Local News

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.

Campaigners opposing a proposed 700-home site on the edge of Exmouth have been assured key concerns will be raised with ministers. David Reed MP held a community meeting to hear residents’ views on the plans.

Operation Seabird visited Salcombe, offering free forensic marking for high-value marine equipment, including jet skis and outboard motors. Police also gave boat owners advice on protecting valuables and avoiding disturbing wildlife along the coast.

Devon & Cornwall Police are warning residents to be vigilant over a phone scam involving fraudsters posing as police officers. They have been informed that people are being called by scammers under the guise of 'assisting with an investigation'.

A report reviewed by Cabinet sets out where housing services have fallen short, what tenants have told the council and improvements being made, including investment in extra resources to help resolve issues more effectively.

Exwick Heights Primary School won the primary category at the Ted Wragg Trust’s Innovation Competition. Five Year 5 pupils spent six months researching, designing and building their “out of this world” project before presenting it to judges.

The CHORUS study is exploring treatment for fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, a chronic lung condition causing inflammation and scarring. It affects around 11 in 100,000 people, with about 2,000 UK cases diagnosed each year.

Experts including speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, occupational therapists and specialist teachers will work with mainstream schools to support inclusion, upskill staff and provide quick, flexible access to specialist advice.

Exeter’s City Grant programme offers groups and organisations up to £2,500 to support events, festivals and projects that encourage community participation. Funding is available across the city, but there is no guarantee of the full amount requested.

The concrete bases for the new facility in Heavitree Pleasure Grounds were this week being completed and will require a 28-day curing process. This will mean that the play facility will not now open before the end of the Summer – as was previously hoped – but will instead open next Spring.  

Warm hubs, village halls and community groups helping people through the colder months can now apply for funding from National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), as part of a drive to support Devon households this winter. 

A campaign has launched 100 days before new UK smokefree generation laws take effect on 1 January 2027. Anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 will never legally be sold tobacco. The law does not affect adult smokers.

People are encouraged to attend Sunday’s event even if swimming remains off-limits. East Devon District Council has advised against swimming at Exmouth beach since 11 September, after a potentially toxic blue substance was found in Littleham Brook.

The Community Fun Day marked a major milestone, showcasing sports and social facilities now available for public and club hire. Activities included sports games, free trials, demonstrations, family activities and refreshments at the community café, culminating in an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Train4Tomorrow, run by Devon County Council as part of the Government’s Skills For Life programme, has received £3.3 million from the Department for Work and Pensions this year to provide free training for more than 800 adults in Devon. Skills Bootcamps aim to help people to upskill, change careers or explore new job opportunities.

People and pets are being urged to stay away from Littleham Brook in Exmouth following a pollution incident affecting the stream.

Around 120 cyclists took to the roads of Devon on Saturday 12 September for the inaugural Devon Air Ambulance Cycle Challenge, helping to raise vital funds for the charity's lifesaving service.

Partnering with Exeter College, the Trust commissioned students aged 17 and 18 from its Art and Design faculty to create original pieces inspired by the theme of ‘utopia’.

Launched by the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA), the Post-16 Capital Investment Programme will support projects that create additional learner places and improve facilities between 2026 and 2030.

The University of Exeter has achieved a top 20 ranking in two prestigious national university guides.

People in Exeter can play their part in helping to crack down on illegal fly-tippers.

People living in Exeter are being urged to return a form to ensure they are able to vote in the next elections.

Opponents to a vast housing development mooted for an East Devon town are set to outline their ongoing issues at a public meeting next week.

Ottery Town Council would like to politely remind residents that the cemetery is a place of remembrance and reflection for those visiting loved ones.

Exmouth Town Council has received the following communication from the Environment Agency – South West Region regarding the pollution at Littleham Brook

Small businesses in and around Exeter are being invited to a free event to find out about opportunities to work with local councils.

Twenty seven crimes against councillors have been recorded over the last 12 months under the police’s Operation Ford initiative in Devon and Cornwall.

A new Headlight peer support group is launching in Sidmouth this September, offering free, long term support for young people who are struggling with their mental health.

Local community groups are being invited to apply for the latest round of Exeter City Grants funding.

Officers are asking for the public’s help to identify a man in connection with an assault in Exeter.

Heritage Open Days is now well underway, with activities carrying on until Sunday 20 September.

Exmouth Town Council is celebrating three more years of sustained climate and nature action, during which its ambitions have developed into a nationally recognised programme of practical projects, popular events and community partnerships.

Residents are being reminded of important safety advice during Gas Safety Week.

