A petition launched by North Devon MP Ian Roome to protect maternity services at North Devon District Hospital has gained more than 8,000 signatures following the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Trust's announcement that births will be temporarily suspended at the hospital from 11 August 2026.

The local NHS Trust has said the temporary suspension is the result of an expected shortage of consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists, creating staffing pressures that mean it cannot safely maintain births at North Devon District Hospital.

This would require women labour to be transferred to hospitals including Exeter or Taunton to give birth. 

Ian Roome MP has been in contact with the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Trust and written to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the British Medical Association, NHS Devon Integrated Care Board and Government ministers to seek urgent support in addressing the recruitment crisis and protecting local maternity services.

Ian is calling on the trust to put in place emergency continuity plans, including seeking out cover staff from other parts of the South West, and is urging a massive public response to restore local maternity services as soon as possible.

North Devon’s MP, Ian Roome, said: 

“We must protect local maternity services here in North Devon at all costs. The response from our community has been extraordinary: more than 8,000 petition signatures in such little time sends a clear message that our community expects every possible effort to be made to protect local maternity services."

“This is a recruitment crisis. A critical shortage of consultant obstetricians and gynaecologists has forced the Trust to this point - and it is hugely worrying for women in labour who may now have to travel to hospitals much further from home. 

“We cannot allow this to become the thin end of the wedge. I’ll be making every call, using every contact and exhausting every avenue to help find a solution. North Devon families deserve access to safe, local maternity care, and I'll keep pushing until every possible option has been explored.”

The number of Second Homes registered in North Devon has dropped by 300 since an extra tax penalty was introduced for out-of-area owners.

North Devon Council's Liberal Democrat administration raised the Council Tax on Second Homes by an additional 100% in April 2025, and the number of second homes in North Devon has now fallen below 2,000.

The new penalty has raised an additional £3.4m to support public services for local residents, including local housing schemes. The extra housing stock will also help offset the need for new housebuilding in the area, and bring more empty homes back into use.

Lead member for Housing at North Devon Council, Cllr Graham Bell, told the North Devon Gazette the council’s strategy and resources committee that this was “good news”, but highlighted the 960 homes known to be empty for more than 3 months in the area, around 2% of North Devon's total housing.

Ian Roome, Lib Dem MP for North Devon added: “Local families need be able to get affordable housing here in North Devon, and we want to see local housing being used, not sitting empty for long periods.”

The council is now running a public consultation on its Homelessness Prevention Strategy during July and August, seeking views on its prevention, accommodation and support plans.

Ian Roome MP, Member of Parliament for North Devon, has graduated from the prestigious Global Strategy Programme at the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS), further strengthening his expertise in defence, security and international affairs.

The Royal College of Defence Studies is the senior college of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom and is internationally recognised for developing strategic leaders from the UK Armed Forces, Civil Service and allied nations around the world.

Ian Roome MP said:

"It was a real privilege to graduate from the Royal College of Defence Studies' Global Strategy Programme. As an RAF veteran, I know how important strategic thinking, strong leadership and international partnerships are in keeping our country safe. The programme brought together military officers, diplomats and policymakers from across the globe, providing an invaluable opportunity to learn from different perspectives and deepen my understanding of the increasingly complex security challenges facing the UK and our allies.

"The insights I have gained will be invaluable in my work as a Member of Parliament, particularly in my role on the Defence Select Committee. As global threats continue to evolve, it is more important than ever that Parliament is equipped to scrutinise defence policy effectively, support our Armed Forces, and ensure the UK remains a strong and reliable partner on the international stage."

Each year, around 110 participants from the UK and nearly 50 other countries are selected by the Ministry of Defence to take part in Royal College of Defence Studies programmes. Participants are chosen for their leadership potential and their ability to contribute as future strategic advisers and senior decision-makers.

Before entering Parliament, Ian Roome served in the Royal Air Force, an experience that continues to shape his approach to public service and his commitment to the Armed Forces community. Since being elected as the Member of Parliament for North Devon, Ian has served on the Defence Select Committee, where he plays an active role in scrutinising Government defence policy, examining national security issues and holding Ministers and senior military leaders to account. He is also a strong advocate for serving personnel, veterans and military families, ensuring their voices are represented in Parliament.

The Royal College of Defence Studies invites Members of Parliament to participate in the Global Strategy Programme to foster greater understanding between Parliamentarians and senior military leaders, strengthening informed debate and policymaking on defence, security and the UK's role in an increasingly uncertain world.

North Devon’s Liberal Democrat MP, Ian Roome, has welcomed the report today by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the heating oil market, which calls for tougher regulation of the sector to protect consumers from unfair practices. 

