Good journalism costs money  Upgrade to paid

THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #79: 2025 local elections special

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

LOCAL ELECTIONS SPECIAL

2025 Exeter & Devon local elections guide

Devon County Council elections take place on 1 May alongside two Exeter City Council by-elections. Our essential guide explores the background to this year’s ballot and assesses the contests in each of the city’s electoral divisions and wards. Read it here.

When, where and how to vote in the 2025 Exeter local elections

Our guide to casting your ballot in person, by post and by proxy as well as voter ID requirements and new regulations for postal votes. Read it here.

ON OUR RADAR

The Slightest Gesture // Exeter Phoenix

Sculptor and installation artist Tabatha Andrews presents a new immersive exhibition. More details.

Exeter Pride 2025 // Northernhay Gardens

Exeter Pride returns for a celebration of LGBTQ+ diversity with a parade, marketplace, music, cabaret and more. More details.

Czech Classics // Exeter Cathedral

Isca Ensemble and chorus perform a programme by Czech composer Antonín Dvořák. More details.

Fore Street Flea 2025 // Fore Street

Market with stalls selling vintage items, handmade craft, food and drink plus live music from local artists returns for 2025 season. More details.

Pint of Science 2025 // Exeter city centre

Three days of talks, demonstrations and live experiments by research scientists in city centre pubs. More details.

BELOW THE FOLD

Heavitree & Whipton Barton community groups miss out on £14,600 after Danny Barnes fails to sign funding agreements

Voluntary sector grants now lost following 12% councillor attendance record highlighting need for by-elections in absentee cases. Read more.

Criminal investigation into suspended Devon & Cornwall Police Chief Constable dropped

Will Kerr to remain suspended while IOPC resumes previously paused conduct investigation and interim chief constable James Vaughan continues to lead force. Read more.

South West Water bills rise by a third following worst performance in sector with 550,000 hours of sewage spills

Tariffs increase as Environment Agency publishes damning data after South West Water owner Pennon Group issues £24.5 million in dividends to shareholders. Read more.

Good journalism costs money

The only way to cover the cost of producing and publishing independent public interest journalism is by readers helping to pay for it.

Each of Exeter Observer's paying subscribers keeps us up and running for one day each year by chipping in less than £2/week.

Our members contribute more towards our running costs and get more in return.

129 of the 300 readers we need as paying subscribers have signed up so far, which keeps us going until the middle of May each year.

If you think Exeter needs this kind of journalism then help us cover our costs all year round by joining them today.

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

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