SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2026
Quayside Shanty & Heritage Harbour Festival
Free event with performances by more than twenty shanty bands from across the South West.
EXETER QUAY
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SATURDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2026
Free event with performances by more than twenty shanty bands from across the South West.
EXETER QUAY
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Department for Transport project cost cap defeats purpose of investment as Devon County Council consults on design which will build in routine traffic disruption for 60+ years on route intended to deliver strategic road network resilience.
Union threatens strike action if university does not abandon scheme to make 150 academic staff redundant while putting more than 500 staff at risk and jeopardising 85% of humanities, arts and social sciences faculty.
Subsidiary of US-based Cannae Holdings buys Sandy Park stadium club from Exeter Rugby Group following vote in favour of proposed takeover by club members.
Pennon Group report shows Susan Davy received almost £6.8 million – including “personal security-related allowance” – during five years and five months as company CEO before December 2025 departure – then another £845,000.
Charity says women’s homelessness often hidden from view because of “fears around safety, harassment, and gender-based violence” in report following publication of city council snapshot count which recorded five-fold rise in rough sleeper numbers.
Financing for second phase yet to be found as adjacent Rennes House demolition costs rise to £1 million and Exeter City Living reports year-end loss in residual Guildhall flats management role.
Sentencing in second case awaited, scope of third legal action expanded and Devon County Council announces desire to pursue company through courts on same day Pennon Group reports £135 million underlying pre-tax profits in 2025-26.
Department for Transport project cost cap defeats purpose of investment as Devon County Council consults on design which will build in routine traffic disruption for 60+ years on route intended to deliver strategic road network resilience.
Just 85 invitation-only workshop attendees consulted during development of yet another city council strategy without a delivery plan.
Survey inviting feedback on city council word salad arrives two years late, following second UK City of Culture bid failure, with delivery plan outsourced to secretive, unelected sub-committee.
, updated
Charges for waterways access are set to be imposed from the quay and canal basin to the coast under proposed Harbour Revision Order powers after six years of rising costs propelled by pursuit of Port Marine Safety Code compliance. They risk driving away craft of all sizes, from kayaks to yachts, while redevelopment threatens canalside land – but it’s not too late to change course.
, updated
Rejection of voluntary and community sector calls for more inclusive response follows thirteen-year council failure to comply with legal duties under crime and disorder legislation in relation to Exeter Community Safety Partnership.
Exeter Observer analysis finds more students living in city centre than residents as council bid to include PBSA in housing delivery figures weakens local planning policy – but does not remove it from decision-making altogether.
, updated
Five gas boilers to provide 80% of “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields plant generation capacity for distribution to institutional consumers through privately-run 13-mile underground network expected to take ten years to complete.
Pennon Group report shows Susan Davy received almost £6.8 million – including “personal security-related allowance” – during five years and five months as company CEO before December 2025 departure – then another £845,000.
Leigh Curtis is deputy editor of Exeter Observer and a director of its publisher Exeter Observer Limited.
She writes most of our community and culture stories as well as news reports and contributes to features and investigations.
Leigh holds a degree in Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London. She leads on marketing and also manages our finances and administration.
She is an accredited UK press card holder and a member of the National Union of Journalists.
Martin Redfern is Exeter Observer’s editor and a director of its publisher Exeter Observer Limited.
He writes many of our news stories and features, leads on investigations and maintains the Exeter Observer website.
Martin holds a masters degree in Journalism with distinction at Birkbeck, University of London.
He is an accredited UK press card holder and a member of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and the Society of Editors.
