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THE EXETER DIGEST

Exeter Digest #97: Local elections cancellation - £10.3 million Exeter Rugby Group losses

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

Sunday 1 February 2026

HEADLINES

Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk hides behind flimsy CEO capacity claims to contrive local elections cancellation

Labour councillors plumb new depths to cling to power – and personal financial gain – as government-backed contempt for democracy enables seven of eight executive members to avoid ballots in their wards until council abolition in 2028. Read more here.

Exeter Rugby Group reports £10.3 million losses as Exeter Chiefs seeks new investor

Losses include £6.2 million loan write-off associated with Sandy Park Hotel owned by club chairman Tony Rowe. Read more here.

ON OUR RADAR

Sherlock Jr. & The Balloonatic // Exeter Phoenix

Buster Keaton silent comedy screenings with music by R.E.M. and Amon Tobin. More details here.

Fundraiser for Sudan // Exwick Community Centre

Dance, drumming and mask-making workshop to raise funds for charities working in Sudan. More details here.

Exeter History Book Festival // Mint Methodist Church Centre

One-day event with talks from four Devon historians and stalls from local heritage organisations. More details here.

Isca Ensemble chamber concert // St David’s Church

An evening of Mozart and Beethoven with violin soloist Joel Munday. More details here.

St Thomas Repair Café // St Thomas Church Hall

New community-run initiative with skilled volunteers offering repairs to clothing, jewellery, electronics, toys and more. More details here.

BELOW THE FOLD

Exeter is for Everyone event attendees outnumber anti-migrant marchers 14:1

Around 850 people took part in city centre event held under “Unite Against the Far Right” banner while “Unity March Exeter” attendees numbered around 60. Read more here.

Plans for six-storey Summerland Street student block submitted for approval

Spinnaker Estates application for full planning permission for 180-bed redevelopment would increase number of student beds in immediate area to 1,754. Read more here.

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Spotlight

Dawlish Warren and Exe Estuary mouth sandbanks

Exeter City Council is about to seize the helm of Exe estuary maritime life: will it steer it onto the rocks?

Charges for waterways access are set to be imposed from the quay and canal basin to the coast under proposed Harbour Revision Order powers after six years of rising costs propelled by pursuit of Port Marine Safety Code compliance. They risk driving away craft of all sizes, from kayaks to yachts, while redevelopment threatens canalside land – but it’s not too late to change course.

Sunday 30 November 2025, updated 5 December 2025

Exeter In Brief

Exeter City Council has approved the replacement of CLARENDON HOUSE on the corner of Western Way and Heavitree Road with a ten-storey 297-bed student accommodation block. Developer Zinc Real Estate first sought public feedback on a sixteen-storey scheme in December 2023 before returning for further consultation twelve months later having removed six storeys from one of the proposed towers. The council planning committee approved the student block despite attempts by one of its members to defer the decision to review final scheme proposals which were submitted recently alongside alternative plans to instead convert the office block to 32 residential flats. Thursday 12 February 2026

The government has said it will write off 90% of the SEND services deficit accumulated by DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL to the end of March this year. The Devon deficit reached £171 million last October, among the largest in the country and £62.9 million more than the limit agreed with the government as part of its “safety valve” deal, according to a county cabinet report published last month. Devon County Council leader Julian Brazil said it had since risen to around £200 million. The council welcomed the announcement, although it will have to agree to change the way it offers SEND services under as-yet unpublished government plans, adding that it would need to “work through the detail” as part of its budget-setting process. The government also has yet to explain how it will pay for £6 billion of annual SEND spending from April onwards. Thursday 12 February 2026

EXETER SCIENCE PARK has appointed a new chief executive to take over from Sally Basker, who will retire in June this year after more than nine years in the post. Appointee Lindsay Lucas will leave her role as Head of Training and Consultancy at social enterprise Cosmic. Thursday 5 February 2026

1,250 people have signed a petition to save Guildhall Shopping Centre children’s play space LITTLE EXETER from closure. The petition calls on Exeter City Council, which owns the shopping centre freehold and borrowed £55 million to buy back its leasehold and redevelop the building in October 2021, to “intervene, support and advocate” to preserve the play space. Former Guildhall Shopping Centre marketing manager Nikki Fairclough, who founded the non-profit play space three years ago, announced its closure in November last year. It is due to open for the last time on Saturday 21 February. Wednesday 4 February 2026

Network Rail and Great Western Railway have confirmed that the lines running from EXETER ST DAVID’S to Barnstaple and Okehampton will remain closed until further notice for safety checks following last week’s storms. Dive teams will inspect submerged structures such as bridges and viaducts to check for damage. Limited rail replacement bus services are in place. Tuesday 3 February 2026

Two ex-Reform UK Devon county councillors have joined ADVANCE UK, a far-right party launched in 2025 and led by former Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib. Edward Hill and Angela Nash won seats as Reform UK candidates in last year’s Devon County Council elections. Two months later Edward Hill was expelled from the party then Angela Nash left in September. Advance UK counts far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – known as Tommy Robinson – as a member. Friday 30 January 2026

Exeter local elections to go ahead in May after government cancellation U-turn

Secretary of State Steve Reed withdraws decision following legal advice in face of Reform UK High Court challenge, leaving city council leader Phil Bialyk facing electoral oblivion.

Monday 16 February 2026

Phil Bialyk speaking at Exeter City Council 13 January 2026 Guildhall meeting

Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk hides behind flimsy CEO capacity claims to contrive local elections cancellation

Saturday 31 January 2026

Exeter Rugby Group reports £10.3 million losses as Exeter Chiefs seeks new investor

Losses include £6.2 million loan write-off associated with Sandy Park Hotel owned by club chairman Tony Rowe.

Saturday 24 January 2026

Illustrative view of proposed student block entrance at junction of Verney Street and Summerland Street

Plans for six-storey Summerland Street student block submitted for approval

Spinnaker Estates application for full planning permission for 180-bed redevelopment would increase number of student beds in immediate area to 1,754.

Friday 16 January 2026

Devon County Council funding cuts set to reduce core library opening hours by 30%

Public consultation on changes explores possibility of closing some branches altogether despite claims to the contrary while Libraries Unlimited contract extension decision scheduled for six weeks before consultation ends.

Saturday 20 December 2025

On Our Radar

Circle of hands and feet around a drum by Shumba Arts

SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2026

Fundraiser for Sudan

Dance, drumming and mask-making workshop to raise funds for charities working in Sudan.

EXWICK COMMUNITY CENTRE

Friday 23 January 2026

SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2026

Exeter History Book Festival

One-day event with talks from four Devon historians and stalls from local heritage organisations.

MINT METHODIST CHURCH CENTRE

Wednesday 28 January 2026

SATURDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2026

Isca Ensemble chamber concert

An evening of Mozart and Beethoven with violin soloist Joel Munday.

ST DAVID'S CHURCH

Wednesday 28 January 2026

Spotlight

Exeter city centre antisocial behaviour crime data map, October 2023

Labour and Conservative councillors join forces to block Exeter city centre antisocial behaviour initiative

Rejection of voluntary and community sector calls for more inclusive response follows thirteen-year council failure to comply with legal duties under crime and disorder legislation in relation to Exeter Community Safety Partnership.

Sunday 9 November 2025