At least 400 fish died in last week’s major river pollution incident near Colyton, officials have confirmed. [photo of frothing river in online article]

Colyton district councillor Paul Arnott has said no one should go into the river Coly at the moment – including pets.

Chris Carson  www.midweekherald.co.uk

Around 100,000 litres of slurry escaped from a farm storage tank and entered the Southleigh Stream, a tributary of the River Coly and River Axe.

Environment Agency officers were called to the scene and have been investigating the extent of the damage.

A spokesman told The Midweek Herald: “We have surveyed the fish and invertebrates in Southleigh Stream and the River Coly and are now comparing the results to previous monitoring data to assess what the impact is.

“At least 400 fish have been killed, but the actual figure is likely to be higher.”

Writing on social media he said: “The Environment Agency has confirmed today that long stretches of the river are still part of an ongoing Category One pollution incident.

“This is especially bad in the stretch as far as Umborne Bridge, but beyond that down past the playing fields, too.

“Their prediction is that it will be two years before the river will be cleared and before that it will be unsustainable for migrating fish.

“The river is contaminated with pathogens and algae growth you would not want your kids or pets to be splashing about in.

“It may look clear in sections, but these elements are still present.

“It’s a genuine risk to public health.

“It is now down to East Devon District Council to arrange suitable advisory signs to that effect which will be done as soon as possible.

“Luckily the tidal flow when it gets to the Axe will clear that away reasonably soon, and there is unlikely to be an effect as I understand it on the Colyford and Seaton Wetlands.”

One of Owl’s correspondents has taken the message “Stay Alert” to heart.

“To support the maximum number of beds (120), 450 NHS clinical staff from across the region would work at the hospital.” (From recent post)

The correspondent asks:

Is this the economics of madness?  How many hospital beds have been axed at community hospitals?  How much will it cost to build/maintain a temporary facility which may / may not be required?

And points to the debate over community hospital beds closures conducted in 2018 . When Devon County Council said closure-threatened community hospitals in Devon should be used as health and wellbeing centres for local people – but only ‘where appropriate. ( After more than an hours debate, Conservatives refused to delete the weasel words: “where appropriate” as proposed by Independents, including Councillors Martin Shaw and Claire Wright)

‘Hospitals in Dartmouth, Bovey Tracey, Ashburton and Paignton have all closed in the past two years, while closure of inpatient beds at Exeter, Seaton, Honiton and Okehampton hospitals took place last year and Teignmouth hospital is under threat from closure.’

And as Claire Wright pointed out in the debate:

‘’Around 200 beds have gone since 2012 and there are around five hospitals in the county in the process of being closed. People view it as selling off the family silver are the Beeching cuts but for hospital buildings.’ 

How prophetic!

In answering Keir Starmer’s questions on the guidance given over care homes, Owl heard Boris Johnson say that lockdown was brought in for them earlier than for the general population – didn’t stop the closure of Shandford. 

Robert Booth www.theguardian.com 

Ministers faced fresh allegations on Wednesday of failing to prepare care homes for a pandemic, as it emerged that Covid-19 may have killed 22,000 residents in England and Wales – more than twice the official toll.

Council social care directors in England warned the government two years ago, in a series of detailed reports, about care homes’ exposure to a pandemic, the Guardian has learned.

They called for better supply plans for personal protective equipment – warning that “demand for PPE could rapidly outstrip supply” – plus improved infection control and a system to enlist volunteers to help services expected to be stretched to breaking point.

The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass), which represents directors of adult social services in England, told the Guardian it carried out the work to improve government planning for a flu pandemic at the request of the Department of Health and Social Care. But it said: “We are not aware of whether government departments picked up on any of the recommendations set out.”

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “As the public would expect, we regularly test our pandemic plans – allowing us to rapidly respond to this unprecedented crisis. Our planning helped prevent the NHS being overwhelmed and means we are past the peak of the virus.”

The fresh allegations come as Boris Johnson was accused of downplaying the threat to care homes as recently as March, while a study from the London School of Economics (LSE) put the death toll for care home residents in England and Wales at 22,000, more than double the official estimate.

On a day of rising pressure over the failure better to protect the elderly and vulnerable against the coronavirus outbreak, Keir Starmer used prime minister’s questions to ask why Public Health England (PHE) had advised in March that care home residents were “very unlikely” to become infected by Covid-19. This was PHE’s position as the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic and people were already dying in the UK.

The Labour leader said the government had been “too slow to protect people in care homes”, and Johnson was forced to admit that “the number of casualties has been too high” in the sector.

Stamer said the final coronavirus death toll, currently standing at just over 40,000 in the UK, including care homes, hospitals and private homes, would be “deeply horrifying”.

The advice on the “unlikely” threat posed by Covid-19 to care homes was changed on 13 March and Downing Street said it was drawn up at a time when there were no infections in the UK. But the clash highlighted growing anger over the attention and resourcing given to preparing care homes as ministers focused on preventing the NHS from being overwhelmed.

In a sign of shifting priorities, the government announced a £600m cash injection for care homes to help control infection.

The report prepared by Adass for the government in 2018 followed a government pandemic planning exercise known as Cygnus, which uncovered the need to boost the capacity of care homes and staff numbers.

 Starmer confronts PM on care home deaths, missing data and lack of testing – video highlights

They stated that frontline care workers would need advice on “controlling cross-infection” and called for a system for mustering volunteers from families, charities and the community to help overwhelmed homes. They also called for new guidance on increasing stocks of PPE, with a prescient warning that “demand for PPE could rapidly outstrip supply”.

Care operators have struggled to limit cross-infection, with outbreaks killing more than two dozen residents in some facilities in the space of a few weeks. Staff absences have been running at 10% to 20% and early in the crisis the care industry complained that it was not covered by the government’s NHS volunteering scheme.

A survey of more than 100 care homes published on Wednesday by the Alzheimer’s Society found 43% were still not confident of their PPE supply, with one home resorting to taping bags around carers’ arms, feet and hair. Some 58% of homes said they were unable to isolate residents, and one-third said they had taken in Covid-positive patients discharged from hospital.

