Councillor Fran McElhone

Advocating for others

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Fran McElhone is one of three ward members for Exmouth Halsdon on East Devon District Council; elected on December 4th 2025. She is a journalist, photographer, writer, editor and author. She has extensive experience covering a broad spectrum of subjects including local politics, health and social care, the military, crime, education and issues-based human interest stories. She is passionate about journalism providing a voice for people, its power to shine a light on injustices, holding authority to account, and telling otherwise untold stories with empathy and integrity. She runs multi-media agency www.liminalmedia.co.uk

  • Keep on reading

    “Cuts to our library are cuts to our future.”

    This is what 10-year-old Poppy from Budleigh Salterton Primary School, a classmate of my son, said when the community packed into the Public Hall in January to discuss Devon County Council’s proposal to reduce staffing hours across Devon’s libraries.

    How absolutely wonderful that the council’s cabinet decided last month NOT to cut hours but instead to invest £1m into our precious libraries!

    I went along to the meeting in Budeigh Salterton earlier this year, as a resident of the town and as a passionate advocate for the accessibility of books and the role libraries play in communities for young and old alike.

    I also went to support my fellow LibDem colleague Cllr Charlotte Fitzgerald, who organised the meeting, which was attended by various Democratic Alliance members from across East Devon including EDDC leader Cllr Paul Arnott.

    And I went to support the event in my capacity as a professional photographer, giving my photos to Devon Live to support its coverage.

    As a writer, journalist, author, and mother – I’ve read to my son, who is now 11, every single night for his whole life! – the power of books cannot be underestimated!

    Books provide pleasure, escapism and knowledge, spark the imagination, inspire and provoke. I start my day and end my day with reading, providing much-needed calm.

    Libraries democratise reading, enabling reading to be an affordable pastime, enhancing life.

  • SAS Paddle Out Protest 2026

    Through my day job (www.liminalmedia.co.uk) I’m passionate about the impact words and pictures can have. So, I’m pleased the photos I took at the Surfers Against Sewage Paddle Out Protest this May made the Exmouth Journal’s splash and that they included my comment:

    “Our water is precious and there is no excuse at all for it not to be clean, all the time. What are we paying the water companies for if it’s not to keep our waterways and our seas clean?

    “Myself and my 11-year-old son are in and of the water at Exmouth and Budleigh all year round, but there have been more times than I can remember that it’s not been safe to go in due to pollution warnings.

    “We just want the water to be clean, for everyone’s sake and the sake of our environment and wildlife – it’s not asking for much. The water companies need to be held to account.”

    This was the second year I’ve attended the protest – part of SAS nationwide campaign for clean water – on Exmouth beach, as a protester.

    I brought my camera to take a few pics of my Democratic Alliance colleagues who turned up to show their support including Cllr Charlotte Fitzgerald, Cllr Geoff Jung, Cllr Todd Olive (LibDems), and Cllr Paula Fernley (Green Party) – the one wearing the ‘cut the crap’ sign! – as well as two LibDem activists in their early 20s from Exeter, and LibDem activist Elaine Cline from Exmouth, all pictured in the group photo.

  • Creative East Devon Fund

    I was thrilled to be asked to join the Creative East Devon Fund panel earlier this spring to help decide which nine arts and culture projects should be awarded funding.

    I was asked to join the panel due to my experience in arts and culture; I’m a journalist, writer, author, musician, and fine art photographer, and it was inspiring to hear about all the creative projects happening here in East Devon.

    We deliberated over the range of projects – all of which are making valuable contributions to the local art scene here – for more than two hours.

    Here’s the full press release:

    East Devon culture organisations and creatives have been provided a lifeline to help fund their cultural project, festival or event through a new round of the fund from Arts & Culture East Devon (ACED).

    The Creative East Devon Fund provides discretionary financial support to local art & culture initiatives and projects that demonstrate a commitment to developing the East Devon Cultural Strategy.  The scheme is funded by East Devon District Council

    Nine art and culture projects in East Devon have been successful with individual grants ranging from £500 up to £3,000. From art workshops for local schools to contemporary dance and storytelling to music workshops supporting the culture offers at Sidmouth Folk Festival, Exmouth Festival, Sidmouth Jazz and Blues Festival and Exmouth Arts Weekend.

