Independent, investigative, in the public interest  Upgrade to paid

THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #75: County council financial peril - Exeter Energy Network evasion - Danny Barnes absences - Chief constables cost - Misspent lottery money

With our pick of upcoming local community and culture highlights and a recap of the top stories from our previous edition.

HEADLINES

Devon County Council reveals perilous financial state with SEND spending having “significant impact” on cash balances

5.9% budget increase for 2025-26 conceals £22 million cuts and £66 million cost increases with “inevitable” impact on “vital” services. Read more.

Exeter Energy insists Riverside Valley Park only viable heat plant site but fails to explain Marsh Barton brownfield rejection

Company admits River Exe water source connection merely “potential” after 2036, incinerator connection only “possible” after 2030 and solar array “will not” meet plant electricity demand while statutory objections challenge Grace Road Fields plans. Read more.

Councillor misses 12 of 14 meetings to leave Heavitree & Whipton Barton without County Hall representation for over a year

Dates of two public rights of way committee meetings attended by Danny Barnes – neither conducting Exeter business – meant no by-election held despite Labour councillor missing all meetings of Devon County Council since December 2023. Read more.

Three Devon & Cornwall Police chief constables costing £64,000 per month

Police and Crime Commissioner seeks Home Office help with wage bill equating to £767,000 a year resulting from suspension of two chief constables in 18 months. Read more.

Exeter Community Lottery income spent on gambling licence fees and costs despite council marketing and point of sale claims

Materially misleading claims that 60% of ticket sales revenue goes to good causes repeatedly made on lottery website and in official council communications as Australian multinational profits from local voluntary and community sector support. Read more.

ON OUR RADAR

2025 International Women’s Festival // Exeter Phoenix

A free one-day festival celebrating women with live music, art, workshops, panel discussions and more. More details.

Four Seasons // Emmanuel Hall

Little Bulb uses music, puppetry and clowning to tell a Vivaldi-inspired family-friendly tale. More details.

Titus Andronicus // St Nicholas Priory

Lightbear Lane hosts a reading of Shakespeare’s bloody revenge tale. More details.

BELOW THE FOLD

Will Devon’s eleven councils find common ground as local authority reorganisation deadline looms?

A county-wide consensus is gaining traction with most Devon councils already on board and only Exeter City Council standing in its way while County Hall has yet to make up its mind. Read more.

Plans for unfunded £7 million Wonford community hub redevelopment approved

Exeter City Council approves own planning application to demolish, rebuild and part-refurbish existing community and sports facilities beside Ludwell Valley Park. Read more.

Devon County Council plans more bus priority schemes aimed at improving journey times in Exeter arterial roads

Schemes in Alphington Road, Barrack Road, Cowley Bridge Road, Honiton Road, Topsham Road and at Exe Bridges gyratory to follow Cowick Street, Heavitree Road, Pinhoe Road and New North Road changes. Read more.

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.

129 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.

Upgrade to paid

More stories
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.

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.

Nadder Park Road application site location map

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.

Illustrative elevation of proposed student block in Summerland Street, Exeter

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

Former Bramdean School playing field

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
Two Moors Festival musicians performing

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

Play Interact Explore installation

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

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