Peter Cleasby

Peter Cleasby is Exeter Observer’s transport correspondent.

After reading French and German at New College, Oxford he entered the civil service where he worked largely in policy development and business management across several departments, ending up as a deputy director in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

On leaving the civil service, he freelanced as a policy, management and governance consultant and became a trustee of several national and local charities.

He is also a long-standing member of Exeter Green Party.

Stories by Peter Cleasby

Independent local business in Paris Street, Exeter

Prospects improve for pop-up Paris Street and Sidwell Street tenants wanting to stay on development site

Council leader Phil Bialyk says it will be “some years” before planned Citypoint redevelopment affects repurposed retail units, and that council “would want” to accommodate artistic and cultural initiatives and independent local businesses “should they wish to remain”.

Liveable Exeter Place Board agenda October 2020 redacted

City council outsourcing Exeter local government to unaccountable Liveable Exeter Place Board

An Exeter Observer investigation of Liveable Exeter Place Board has found that it is a de facto decision-making and governance body which exercises public functions with the potential to affect everyone who lives and works in Exeter.

Exeter city centre from Exeter Cathedral roof

Freedom of information requests reveal Liveable Exeter Place Board “chumocracy” overseeing the city

Despite the significance of Liveable Exeter Place Board’s role in determining the city’s future, its members are selected and appointed on a secretive, informal basis.

Positive Light Projects - Sidwell Street entrance

Positive Light Projects opens community arts centre despite Citypoint redevelopment threat

Parts of Exeter city centre are experiencing an unplanned renaissance as small shops and cultural venues move in to fill empty units on Paris Street and Sidwell Street, but uncertainty remains as the council still plans to demolish and redevelop.

Centre for Cities Exeter City Monitor graphic

Selective use of statistics presents an unbalanced account of Exeter’s economic & environmental status

Exeter City Council’s Chief Executive uses statistics to show the city in a good light, but in doing so presents a picture which omits important information about the city’s true position.

Maclaines Warehouses beside Exeter ship canal

Maclaines Warehouses development tests Exeter Heritage Harbour status

Decisions taken behind closed doors in favour of commercial interests threaten maritime and waterway heritage vision for Exeter’s historic quay and canal basin.

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