Local News

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is urging people heading to the coast to choose a lifeguarded beach and remember essential water safety advice, as the south west experience another prolonged period of hot and sunny weather.

Dates have been set for a major public inquiry which will decide one of Devon’s longest-running planning wrangles.

Residents are being asked to give their views on life in Exeter and the services they receive in the Council’s annual Residents’ Survey.

The leader of Devon County Council is calling on the Government to scrap its restructuring of councils across England, arguing the money set aside to implement the changes would be better directed toward tackling youth unemployment and improving essential services.

Devon County Council are urging residents with food allergies to take extra care when ordering takeaway meals from curry houses after 78 per cent of food outlets tested by Trading Standards failed allergen tests

Exmouth’s Cranford Club has emerged victorious in its efforts to build homes on some of its disused tennis courts and to embark on an overhaul of facilities.

Hundreds of care experienced children and young people have been recognised for their achievements at the annual Celebration of Achievement awards.

Volunteers led a South Devon Special Constabulary traffic day with the aim of educating drivers and saving lives.

People in Exeter are being asked for their views on a set of charges set to be introduced for help and advice for those about to submit planning applications.

Lloyds set to restore cheque deposits at Post Offices after campaign backed by Devon County Council.

An award-winning Devon cheerleading team can celebrate in style after being given the go-ahead to move to a new home.

Honiton could get its first McDonald’s if newly submitted plans to transform an outgoing vehicle dealership into a 24-hour drive-thru are given the thumbs-up.

The risk of wayward golf balls appears to have dashed the chances of a Devon town’s youth football club securing a vital new home.

Those sleeping rough in Exeter are being given extra help to deal with the hot weather.

A decision to reject plans for retirement homes on a former sports field in the heart of Exeter may have paved the way for an ambitious community green project.

An Amber Heat-Health Alert has been issued for the South West and will be in place from 9am on Wednesday 8 July until 9pm on Sunday 12 July.

Sidmouth have officially entered the competition to become the UK Town of Culture 2028!

Exeter College has announced the winners of its 2026 Academic Awards, recognising the outstanding achievements of first-year learners across the College.

Around a million families are being urged to protect their children against the spread of measles and other potentially deadly childhood illnesses, as part of a new NHS vaccination drive.

Plans for up to 75 homes in a major Devon town that have already been approved look set to undergo a second round of scrutiny.

Exeter’s MP says decision-makers at County Hall are missing a trick by rebuilding two landmark bridges without making room for bikes, boats and barges.

Residents who are fighting a prospective monster housing development on the edge of Exmouth are urging the public to attend a vital information session.

Devon’s longest-running roads wrangle could be settled next week, with cars likely to be allowed back into a long-closed suburban street.

A sharp rise in e-bike and e-scooter use is driving a worrying increase in battery fires. Trading Standards is urging people and businesses to act now to stay safe.

Police are appealing for witnesses and footage following a fatal road traffic collision on Pennsylvania Road at the junction with Stoke Valley Road in Exeter.

Ottery St Mary has officially entered the competition to become the UK’s Town of Culture 2028!

A county-wide mayoralty for Devon could unlock billions of pounds in investment and boost the local economy by at least 10% over the next decade, according to Devon County Council Leader Councillor Julian Brazil.

A Devon town sports club has double-billing at an upcoming planning debate with proposals for new homes in its grounds and the expansion of sports facilities.

Works to build a new storm storage tank in Sidmouth have been completed as part of a major project by South West Water to improve the town’s sewage network and reduce the use of storm overflows.

Residents are being asked to share their views on plans to improve air quality in Exeter.

People in Exeter can look forward to a summer of fun, community and togetherness, at a series of events across the city and beyond.

Alcohol Awareness Week this year is all about “alcohol and me”. Alcohol is often made to feel central to everyday moments – from birthdays and barbeques to celebrations with friends – and this year’s campaign invites everyone to pause and reflect on the role alcohol is playing in their lives.

A former status symbol hotel that would have been coveted when a Devon seaside town was at its prime looks like it could be turned into apartments.

The risk of “wayward golf balls” has been given as a reason for recommending that plans for a new pitch for a Devon town’s community football club be refused.

Four new business units at Merchant Avenue in Exmouth are now fully occupied, providing high-quality premises for small and growing businesses and helping to strengthen the local economy.

With a yellow heat health alert in place for the South West, from 12pm on Saturday 4 July until 5pm on Wednesday 8 July, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has provided public health advice on reducing the risk of illness when swimming in open water.

Royal Devon Hospitals Charity has launched a new fundraising appeal to bring cutting-edge radiotherapy technology to cancer patients across Devon — eliminating the need for tattoos, reducing treatment times, and giving patients a more comfortable experience during one of the most difficult periods of their lives.