The latest assessment of fatalities in care settings by LSE academics found that more than half of all “excess deaths” in England and Wales – those above the five-year average for the period from 28 December to 1 May – happened in care homes. They said that from 13 March to 1 May, care homes accounted for 19,938 excess deaths.

Only 8,310 of those were specifically linked to Covid-19 by the Office of National Statistics (ONS), reflecting the declarations of care homes rather than on death certificates.

The researchers added that deaths of care home residents in hospitals were not currently represented in the ONS figures, and that around 15% of deaths of care home residents happened in hospitals , bringing the total to more than 22,000.

The report authors, Adelina Comas-Herrera and José-Luis Fernández, have been tracking virus death tolls in care homes globally since the start of the pandemic. They cited concerns raised internationally about deaths being linked to the residents being isolated in their rooms, without adequate food, drink or medical support, and not to the virus itself.

The ONS appeared to support their estimate, saying its data showed just under 20,000 excess deaths registered up to 1 May in care homes since the pandemic started.

“Of those, 8,312 have had Covid-19 mentioned on the death certificate,” a spokesman said. “We are undertaking further analysis on all deaths of care home residents which will be published in the coming days.”

On Wednesday, Downing Street confirmed that the international comparison of death rates by country had been dropped from the slide at the daily press conference, but denied that it was because of embarrassment that the UK is now shown as having the second worst toll after the US.

More than 22,000 care home residents in England and Wales may have died as a direct or indirect result of Covid-19, academics have calculated – more than double the number stated as passing away from the disease in official figures.

Robert Booth www.theguardian.com 

Academics at the London School of Economics found that data on deaths in care homes directly attributed to the virus published by the Office for National Statistics significantly underestimated the impact of the pandemic on care home residents and accounted for only about four out of 10 of the excess deaths in care settings recorded in recent weeks in England and Wales.

ONS statisticians said on Tuesday that 8,314 people had died from confirmed or suspected Covid-19 in English care homes up to 8 May.

The figures suggest the impact of the virus in care homes is finally reducing. They are based on reports filed directly from care home operators to the regulator, the Care Quality Commission. Care Inspectorate Wales has said Covid was confirmed or suspected in a further 504 cases in homes up to the 8 May in Wales.

But academics at the care policy and evaluation centre at the LSE found that when excess deaths of other care residents and the deaths of care home residents from Covid-19 in hospitals are taken into account, the toll that can be directly and indirectly linked to the virus pandemic is likely to be more than double the current official count.

They said these additional fatalities may have been caused by residents who did not seek or receive medical care for other health conditions for fear of contracting Covid-19 or over-burdening the NHS as well a lack of access to normal care.

Care homes have been running at 10% to 20% staff absence rates and many homes have been trying to isolate residents in their rooms to reduce infection spread, but this can also make their normal care more difficult and residents’ needs less visible.

The academics, who have been tracking virus death tolls in care homes globally since the start of the pandemic, cited concerns raised internationally about deaths being linked to the consequences of residents being isolated in their rooms, without adequate eating, drinking or medical support, and not to the virus itself.

They said that from 13 March to 1 May, there were 19,938 “excess deaths” in care homes – that is above the average number of deaths for the same weeks in the previous five years. Only 8,310 of these were specifically linked to Covid-19 by the ONS – reflecting the declarations of care homes, rather than on death certificates. The researchers added that deaths of care home residents in hospitals are not currently accounted for in the ONS figures and that around 15% of deaths of care home residents happen in hospitals, and that this figure could even be higher.

“Data on deaths in care homes directly attributed to Covid-19 underestimate the impact of the pandemic on care home residents, as they do not take account of indirect mortality effects of the pandemic and/or because of problems with the identification of the disease as the cause of death,” said the report authors, Adelina Comas-Herrera and Jose-Luis Fernandez.

“Data on registered Covid-19 deaths in care homes in England and Wales only accounts for an estimated 41.6% of all excess deaths in care homes. Not all care home residents die in care homes … Calculating total excess mortality in care homes since 28 December and adjusting this by the assumption that 15% of care home residents die in hospital, suggests that by 1 May there had been in excess of 22,000 deaths of care home residents during the Covid-19 pandemic – 54% of all excess mortality – in England and Wales.”

Asked to comment on the estimates, a spokesperson for the ONS said: “ONS is undertaking further analysis on all deaths of care home residents which will be published in the coming days.”

The figures came as the Alzheimer’s Society said care homes have been “left to fend for themselves” amid continuing shortage of personal protective equipment and testing for residents and difficulties isolating infected residents.

It said that of more than 100 homes surveyed last week, 43% were still not confident of their PPE supply, with one home resorting to taping bags around carers’ arms, feet and hair. Fifty-eight percent of homes said they were unable to isolate residents and a third said they have taken in Covid-19 positive patients discharged from hospital.

Beaches, country parks and beauty spots across England were busy on Wednesday as people were allowed to drive as far as they wished to exercise for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown was initiated, with police saying it may become more difficult to enforce the new regulations.

Helen Pidd www.theguardian.com 

Despite pleas from local authorities, public health chiefs and even tourist bosses for people to stay away from visitor hotspots, routes to coastlines and countryside were congested.

While slightly chilly conditions may have kept the beaches of south-west England from becoming too crowded, it was clear that many people were drawn back to their favourite spots.

Julian German, leader of Cornwall council, said that as far as he was concerned, the county remained shut to visitors. He expressed concern over the lack of clarity from the UK government. He said: “I find it amazing that the government is telling people they cannot see their close family members due to the risk of spreading the virus, but is also telling them they are fine to drive hundreds of miles for a day out.”

The council said it received about 30 calls a day from people complaining that second home owners had sneaked to their boltholes in Cornwall. German said it would be almost impossible for police to stop people from coming to their holiday retreats because they could simply say they were travelling to do exercise.

People were also heading back into the water. Padstow Harbour in north Cornwall posted a “notice to mariners” allowing kayakers, windsurfers, kite- and paddle-boarders and dinghy sailors to use the estuary for “the purpose of exercise”.

The RNLI said none of its lifeguards were working on beaches in the UK and called for people to think carefully before going into or near the water.

