape the county’s approach to supporting children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

A Devon councillor at the centre of an election expenses row has been granted relief by a High Court judge who declared there had been “no bad faith”.

Devon is leading the way to address an urgent need to recruit more digital forensic officers to work in police forces.

Gardeners opened their gates to the public this summer and raised more than £55,000 to help fund local end-of-life care.

Libraries Unlimited, the charity commissioned by Devon County Council to run the libraries in Devon, has launched a new leaflet and set of resources to help children, young people and families with neurodiverse conditions explore some of Devon’s more accessible outdoor spaces.

Vulnerable children and adults could be a key battleground amid a once-in-a-generation tussle between councils facing a radical overhaul

Senior councillors at Devon County Council have welcomed a major new report from the County Councils Network (CCN), which warns that breaking up county councils into smaller unitary authorities could seriously harm the delivery of essential care services.

Both the Devon County Council cabinet member and director of Public Health in Devon have expressed ‘significant concerns’ following reports that the Government is considering extending the licencing hours of pubs into the early hours in a bid to boost economic growth.

Devon’s towns and parishes are being urged to act “before it is too late” if they want to regain control over key facilities in their areas.

More than 1,600 primary school children from across Devon got ‘Farmwise’ on this week and saw for themselves where our food comes from and how it’s made.

Police are appealing to parents, guardians, grandparents and anyone who may care for a young person to ensure that the young people are as safe a possible when they are out on their bikes in darkness.

Devon County Council are preparing to reshape its library services to better suit the changing habits of its users, and from November residents will be asked for their ideas and views.

Devon County Council’s Cabinet have approved a new Brighter Futures Action Plan, 2025 to 2028, to help young people move confidently into education, employment or training.

Community efforts to tackle fuel poverty and keep people in Devon warm this winter are being offered free financial support from National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED). 

Hidden beneath the streets of the South West, sewer monsters are forming every day – and South West Water needs help from customers to stop them from growing.

Two and three-year-olds in Devon can now get their free flu vaccination at a community pharmacy, thanks to a new NHS service.

A new contender has emerged in the race to decide the shape of Devon’s new councils.

Devon County Council are supporting and empowering communities across the county by raising awareness of flood risk, and promoting practical steps that will help residents feel more confident and prepared for flooding.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is calling on those celebrating Diwali across the South West to come forward for their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations if they are eligible, so they can be 'winter-proof' and have a safe and healthy celebration.