Local News

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.

Learning Academy Partnership SEND Team Highly Commended in National Teaching Awards ++ Devon Trust Recognised Nationally for Transforming Support for Children with SEND ++

This Men's Health Week, Millbrook Village in Exeter is seeking to change that. Operated by Inspired Villages, the retirement community has launched a programme designed to bring male residents together through shared activities and social opportunities.

Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, has warned that recent events in Essex highlight the risks of ignoring expert financial and operational assessments when determining how councils are reorganised.

There’s still time for people to have their say on two major strategies that will guide the city’s cultural development and future of the city centre in the coming years. 

Torbay Council’s administration has come under fire after agreeing to hand £7.5million to Exeter’s health trust to help create new facilities in the city.

The University of Exeter has achieved its highest-ever position in the QS World University Rankings, rising 19 places to 136th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027.

People have a chance to give their views on improvements to three play areas in Exeter.

Angry householders on an Exeter estate have been left in the lurch by the demise of the site’s developers.

Scammers pretending to be from local authorities have been sending texts claiming that the recipient has an unpaid parking fine.

Police are appealing for the public’s help to trace a 33-year-old woman from the Axminster area who is sought on a failure to appear at court warrant.

Drivers using one of Exeter’s main city centre car parks have been warned not to leave their cars there as demolition work goes on next door – or they won’t be able to get them out again!.

Efforts to tackle retail crime and antisocial behaviour, including within the night time economy in the region, are improving thanks to the continued development of a coordinated Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP), which has already achieved some strong results.

Sidmouth Airshow lineup announcement which promises a great day in Sidmouth and a chance to win some fantastic prizes!

Work to create new paddling pools in Heavitree is to begin shortly after ageing infrastructure forced the current pools to close for the summer, the City Council has revealed.

Police are working with the hospitality trade this summer to raise awareness of child exploitation.

A care home manager has been ordered to pay £4090.00, by Exeter Magistrates' Court, after failing to provide safe care and treatment to service users resulting in avoidable harm.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester, Royal Vice-Patron of The Almshouse Association, officially opened the new "Feoffee Rise" almshouse development in Ottery St Mary yesterday, marking a significant milestone in the Charity’s nearly 600-year history.

A disused toilet block looks set to be demolished to help create extra parking spaces in an East Devon town.

A Devon council has apologised for causing unnecessary alarm by publishing a list of the ‘family silver’ it is thinking of selling off.

Green councillors in Exeter are calling on the city council to ‘seize the moment’ by turning its derelict bus station site into a new market place.

A new county-wide initiative is encouraging more people to become volunteer drivers and helping Community Transport Schemes attract the volunteers they need to support local communities.

Neighbourhood Policing Week is being marked across Devon and Cornwall, shining a spotlight on the essential work carried out by local policing teams and the strong relationships they build every day within communities

A new chapter is beginning for one of Sidmouth’s most recognisable buildings, with Sidmouth Town Council spearheading the revitalisation of the historic Market Place Building in the heart of the town centre.

Devon County Council has approved a major investment programme to strengthen support for children and young people in schools across the county.

People in Exeter are being asked to make one small change to their usual journey on Clean Air Day, Thursday 18 June.

Three former Royal Marines from the Westcountry have completed one of the world’s toughest treks with the dual aim of raising £100,000 for RMA-The Royal Marines Charity and raising awareness of its suicide prevention campaign. They were supported by around a hundred people who completed their own challenges.

On Sunday, 14 June, 2026, at 2.08pm, Exmouth RNLI were tasked by H.M. Coastguard to assist a fishing vessel with a fouled prop.

The exceptional work being carried out Devon & Cornwall Police officers, staff and volunteers has been celebrated during the third Recognition of Excellence in Policing Awards.

Unfortunately, overnight on Saturday someone felt that it was ok to break into the Topsham outdoor pool and steal takings as well as causing damage to the building and equipment.