Community news in-brief from Exeter, photos, and what’s on from across the city. Email your community news to newsdesk@eastdevonnews.co.uk
City centre
Exeter has received grant funding to tackle chewing gum removal from the city’s streets.
Exeter City Council was recently granted £30,657 from the Chewing Gum Task Force, handed out by Keep Britain Tidy, for the clear-up campaign.
The council plans to spend the cash on a chewing gum removal team and liveried gum removal cart.
The gum removal team will focus on Sidwell Street then move to other areas of the city.
Councillor Ruth Williams, Exeter City Council deputy leader, said: “I am delighted with this award, which will go a long way towards tackling the issue of gum on our streets.
“It’s great to have the money to pay for the streets to be cleaned but we hope that the signs can be a talking point and really encourage people to change their behaviour and bin their gum in the future.”
The Chewing Gum Task Force, set up by Defra and run by Keep Britain Tidy, is funded by major gum manufacturers investing of up to £10 million over five years.
Whipton
Cash and a charity box were stolen in an early-hours raid from Whipton and Pinhoe Labour Club on Wednesday, July 29, sparking a police appeal for witnesses and information.
Police said the club was targeted in a series of raids where businesses in Exeter and South Devon were burgled overnight between July 22 and July 30.
Burglars stole from Teign Bean coffee shop in Main Road, Exminster, St David’s Veterinary Centre on Dawlish Road, Exminster, Haldon Forest Diner in Kennford, Shooters sports bar in Sandy Lane, Dawlish, and Spar Stores, The Strand, Starcross and Starcross Golf in New Road, Starcross.
Burglars targeted Whipton and Pinhoe Labour Club in an early-hours raid.
Image: Google Street View.
Cash and charity boxes were among items stolen from each business.
Police said officers were working to determine if burglaries are linked.
PC Max Boyling, officer in the case, said: “These break-ins have caused real distress to local business owners and the theft of money raised for charitable causes makes these offences particularly upsetting.
“We would like to hear from anyone who may have seen these items in someone’s possession or found them discarded in the local area.”
If you have information to help police, report it through the force website or call 101, quoting crime number 50260198457.
Wonford
Kristopher Hughes, of Burnthouse Lane, Exeter, pleaded guilty to drink driving and driving without insurance from June 23 this year, Exeter Magistrates’ Court heard, writes Isabelle Pinnock, OPCC court reporting scheme.
The court heard the 33-year-old attended the New Inn, Broadclyst at around 7pm and consumed five pints of lager before leaving at 11pm.
Shortly after, the defendant crashed his car causing the vehicle to roll onto its roof. Lyndsey Baker, prosecuting, said Hughes initially panicked and left the scene before returning ten minutes later.
Officers arrived on scene to the defendant stood by his vehicle, and police checks showed that he held no valid insurance.
Hughes has no previous convictions and pleads guilty at the first opportunity. The court was told that he believed he was insured at the time.
Representing himself, Hughes said: “I shouldn’t have done it but I did. I’m here to accept my fate.”
Hughes was fined £200 and banned from the road for 20 months. He must also pay a £80 victim surcharge and court costs of £85.
City
Exeter Green party leader Councillor Diana Moore has welcomed the government’s announcement of a new Greater Exeter unitary authority.
She said the government shake-up of local councils, scrapping England’s existing two-tier council system of district and county, in favour of single unitary authorities, must be properly funded by the government, calling for ‘serious investment in local services’.
Cllr Moore said: “We now have an opportunity to move beyond the often witnessed disconnect and divisions between district and county councils which plagued Exeter for so long and get to work for the people who live in the new authority area.
“The new greater Exeter unitary authority must also recognise its place as a small city that needs to be deeply connected with and not be cut adrift from the new rural authority.”
The four new unitary councils for Devon are named as Exeter Council, Torbay and South Devon, Greater Plymouth, and Devon Council.
Cllr Moore added: “If devolution is to be successful we need to ensure we keep the ‘local’ in local government. “Genuine devolution is where decisions are made at the most local level possible and we must ensure that the voices of local people are heard and local communities involved in the decision making processes as we shape the new authority.”
Wonford
Work has started on a new £2.2million state-of-the-art mental health research unit at Wonford House, in Exeter.
Devon Partnership NHS Trust (DPT) said the development was a ‘significant milestone’ in its aim to boost access to clinical research.
The research centre support commercial and non-commercial clinical studies across a broad range of specialties, including mental health, dementia, children and adolescent mental health services and physical health conditions experienced by people living with mental illness.
Located on the Wonford House site in Exeter, the dedicated research centre will be part-funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and support commercial and non-commercial clinical research studies across a broad range of specialties, including mental health, dementia, children and adolescent mental health services and physical health conditions experienced by people living with mental illness.
The new unit is expected to open in autumn 2026.
It will include:
- A laboratory and clinical trials pharmacy
- A physical health assessment and infusion room
- Therapy rooms suitable for mental health, dementia and psychedelic research
- Flexible spaces for virtual follow-up appointments
- Rreception, waiting, office and staff welfare facilities.
Tobit Emmens, associate director of research and development at DPT, said: “We have wanted a dedicated place to conduct research for about 20 years. This gives us an opportunity to make research more available to all sorts of people – including those with a range of mental health needs.
“We are building our mood disorder research clinic here, too, working with the University of Exeter and creating opportunities to trial novel treatments.