On the Norfolk Broads, one man was rescued after he capsized in gusty conditions. An ambulance, five fire engines and the coastguard were called to the scene at about 11am on Wednesday.

Ben Falat, chairman of the Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association, who made the 999 call after he saw the man in the water, said: “His boat was barely seaworthy. He didn’t do a good enough risk assessment for going sailing at any time, let alone in these times.”

In north Devon, the popular surfing locations of Woolacombe and Mortehoe asked people to stay away. “We do not have the capacity to cope if there is an outbreak in either of the villages,” a notice on the Mortehoe parish website read. But metal detectorists, hikers and kayakers were spotted.

Wiltshire police expressed concern at plans that appeared on social media advertising a gathering at a country park in Swindon. A police spokesperson said: “Calling for a mass gathering is a flagrant breach of the regulations and the guidance on social distancing and is wholly irresponsible.”

The tourism body for Blackpool has rebranded itself as Do Not Visit Blackpool in an attempt to discourage visitors. Simon Blackburn, leader of Blackpool council, said the government’s new message meant there was nothing that could be done to stop visitors, but he urged people to stay away for now.

Tory MP Robert Goodwill said the North Yorkshire seaside towns of Whitby and Scarborough feared a deluge of visitors. He said: “I would remind people that the toilets are closed, the car parks are closed. Whitby and Scarborough are not accepting visitors at this time.”

Celia Barnes, who lives in Skegness, Lincolnshire, said she had been shielding for nine weeks and had not left her home – yet now tourists were being allowed to visit her town. She said: “How is it fair that we will be inundated with people flocking to the beach who might have the virus?”

New rules permitting day trips to outdoor open spaces in England came into force on Wednesday, with no limit on the distance allowed. The full “stay at home” lockdown restrictions remain in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The changes in certain lockdown rules come as police officers were told they could not enforce social distancing in England, while officers in Wales have been told they can. The College of Policing and police chiefs issued new guidance trying to explain the more complicated rules to 125,000 officers in England and Wales.

It tells officers to apply legal guidelines only and not what they may have heard from politicians. It says: “Government guidance is not enforceable, for example, two-metre distancing, avoiding public transport, or the wearing of face coverings in enclosed spaces.”

In Wales it says, two-metre distancing is enforceable, and exercise is allowed only in an “area local to the place where the person is living”.

It emerged that Greater Manchester police were called to more than 1,000 house parties and large gatherings over the Bank Holiday weekend. Bev Hughes, the deputy mayor of Greater Manchester, said the “subliminal message [from the government] is that you can go out as much as you like”.

Ian Hopkins said the new regulations made policing more complex. The chief constable of Greater Manchester police said: “We’ve gone from what was a relatively strong message with some fairly clear legislation into something that’s now more fluid. People have more leeway around what they can and can’t do.”

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, said: “Police still have a role where people are gathering in groups with those not in their household or if they’ve left their house for one of the reasons not designated as a reasonable excuse.

“We will use common sense and discretion to determine what’s reasonable. Officers will engage, explain, encourage and, only as a last resort, enforce.”

Simon Fell, the Conservative MP for Barrow and Furness in Cumbria, said the Lake District could be closed if the infection rate increased. “We need to keep a really, really close eye on the R number, and if we see it go up, turn on the restrictions straight away,” he said.

In Bournemouth, where beach hut owners were allowed back for the first time, Rob Underhill, 67, was among the first to return. “It is wonderful to be back here and to be able to look out at the sea,” he said.

Nightingale Exeter, at the former Homebase store in Moor Lane, will provide a regional resource for Devon, Cornwall and neighbouring counties supporting the existing hospital network.

Daniel Wilkins www.midweekherald.co.uk

Work to transform the former retail unit began on Wednesday, May 6. It is expected to be completed by the middle/end of June.

NHS leaders in Devon say that they hope that Nightingale Exeter will not be needed but if or when it is, it will be ready.

As well as treating the sickest patients, Nightingale Exeter could also be used for those patients with less severe problems associated with Covid-19 – and for those who are recovering after a period in hospital.

To support the maximum number of beds (120), 450 NHS clinical staff from across the region would work at the hospital.

Until they are required, staff will remain on standby – at their existing hospitals or workplaces.

Once the hospital has opened, it will be operated by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of all the hospitals in Devon and Cornwall.

Rob Dyer, medical director of the Nightingale hospital, said: “We have brought together a strong team to deliver this latest addition to the NHS Nightingale hospital family.

“In many ways the outlook is better than it was because of the amazing response to ‘lock-down’ in the Southwest.

“The Nightingale Hospital Exeter has been designed to be flexible to support the recovery of our hospitals after a period where we have not been able to provide ‘usual services’.”

Philippa Slinger, the NHS chief executive leading the development of the hospital in Exeter, added: “Getting the new hospital open this quickly is a huge task but all involved are working hard to get it completed.

“We remain determined to ensure it is built so that it can be used for patients whether they are very sick or if they need less intensive care – including early rehabilitation after they have been unwell.

“The partnership between the NHS, partner agencies, the military and contractors so far has been second to none and I thank everyone involved.”

If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Midweek Herald. Click the link in the yellow box below for details.

“At a time when thousands are experiencing financial hardship, to expect individuals to work unpaid, whilst taking considerable risks to their health, is a scandal. The government must rectify this immediately otherwise their testing rollout will become another shambles even before it’s begun.” (Sir Ed Davey, acting co-leader of the Lib Dems).

Kate Devlin Whitehall Editor www.independent.co.uk

An army of unpaid volunteers is being recruited to carry out coronavirus tests across the country as ministers try to hit their target of 200,000 a day.

They are being asked to sign up to work at least 32 hours a week, swabbing the noses and throats of people who may be infected, for no pay.

The high-street chemist Boots is advertising the roles across the country, with the support of ministers.

However, a leading trade union and opposition politicians have criticised the move, accusing ministers of taking advantage of the goodwill of the public.

The Unison union said the roles took the idea of volunteering “too far”.

Volunteers would be expected to work alongside others being paid for the same role, it is understood.

The adverts warn applicants of the dangers of the role and tell them to consider the health of family members before signing up.

