Independent, investigative, in the public interest  Upgrade to paid

NEWS

Just Stop Oil protests arrive in Exeter

Slow march from Sidwell Street to Northernhay Gardens first action in city by group calling for end to UK fossil fuel exploration, development and production.

Martin Redfern

Around 30 Just Stop Oil protestors slow-marched through the city centre on Saturday in the first of what are expected to be regular Exeter protests against UK fossil fuel exploration, development and production.

The climate activist group is calling for the UK government to stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects in the British Isles.

Since its foundation in February last year it has gained significant media coverage of protests that have included blockading oil terminals, disrupting sporting and cultural events and obstructing traffic by walking slowly in the highway.

University of Exeter student Eddie Whittingham notably interrupted the World Snooker Championship in April by climbing onto a snooker table and throwing orange powder into the air, then disrupted his own graduation ceremony last month in similar style.

Just Stop Oil Exeter protest march Just Stop Oil Exeter protest march in Sidwell Street. Photo: Josiah Martin.

Saturday’s slow march took an hour to progress from Sidwell Street to Northernhay Gardens, following the group’s policy of making way for public transport, emergency service vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

Devon & Cornwall Police issued a section 12 notice under the new Public Order Act before the march reached the High Street, compelling the protesters to continue on the pavement through Princesshay shopping centre and along Queen Street.

Just Stop Oil Exeter protest banner Just Stop Oil Exeter banner. Photo: Josiah Martin.

Just Stop Oil Exeter is hosting a talk about its actions at 6.30pm on Monday 21 August at Exeter Phoenix.

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 corporate 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 keep publishing.

135 of the 300 readers we need have signed up so far. Help us reach our goal by joining them today.

Support our work from less than £2/week and get access to exclusive premium content and more.

Upgrade to paid

More stories
Proposed revised Mary Arches Bartholomew Street East co-living block elevation

Mary Arches “co-living” developer resists “miniscule” room size criticisms as design revisions prompt further consultation

Changes include increased building footprints and removal of twelve rooms to provide eleven communal kitchens – between residents of 297 studios – while gates obstruct pedestrian thoroughfare and site’s historic setting and significance essentially ignored.

September 2025 permitted replacement scheme west elevation

Council denies data and contrives criteria to dismiss community balance concerns in third King Billy student block approval

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

Grace Road Fields in March

Botched consultation restarted on sale of 8.5 acres of Riverside Valley Park green space

Council land disposal to include rights to lay underground distribution pipework across River Exe floodplain following “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields heat plant planning approval in face of Environment Agency sequential test concerns.

Exeter College and Petroc campuses map

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.

Proposed Clarendon House student block aerial view

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.

On Our Radar
Still from How the Little Mole Got His Trousers

SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2025

Nature’s Resources

A programme of six short animated films explores the relationship between humans and non-human species.

EXETER PHOENIX

Jo Eades

FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 2025

Spork! Dead Poets Slam 2025

Halloween spoken-word special featuring Jo Eades and Samuel L. Cohen with a £100 cash prize poetry slam.

EXETER PHOENIX

Carmen with rose graphic

SATURDAY 8 & SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2025

Carmen

Exeter Opera Group performs Bizet’s tale of a free-spirited woman and her passionate and destructive love affair with a soldier.

EXETER CASTLE