Independent, investigative, in the public interest Upgrade to paid
NEWS
South West Water fined £2.15 million for environmental offences
Martin Redfern
South West Water has been fined £2.15 million and ordered to pay £280,000 costs after pleading guilty to thirteen environmental offences committed between July 2016 and August 2020 across Devon and Cornwall, the largest fine imposed for such offences in the region.
The company allowed toxic chemicals to escape into waterways on several occasions, causing significant environmental damage.
A single spill at Kilmington led to the deaths of thousands of fish in the River Axe, including protected species. It also pumped raw sewage into rivers and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Independent, investigative, in the public interest
Exeter Observer publishes the independent investigative journalism our local democracy needs.
It can do this because it is the city's only news organisation that doesn't have to answer to advertisers, remote shareholders or those in power.
Instead, its not-for-profit public interest business model is simple.
It depends on readers like you to sustain our reporting by contributing a small amount each month.
Lots of people currently chip in like this, but it's not enough to cover our costs. We need more paying subscribers to continue publishing.
127 of the 300 readers we need have signed up so far. Help us reach our goal by joining them today, if you haven't already.
Upgrade to a paid Exeter Observer subscription from less than £2/week to support our work and get access to exclusive premium content and more.
Exeter College and Petroc merger set to create largest college group in South West
Colleges hold public consultation on creation of new organisation which they say would educate 16,000 students at Exeter and North Devon campuses and employ 2,000 staff with £100 million turnover.
Proposals to replace Clarendon House with 297-bed student accommodation complex submitted for approval
Developer Zinc Real Estate arrives at final proposal for up to ten storey Paris Street roundabout redevelopment after nearly two years of informal public consultations and meetings with city councillors and officers.
Barley Lane greenfield plans place persistent threat to Exeter’s north and north-west hills in spotlight
Council inability to identify sufficient land to meet government housing delivery targets leaves residents with faint hope of local plan policies preventing Nadder Park Road ridgeline development despite 175 public objections to scheme.
Unaudited 2024-25 city council accounts published for annual inspection period
Special information access rights enabling residents to examine records apply until 6 October after asset revaluation delayed publication from 1 July to 26 August.
Pre-application feedback sought on proposals for six storey Summerland Street student accommodation block
Redevelopment of Unit 1 nightclub and Best Tyre Auto Centre in Verney Street would add 180 beds to 1,575 student bedspaces in immediate area on top of 145 studios in consented but unbuilt Summerland Street “co-living” block.
, updated
McCarthy Stone set to build 36 retirement flats on Heavitree school playing field
Proposals prompting concerns about loss of green space and adverse impact on historic character of conservation area follow redevelopment of former Bramdean School in Homefield Road.
On Our Radar
WEDNESDAY 1 TO SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 2025
Two Moors Festival
Chamber music festival celebrates 25th anniversary with performances, talks and workshops across fifteen venues.
DARTMOOR, EXMOOR & SURROUNDS
SATURDAY 4 OCTOBER TO SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2025
Play Interact Explore
Theatre Alibi hosts an interactive exhibition suitable for all ages created by artists Leap then Look.
EMMANUEL HALL
SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2025
Nature’s Resources
A programme of six short animated films explores the relationship between humans and non-human species.