The position will involve standing for hours at a time and require enough mobility to “be able to reach into a vehicle to take swabs of both throat and nasal passages at potentially awkward angles”.

The adverts promise volunteers will be given full personal protective equipment, in line with NHS standards, as well as training.

Recruits will be expected to be able to work “at least” 32 hours a week, according to the advertisements.

However, applicants are warned: “Please be aware that this is a voluntary unpaid role.”

Volunteers are being sought in locations including London and Coventry.

One advert states that they are seeking to recruit “up to 1,000” volunteers and current Boots staff to fill the roles across the country.

Boots is assisting the government in the recruitment of volunteers, but it is thought that the guidelines have been set by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Sources close to the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said that volunteers had been used to great effect throughout the coronavirus crisis.

They added that the volunteers would receive training on how to carry out the tests. Individuals using home kits are currently self-administering the swabs with no training.

Sara Gorton, head of health at Unison, said: “Many people want to give their spare time to the NHS to help it through the Covid crisis, but this advert takes the notion of volunteering way too far.”

She added that rather than “seeking to take advantage of people’s good nature, the government would be better placed utilising the experience of NHS staff returning from retirement, or the healthcare students in their final years, to help expand the UK’s testing capacity”.

Andy McDonald, a member of the shadow cabinet, said: “This is physically and mentally demanding work which should be paid, with terms, conditions and rights negotiated and agreed with trade unions.”

Sir Ed Davey, acting co-leader of the Lib Dems, said: “The British public are going above and beyond in their efforts to slow the spread of the virus – whether it is working on the frontline, helping the vulnerable, supporting their local charities or simply following the lockdown measures in place.

“This does not mean the government should try to take advantage of these efforts by not paying those who will be testing for the virus.”

He added that those performing the tests should be formally employed, trained, paid and receive the benefits that come with employment.

“At a time when thousands are experiencing financial hardship, to expect individuals to work unpaid, whilst taking considerable risks to their health, is a scandal. The government must rectify this immediately otherwise their testing rollout will become another shambles even before it’s begun.”

Boots declined to comment on Tuesday night and directed enquiries to the DHSC.

A DHSC spokesperson said: “The speed at which we have increased our testing capacity is unprecedented and a real success made possible by fantastic teamwork between the government, key private companies and amazing volunteers.

“Meeting the 100,000 target was a fantastic achievement, but it isn’t the end of the goal, it’s just the beginning.

“We will continue to expand our testing capacity, with thousands more tests becoming available every day. This will be done with more test centres opening, more mobile testing units, and rapidly increasing the numbers of home-testing kits becoming available.”

[Footnote from Owl: Has the Government yet consistently reached 100,000 test a day yet?]

“Cllr John Hart, leader of the Devon County Council, said that while the region would be delighted to see visitors when it is safe for them to arrive, it is vital that any restarting of the economy avoids a second spike and that danger has led him to renew the appeal for visitors to stay away and come back later.”

Devon Councillors renew ‘stay away’ message www.southwestfarmer.co.uk

Senior politicians have renewed their appeal to holidaymakers and second homeowners to stay away from Devon despite the easing of lockdown restrictions.

From Wednesday, coronavirus lockdown rules have been adjusted so that people are able to travel for exercise and that those who cannot work from home in an industry that is still open should return to work.

But Cllr John Hart, leader of the Devon County Council, said that while the region would be delighted to see visitors when it is safe for them to arrive, it is vital that any restarting of the economy avoids a second spike and that danger has led him to renew the appeal for visitors to stay away and come back later.

While the latest coronavirus guidance from the Government says that day trips to outdoor open space, in a private vehicle, are permitted, and people can travel as far as they wish, leaving your home – the place you live – to stay at another home for a holiday or other purpose is not allowed, and this includes visiting second homes.

East Devon MP Simon Jupp said: “I’ve received many emails with questions about lockdown changes. I want to be exceptionally clear, second homeowners are still not allowed to come to East Devon,” while North Devon MP Selaine Saxby added: “Travel to second homes or for a mini break remains unacceptable.”

Cllr Hart said that he welcomed the Prime Minister’s statement as providing some hope but said he wanted to see the details of how re-starting the economy could be achieved safely.

The south west has been the region least hit by COVID-19 and yesterday saw just two new positive cases recorded in Devon, and Cllr Hart said: “We will have to be particularly careful in the south west that we don’t see a spike in infections.

“Thanks to the common sense and cooperation of the vast majority of our citizens, we have remained the lowest region in the country for infections throughout this pandemic.

“That must continue as we begin to see the economy start to rev up again – safely – whilst our residents can have some idea of how we can begin to move slowly out of lockdown.

“It is vital to get our economy going again but we must do this slowly and surely to avoid any second or subsequent spikes which would see us plunged back into an even more severe lockdown.

“Because of that danger, I would renew my appeal to holidaymakers and second homeowners to stay away from Devon especially as they are still forbidden from staying overnight. But we will be delighted to see you as soon as it is safe for you to visit.”

The Prime Minister said that “absolutely” it was the case that people should not travel to second homes for a holiday. Speaking in Parliament on Monday, Boris Johnson said:  “We don’t want to see people – let me repeat – we don’t want to see people travelling to another home for a holiday or a second home.

“That is not what this is about. This is about allowing people the pleasure and exercise of going to national parks and places of outstanding natural beauty and taking advantage of the open air.”

One of the essential facilities that Boris Johnson, in his London redoubt, didn’t think about when he let visitors loose on the countryside, from today, are the toilets – all of which are currently closed.

“We are looking at how we can re-open car parks and toilets and await further guidance on how we can do this safely. Our Visitor Centres will remain closed for the foreseeable future”.

Dartmoor National Park undertakes safety review before re-opening

www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk 

Dartmoor National Park is reviewing how to safely welcome visitors back following an easing of lockdown rules.

The Park had urged visitors to stay away following Boris Johnson’s initial lockdown message, and had said: “You should not be travelling to Dartmoor National Park. If you travel to visit the National Park you are putting the lives of our communities at risk.”

But on Sunday night, the Prime Minister announced that people can from Wednesday drive to other destinations to undertake exercise, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab adding on Monday morning that people will be able to drive as far as they want to exercise when the legal regulations are changed.

