Our most-read stories during another busy year in Exeter
Published: 19 December 2023
It’s been another busy year in Exeter with plenty of news and events to share with residents and all those who work, visit or study in the city.
The Communications team at Exeter City Council has published more than 500 stories on our news website during 2023 and promoted them through social media and our weekly newsletter, which is emailed to more than 10,000 people.
The most read story of the year was Storm Ciarán and the efforts made by the city to keep everyone safe from the much-publicised storm. Flood defences were erected at the Quay for the first time as Exeter braced itself for the storm at the start of November.
Also featuring strongly in the list were the opening of the new Marsh Barton railway station on a hot day in July, RAMM’s decision in November to return a sacred headdress to Canada and the announcement that the former Pyramids swimming pool site was being sold to social housing provider Guinness Partnership in March.
A weekend of joy and dancing when thousands of Morris Dancers descended on Exeter in April also makes the list.
Here are our most read stories of 2023:
Exeter Confronts Storm Ciarán with Strong Defences - Flood defences in place in Exeter ahead of Storm Ciarán - Exeter City Council News
Amid Met Office warnings, Exeter prepared for Storm Ciarán. The city erected flood defences and braced itself for very heavy rain and winds.
The Met Office issued a yellow warning for rain and an amber warning of wind, and barriers were put in place to protect low lying areas from the possibility of flooding.
Morris Dancing Extravaganza Charms Exeter - Morris dancing extravaganza comes to Exeter - Exeter City Council News
Exeter hosted a vibrant Morris Dancing event. The traditional folk dance brought joy and colour to the city’s streets across more than 20 locations throughout the city over a busy weekend.
As Exeter was chosen as the location for the JMO Day of the Dance, more than 60 Morris sides provided lively entertainment at various venues and pubs in the city centre and Quayside.
Marsh Barton Station Opens - Marsh Barton Railway Station will open to the public on Tuesday 4 July 2023 - Exeter City Council News
The new Marsh Barton Railway Station began operations in July. It was a significant development public transport in Exeter, creating a new link for both workers and visitors.
The scheme also involved the development of a new pedestrian and cycle bridge, which opened in April, improving active travel links between Alphington, Marsh Barton and the Riverside Valley Park.
RAMM's Headdress set to return to Canada - Sacred headdress held at RAMM set to return to Canadian homeland - Exeter City Council News
Exeter’s RAMM museum announced it planned to return a sacred headdress to its Canadian homeland and the Blackfoot Siksika people.
The ceremonial headdress from the Royal Exeter Memorial Museum & Art Gallery collection is traditionally worn by a holy woman of the Holy Buffalo Woman Society known as Motokiks.
Former Pyramids Pool Site Sold - Former Pyramids pool site sold to housing provider Guinness Partnership - Exeter City Council News
The site of the former Pyramids pool was sold to one of the country’s best-known social housing providers the Guinness Partnership.
The Pyramids closed in 2022. The well-known 80 year-old building was replaced by the nearby state-of-the-art St Sidwell’s Point leisure centre.
Exeter: A Top UK Retirement Destination - Official: Exeter is one of the best locations in the UK to retire - Exeter City Council News
Exeter was named as one of the best places in the country to retire in a national survey by consumer group Which?
Which? gave each local authority a score out of 10 for healthcare, happiness, green space - specifically parks and playing fields - and also considered house price affordability.
To keep in touch with all the latest news from Exeter City Council…
The best way to stay up to date with our news is to sign up to our weekly newsletter which is recived by more than 10,000 people every Friday.
You can also read our news here:
Website - news.exeter.gov.uk
Flipboard - Exeter City Council News | @ECCNews | Flipboard
Or get notified of our news directly on our new WhatsApp channel - ECC WhatsApp Channel
Like us on Facebook - facebook.com/ExeterCityCouncil
Follow us on Instagram - instagram.com/exetercouncil
Follow us on X - x.com/ExeterCouncil
Follow us on LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/exetercouncil
Follow us on TikTok - tiktok.com/@exetercitycouncil
You can also find us chatting on:
Nextdoor - nextdoor.co.uk
Threads - threads.net
Reddit - reddit.com
If you have a story we may be interested in or have a general media enquiries for Exeter City Council, contact us here: news.exeter.gov.uk/media-enquiries/
On behalf of the Council’s Communications team, we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.