HEADLINES
Devon & Torbay CCA sets sail for regional democratic deficit with £500,000 crew
Combined county authority throws public accountability overboard as future regional strategic governance body ratifies constitution at inaugural meeting but fails to explain why so many staff needed to deliver so little at such colossal cost. Read more.
Sidwell Street Post Office to close as WHSmith shops sale raises risk of Exeter city centre counter service disappearance
Closure follows loss of Exeter’s last Crown Post Office in Bedford Street, since when all city branches operated by franchisees or independent businesses. Read more.
Devon & Cornwall Police complaints handling “not good enough by a long way”
Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez criticises force for poor performance but statutory report also finds poor commissioner’s office complaint appeals performance. Read more.
LOCAL ELECTIONS
Help hold Devon’s political parties and politicians to account during the 2025 local elections
Send us any campaign materials you receive so we can fact-check candidates’ claims and hold them to their pledges after the votes have been counted. Read more.
ON OUR RADAR
2025 Topsham Music Festival // Various venues
Three day event features jazz, percussion and classical music played by young professional musicians from across the country. More details.
Festa Di Liberazione // Kaleider
Italian Cultural Association Exeter hosts a day of music, dance, poetry and Italian culture. More details.
City Slam 2025 // Exeter Phoenix
Exeter City of Literature, Taking the Mic and Spork! co-host a third city-wide spoken-word poetry competition. More details.
Czech Classics // Exeter Cathedral
Isca Ensemble and chorus perform a programme by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. More details.
BELOW THE FOLD
City council holds sham Northbrook swimming pool closure consultation
£600,000 Exeter Leisure services budget cut signed off two weeks before pool consultation opened as St Sidwell’s Point drains other council leisure sites. Read more.
Met Office to sell Exeter Science Park supercomputer and office buildings
Disposal motivated by replacement of nine year-old supercomputer with £1.2 billion government-funded off-site Microsoft facility. Read more.
Annual city council rough sleeper count “consistently underestimates” extent of Exeter rough sleeping
Homelessness charity St Petrock’s calls on council to change count methodology which identifies fewer rough sleepers than those known by outreach workers and reflected in government figures. Read more.