It has prompted fears that hoards of people will flock to Dartmoor from Wednesday, and a spokesman for the National Park has urged people to stay at home, avoid unnecessary journeys, exercise locally, until they can safely welcome visitors back.

They said: “Following the Prime Minister’s statement on Sunday we are reviewing how we are able to safely welcome visitors back to Dartmoor.

“We are looking at how we can re-open car parks and toilets and await further guidance on how we can do this safely. Our Visitor Centres will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

“Until then please stay at home, avoid unnecessary journeys, exercise locally and follow social distancing and hygiene rules. We will keep our website up to date with our plans on how we are progressing.”

Cabinet (if it still exists) Zoom meeting.

When are we going to have the Annual Meeting that was due to be held today 13 May?. Why was it cancelled?

Part B [the confidential part] Matters for Decision

Item  12 Budget position as result of implications of COVID-19 (Pages 39 – 42)

How bad is it?

The latest in a string of resignations at Honiton Town Council comes as Jason Hannay announced that he is stepping away from council business.

Hannah Corfield  honiton.nub.news 

In an email sent yesterday evening (May 11) to council members and the press; Jason expressed his frustration at what he calls a ‘dysfunctional’ group, which ‘lacks progression’ and ‘real community involvement’.

He wrote: “I do not feel that this council’s stronghold has the spirit and wellbeing of the community at heart.

“In the months that I have been co-opted I can say that certain councillors will not get involved with the community unless invited, obliged to or because of money issues.

“I understand that a council must be very careful about how and where they spend the money, however I would have thought that money should be spent going forward; not digging up past issues, forcing legal fees and continuously looking for the next legal battle.

“I have my reasons for thinking and openly saying that this council is dysfunctional and this current crisis has highlighted just how bad it really is.

“We have been given permission to hold council meetings via online software, but some members have refused point-blank.

“In the current pandemic; I would have thought, in the interest of helping community groups and continuing council business, this would be a must.

“I can see why people in the past have resigned; as there are hidden agendas, personal attacks, camouflaged school boy bullying and power tripping individuals.

“I have not experienced this personally, but can assure you I have witnessed it.

“The way that some councillors conduct themselves is toxic and makes a difficult situation for progression.

“I joined the council to make a difference for all. I’ve been involved with many great things in this town, a majority of it down to the rugby club.

“I thought that bringing the same positivity, energy and enthusiasm onto the council would be welcomed.

“But that positivity, energy and enthusiasm is just being drained for all the wrong reasons.

“This council really needs to understand that this town is tired of power hungry individuals and the continuous need for legal battles and fees!”

He added: “The ladies and gents working in the Honiton Town Council offices are an absolute credit to Honiton and I hope to work together again.

“Great things are coming for our community, and that is where you’ll find me.”

The full Independent Sage Report has just been published and can be found here. This post contains the executive summary and its 18 recommendations for the Government. (This is the group convened by Sir David Anthony King, one time Government Chief Scientific Adviser.)

For example: “3. Government ministers, NHS bodies and their officials should adhere to the Code of Practice for Statistics and the UK Statistics Authority should reports breaches of the code. There is concern about the inaccurate, incomplete and selective data presented by government officials rather than the statisticians responsible for them at the daily PM press briefings……”

Recommendations for government based on an open and transparent examination of the scientific evidence published 12 May 2020

Executive Summary

Our Independent SAGE focuses on the priorities for measures to be taken to support a gradual release from social distancing measures through a sustainable public health response to COVID-19. This will be essential in suppressing the virus until the delivery of an effective vaccine with universal uptake. We do not address, except as it is directly relevant, the clear structural and procedural weaknesses that contributed to the current situation as we expect these to be addressed in a future inquiry. We draw extensively on the policy considerations proposed by the World Health Organization, which provides a clear structure on which an effective policy should be based given the inevitability that the virus will continue to cross borders. Our main recommendations are:

1. The government should take all necessary measures to control the virus through suppression and not simply managing its spread. Evidence must show that COVID-19 transmission is controlled before measures are relaxed. We detect ambivalence in the government’s strategic response, with some advisers promoting the idea of simply ‘flattening the curve’ or ensuring the NHS is not overwhelmed. We find this attitude counter-productive and potentially dangerous. Without suppression, we shall inevitably see a more rapid return of local epidemics resulting in more deaths and potentially further partial or national lockdowns, with the economic costs that will incur.

2. The government should refocus its ambition on ensuring sufficient public health and health system capacities to ensure that we can identify, isolate, test and treat all cases, and to trace and quarantine contacts. Quarantine should be for 14 days and not seven. The government must develop a clear quarantine and messaging policy which takes account of the diversity of experiences of our population, variations in household structures, and with appropriate quarantine facilities in the community. This should be accompanied by real time high quality detailed data about the epidemic in each local authority and ward area. 

3. Government ministers, NHS bodies and their officials should adhere to the Code of Practice for Statistics and the UK Statistics Authority should reports breaches of the code. There is concern about the inaccurate, incomplete and selective data presented by government officials rather than the statisticians responsible for them at the daily PM press briefings. The Office for Statistics Regulation should publish further assessments of them. The UK Statistics Authority, an independent body responsible for oversight of the statistics produced by the Office for National Statistics and other government departments and public bodies has a Code of Practice. The Code requires i) trustworthiness: confidence in the people and organisations that produce statistics and data, ii) quality: data and methods that produce assured statistics and iii) value: statistics that support society’s needs for information. It is vital the public has trust in the integrity and independence of statistics and that those data are accurate, timely and meaningful. 

4. The government evaluates alternatives to complement conventional epidemiological modelling, such as dynamic causal modelling—e.g., via the expertise established by the RAMP initiative. Dynamic causal modelling (DCM) enables real-time assimilation of data quickly and efficiently to estimate the current levels of infection and ensuing reproduction rates (R). The computational efficiency of DCM may allow pressing questions to be answered; for example, would a devolved social distancing and surveillance policy—based on local prevalence estimates—be more efficacious than a centralised approach? In short, there is a pressing need to evaluate alternative approaches (and hypotheses) that may support real-time policy-making.