The closed lane on Exeter’s A379 Bridge Road Bascule Bridge has reopened following essential repairs to age-related damage beneath the bridge deck. However, a separate lane closure on the adjacent Swing Bridge will remain in place while further work is arranged to make loose road fixings safe.

The Consumer Council for Water's (CCW) latest national annual household complaints report reveals complaints from households escalated to the watchdog increased by 84% in 2025-26, it marks the steepest year-on-year rise in CCW’s 20-year history. With South West Water rated as one of the poorest-performing water companies

A Devon cricket club which is a community hub for sports and leisure groups has upgraded its facilities thanks to support from South West Water’s Better Futures Fund.

A series of workshops are being held in Exmouth this month to educate people in using the NHS App. The events will help residents find out how the app can better support and manage their health.

Adults who live, work, or study in East Devon can now create, submit, sign, and track online petitions to request that the district council takes action concerning its responsibilities and services.

A new display exploring the history around the Norman invasion has opened at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery in Exeter.

Runners will be taking to the banks of the River Exe this weekend to celebrate the life of the critically endangered Atlantic Salmon.

Wales & West Utilities is undertaking emergency works to repair a gas leak in the Exe Bridge area of Exeter.

South West Water has repaired more than 26,700 leaks across Devon and Cornwall over the last 12 months – the equivalent of 73 leaks a day - as part of its ongoing work to tackle leakage and improve network resilience across the region.

Did you know that vaccine research helps protect the local population and by taking part in vaccine research trials, you can help reach more people and protect the most vulnerable members of the community.

Teignbridge District Council is inviting residents to help shape the future of Dawlish Leisure Centre.

Developed with input from the voluntary sector to better meet local needs, the grants will support small community projects across East Devon and community buildings in rural areas.

Devon residents are being invited to visit real homes across the county this autumn to see practical ways to cut energy bills, improve comfort and make their homes more resilient to a changing climate.

Works on a major road that critics say have been repeatedly delayed has been deemed “not quick enough” by the council overseeing the works.

Concerns have been aired as a service aimed at supporting Devon’s carers will be brought under the control of a council.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after Kenton Primary School was broken into and extensive damage was caused inside the building.

Businesses, aspiring entrepreneurs, and young people across Devon can now access free business support, mentoring and advice through a range of programmes delivered across the county.

Wales & West Utilities is progressing well with its work to upgrade the gas pipes in Honiton.

People living in Exeter are being invited to help shape the City Council’s customer standards by taking part in an online workshop.

Work will begin this week on the latest stage of the Newtown Community Project, with further improvements planned to walking and cycling routes in the area.

Students, staff and families at Matford Brook Academy are celebrating its first Ofsted inspection, with inspectors highlighting a strong sense of belonging, positive relationships and an ambitious curriculum.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is running its Top 3 campaign for a second year, highlighting the leading causes of fatal crashes among 17-24-year-olds and encouraging new young drivers, their passengers and their parents or carers to take practical steps to reduce these risks.

People are being encouraged to make that extra effort to recycle more during national Recycle Week and beyond.

Devon & Cornwall Police neighbourhood policing teams, working alongside university welfare teams and street marshals, will be carrying out patrols in popular nightlife spots during fresher’s welcome weeks to make sure thousands of new and returning students feel safe while out and about in the evenings.

Police are appealing for witness and information following a serious road traffic collision that occurred on 31 August at around 1pm on the A30 near Yarcombe.

A spill of partially treated sewage in Exmouth has renewed the focus on the resilience of the town’s sewer system.

The organisers of the Devon Truck Show are revving up their plans for 2027 early after securing permission for live music and alcohol sales.

Critics have expressed anger about a body that decides whether speed limits on Devon roads should be reduced because of their claim the process is “secret”.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Alison Hernandez, has confirmed that Chief Constable James Vaughan has agreed to remain in role ensuring stable leadership of Devon & Cornwall Police until August 2028.

Young adults, particularly university students, remain at increased risk from meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, with new figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) showing that Meningitis B (MenB) was responsible for 97% of invasive meningococcal disease cases in 15 to 24-year-olds (93 of 96 cases) in England during 2025 to 2026.

Ten drivers suspected of drink driving have been arrested following a weekend of enforcement activity.

Devon County Council will defer a decision to issue judicial review proceedings in order to seek further clarification from government.

Exeter is tying up its laces for the city’s first ever walking festival.

A six-week series of free online sessions about inclusive employment will get underway next week as part of Devon’s Connect to Work programme.

A predicted overspend of £88 million just this year in Devon’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) service highlights the urgency of anticipated national reforms, it has been claimed.