The CMA investigation was commissioned following extreme price rises in heating oil following the Middle East conflict earlier this year, with reports of some heating oil companies cancelling orders in order to set higher prices. Average retail prices were, at their peak, 92% higher than before the conflict. 

North Devon, according to research from the House of Commons Library, has over 14,000 off-grid fuel households, nearly 30% of all local households. 

In a survey launched by local Liberal Democrat MP Ian Roome to assess the impact on North Devon residents, Mr Roome reported that over 30% of respondents who tried to order fuel were quoted prices 100-150% higher than usual, with some even reporting increases of over 200%. The North Devon MP’s survey also showed that many customers were attempting to place a new order, but lots were unsuccessful. 

The CMA found that although the home heating oil market is generally competitive and suppliers have not profited materially from the crisis, consumers are not as well protected as those connected to the grid.

The CMA recommended for the UK government to introduce a new regulatory regime for heating oil suppliers, which would require suppliers to register and meet minimum standards and to clearly signpost available payment plans and minimum purchase volumes, and would create a register for vulnerable households. The CMA is also recommending a review of rules and regulations around minimum order volumes to allow people to buy smaller amounts of heating oil.

Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, Ian Roome, said:

 “The conflict in the Middle East has shown how horribly exposed many North Devon off-grid fuel customers are to sudden price spikes. I’ve heard from many constituents who couldn’t afford to fill their tanks or even had orders cancelled. It’s about time we had proper regulation of the heating oil market, and today’s CMA’s report makes that clear.

"I wrote to the Energy Minister sharing the results of my heating oil survey and pushing for stronger protections for rural areas like ours. And it’s not just households under pressure - farmers and rural businesses are also being hit by rising energy, red diesel and fertiliser costs. 

“The government now needs to act before the next economic shock hits home.”

Further information found at:UK’s heating oil households need stronger protections, says CMA - GOV.UKhttps://www.gov.uk/government/news/uks-heating-oil-households-need-stronger-protections-says-cma

Jayne Mackie has won the Fremington & Yelland byelection for the North Devon Liberal Democrats.

The former teacher and nursery worker from Yelland thanked local residents for placing their trust in her, and promised to represent every kind of person in the community.

Jayne also paid tribute to the late Neil Denton, the area’s former Councillor, and praised his true dedication to the people of Fremington.

The full results were as follows:

Lib Dems (Jayne Mackie) - 752 (49.9%)

Reform UK - 496 (32.9%)

Green Party - 131 (8.7%)

Conservatives - 116 (7.7%)

Labour - 12 (0.8%)

Lib Dem GAIN from Independent

Neighbours and friends helped run a giant byelection campaign, meaning Jayne joins popular local Lib Dem Councillor Frank Biederman as Fremington's second district councillor.

Frank said: “Local residents have made a great choice: Jayne is a passionate defender of green spaces and community work. I've always greatly respected her wise head on planning issues, and it's great to see her return to the Council.”

Local Lib Dem MP for North Devon Ian Roome added: "Jayne has a proven track record in the community and will be a fierce advocate for local residents. Many people told me how much she impressed them, and she will be an asset to Fremington & Yelland. Well done everyone!"

Following extreme weather and storms this winter which caused significant damage to roads across Devon, Liberal Democrat-run Devon County Council announced a £3 million funding boost to help fix potholes and speed up repairs.

This funding has been freed up following the agreement the Council reached with the government to write off most of Devon’s Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) debt. 

Devon has one of the largest local road networks managed by a local authority in England, with around 8,000 miles of roads to maintain, and Devon County Council say that the number of reported potholes in February 2026 was 9,700; 90% higher than the same period in 2025.

The additional £3 million will help speed up repairs and support the work of highway teams who are already operating across Devon to deal with the backlog of defects.

Liberal Democrat County Cllr Ed Tyldesley said: 

“People across North Devon know how tough this winter has been on our roads. Storms, freezing temperatures and relentless rain have taken their toll, and residents are seeing the damage every day on the roads they rely on for work, school and everyday life.

"We are seeing more frequent extreme weather. As predicted, global climate change has knocked our seasons out of balance. Heavy rainfall and repeated freezing and thawing put huge pressure on road surfaces, especially on a rural network like Devon’s.

“For too long has the network been underfunded and just patched-up. This additional £3 million shows that the Council are adapting to what is happening across the county and giving our highways teams more resources to respond. They have been working incredibly hard in difficult conditions, and this extra investment will help repair more potholes and keep Devon moving.”