    The total funding amounted to £19,810 and the projects all will be completed by March 2027.

    The successful applications are all East Devon-based art and culture initiatives: see the full list of beneficiaries including:

    Featherdness: a creative project connecting local communities with bird communities living in and around the Lower Otter Estuary through film, sound, creative writing and printmaking, and through walking, sensing and experiencing the Lower Otter Restoration Project site. It will also highlight important work being done in East Devon to increase climate resilience and biodiversity, including the recent pledge by East Devon councillors to recognise and protect the rights of rivers.

    East Devon Soul CIC to support their brand new East Devon Soul Festival (3 –  4 July 2026). The Seaton-based festival will feature acts across a multitude of genres including jazz, funk, electronica, ska, and drum and bass. The festival aims to put Seaton on the cultural map, introducing upcoming and established original artists who will bring dynamic music culture to the town, offering original music appealing to all ages. 

    Simon Strange from East Devon Soul CIC said,

    “We are really pleased to receive this funding award. This will help us to put on the inaugural East Devon Soul Festival, supporting upcoming and more established artists across a range of popular music genres. The funding will support us to reawaken Seaton’s cultural life, utilising its fantastic venues and community spirit. “

    Councillor Nick Hookway, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Leisure, Tourism and Sport said,

    “We are delighted to able to support these new creative initiatives across East Devon. The funded projects will not only enrich the cultural lives of residents but also attract visitors to the area.

    We hope our support of The Featherdness project will help to deepen people’s connection to nature in East Devon to increase awareness about environmental change, considering ideas around empathy, interspecies relationships, environmental resilience and rights of nature.” 

  • River protection pledge

    At last night’s full council meeting we voted unanimously in support of a motion brought by Cllr Paula Fernley to ‘recognise and protect the rights of rivers in East Devon’.

    I believe that we are custodians of the Earth and that we all, individually and collectively, have an intrinsic, moral responsibility to look after our natural environment. So, naively, I thought it was a given that the council would be doing its utmost to protect our waterways and wondered why a motion stating the obvious was necessary.

    I also, like some of the members of public who spoke, was concerned this may simply be a verbal pledge with no real tangible resulting action.

    In essence, the motion noted the presence and ecological value of the many rivers across the district and committed to ensuring “due weight” is given to their protection through the council’s planning and policy functions: river protection and restoration has been embedded in the Local Plan, which “will continue to inform relevant planning decisions”.

    It also confirmed that the council should continue to work in partnership with other relevant agencies including the Environment Agency and Natural England, and the valuable work of ‘citizen scientists’ should be recognised.

    The motion also called for the Environment Agency to publish an annual ‘State of East Devon Rivers’ report to “improve transparency understanding and accountability for river condition and management”.

    Cllr Todd Olive, Portfolio holder for Infrastructure and Strategic Planning commented to inform us that EDDC is the only authority to have conducted its own water cycle study and that the council, “a leading piece of work in the county”, and is already exercising its powers – within legislative constraints – “whenever and wherever we can”.

    Our Chair, Cllr Eleanor Rylance noted that to make the changes we really want regarding protection for our waterways requires a change in government policy / primary legislation.

    Cllr Eileen Wragg informed us that, contrary to wide misconception, water companies are not statutory consultees on planning applications, but said they should be, so they can be held to account. Quite agree!

    It was suggested that we now decide amongst ourselves how to take this motion forward to ensure that our pledge to protect our rivers is more than just words…

  • ECC floodlights switch-on!

    Earlier this month I was happy to attend a celebratory event at Exmouth Community College to mark the installation of their new outdoor LED floodlights!

    The new lights were facilitated through a ‘generous’ grant from the East Devon Carbon Action Fund and will contribute to the school’s bid towards reducing its carbon footprint, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.

    The invitation email said: “The new lights will reduce energy waste and light spill, while lowering running costs so we can keep pitch hire affordable for our local community.”

