The Local Plan consultation provides an opportunity to review the final draft local development plan. All submitted comments will be passed directly to the Planning Inspector for examination. 

Review the proposals and share your feedback before the deadline of Monday 31 March 2025.

Devon District Councils issue statement about devolution and local government reform

The council leaders of East Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, Mid, North, and West Devon, have issued a joint statement, proposing the creation of two new unitary councils as the most effective solution in response to the government's devolution plans for England.

The UK Government has set an initial deadline of Friday 21 March 2025 for interim plans to be submitted. Devon councils continue to work together and will provide updates as key milestones are reached through this process.

Support for rough sleepers during cold weather

Cold weather is forecast for the next few days and overnight temperatures will be low.

The council has therefore activated its Severe Weather Emergency Protocol until the morning of next Tuesday, 4 March 2025, to enable rough sleepers in East Devon to access emergency accommodation.

If you know someone who is sleeping rough, or need help yourself, please visit StreetLink for support.

Alternatively, please call the council's Housing Options Team (01395 571660 during office hours or 0330 6782382 outside office hours), or visit Blackdown House, Honiton, or Exmouth Town Hall, in person between 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday.

East Devon museums to benefit from grants for digital equipment

Arts & Culture East Devon (ACED) is pleased to announce that the following East Devon museums will benefit from grants totalling £2,800 to provide much-needed digital equipment:

• Axminster Heritage Centre
• Exmouth Museum & Heritage Centre
• Ottery St Mary Heritage Museum
• Seaton Museum
• Sidmouth Museum
• Whimple Heritage Centre

The money will go towards equipment including humidity and temperature sensors, audio, and camera equipment as well as display screens. These items will enhance the quality and appeal of collections making them more accessible for all to enjoy.

Have you visited your local museum? Find local museums on our new digital Cultural Map of East Devon.

These grants were funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Councillors vote in favour of a review of Cranbrook’s governance arrangements

The review was requested by the Town Council, following adoption of the Cranbrook Plan in late 2022, so that the town’s boundaries reflect planned expansion. The aim of a Community Governance Review is to ensure that appropriate community engagement, local democracy, and effective, convenient delivery of local services, are in place.

The District Council will soon share details of the upcoming consultation process. Residents' views will help shape the recommendations of the report, and ultimately the future of the town, and its neighbouring communities.

Read more about Cranbrook's Community Governance Review.

Candidate list for East Devon District Council’s Exe Valley by-election revealed

The list of those vying for the Exe Valley Ward seat at East Devon District Council’s upcoming by-election on Thursday 13 March 2025, has been published.

Tune into BBC Radio Devon to hear from the Countryside Team and volunteers

Countryside Nature Reserves Ranger, Ben Morgan-Brown, and three of our wonderful volunteers will talk about their work, how you can get involved, and their upcoming events programme, on BBC Radio Devon, from 6.10pm on Monday 3 March 2025.

Keep in touch with the Wild East Devon team on Facebook and Instagram .

Be a Super-Recycler and be Recycling Sack Savvy

Help us to cut out contamination by only putting the items we can recycle from the kerbside in your recycling sack.

The plastic items in the photo have been put into recycling sacks, causing contamination. Please only use your sacks to recycle your plastic bottles, pots, tubs, and trays.

Keeping contamination down means that we can more easily recycle the items we can collect and reduces the risk of a rejected load at the processing stage.

Almost all of the major food retailers have front of store return and recycling schemes for a variety of materials. They vary between store sites and individual businesses are able to promote their own schemes.

If you're unsure whether you can recycle an item, use the A - Z search tool on the Recycling and Waste webpages.

JJ Waller's 'Your Town My Town' photography exhibition on display in Sidmouth

Voluntary, sports and leisure community groups, local services, and businesses, through an open call from Sidmouth School of Art, were invited to book a photoshoot with JJ during his visits to Sidmouth in August and November last year.

Following his visits and on meeting many groups and individuals in the community, JJ described Sidmouth as “a unique, can-do town, full of can-do people.”

A selection of the images are being exhibited in the newly created Riverside Art Space, in the Sensory Garden located at the end of the Ham in Sidmouth, until Sunday 30 May 2025.

Come along to a free sustainability drop-in event 

Focused on retrofit skills, renewable technologies, and sustainable materials, receive expert insights at this session at Exmouth's Bradfords Building Supplies. Whether you are a professional in the building industry, a homeowner looking to make eco-friendly improvements, or simply curious about renewable solutions, this event has something for everyone. Drop in anytime between 2pm – 4:30pm on Tuesday 4 March 2025.