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TOP STORIES
INFORMATION COMMISSIONER TO INVESTIGATE UNIVERSITY OVER STUDENT ACCOMMODATION NUMBERS REFUSAL
Compliance failure follows university admission that nearly 39,000 students based at Exeter campuses in 2021-22, suggesting around three quarters of city’s private rented housing stock occupied by students.
STAGECOACH ESCAPES MAJOR SANCTIONS OVER SERVICE FAILURES
Traffic commissioner decides four days of free weekend travel in Exeter Plus ticket zone is sufficient penalty for poor performance despite public inquiry hearing severe criticism of company.
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER STAFF STRIKE IN LARGEST WALKOUT IN SECTOR HISTORY
Dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions continues as universities generate record income.
MOTOR VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE CONTINUES TO DOMINATE DEVON TRANSPORT SPENDING
New active travel infrastructure to receive just 5% share of capital allocations this year and next, with new roads capital expenditure to increase from 74% to 86%.
ON THE AGENDA
NEW EXETER LOCAL PLAN
The city council’s consultation on the outline draft version of its new local plan, which will guide development in Exeter until 2040, ends on Monday.
HOMELESSNESS AND ROUGH SLEEPING PREVENTION STRATEGY
The city council is also consulting on a new draft homelessness and rough sleeping prevention strategy for 2023-27. An online survey runs until 16 December when the draft strategy will be updated before a final version is published in February next year.
DEVON ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STRATEGY
The county council consultation on its draft electric vehicle charging strategy also closes on 16 December. The strategy will form part of an emerging Local Transport Plan for the area.
ON OUR RADAR
SATURDAY 3 DECEMBER // ST. LEONARD’S CHRISTMAS FAIR
Magdalen Road market returns for its eleventh year with festive food, music and gifts.
THURSDAY 8 TO SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER // WEIRD WOMEN
Exeter Drama Company presents an original play about three sisters who share a dark secret.
SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER & FRIDAY 6 JANUARY // TWO CONCERTS BY CANDLELIGHT
Pianist Alex Wilson plays traditional festive music from around the world at Christmastime.
WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER // SPORK! CHRISTMAS SPECIAL
Poetry, comedy and live music from Joelle Taylor, Luke Wright, BopaRhys and friends plus carols from the Exeter Railway Band.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
RECLAIM THE NIGHT PROTEST AGAINST SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND HARASSMENT OF WOMEN AND GIRLS IN PUBLIC SPACE
Exeter event takes place after survey finding that 85% felt unsafe or very unsafe when walking alone in city centre at night, with police figures showing violent and sexual offences exceed 35% of all recorded crime in city.
UNIVERSITY HOLDS PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON 1,700 BED WEST PARK REDEVELOPMENT DESIGN
Outline plans to demolish 30 buildings and construct 50,000m2 of student accommodation on fifteen acre Streatham campus site did not comply with university or council environmental policies.
CLIMATE ACTION HUB OPENS IN EXETER CITY CENTRE
A dedicated climate crisis information and resource centre opens in an empty Princesshay retail unit to provide events, meeting space, film screenings and drop-in advice and support.
FIGURES SHOW DECLINING EXETER WALKING AND CYCLING RATES AS ACTIVE TRAVEL DELIVERY FALLS BY THE WAYSIDE
County council plans to remove Queen Street active travel infrastructure despite road space reallocation commitments expose equivocal city transport policy aim.
PINHOE, ST. LOYE’S AND TOPSHAM ALL IN NEW EXETER EAST AND EXMOUTH CONSTITUENCY UNDER REVISED CHANGES
Final boundary commission consultation follows city council proposal to move marginal Pinhoe to safe Conservative seat and keep Priory Labour stronghold in city.