5. Recognising the centrality of human behaviour in transmission, the government should ensure that as social distance measures are eased, measures are taken to enable population-wide habit development for hand and surface disinfection, using and disposing of tissues for coughs and sneezes and not touching the T-zone (eyes, nose and mouth). 

6. Outbreak risks must be minimised in high vulnerability and institutional settings. No-one should be discharged from hospital to another high-risk setting such as a care home without having been tested and found to be non-infected. The government should rapidly invest in the elimination of transmission in the currently recognised “high risk” settings, including but not limited to social care and health service facilities, prisons and migrant detention facilities, homes in multiple occupancy, and households that are overcrowded or contain multiple generations. This includes staffing, testing, protective equipment and guidance for effective household isolation. Community facilities and requisitioned hotels are likely to be needed to house a significant proportion of infected people and their contacts.

7. Ensure preventive measures are established in workplaces, with physical distancing and support to enable personal protective behaviours. Health and safety regulations appropriate for COVID -19 suppression and adequate surveillance should be agreed with trade unions and other staff representatives, with sanctions that are large enough to deter unsafe practices. There should also be a facility for workers to report unsafe working conditions, with no victimisation for those using it.

8. The procurement of goods and services in order to ensure responsive and timely supply of goods for primary and secondary care, and community infection control, in anticipation of a second wave of infection. Reform should learn as much as possible from the document challenges and failures of procurement over the last three months.

9. Manage the risk of importing cases from other countries, with consequent high-risk of transmission. This should be introduced as soon as possible, treating Great Britain and the island of Ireland as distinct health territories. We welcome the government’s recent commitment to establish a port control and quarantine strategy as an adjunct to other control measures. Managing the testing, thermal assessment, collection of contact details and quarantine facilities, such as requisitioned hotels, will be essential to stop imported cases. 

10. Communities and civil society organisations should have a voice, be informed, engaged and participatory in the exit from lockdown. This pandemic starts and ends within communities. Full participation and engagement of those communities on issues such as childcare and public transport will assist with enabling control measures. Conversely, a top-down approach risks losing their support and trust. We are deeply concerned about the effects of the infection and the lockdown on BAME, marginalised, and low-income groups. There is an urgent need for government to demonstrate such active participation from communities from around the country. 

11. The government should take steps to ensure all children, irrespective of their backgrounds, have access to technology and internet at home, and where required additional learning support which does not rely on parents at home. The government should also ensure that resources are available for schools to conduct remote learning. The closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented challenges for everyone involved – students, teachers and parents, but we are particularly concerned about the detrimental impact (and widening of educational inequalities) of long term social distancing measures on learning for children from lower socio- economic backgrounds. Education is a human right which should not be compromised in the context of COVID-19. 

12. The government must ensure that health and social care services are planned, strengthened, and prepared for future waves of infection while continuing to provide the full range of services to all. For health services, this will require planning to ensure there are capacity and resources to meet need safely and to resume elective services including hospital, mental health and community health services. For social care this will require having accurate data on all staff and needs of residents; making good the serious shortages in staffing, increasing qualified staffing levels, and ensuring all staff terms and conditions of services include full sickness benefits when they fall ill. 

13. The government should rapidly strengthen the social safety net, including addressing low income benefits and housing, thereby ensuring protection of the most vulnerable in our population. It is now clear that COVID-19 has disproportionately affected older people, low income groups living in deprived areas, BAME communities, and those who are otherwise marginalised. We also note the over-representation of BAME communities as low paid care workers in health and social care settings which makes them vulnerable to COVD-19-related infection and deaths.

14. The management of often multi-organ COVID-19 disease has been based in hospital and ICU settings. Hospitals have had to radically alter non-COVID patient flows in order to deal with these pressures, and Nightingale facilities have also needed to be developed. There is clear evidence of increasing non-COVID mortality in association with the pandemic. The government should work with the Royal Colleges and professional societies to ensure that capacity and treatment guidance is updated and disseminated as evidence emerges. 

15. There should be a re-evaluation of current plans to reduce overall hospital beds in the NHS per head of population and consider ICU bed and staffing requirements to provide future surge capacity. We also recommend a rapid engagement with primary care and community health settings to support those recovering from COVID-19 disease, and sequelae, including mental health problems, as well as support to rapidly identify and manage future local outbreaks.

16. The government should urgently review and improve co-ordination in the response to the pandemic across the multiple bodies tasked with pandemic planning, both within England, including different government departments, the NHS, PHE, and local authorities, and others, and among the Westminster and devolved administrations, the government should review and improve co-ordination.. 

17. In order to underpin our recommendations, the future long-term management of the pandemic should be based on an integrated and sustainable public health infrastructure. The government has adopted a top-down approach with vertical structures for test and trace programmes. The over- dependence on outsourcing of key operational functions limits the sustainability of this approach. A more appropriate infection control response will require adaptation for local needs. Leadership from local public health and primary care professionals is essential. We do not specify which organisations should be responsible for these roles and functions as this will vary in the four nations of the United Kingdom but, in each of them, there should be a clear system map setting out responsibilities, accountability, and lines of communication.

18. In the longer term we recommend that legislation to enable an integrated National Health and Social Care System for England is considered, along the lines of the NHS in Scotland and Wales and the integrated NHS and social care system of Northern Ireland.

19. The Independent SAGE will continue to meet to consider some of these specific recommendations and to offer constructive solutions to government to ensure that the coronavirus is suppressed, that lives are saved and that the economy is able to recover as rapidly as possible. 

Controversial proposals have been put forward to build two holiday lodges and a hobby room in the grounds of the former Woolbrook Reservoir.

Beth Sharp www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

In total, 38 residents have submitted objections to the application seeking permission for three timber buildings – including a two-bedroom lodge, glamping pod and hobby cabin.

The existing site is a private dwelling with neighbouring homes to the north, east and west.

The plans propose to demolish an existing manhole and remove the bank, before building the lodges, extending the parking area and removing a number of trees ‘in poor health’ which will then be replaced with new trees.

The application states the development would have a minimal impact on the existing trees, and the proposal includes the reinstatement of 30 new ones.

