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THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #82: Northbrook pool special report - Dartmoor wild camping - Devon children’s services - Mid Devon social housing

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

SPECIAL REPORT

Campaigners compel Exeter City Council to reconsider Northbrook pool closure with 2,250-strong resident petition

Exeter City Council is under pressure to reconsider its plan to close Northbrook Swimming Pool after community campaigners triggered a full council debate on the closure by raising a petition imploring it to keep the pool open that was signed by nearly 2,250 local residents.

As a result it will hold a debate on the pool’s closure at its 10 June meeting at Exeter Guildhall.

At the same time responses to residents’ freedom of information requests have confirmed that the £3.5 million cuts made by the council to its 2025-26 budget included a decision to close the pool that was made without first holding a public consultation or producing an Equalities Impact Assessment.

A failure to fulfil its Public Sector Equality Duty in this way would make the pool closure decision potentially unlawful and leave it open to challenge in the courts.

May’s local elections results and the council’s dependence on financial support from Sport England have also intensified the pressure on it to change course, as months of growing anger led to a demonstration outside its annual meeting last week.

Read the full report here.

HEADLINES

Supreme Court rejects Dartmoor landowners’ attempt to prevent wild camping on their land

Judges unanimously dismiss appeal by Alexander and Diana Darwall against 2023 ruling upholding Dartmoor Commons Act as campaigners call for enhanced public rights to access nature pledged by Labour when still in opposition. Read more.

Ofsted finds Devon County Council children’s services remain “inadequate” with rating unchanged since 2020

Inspection report highlights “serious weaknesses” that are “leaving children at risk of harm” as failings echo poor Special Educational Needs & Disabilities provision. Read more.

Mid Devon District Council mischarged 2,865 social housing tenants £15.5 million in rent over twenty years

Housing regulator identifies “serious failings” in application of rent standard as council discovers dozens of evictions in which “rent arrears were the sole, or contributory factor”. Read more.

ON OUR RADAR

The Mushroom Show // Emmanuel Hall

Scratchworks Theatre Company combines interactive games, comedy and music to explore the fascinating world of fungi. More details

Love, Devotion and Harmonious Melodies // St Nicholas Priory

Steve Tyler and Marco Cannavò perform medieval music on historical instruments. More details.

Exeter Respect Festival // Belmont Park

The annual celebration of Exeter diversity returns for its 28th anniversary with live music and performance, food stalls, community and campaign groups. More details.

Heritage Harbour Festival // Exeter Quay

The maritime-themed event returns for a third year with steam boats, exhibitions, talks, live music, film screenings and more. More details.

The Book Market // Cathedral Green

Exeter City of Literature event features independent booksellers from across the county with author talks, stalls, food and drink. More details.

Art Week Exeter // Exeter city centre and elsewhere

Festival returns with exhibitions, film screenings, talks, workshops, performances, social events and an art car boot sale. More details.

BELOW THE FOLD

Dartmoor National Park warns of continued high fire risk after wildfire destroys 1,230 acres of moorland

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service took nearly 24 hours to extinguish bank holiday weekend blaze that followed warning of uncontrolled moorland fire risk. Read more.

24 hour year-round Sidwell Street “adult gaming centre” allowed at appeal

Planning inspector finds no evidence that “increase in crime and disorder” or “serious detrimental impacts on the health of local residents” would result from change of use from restaurant and takeaway unit. Read more.

Twelve months temporary church use extension sought for Haven Banks Liveable Exeter development site units

Second year of “worship and ancillary uses” for retail park units to follow December 2023 planning approval for ultra-high density build-to-rent scheme for which neither planning permission nor consent notice yet published. Read more.

Petroc and Exeter College governors agree “merger in principle”

Further and higher education colleges with Barnstaple, Tiverton and several Exeter sites will now consider consequences of creating what would be largest college group in South West with public consultation due on plans before November decision. Read more.

Planning inspector upholds decision to refuse fifth additional storey in build-to-rent scheme above Crankhouse Coffee

Twelve year-old permission to add one full and one stepped-back storey to West Street elevation and remove all commercial space nevertheless remains extant. Read more.

Media made in Exeter

Exeter Observer is produced by a non-profit newsroom with two part-time staff: Leigh Curtis and Martin Redfern.

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More stories
Illustrative view of proposed co-living blocks from Heavitree Road

Heavitree Road police station student accommodation and “co-living” scheme consultation extended

Developers revise application for full planning permission for 813-bed seven-block complex submitted in May as similar proposals proliferate across city centre.

Boneyard arcade games

Unique retro games arcade to create new Sidwell Street venue after long search

Boneyard arcade seeking permission to change use of empty Brighthouse retail unit after making way for “co-living” block at previous Red Lion Lane location.

Proposed revised Mary Arches Bartholomew Street East co-living block elevation

Mary Arches “co-living” developer resists “miniscule” room size criticisms as design revisions prompt further consultation

Changes include increased building footprints and removal of twelve rooms to provide eleven communal kitchens – between residents of 297 studios – while gates obstruct pedestrian thoroughfare and site’s historic setting and significance essentially ignored.

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.

, updated

Grace Road Fields in March

Botched consultation restarted on sale of 8.5 acres of Riverside Valley Park green space

Council land disposal to include rights to lay underground distribution pipework across River Exe floodplain following “low-to-zero carbon” Grace Road Fields heat plant planning approval in face of Environment Agency sequential test concerns.

On Our Radar
Jo Eades

FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 2025

Spork! Dead Poets Slam 2025

Halloween spoken-word special featuring Jo Eades and Samuel L. Cohen with a £100 cash prize poetry slam.

EXETER PHOENIX

Carmen with rose graphic

SATURDAY 8 & SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2025

Carmen

Exeter Opera Group performs Bizet’s tale of a free-spirited woman and her passionate and destructive love affair with a soldier.

EXETER CASTLE

Exeter Philharmonic Choir

SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2025

The Weather Book

Exeter Philharmonic Choir performs a new weather-inspired work plus pieces by Brahms, Poulenc and Ralph Vaughan Williams.

EXETER CATHEDRAL