EXETER IN BRIEF
In this edition of The Exeter Digest we are reintroducing Exeter in Brief, a short news section to keep you abreast of all the local news that matters. It first appeared in #22 back in January 2023 and ran for eleven issues.
This section also now appears on the Exeter Observer home page and below every story, where it will be updated regularly before distribution in each edition of The Exeter Digest. Feedback or comments would be welcome: just hit reply and let us know what you think.
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.
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.
Network Rail and Great Western Railway have announced 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.
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.
Alison Hernandez, Police & Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and The Isles Of Scilly, says that a 2026-27 government funding shortfall has left her with “no choice” but to propose increasing the DEVON & CORNWALL POLICE council tax precept by 5.2% – the maximum permitted – equating to a £15 increase per annum for council tax band D properties across the peninsula.
A BARNFIELD ROAD cycling and walking scheme has been rejected by the Exeter Highways and Traffic Order committee. The proposals included widening a footpath, raising road crossings to give pedestrians priority at junctions, widening cycle lanes and re-routing motor traffic to prevent traffic exiting Southernhay at the junction of Barnfield Road and Western Way.
DEVON COUNTY COUNCIL has confirmed it intends to dispose of a 1.5 acre plot in the grounds of County Hall despite the submission of 180 objections in two rounds of public consultation. The sale was proposed by the county cabinet in October 2023 after buildings known as the “Matford offices” which occupied part of the plot were demolished, leaving their foundations intact.
The county council says that selling the site of the buildings alone would not yield the optimal financial return required by its best value duty and that the inclusion of 0.91 acres of public open space in the sale – which amounts to 7.4% of the green space at County Hall – provides curtilage that is necessary to the site’s redevelopment viability. It also says that Exeter City Council, which has earmarked the site for residential housing in the new Exeter Local Plan, is responsible for many of the issues raised by objectors as local planning authority.
Exeter City Council has accepted extensive historic fabric damage and foregone a £2.4 million affordable housing contribution to enable the redevelopment of the ROYAL CLARENCE HOTEL site as luxury flats and commercial space. After revisions to the scheme in response to extensive criticism from the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Historic England, Devon Buildings Group and Devon Archaeological Society of the approach taken by Nooko Developments Limited, the council accepted the conclusions of a developer-submitted viability assessment in approving the redevelopment plans and application for listed building consent.
As a result, just as happened with the building’s previous owner, the developers will not make any contributions to local affordable housing or healthcare provision unless a further viability assessment, to be performed after the building’s completion, concludes that they can afford to do so after making a profit of around £2.5 million.
ON OUR RADAR
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.
Exeter Seed Swap 2026 // Positive Light Projects
Fourth annual event includes hands-on activities, soil testing and over 5,000 packets of seeds to share. More details here.
BELOW THE FOLD
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.
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.