Pressure over dust from quarries and its impact on residents has led to a pledge from Devon’s largest council to work out who should be monitoring it.

A manipulative and violent man has been jailed for more than seven years after subjecting two women to terrifying serious assaults which left them fearing for their lives, and sending multiple women sexually explicit images.

Cranbrook Country Park and Open Spaces have secured a top honour at the BALI National Landscape Awards 2026, taking home the trophy in the “Nature Conservation & Biodiversity Enhancement” category.

From new homes and businesses to cleaner transport and industry, electricity is becoming increasingly important to the future of communities across the South West.

Heritage Open Days starts on Friday 11 September with lots to see and do in and around Exeter.

Exeter remains determined to press on with its bid to become an expanded city ‘super-council’ despite the government’s decision to pause its nationwide local authority overhaul.

Organisations across Exeter are coming together to explore how free, reliable and accessible drinking water can be made more widely available in the city.

More than 400 people across Devon and Cornwall have been fitted with electronic monitoring ‘tags’ according to the latest figures.

Devon County Council is calling on the Government to repay the costs incurred preparing for local government reorganisation (LGR) before the programme was paused.

Ofsted has recognised continued improvement in our children’s services, highlighting stronger decision-making, effective early help services and increasingly joined-up support for children and families.

People across the area are being invited to hear about advancements in neighbourhood health and care services at a public event taking place at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford) and online

Almost 45% of secondary school-aged pupils (149,067) across the South West went without a flu vaccine last winter, new figures show. UKHSA South West warns that older children are increasingly falling through the gaps in protection from flu as they move through school.

A Devon council has come under fire after charging the local health trust to put its mobile breast screening unit in its car parks.

The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum, the University of Exeter’s public museum of film and moving image, has been awarded Designation status by Arts Council England.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Alison Hernandez has said a report issued by the policing inspectorate highlights exactly why police reform must strengthen, not weaken, local accountability.

A Board has been created to provide strategic leadership, bring public sector partners together and help coordinate the infrastructure, investment and planning needed to support sustainable growth. It will play a key role in making sure Marlcombe is planned as an infrastructure-first community, with transport links, schools, healthcare and green space alongside other essential services from the outset.

Extra staff are being taken on to help make Teignbridge council’s waste and recycling services more reliable.

A rise in urgent dental appointments has been secured in Devon for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Devon councils have already spent millions of pounds preparing for a local government shake-up which has just been put on ice.

It has been another busy summer, with Sidmouth lifeguards responding to a wide range of incidents both on the beach and in the water. From treating more than 40 minor injuries in a single weekend - including weever fish stings, jellyfish stings, cuts and grazes - to managing medical emergencies, the team has been there when people needed them most.

Messages promoting a supposed premium service called "WhatsApp Gold" are circulating once more.

Whizz Kidz is warning that young wheelchair users are still being shut out of key parts of school life, as its latest frontline data shows satisfaction with school-related activities at just 2.5 out of 10 before they receive the right wheelchair

Older and vulnerable people are seeing millions of pounds stolen from them with the fraud committed by those closest to them, according to new figures released today.

South Western Railway (SWR) has become White Ribbon accredited for its action to tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG).

Sidmouth is gearing up for an uplifting new addition to its events calendar with the launch of Sidmouth Health and Wellbeing Week, running from 12–19 September. Designed to energise, inspire and bring the community together, the week will showcase the very best of Sidmouth’s growing wellbeing scene, from movement and mindfulness to creativity and connection.

Devon’s High Sheriff Mark Ansell has made Restorative Justice the focus of his year in office and is bringing together key stakeholders from across the criminal justice system to look at how to increase the numbers of victims and offenders accessing it.

Demolition work is set to begin at Rennes House in Exeter this week, marking an important milestone in the regeneration of the Whipton Gardens area and paving the way for a new generation of energy-efficient council homes.

A massive overhaul of Devon’s councils could be scrapped under a review set to be confirmed in Parliament.

Two youths arrested for the arson attack on Poltimore House in 2024 will now face prosecution following an initial decision not to prosecute by the CPS has been overturned .

Women from across Devon are being invited to volunteer as mentors to help year nine schoolgirls build confidence, raise aspirations and explore future career opportunities.

Devon residents are being encouraged to help change the narrative on suicide this World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) by learning how to start supportive conversations, recognising when someone may be struggling, and knowing where to find help and support.

The rural ‘rump’ of Devon left behind after the coming reorganisation of local councils may never be sustainable, according to one of the county’s MPs.

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.