Impressive young mathematicians from the South West have been honoured for their brilliant work investigating the universe’s most pressing problems at a special ceremony.

Police forces across the South West have successfully concluded Operation Scorpion 15 (OS15), a regionally coordinated crackdown on drug-related criminality, delivering significant results in tackling supply, protecting communities and strengthening public confidence.

Teignbridge District Council is set to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse or intimidation directed at councillors and staff.

Police are appealing for witnesses and further victims following an assault in Exeter.

An altercation between people understood to be Travellers and a member of the public in an Exeter park has been caught on film.

Residents living in or people visiting the South West who are planning to spend time outdoors this summer are being urged to be tick-aware

A local artist is asking people across Devon to share their memories and experiences of the Disability Arts movement as part of a national heritage project.

Working in partnership with Beer Sailing Club , and supported by Beer Regatta , around 150 metres of new Supa-Trac beach matting has now been laid on the west/south side of the beach at Beer.

Police are appealing to the public for assistance identifying this man in relation to an assault in Teignmouth.

New funding will help Exeter City Council tackle the sticky issue of chewing gum on the city’s streets.

A Devon MP has said “serious questions” need to be tackled over the debacle that will see a brand-new but unused school building in Exeter demolished.

The Exeter branch of an education union fighting possible staff cuts at the city’s university has said its “biggest ever” meeting voted in favour of a no confidence vote against the vice chancellor.

A prolific thief who stole items worth more than £1,500 from shops across South Devon and Exeter has been sent to prison following a coordinated effort between police and local businesses working in partnership to tackle retail crime.

Queen Elizabeth’s School (QE) has taken an important step in the development of College House by bringing together local organisations, community representatives, staff, governors and students for the inaugural Community Panel meeting.

Devon is set to host its very first Deaf Day, bringing together the whole community for a celebration of Deaf culture, awareness, and support services.

The University is part of a major £9.7m investment from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to strengthen clinical research careers across the UK.

Police are appealing for witnesses following an assault in Dawlish.

Teignbridge District Council is updating its hackney carriage (taxi) and private hire licensing policy to strengthen public safety and improve environmental sustainability.

An ambitious plan has been lodged by a pair of developers that could see their entire 150-homes scheme offering only affordable properties.

Cyclists, drivers and pedestrians are planning to stage a demonstration at an Exeter roundabout they have dubbed a ‘notorious near-miss hotspot’.

Police are seeking the public’s help to trace a 30-year-old wanted man from Exeter.

The South West has the highest childhood vaccination coverage in England across every measure reported in new provisional data published last week by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), offering encouraging signs as the region leads the way in protecting children against serious diseases.

Students from Exmouth Community College (ECC) have been gaining invaluable insight into the world of professional dance through a series of inspiring workshops led by former student Hattie Musgrove and university dance lecturer Kuldip Singh-Barmi.

Devon & Cornwall Police is supporting of ASB Awareness Week 2026, a national campaign led by Resolve, the UK’s leading organisation on community safety and anti-social behaviour (ASB) running from 29 June – 5 July, encouraging reporting of ASB to promote safer communities.

Newton Abbot’s historic role as one of the south west’s key trading hubs has been given a major boost following the completion of the town’s newly regenerated Market Hall.

The next stage of public engagement for the Budleigh Salterton beach and cliff management plan will take place in July, with a public engagement event for residents and interested members of the community.

Residents in Devon will soon be able to use their libraries for longer, as new Open Plus technology is introduced across the county.

Devon is readying a plea to the presumptive prime minister Andy Burnham to request a mayor for the county.

Campaigners fighting to save an Exeter city centre green space have had their hopes of taking it over dashed.

Delays in delivering the nationwide New Hospitals Programme have triggered a controversial decision to move some of Torbay Hospital’s services to Exeter.

Exeter College has been ranked among the top 10 state-funded further education colleges in the country for improving GCSE English and Maths grades among its learners, while for vulnerable learners it’s ranked in the top 3.

NHS Devon is celebrating the success of its first pioneering Community Appointment Day in Exmouth which, amongst other initiatives supported by the elective care team, has helped drive a dramatic reduction in waiting times for people needing musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy services across east Devon.

Devon County Council have secured government funding to design a new secure children’s home in Devon.

A cut in the number of buses serving Dawlish is leaving passengers stranded, according to a local councillor.

A man has been jailed for 10-and-a-half years plus five years on extended licence after violently attacking a female officer in the course of her duty.

Even more homes could be bolted onto the edge of Topsham as a plan for up to 35 homes has been submitted.

More than £25 million has been raised by Devon’s councils through double-charging council tax on holiday homes as some of those forking out the extra cash brand it “totally unjust”.

Nearly 10,000 people have signed a petition calling on the government to step in and save Devon’s own ‘Little Poland’.

