Exeter City Council

Grants available for stair lifts and other works to adapt homes

People who may need a stair lift in their home are being encouraged to apply for a grant.

Disabled Facilities Grants are available from Exeter City Council for those who cannot use their homes freely or safely.

People who are registered or could be registered disabled can apply for grants to adapt their properties.

Grants are also available for works including widening doors, installing ramps or bathroom adaptions.

Applications for stair lifts are no longer means tested, making funding more accessible for those in need.

To find out more,...

Photography competition to find favourite trees in Exeter

For the second year running, people are being asked to take a picture of their favourite tree in Exeter as part of a photographic competition.

The person who takes the best image will win a Haynes tree manual, a tree trail field guide and a framed photograph of the picture, with the runner-up receiving a field guide. There is also an under-16 category for budding junior photographers, with the same prizes for the winner and runner-up.

The competition is being run by Exeter City Council in the run up to National Tree Week – 27 November to 5 December, with the prizes...

Rise of Raducanu set to inspire a new tennis generation in Exeter

The rise of the teenage tennis sensation Emma Raducanu may inspire youngsters in Exeter to pick up a racket and take advantage of the city’s free tennis facilities.

That’s the hope of Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor for Leisure & Physical Activity, Cllr Duncan Wood, who believes the new British Number One’s incredible run in the US Open will serve as an inspiration to those starting out or considering taking up tennis.

“We have great tennis facilities in Exeter, in our parks, where people of all ages and abilities can play for free,” said Cllr Wood.

...

Garden waste service suspended for two weeks

Garden waste collections in Exeter have been temporarily suspended as a result of the current HGV driver shortage caused by Covid-19 and self-isolation rules. Customers will have their hire period extended to make up for the suspension.

Collections of brown bins will stop from tomorrow (Wednesday 4 August) and last eight working days. At the moment the plan is to resume collections again on Monday 16 August.

The Council is currently experiencing staffing issues within its garden waste teams as a result of the issue affecting councils and services up and down the country...

Exeter's Riverside Leisure Centre reopens

The pool and health suite at Exeter’s Riverside Leisure Centre has re-opened after a four-year closure.

Millions of pounds have been spent on refurbishing the building, following a fire in February 2017 which closed the entire facility for months.

The gym and sports halls were back in operation later that year, but whilst fire damage was being repaired, unrelated structural weaknesses were revealed.

Exeter City Council leader Phil Bialyk officially re-opened the pool and health suite at a short ceremony on Saturday and said it was “absolutely” worth the wait....

New Exeter Bus Station will open in the city centre on Sunday 25 July

Authored by Mary Youlden
Posted: Fri, 07/09/2021 - 11:27pm

The new Exeter Bus Station will open to passengers on Sunday 25 July, it has been revealed.

The new station – a striking glass-fronted building in the heart of the city centre - replaces the current bus station which was constructed in the 1960s.

This new, fit-for-purpose modern facility will promote green public transport in the city and rural communities for decades to come.

The new Bus Station will offer a massive improvement for passengers, with features such as glass-fronted covered waiting and boarding areas and high quality facilities.

Exeter...

Bloomin’ beautiful! Exeter explodes in riot of colour

Roadside verges, roundabouts and various patches of land in Exeter have broken out in a riot of colour as wildflowers have started to bloom.

Wild flower seeds have been sown throughout the city as part of the Wild City project.

Wild City – now over ten years old - sees Exeter City Council work closely with Devon Wildlife Trust to encourage nature into the city.

Not only are the impressive displays of colour beautiful to look at, they also attract a wide variety of insects and pollinators.

Over recent years the wild flower displays have proved popular...

New life saving water safety equipment installed at Exeter Quay

New life saving water safety equipment installed at Exeter Quay

Six new potentially lifesaving throw line boards and reach poles have been installed at locations around Exeter Quay with the aim to reduce drownings around the area.

Between 2015 and 2019, confirmed fatality statistics show that ten lives have been lost on Exeter's waterways.

Nationally, around half of people who drown had no intention of being in water – they may have been walking, running, or jump in the water after their dog. There is also an increased likelihood after drinking alcohol. According to the latest national data, double the number of people drowned after...

Winners receive prizes in Stay at Home Wildlife Photography Competition

The competition was launched to lift people’s spirits during the third national lockdown

The winners of a wildlife at home photography competition that attracted nearly 100 entries, have received their prizes.

The competition, organised by Exeter City Council and Devon Wildlife Trust, proved very popular, drawing a total of 93 entries from amateur photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. The standard of entries was exceptional, with dozens of stunning images.

In the end it was David Flint’s close-up of a garden dragonfly in his conservatory that impressed judges the most...

Leisure Centres in Exeter receive welcome £280k boost

Leisure Centres in Exeter receive welcome £280k boost

Sport and physical activity in Exeter has received a boost with the awarding of £280,000 government money to support the recovery of leisure centres.

Exeter City Council is one of 266 local authorities that have benefitted from the £100 million National Leisure Recovery Fund.

The money offsets some of the losses made since leisure centres were forced to close because of COVID. It will also support the phased reopening of Leisure Centres on 12 April, when the government restrictions are eased further.

In October last year the Council took over the running of its...

Pages