    It was lovely to support this important occasion alongside other district councillors and members of the community and I was so impressed by how polite and bright the students helping out were.

  • Yellow Powwow

    Yesterday, myself and Suzanne, the new LibDem Town Councillor for Exmouth Halsdon, met up with longstanding town/district councillor Tim Dumper, and our social media guru and dedicated activist, Elaine, after our by-election win a few weeks ago, early December.

    Tim suggested the powwow because we’re brand new council members and he wanted to check we were OK!

    Headline topics of conversation:

    Committee membership

    We talked about what potential committees we could join – more to come on this.

    Spring greetings

    We talked about a spring effort for us to meet you, and you to meet us and share your thoughts! So we may be knocking on your door some time soon! It’s also a way of us thanking you for your support.

    Planning

    I am keen to know what more we can do as district councillors regarding your concerns about planning, and the amount of houses proposed, because I, and I imagine most of my colleagues, share your concerns.

    It troubles me hugely to read residents’ concerns about some of the developments suggested in and around Exmouth, and that I am now part of an administration which has to sign off on them.

    So, how far is it the administration’s ‘fault’ – from what I’ve researched, it appears we’re over a barrel because housing numbers are imposed upon local councils by the Government, so first the Tories, and now Labour, which has increased the number of houses to be built nationwide.

    As per my previous blog, every district council creates a Local Plan which sets out the vision for development across its district, which must align with Government legislation set out in its National Planning Policy Framework.

    So, all we can do is our best with what is imposed upon us.

    For more on why associated infrastructure isn’t mentioned in the Local Plan see my last blog.

    Here’s another interesting factor in the planning process – party politics should not play a part in Local Plan planning; planning issues should be considered on evidence-based planning merit alone.

    Here’s to working together to ensure the best outcome for all.

  • Where is all the infrastructure?

    Why isn’t any infrastructure mentioned in the East Devon Local Plan 2020 – 2042?!

    This is a good (and obvious) question emailed to me by a concerned 84-year-old resident of my ward of Exmouth Halsdon over Christmas and one which I was keen to get to the bottom of.

    On the face of it, if you read the Local Plan, the lack of mention of any associated infrastructure is very concerning! All these new houses are being suggested and a few footpaths, but where is the detail about improved or additional public services and utilities that surely must be needed for such increased development to be sustainable?!

    Apparently there is no cause for concern; there are separate documents acknowledging infrastructure need and outlining proposed additions, for example, the Infrastructure Delivery Plan which lists confirmed projects, developed in consultation with other key stakeholders such as Devon County Council, Network Rail, the Environment Agency and South West Water.

    Regarding what associated infrastructure we can expect to accompany the housing developments specified in the Local Plan to ensure they are sustainable, this is slightly more vague. Here’s why…

    Firstly, by way of reassurance, the matter of infrastructure isn’t being ignored in the Local Plan, it’s just that at the draft Local Plan stage, specific infrastructure needs aren’t known so the details are firmed up once developments have got the go-ahead.

    This is for three reasons:

    1. Projects considered together: if there are two developments close by, the impact of those two sites will be considered jointly and associated infrastructure delivered accordingly, once the developers have stated what it is needed.
    • On-site infrastructure and off-site infrastructure are dealt with differently: when developments are large enough to require up-front infrastructure plans, details are required at the time. For most sites though, required infrastructure is decided later in the process when the specific needs have been identified and details provided.
    • Section 106 funds, which must be paid by developers on sites over a certain scale, is collected later in the process.

    * Section 106 funding is a legally required contribution from developers to local authorities to mitigate the impact of new developments to pay for essential community infrastructure and services such as schools, roads, and green spaces.

  • East Devon Local Plan 2020 – 2042

    The first thing I’m doing as a new ward member for Exmouth Halsdon is to get up to speed with the Local Plan…

    Here are some basics in the hope it helps you get your head around it:

    Every district council creates a Local Plan which sets out the vision for development across its district. They have to align with Government legislation set out in its National Planning Policy Framework.