“One day, we hope to play a small part in finding more effective treatments for common conditions such as dementia, anxiety and depression.”
Heavitree and Whipton
Investment worth £20million is to be ploughed into Heavitree and Whipton over the next 10 years in a government-backed bid to boost community pride.
Exeter City Council recently announced new chair of the Neighbourhood Board, Andy Mulcock, would be responsible for overseeing the Pride in Place Programme in Heavitree and Whipton.
The government-backed project aims to put communities at the centre of decision-making, so funds are spent on the needs, ideas and hopes of local people.
The city council said the next move was to form a Neighbourhood Board of residents, councillors, organisations and partners to plan how the money should be spent.
The board will decide on the plan but must be able to show decisions genuinely reflect what local residents want.
Applications to join the board are open with the aim of creating a 10-year plan for the area to decide how funding is spent through working with local people and groups, by becoming an ambassador and neighbourhood voice.
Exeter MP, Steve Race, who backed Mr Mulcock’s appointment, said: “I know that he really understands his local communities. I know he will work to get the best possible impact from the £20m of Pride in Place funding.
“The next step is to recruit a board that will make sure everyone in the area has the chance to make their voice heard, collaborating with the local community to decide how the money is spent.
“I look forward to working with Andy and the rest of the board to deliver real and lasting change for the people of Whipton and Heavitree.”
Wonford
Wynstream Primary School Pupils competed in the Dodgeball Championship Finals for the fourth year running. Photo: with permission.
Exeter youngsters have flown the flag for Devon taking part in the National Dodgeball Championship Finals for the fourth year running.
Wynstream Primary School Pupils, in Burnthouse Lane, recently travelled to the national competition in Kettering to go head-to-head with primary school dodgeball teams from across the country.
The Exeter team secured one win, two draws and one loss, narrowly missing out on a place in the quarter-finals after finishing third in their group.
Elise Redman, Wynstream Primary School headteacher, said: “This is an incredible achievement for our pupils and for everyone involved in supporting school sport at Wynstream.
“To reach the National Dodgeball Finals for four consecutive years is a testament to the dedication, perseverance and team spirit of our children and staff.
“We are immensely proud of the way our pupils represented the school, not only through their performances on the court but through their outstanding behaviour, respect and encouragement of one another throughout the day.
“They are wonderful ambassadors for Wynstream, and we look forward to seeing what they achieve next.”
The Exeter team secured one win, two draws and one loss, narrowly missing out on a place in the quarter-finals after finishing third in their group. Photo: with permission.
Cowley
Exeter students teamed up with a city artist and poet to create a new mural at their school.
Students at Thomas Hall School, on Cowley Bridge, Exeter, worked on a design to welcome visitors with artist Pete Stevenson, known as Pete the Poet.
A student is pictured here working on the mural at Thomas Hall School. Photo: with permission.
Pete the Poet created a poem for the school on the new mural. Photo: with permission.
Pete the Poet is pictured here working on the mural with a student. Photo: with permission.
Pupils took inspiration from nature found in the school ground to create the mural.
Charlotte Webster, Thomas Hall School head, said: “It has been wonderful to see our students getting involved in creating a mural that celebrates our unique school environment and community.
Students at Thomas Hall School, on Cowley Bridge, Exeter, worked on a design to welcome visitors with artist Pete Stevenson, known as Pete the Poet. Photo: with permission.
Charlotte Webster, Thomas Hall School head, said: “It has been wonderful to see our students getting involved in creating a mural that celebrates our unique school environment and community.
“Working with Pete the Poet has given them the chance to share their ideas, explore their creativity and contribute to something they can feel proud of.”
Students added their own creative ideas to the mural. Image: with permission.
She added: “We are hugely grateful to Pete for working with our students and helping bring this project to life.”
Students at Thomas Hall School, on Cowley Bridge, Exeter, worked on a design to welcome visitors with artist Pete Stevenson, known as Pete the Poet. Photo: with permission.
Pete the Poet is pictured here with head of school Charlotte Webster. Photo: with permission.
Pete the Poet is pictured here working on the mural with a student. Photo: with permission.
An inscription on the permanent mural displayed at the school entrance. Photo: with permission.
Exeter – what’s on
Classics Galore! Last Night of the Proms in Exeter in aid of FORCE Cancer Charity returns for 2026. Image: with permission.
Tickets have gone on sale for the Last Night of the Proms in Exeter in aid of FORCE Cancer Charity – as Classics Galore! returns for 2026.
More than 200 musicians and singers are set to perform at the concert when it returns to the University of Exeter’s Great Hall on Saturday, November 14.
Tickets cost from £12 to £30 and are available from July 17 at TicketSource or through the FORCE website.
This year’s concert is again hosted by BBC Spotlight presenter Victoria Graham – a ‘passionate supporter’ of FORCE and its work after her dad died from bowel cancer a decade ago.
The 2026 audience can expect a programme featuring a mix of classics and familiar favourites. Highlights include themes from Batman, the classic western Big Country, and William Walton’s Majestic Crown Imperial March, alongside a traditional Proms-style finale audience singalong.
Returning to join the specially assembled orchestra is Ottery St Mary Choral Society, St David’s Players and the Lympstone Band, plus soprano Cheryl Enever. Leading the performance is musical director, Malcolm Matthews.
Tickets cost from £12 to £30 and are available from July 17 at TicketSource or through the FORCE website.
