Local News

Exeter Drug Problem: What’s Happening, Why It Matters, and How to Get Help

Exeter is widely regarded as one of the safer cities in England, with overall crime rates consistently below national averages. However, beneath this reputation lies a persistent and escalating drug problem that affects residents, businesses, and vulnerable people across the city centre and beyond.

The visible effects of drug and alcohol use are concentrated in hotspots like Fore Street and Sidwell Street, where open drug use, street drinking, and anti-social behaviour have become daily concerns. Exeter’s drug poisoning mortality rate reached 14.8 deaths per 100,000 population in...

Full story

National Trust career opportunity for East Devon local

For the fourth year running the National Trust and the Sid Vale Association (SVA) are working in partnership to offer a volunteer trainee ranger position for a year.

The trainee must be over 18 and live in the East Devon area. They will get hands-on experience in practical land management work, community projects and public engagement; and will have the opportunity to gain relevant industry certificates.

The SVA was established in 1846 as a charity for conservation and heritage in the Sid Valley which relies heavily on the time and dedication of its volunteers. Neville...

Devon welcomes Assisted Area announcement

Devon County Council has warmly welcomed the Government’s announcement today recommending approval for Assisted Area status to cover large areas of Devon up to 2020. This status establishes the areas of the UK where regional aid and enhanced levels of Government assistance will be available to support disadvantaged economies through the businesses within these. Assisted Area status permits the granting of additional financial support to small businesses and large enterprise. Previously only parts of Plymouth and the Langage industrial estate were covered. Coverage has now been massively...

New use for seized cannabis farm equipment

Researchers at the National Marine Aquarium are set to benefit an after unusual donation from Devon & Cornwall Police. A range of powerful lights, growing trays and other equipment seized from illegal cannabis farms in Devon will now be put to use for growing seagrass, as part of the Community Seagrass Initiative. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), this three-year project aims to help conserve native seagrass and seahorses, getting the human communities that live around seagrass beds involved with the communities of marine life that thrive on the beds themselves. Mark Parry...

Interserve to embark on two cycle rides in aid of ERADE

Wednesday 30th April will see approximately 40 Interserve employees embark on a 51 mile cycle ride.

Interserve, the international support services and construction group, are helping to raise vital funds for the Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education by embarking on a 51 mile office to office cycle challenge. The route will start at their Plymouth office in the Royal William Yard and complete at the company’s regional head office in Exeter.

The riders will leave Plymouth at 9.30am and ride the 51miles across Dartmoor to their Exeter office in Sowton. The cyclists hope to...

TV for orang utans at Paignton Zoo

The orang utans at Paignton Zoo have got themselves a TV.

The 47 inch flat screen telly was donated by Richards TV and Electrical of Babbacombe.

However, it’s not for the endangered South East Asian primates to watch soaps and wildlife documentaries, but for visitors to view clips of them.

The TV will play recorded videos and stills images of the Zoo’s Bornean orang utans, including babies Tatau and Natalia.

The video clips, some of which have been taken in off-show areas, were shot by Senior Head Keeper of Mammals Matthew Webb. The stills are by regular...

Ben Bradshaw to launch Big Community Energy Weekend

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw is to launch the Big Community Energy Weekend on 17th and 18th May – an event designed to help people reduce their energy bills and tackle climate change. The event will see around 30 people who have ‘gone green’ around Exeter open their doors to the public to show the practical possibilities of saving energy at home. At the same time an energy fair at Montgomery School, Europe’s first zero carbon school, will showcase a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy products and feature advice and presentations from independent experts. The weekend will also...

Killerton gears up for cycling

Women living in the Exeter and East Devon area are invited to Killerton estate, near Exeter, for the launch of a new cycling initiative. In conjunction with the British Cycling ‘Breeze’ campaign, the National Trust hopes to help local women feel more confident and comfortable about going on a bike ride.

The first of the free instructor-led rides starts on Friday 16 May at 10.30am and follows an almost entirely off-road route from Killerton to the 200 year old Clyston Mill in the neighbouring village of Broadclyst. Places on the ride can be booked at goskyride.com/Breeze.

...

Thunderstorms expected this afternoon

Forecasters have warned that thunderstorms are likely to break out across the South West this afternoon potentially making driving conditions difficult.

The Met office have issued a yellow weather warning due to the risk of localised flooding, in particular surface water flooding, on affected roads.

Scattered heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to break out across southern parts of England from around 12:45pm and remain until around 8pm this evening. A chief forecaster at the Met Office said: “A deeply unstable airmass covers much of southern England. As daytime...

New changing room for campus outdoor pool

Work has begun on new, poolside changing facilities at the Cornwall House Outdoor Pool on the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus. Changes will include the construction of six new pool-side changing rooms, two toilets, three “beach style” open showers and lockers alongside improvements to the entrance. Until now, swimmers have changed in the adjacent Cornwall House, walking along a short path to gain access to the pool. Assistant Director of Sport Neil Sheppard is overseeing the project and explained how the new facilities would greatly improve the customer experience of swimmers. He...

First World War memorial room reopens at Castle Drogo

The team of staff and volunteers at Castle Drogo are pleased to re-open to the public the memorial room dedicated to Adrian Drewe, Julius and Francis Drewe’s eldest son and heir who was killed during the First World War.

The contents of the room were put in storage in December 2012 as part of the ongoing building project to make Castle Drogo watertight. The window was taken out to be refurbished and it is the first of 913 windows to be put back in situ.

House and Collections Manager, Lucinda Heron, said:

"As the room is a designated war memorial, it has been re-...

Local News

Exeter Drug Problem: What’s Happening, Why It Matters, and How to Get Help

National Trust career opportunity for East Devon local

Devon welcomes Assisted Area announcement

New use for seized cannabis farm equipment

Interserve to embark on two cycle rides in aid of ERADE

TV for orang utans at Paignton Zoo

Ben Bradshaw to launch Big Community Energy Weekend

Killerton gears up for cycling

Thunderstorms expected this afternoon

New changing room for campus outdoor pool

First World War memorial room reopens at Castle Drogo

It's your Daily

You make the news

Top video

Selco Builders Warehouse | England Rugby star Jack Nowell visits Exeter Saracens junior teams

Exeter Weather

Search form

Local News

Top video

Exeter Weather