It also notes the chalets are single storey and will be made from timber, so should not have a visual impact on the area.

Ward Councillor Stuart Hughes was among those who objected to the plan on account of the site’s being in a ‘green corridor’ and the effect it would have on the character of the area, neighbours and existing trees.

He said it would also lead to an increase in traffic on residential roads.

In one of the many letters of objection, Mrs B Mence said: “It will generate additional traffic and parking which will have a detrimental impact on the appearance of the site, as it results in the loss of trees and significant excavation of the planted bank, and new hardstanding to accommodate the additional parking areas…

“Both of the lodges will have raised decking terraces and overlooking windows which will afford views into neighbouring gardens…

“Due to the use of the buildings for holiday accommodation, it is likely that the occupants will be using the external spaces quite intensively, and late into the evenings, increasing the intrusive impact of the development…

“The current landscaped character will be harmed by the introduction of intrusive and highly visible new structures… The larger lodge, in particular, has the appearance of a static caravan…

“At night-time the structures will be highly visible due to light from windows and external decking.”

East Devon District Council will make the final decision.

Owl sees that the EDDC calendar is now showing the Annual Meeting scheduled for tomorrow as “cancelled”.

Owl also sees that there has been more realignments in EDDC politics, helpfully listed by EDDC here.

Current state of play is as follows, though Owl thinks this could be still be a bit “fluid”:

Democratic Alliance                    24

Conservatives                              19

Independent Group                     10

(Ingham followers)

Independent Progressives           7

Ben Ingham’s Independent group has continued to fracture since Paul Millar was the first to leave in September last year. (Paul joined the newly formed Democratic Alliance group in February). 

Seven of Ingham’s original Indys have now formed a new group calling themselves the Independent Progressive Group.

It’s all in their name – they have also rumbled that Ben Ingham wasn’t going to be either progressive or introduce any discernible change. Yet change was what the electorate voted for last May when the Conservatives lost their overall majority for the first time in East Devon.

Unlikely that anyone labelling themselves “Progressive” could vote with the Tories to keep them in power (because that what the de facto situation is in EDDC with Ben Ingham as leader).

And – if progressives are NOT Tories, DON’T want to be lumped in with Ingham and WON’T throw themselves in with the Democratic Alliance to form a fully-working majority – what IS their unique selling point?

Question now is whether Ben Ingham will show his true (original) colours and revert to the Tories and whether his nine remaining supporters will do the same, despite having presented themselves to the electorate as “Independent”.

Looks to Owl as if some changes are in the wind.

Summer is ‘likely’ to be cancelled – despite plans to reopen ‘some’ of the hospitality industry in early July – Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said today.

“Asked whether people could rent self-catering holiday homes for “staycation” holidays in this period, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “No, the rules allow for you to make visits to enjoy parks or something with pleasure status but you can’t stay overnight.”

Max Channon www.devonlive.com 

It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson told people who have holiday or second homes in Devon and Cornwall that they must not travel to them – but revealed a 14 day quarantine period would not apply to visitors to and from France.

The latter has potential ramifications for Plymouth’s international ferry port and its Brittany Ferries sailings between the city and Roscoff. The Brittany Ferries website appears to be taking bookings on the route from June 15 onwards.

Meanwhile, Isles of Scilly Travel says it intends to resume bookings for sailings on the Scillonian III to the islands off the coast of Cornwall from the July 1 2020, but will “keep this under review in line with Government advice”.

And Dartmoor National Park has said it is “reviewing how we are able to safely welcome visitors back to Dartmoor”, after the PM announced that people can from Wednesday drive to other destinations to undertake exercise, with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab adding on Monday morning that people will be able to drive as far as they want to exercise when the legal regulations are changed.

However, senior politicians in Devon have renewed their appeal to holidaymakers and second homeowners to stay away from the region despite the easing of lockdown restrictions, while Cornwall’s tourism chief said he does not want people to needlessly travel to the county.

Locally, the message to visitors unequivocally remains Come Back Later – and now Mr Hancoock has said people are also unlikely to be able to go on foreign summer holidays this year.

Asked whether “summer was cancelled”, he told ITV’s This Morning: “I think that’s likely to be the case.

“We haven’t made a final decision on that yet but it is clear that we will seek to reopen hospitality, some hospitality, from early July if we keep successfully reducing the spread of this virus.

“But social distancing of some kind is going to continue.

“The conclusion from that is it is unlikely that big, lavish international holidays are going to possible for this summer.

“I just think that’s a reality of life.”

It comes after Ryanair announced a plan to restore 40% of its flight schedule from July 1. The airline said the measure is subject to government restrictions on flights within the EU being lifted and “effective public health measures” being put in place at airports.

The Government has announced that anyone coming into the UK on a flight is likely to face 14 days in self-isolation quarantine.

But Mr Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed quarantine measures would not apply between France and the UK “at this stage”, according to a joint statement.

Plymouth Live understands Brittany Ferries – which operates ferries between Plymouth and Roscoff – is currently working through the detail on the Anglo-French agreement announced on Sunday evening.

Airports are requiring all passengers to wear masks and gloves and airlines are imposing the same rules along with temperature checks.

It comes after the Government said UK holidays are still banned despite coronavirus lockdown restrictions being eased.

A document published by the Cabinet Office said staying overnight at a location other than the place you live “for a holiday or other purpose is not allowed”. This includes visiting second homes.

Boris Johnson told the daily Downing Street press conference on Monday that people should not travel to UK beauty spots to stay for long periods of time.

Asked by Alex from the Lake District if there would be a limit on how far people could travel for their daily exercise, the Prime Minister, said: “What we’re saying is we want people to be able to use the outdoors, to be able to exercise in an unlimited way outdoors, but they’ve got to obey social distancing.

“So there can’t be any question of people just going off for holidays for staying in places like the Lake District.”

Locals living in Cumbria have raised concerns about the area being inundated with tourists as people take advantage of the “unlimited daily exercise” announcement.

The area, home to the Lake District National Park, saw 47 million visitors in 2018, according to Cumbria Tourism.

From Wednesday, people in England have permission to travel to “outdoor open space irrespective of distance”.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have all so far remained with the previous, stricter, advice – which also banned holiday travel.

