THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #38: Devon transport spending - Exeter employment rate - University fossil fuel financing

Our top stories plus local news that matters, planning updates and a bumper selection of curated community and culture events.

TOP STORIES

Motor vehicle infrastructure still dominates Devon transport spending despite climate claims

2022-23 roads spending remains unchanged at 87% of total as county council diverts rail money to increase active travel capital expenditure by just 1%. Full story here.

Exeter employment rate second lowest in South West for second year running

Economic inactivity levels related to large student and retiree population remain high, creating recruitment challenges from healthcare to refuse collection, but council celebrates top retirement destination ranking as ‘more good news’. Full story here.

Just Stop Oil protest puts university fossil fuel financing under spotlight

University of Exeter tops UK fossil fuel funding table following £14.7 million deal with Shell but has more than one close relationship with major emissions producers. Full story here.

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EXETER IN BRIEF

County council to sell land and buildings worth up to £10 million to raise money and cut costs

Wedding venue Larkbeare House and gardens, County Hall residential development land and Compass House, home of adult mental health service Talkworks, among assets for disposal as part of property rationalisation programme. Read more here.

Southgate development of up to 200 new flats on Magdalen Street car park to alter Western Way gyratory

Screening opinion concludes no significant environmental impact will result from Liveable Exeter scheme. Read more here.

ON THE AGENDA

Plans for flats in back gardens of Longbrook Street student HMOs submitted for approval

Application for six-bed three-storey block on what is now car park used by commuters does not address neighbourhood plan community balance concerns. Read more here.

Revised proposals for Summerland Street ‘co-living’ block submitted

Developer of 147-bedspace six storey scheme on city council land claims it will contribute to local housing need, ensure ‘mixed and balanced communities’ and enhance the local conservation area. Read more here.

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ON OUR RADAR

Food on Film // Exeter Phoenix

The programme’s autumn season concludes with a screening of Babette’s Feast. Sunday 22 October. More details here.

Rock Against Extinction // Exeter Phoenix

An evening of music, poetry and more in aid of Climate Action Hub Exeter. Thursday 26 October. More details here.

Isca Ensemble celebration concert // Exeter Cathedral

An evening of classical music celebrating the life of Joanna Leach with soloist Ben Goldscheider in aid of local charity Hospicare. Saturday 28 October. More details here.

Kidical Mass Halloween special // Belmont Park

Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its sixth family bike ride as part of an ongoing campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families. Sunday 29 October. More details here.

Spork! Dead Poets Slam // Exeter Phoenix

An October spoken-word poetry special featuring poet and slam champion Rick Dove. Sunday 29 October. More details here.

An Audience with a Ghost Hunter // St Nicholas Priory

An immersive after dark theatre experience in Exeter’s oldest building. Tuesday 31 October to Saturday 18 November. More details here.

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More stories
Devon & Cornwall Police deputy chief constable Jim Colwell, previous chief constable Will Kerr and interim chief constable James Vaughan

Devon & Cornwall Police deputy chief constable Jim Colwell receives 18-month misconduct warning

Outcome of Independent Office for Police Conduct investigation delivered day before retirement of suspended chief constable Will Kerr announced, with Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez unwilling to say whether “golden handshake” agreed.

Newtown active travel scheme map

Newtown active travel scheme approved after four years of public consultations

Joint Devon County Council and Exeter City Council project includes road closure, car parking changes and contraflow Clifton Hill cycle lane.

South West peninsula 2025 spending review road and rail investment map

Dawlish rail resilience, Exeter A379 bridge renewal and Cullompton M5 J28 schemes all shelved after spending review

Government road and rail funding announcement billed as “the biggest boost to England's transport infrastructure in a generation” largely passes Devon and Cornwall by while leaving final phase of South West Rail Resilience Programme undelivered.

Illustrative floor plan of new redevelopment proposals

New Heavitree Road police station student accommodation and “co-living” complex proposals submitted to Exeter City council

Application for full planning permission for 813-room scheme in seven blocks follows decision to reject previously-proposed 955-room scheme in two blocks which was subsequently upheld at appeal.

Change in bus passenger journey numbers 2019-20 to 2023-24 by England local transport area bar chart

National Audit Office finds decline in Devon bus passenger journey numbers among largest in country

Devon journeys down 28% – seventh from bottom across 85 areas – while journeys in Cornwall increased by more than 40%.

Danny Barnes

Danny Barnes received full £15,000 Devon County Council allowance during 2024-25

Heavitree & Whipton Barton councillor failed to sign off £14,600 community grants after attending only two of fifteen public meetings and is alleged to have worked for Scottish Labour MP Imogen Walker since shortly after last year’s general elections.

, updated

On Our Radar
Summer at the Quayside illustration

TUESDAY 29 JULY TO FRIDAY 29 AUGUST 2025

Summer at the Quayside

A month of free family activities including weaving, felting, doodling and drumming.

EXETER QUAY

Spork! summer special

THURSDAY 31 JULY TO THURSDAY 14 AUGUST 2025

Theatre in the Park

Exeter Phoenix hosts an al fresco summer theatre season featuring Shakespeare, spoken-word poetry, puppetry and physical comedy.

ROUGEMONT GARDENS

Exeter quayside farmers market vegetables

SATURDAY 16 AUGUST 2025

Quayside Farmers’ Market

Monthly market offering local produce, hand-made goods, plants, cakes and more.

EXETER QUAY