Stories that explore key issues behind the headlines
Council borrowing nearly triples in three years as property acquisition and development loans mount
Freedom of information request reveals five paragraph “outline business plan” for £55 million Guildhall shopping centre investment.
New Exeter Local Plan outline draft consultation
Our guide to Exeter City Council’s consultation as well as the national planning system reform threatening major changes that would require significant revision to the new plan before its submission to the planning inspectorate.
, updated
Bus back better? Exeter services expected to remain unfit for purpose without needed changes
Government underfunding and bus sector challenges limit scope for improvement but county council failure to upgrade routes and policy ambitions plus high housing costs make Exeter difficulties acute, undermining net zero aspirations.
Exeter beset by unaffordable housing, low graduate retention and economically inactive over 50’s
Exeter City Council executive ignores key challenges flagged in major council-commissioned employment and skills research report.
Alphington “enhancements” will not mitigate traffic impact from massive South West Exeter extension
County council manipulates public consultation and allocates just 1% of £55 million grant to pedestrian scheme while spending 75% on new roads and increased road capacity for 3,500 new cars expected on greenfield housing estate.
£900,000 to keep Magdalen Road one-way system despite decisive public support for low traffic street
County council misrepresented and omitted key public consultation findings in report and did not publish results until after decision taken in favour of option with only 18% public support. Exeter Observer snapshot survey finds 90%+ motor vehicles passing shops are through traffic.