Plans to turn Exeter's former bus station into a temporary car park have been dropped after costs proved too high. Green councillors are urging the Labour-led council to abandon the idea and press ahead with finding a long-term use for the site.

The surgery said “sustained patient list growth” meant new registrations had increased by 11.8 per cent between April 2024 and 2025, followed by another 8 per cent hike between last year and this year, and now it wants to put three temporary modular units on its site.

Devon County Council is seeking support from neighbouring councils as it explores legal action against South West Water over ongoing concerns about sewage discharges and declining water quality across the county.

Police are investigating an attack in an alleyway off Smallcombe Road between 6pm and 7.30pm on Wednesday 8 April, reported on 17 May. Officers have released an E-Fit image of a person they wish to identify as part of their enquiries.

Over recent weekends, underage youths have been drinking alcohol and using drugs in Dawlish Warren, with some needing hospital treatment. Hot weather has attracted large groups travelling from towns along the local train line.

Devon & Cornwall Police passive drugs dog Skye joined specialist handler PC Steve Waters in an operation on 19 June. They were supported by the Special Constabulary, Neighbourhood Support Team, Licensing Team and Teignbridge Council ASB Officer.

The four-legged residents of The Donkey Sanctuary are benefitting from a unique recycling initiative, with road sweeper brushes being repurposed as back scratchers. 

Youngsters at Cranbrook Education Campus are enjoying hands-on learning in nature as a new pre-school garden project begins to flourish, thanks to generous donations of plants, bulbs, seeds and compost.

A young Devon archaeologist has been recognised by Budleigh Salterton’s Fairlynch Museum for her work researching, studying and discovering Devon’s past.

The city’s executive has unanimously approved bringing Market Street multi-storey car park back in-house as a pay-and-display facility. It was previously operated by NCP, which entered administration in March, citing a decline in business since the Covid pandemic.

More than 500 health workers at an Exeter-based health trust have put themselves forward for voluntary redundancy amid efforts by bosses to cut costs.

Exeter City Council has activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) in response to high temperatures and strong sunshine. Sun cream and extra water supplies will be available at supported accommodation providers Gabriel House and Prospects.

The funding will provide £75,000 in 2026/27 and £75,000 in 2027/28 to help the organisation continue delivering essential advice and support services for residents. Members of Executive expressed strong support for Citizens Advice Exeter during the meeting. 

The centre began as a pilot project supporting residents aged 50+. It has since expanded to handle calls from the public and professionals across services including highways, children’s social work, registrars, SEND, Blue Badge and more.

Students from Exmouth Community College (ECC) have rolled up their sleeves to help protect their local coastline, removing 5.5kg of plastic and other waste from Exmouth Beach as part of a special environmental action day.

A proposed £3 million project to upgrade play parks across Teignbridge is one step closer to being given the green light after being reviewed by the Teignbridge District Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday (June 16).

With hot weather affecting the South West, we’re asking the public to check-in on neighbours, friends and family – especially those who may be more vulnerable or isolated – to make sure they are safe and well.

Work is underway on a new extra care housing development in Cranbrook that will provide 58 affordable homes for older people and those with additional support needs.

Devon & Cornwall Police are appealing for the help of the public to identify this man in relation to a report of upskirting in Dawlish Warren. It was reported on the afternoon of 30 May a man was seen secretly recording people near to the seafront.

Officers were called at around 2.25pm on Sunday 21st June 2026, to a report of a collision on A376, between Clyst St Mary and Clyst St George, on the southbound carriageway. The collision involved a black Honda motorcycle and a grey BMW estate car.

Devon & Cornwall Police are appealing for witnesses after a serious collision on the A396 at Stoke Cannon, Devon. The crash happened around midday on 20 June and involved a Triumph motorcycle and a silver Vauxhall Astra. Information sought.

Speaking outside 10 Downing Street, Sir Kier Starmer said he had listened to the concerns of Labour MPs and believed stepping aside was in the best interests of the country and the party. He pledged to support his successor during the transition period.

Exeter residents are being informed that Harlequins car park in the city centre will be permanently closing to the public from 25 June.

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.

Police are appealing for witnesses following a series of thefts targeting electric vehicle charging points at locations across East Devon.

Students and staff at Queen Elizabeth’s School are celebrating after a recent Ofsted inspection graded the school ‘expected standard’ in the areas of achievement, attendance and behaviour, curriculum and teaching, inclusion, leadership and governance and personal development and wellbeing.

The detonator of an explosive shell was discovered at Brunel Road Household Waste Recycling Centre in Newton Abbot on Sunday (14 June 2026), the second such find at the facility in just a week.

Jonathan Brothers, of Fairfield Road, Exeter, pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance on February 24 this year.