THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #56: Grace Road Fields - Public health report

Upcoming community and culture highlights include Theatre in the Park and two independent markets.

Welcome to The Exeter Digest. Thanks for subscribing. Help us grow by sharing this newsletter with a friend and inviting them to subscribe free.

Exeter Observer can deliver the independent journalism our city needs because it is funded by readers like you. Upgrade to paid from £1.15 per week: it’s a small investment for a very big return.

NEWS & ANALYSIS

Council to sell part of Grace Road Fields for heating plant and annexe rest for Water Lane redevelopment

New Exeter Local Plan “strategic mixed use” housing policy allocation to supersede planned campsite and outdoor event space, woodland planting and new canal basin at fifteen acre ex-playing field in Riverside Valley Park. Full story here.

Number of over-65s in Devon expected to increase by a third in next twenty years

Public health report says proportion of working age adults in county will fall alongside rise in long-term health issues in older people with likely impacts on local health and social care. Full story here.

ON OUR RADAR ~ THEATRE IN THE PARK

Love Riot // Rougemont Gardens

Miracle Theatre presents an open air reimagining of a Georgian-era romantic comedy. Wednesday 31 July. More details here.

Spork! Summer Special 2024 // Rougemont Gardens

An evening of al fresco spoken-word comedy and poetry with Antosh Wojcik, Stewart Taylor and Micha Colombo. Thursday 1 August. More details here.

The Winter’s Tale // Rougemont Gardens

Sun & Moon Theatre stages four al fresco performances of Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale. Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 August. More details here.

ON OUR RADAR ~ SUMMER MARKETS

Exeter Independent Market // Cathedral Green

Exeter Cathedral market returns with handmade crafts, clothing and accessories, local food and drink and live music. Saturday 27 July. More details here.

Brillsville Market // St Thomas

Regular community-run market that offers goods from local growers, makers and traders with a repair cafe and more. Saturday 10 August. More details here.

GOOD JOURNALISM COSTS MONEY

If you like what we do and think it’s good for our city then please join our 100+ members and supporters and chip in to help cover our costs today.

Democracy doesn't work when people don't know who is deciding what on whose behalf and what the costs and consequences of those decisions will be.

Exeter Observer is proving that reader-funded media can deliver the accountable public interest news our local democracy needs. Support our work from £5 per month.

More stories
Special educational needs and disabilities protest at County Hall in February last year

County council projects £38.5m SEND overspend, £7.4m more than agreed with government under “safety valve” deal

Failure to meet agreement, which requires break-even on SEND spending within two years despite persistent overspends, would put government bail-out at risk.

Former Exeter City Council CEO appointed as Plymouth City Council growth director

New job title created for ex-CEO Karime Hassan eighteen months after Exeter councillors voted to terminate his employment.

Devon MPs voting record on the winter fuel payment motion - map

How did Devon MPs vote on the winter fuel payment motion?

Nine of Devon’s thirteen MPs voted in favour of a motion, moved in the House of Commons on Tuesday by Conservative Central Devon MP Mel Stride, to annul the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024.

Great Western Hotel beside Exeter St David's railway station

Great Western Hotel conversion proposed

An application for permission to convert the Great Western Hotel beside Exeter St David’s station for mainly residential use has been submitted to Exeter City Council for approval.

Exeter City Council Civic Centre in Paris Street

Council cuts and post-pandemic working prompt downsizing plan as small offices replace Paris Street Citypoint vision

Proposed move to Guildhall shopping centre, Phoenix arts venue and Oakwood House intended to enable Civic Centre site redevelopment as council claims £100,000 costings report and capital spending to come at “no cost to council taxpayers”.

Exeter St David’s station has least reliable passenger lifts in Devon

Exeter St David’s station has the least reliable passenger lifts in Devon, according to Network Rail figures, despite the availability of step-free access being limited to two of its six platforms.

On Our Radar