    There have been several rounds of public consultation on the current East Devon Local Plan 2020 – 2042 (which is an update of its 2013 – 2031 version). We’re now on the final stage of the final public consultation phase where local councils seek formal comments on its draft Local Plan before submitting it to a government inspector for examination.

    (This is what is meant by ‘second regulation 19’ – don’t you just love council jargon?!)

    So, to clarify, it is currently a draft plan. Nothing contained within in it has been passed. However, all of the proposed development sites have been agreed by both council planning officers and the majority of East Devon district councillors, as being viable development sites.

    Local Plans take into consideration climate change, housing need, employment need, suitable design, sustainable transport and communications, landscape and conservation protection, recreational and community needs.

    You can view the plan here.

    You can comment on the Local Plan – by way of the survey – here.

    Members of the public can comment on the plan until January 26th 2026.

    Exmouth Halsdon

    Exmouth has been allocated 1,450 homes and 6.7 hectares of employment land.

    There are two proposed development sites in the Halsdon ward; 15 homes for land west of Hulham Road, south of Point-in-View, and 59 homes for land at Coles Field, Hulham Road. (see pages 84/85)

  • Last full council meeting of 2025

    The last full council meeting on Wednesday 10th December was my first as a ward member for Exmouth Halsdon. Not my first council meeting! When I was East Devon News Editor for the Express & Echo between 2020 and 2015 I attended many, many council meetings, mainly at town and district level.

    Key takeaways from the meeting were positive for residents:

    Rural Broadband Survey 2025

    Unsurprisingly, this survey conducted in February found that there is widespread dissatisfaction across East Devon about our Broadband service.

    We unanimously voted in favour that we write to the Minister for Telecoms and East Devon’s MPs appealing for support on improving broadband in rural communities such as ours.

    Let’s hope they listen and action is taken!

    Motion for the Ocean

      Another unanimous backing of Devon County Council’s decision to join the Ocean Conservation Trust’s ‘Ocean Recovery Declaration’ or ‘Motion for the Ocean’. The motion invites local authorities across the UK to pledge to protect our oceans and improve ocean health, recognising them as a fundamental component of climate change mitigation.

      P.S.

      I’m hoping to have my council email up and running soon,;I was met by a few IT problems when I went in to get set up today!

      It’s, cllr.fran.mcelhone@eastdevon.gov.uk

    1. Hello!

      I am very happy and grateful to have been voted to represent the residents of Exmouth’s Halsdon ward. Thank you to all those who voted for me yesterday.

      Winning the by-election was a team effort by the hard-working Exmouth LibDems and we’re very happy we’ve held on to the LibDem seat at EDDC and to continue the legacy of the late Andrew Toye. Well done to my new colleague Suzanne, also a former journalist, who held the seat in the town. 

      Results:
      Exmouth Halsdon ward, East Devon District (Exmouth & Exeter East)
      CON 393
      LD 551
      REF 438
      GRN 153
      Turnout 25%
      LIB DEM HOLD

      31 hours, 1,000+ leaflets/letters/door knocks/standing at the polling station! That’s my tally; members of the local LibDem team, in particular Cllr Tim Dumper and activist Elaine Cline, also spent many hours selflessly campaigning. And, as for our agent Todd…you’re a super human!! Thank you. 

      🔸Why I am I standing? 

      Because I’m motivated by social justice, want to hold authority to account; want to make sure the authority makes the fairest decisions for the people; want to make sure vulnerable and marginalised people are represented and protected. Six years of covering virtually every council meeting and scrutinising over complicated council documents stands me in good stead to now be on the council! 

      *Evidenced by my 16+ year career in journalism and my volunteer work.

      🔸Why the LibDems? 

      Nationally, they are strong challengers to the government. They appear to be the party most devoid of big egos and genuinely committed to doing the best by people. They hold the government in check.

      Locally, with the independents and greens, they have the majority at EDDC and take their responsibilities seriously and compassionately. They are the party most devoid of big egos and are genuinely committed to doing the best by people. 

      I can’t wait to get stuck in and advocate for the people of Exmouth Halsdon.