Flood disaster for new breast screening unit; Plymouth's autonomous ocean-goers take another leap forward; and the mystery new artwork coming to The Hoe.

It's The Beagle, battening down the hatches on Thursday Oct 30, 2025

Brand new breast screening unit is closed by “extensive” flooding

A state of the art breast screening unit that opened in Plymouth eight months ago has been closed by devastating flooding.

Extensive damage has been caused to the centre, at The Merchant building in Notte Street.

It took two years to get the unit ready for opening. Visitors had described the building as “beautiful” and “wonderful”.

It was operated by the West Devon and East Cornwall Breast Screening service, which has admitted the site will be “unfortunately out of action for the foreseeable future.” One NHS worker said there were real fears the unit might not re-open.

Anyone with a scheduled appointment should have been contacted by Derriford Hospital. A temporary mobile unit has been located at Plymouth Albion’s Damerel Close car park at The Brickfields.

We've asked the screening service for information about the closure, but no-one responded to our calls or emails.

Got information? Email us: contactthebeagle@gmail.com

Quantum leap in Plymouth’s autonomous ocean-going

The uncrewed submarine XV Excalibur, built in Plymouth and launched from HMNB Devonport, has completed a landmark seabed trial off the Sound, becoming the first underwater vessel to carry an optical atomic clock, marking a “milestone” in undersea technology.

The craft was built by Plymouth-based MSubs Ltd and launched at Devonport in May before an audience of senior Royal Navy figures and industry guests.

In its latest deployment, Excalibur transported a compact optical atomic clock – the first ever operated at sea in such an underwater platform – in conjunction with Infleqtion and the Royal Navy’s autonomy unit. According to official sources, the device offers a “time-heartbeat” capable of smoothing navigation drift for a submarine operating without reliance on satellite signals – a vital factor for prolonged covert operations.

Unlike surface vessels, submarines cannot rely entirely on GPS for navigation and traditional microwave-based clocks provide stability but can drift over time – making them less accurate.

The use of quantum technology adds to a submarine’s ability to maintain accurate timing and navigation and reduce the need for external signals.

The fact that XV Excalibur was built in the Ocean City underscores Plymouth’s resurgent role in advanced maritime defence technology. The trial brings the local seafaring heritage sharply into the high-tech age: what was once the realm of simple hulls is now the proving ground for quantum clocks and undersea autonomy.

Senior figures hailed the trial as a “significant milestone” for the UK’s underwater autonomous capability. The success not only reflects on Plymouth’s industrial base but also signals a step-change in how the Royal Navy may navigate in GPS-denied environments in coming years.

As Excalibur returns to Devonport for post-trial review and the next phase of testing, Plymouth’s waterfront once again stands at the confluence of tradition and innovation. The city’s docks and waterside seem set to play a big part in the future of stealth and autonomy beneath the waves.

Devon Block Management Update

Avid Beagle readers will recall that we were the first in Plymouth to highlight concerns by residents living in properties supposedly looked after by Devon Block Management.

Two weeks ago we were also first to reveal that a Notice for Compulsory Strike Off had been published in the Gazette. (Read our story here)

Tonight we have an update for followers of the saga: the strike-off has, for the time being, been suspended. Action under Section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006 has been temporarily suspended as an objection to the striking off has been received by the official Registrar.

The Beagle understands this could be as a result of DBM’s overdue accounts being filed (or notice of intent to file has been communicated). It could also be as a result of action from a party alleging it is owed money by DBM. We will publish more news as we have it.

If you have an update or information about Devon Block Management, click here to contact The Beagle in confidence.

Ten Amazing Days - the story of Napoleon's time in Plymouth

Plymouth people took to boats in their thousands to see Napoleon Bonaparte, greeting him like a film star when, as a prisoner on board HMS Bellerophon after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815 he was held in The Sound for 10 days while his fate was decided.

Up to 10,000 people took to the water daily and Napoleon appeared regularly on deck, tipping his hat and lapping up the attention as the crowds waved and cheered.

You can hear the full story in Ten Amazing Days, a Plymouth Historical Association talk delivered by historian Clive Charlton.

7pm, Tuesday 25th November 2025, The Levinsky Theatre, University of Plymouth. From £4.

** Andy Griffiths is a proud Janner doing great things to promote events happening across Devon. His weekly Go Devon! Newsletter drops into email inboxes every Thursday. Sign up by clicking here

Can you guess what it is yet?

A new piece of public, community art is headed to the Peace Garden on Plymouth Hoe.

It is currently under wraps ahead of a big reveal next Tuesday.

Waterfront Councillor Chris Penberthy has revealed that the art “has a fantastic story behind it”, but wrote that he “would like to leave the telling of this to those involved, when it is unveiled. The work is being gifted to the city. In due course it will move to a new permanent home planned to be in the Peace Garden.”

More news next week, Beaglers.