But the Cabinet Office said “premises such as hotels and bed and breakfasts will remain closed” unless they are being used for special circumstances such as providing accommodation for critical workers.

Asked whether people could rent self-catering holiday homes for “staycation” holidays in this period, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “No, the rules allow for you to make visits to enjoy parks or something with pleasure status but you can’t stay overnight.”

Places of accommodation will reopen as part of step three of England’s recovery strategy, which will not begin earlier than July 4.

Premises will be required to meet “Covid-19 secure” guidelines to minimise the risk of infection.

Major tourist destinations in England are telling visitors to “stay away” and “stay home” following the easing of travel restrictions by the prime minister.

But not, as yet, Devon. Where is everyone going to go to the loo, hedgerows or the sea? . – Owl

Sunita Patel-Carstairs  news.sky.com 

On Sunday night, Boris Johnson outlined his “first sketch of a roadmap” for the gradual lifting of coronavirus lockdown measures.

The prime minister said that from Wednesday people would be allowed to drive to the countryside and beaches, as long as they maintain a safe social distance from others.

Tourism chiefs in Cornwall and Cumbria, which includes the popular destination of the Lake District, have reacted with dismay and trepidation to the changes, including the PM’s decision to relax his “stay home” slogan to “stay alert”.

They have instead urged clarity and caution, asking people not to visit the counties for day trips or staycations until it is safe to do so, for fear of crowds flocking to tourist hotspots and triggering a second wave of COVID-19 cases.

Jim Walker, chairman of Cumbria Tourism, told Sky News: “We have been very surprised by Prime Minister Johnson’s statement regarding the easing of travel restrictions.

“We believe this could have severe implications for Cumbria, for our NHS and for those who live in the county.

“Cumbria has one of the highest infection rates for coronavirus in the UK.

“The arrival of many day visitors could easily compromise all the really good work that has been done to date to manage the current situation.

“We are therefore continuing to promote the message that Cumbria is closed to visitors, although we really look forward to the time that our businesses will reopen and we can welcome people back to our beautiful county.”

Shortly after the PM’s national address, Cumbria’s tourism board tweeted: “We are shocked by the timing and short notice of tonight’s announcement.

“We are awaiting further details but the safety of residents must come first.

“For now, tourism businesses in Cumbria remain closed and we urge everyone to continue to #StayHome.”

Mr Walker’s sentiments were echoed by Malcolm Bell, chief executive of Visit Cornwall, who said his message to residents in England remains: “Stay home”.

He told Sky News: “We do not believe the government announcement means carte blanche – total freedom – for anyone travelling from outside the county for a day visit.

“There is nowhere to stay. There are very limited places to eat, other than takeaways.

“We do not believe that this is staying alert – to undertake a long, unnecessary journey.”

He said he would be seeking clarity and further guidance from the government on what the changes to the lockdown actually mean.

“It is vital to evaluate the plan and its impact on tourism, but also the residents of Cornwall and our communities,” he said.

“We are totally committed to play our part in protecting local residents and communities in Cornwall – alongside protecting the future of the industry.

“At this time we ask you to stay away, and in the comfort of your own home, plan a future break to Cornwall when it is safe to do so.”

Cotswolds Tourism told Sky News: “We hope that this week’s ministerial briefings will clarify the situation. We assume that the prime minister meant (and the briefings will make clear) that people are free to enjoy any parks and beaches near to them: where social distancing should be possible.

“However, with hospitality businesses closed until at least July – along with many car parks and public toilets – it is hard to see how or why anyone could/should travel far from home.

“We certainly won’t be encouraging anyone to visit the Cotswolds before hospitality businesses are open to welcome them.”

People are not allowed to cross the borders to Wales or Scotland for leisure activities where similar changes to the lockdown have not been agreed by the devolved administrations.

Holiday resorts across England remain closed, and have no idea what the summer holds for them, with Mr Johnson’s blueprint for the future currently running up to the beginning of July, when it is being considered non-essential business such as pubs, cafes and restaurants could reopen.

“…’The key words in Boris Johnson’s speech on Sunday were “you should go to work if you can’t work from home”. He made no mention of preparations for tracing and testing contacts of people who test positive for Covid-19. ….”

Author, David Hunter is the Richard Doll professor of epidemiology and medicine in the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford www.theguardian.com 

For over two months now, Britain’s public health specialists have been asking why the government abandoned the basic infection-control practice of “test, trace, isolate”. Most of us have suggested that a system to do this was a precondition of easing the lockdown. The key words in Boris Johnson’s speech on Sunday were “you should go to work if you can’t work from home”. He made no mention of preparations for tracing and testing contacts of people who test positive for Covid-19. In the plan published today, a newly appointed test and trace taskforce will begin to develop such a system.

The countries that have succeeded in taming their coronavirus epidemics – such as South Korea, Taiwan, China, Australia and New Zealand – differ from the UK in many ways. But they all have in common “test, trace, isolate” as the centrepiece of their strategy.

The UK government claims to be “following the science”, but it seems the science now needs to catch up with a government that is prioritising concerns about economic damage over epidemic control. The economic damage is clear, and the lockdown will also have knock-on health effects due to unemployment, domestic abuse, and postponed diagnoses and treatments. But if science is the rationale, why not level with the public and show the data that suggests the return to work is now the lesser evil? If there is evidence from modelling that social distancing while at work or commuting – rather than sheltering at home – is sufficient for virus control, let us see it.

The government may have reasons to lift the lockdown before a “test, trace, isolate” system is in place but we do not know what they are. Some will see an ongoing commitment to “herd immunity” behind the lack of public health actions in the speech. However, I believe no UK government would select this as the preferred scenario. And emerging antibody data from hard-hit cities such as New York show that, with less than a quarter of the population affected, it would take at least another wave of devastation to get close to the herd immunity threshold.

It is possible that the data shows that there is still too much virus circulating in Britain and that a tracing system would be overwhelmed. Johnson hinted at this when he said that the quarantining of arriving travellers would be imposed only “with transmission significantly lower” – in other words, imported virus is still just a fraction of domestic virus transmission. If that is the case, however, telling people to go back to work is very risky advice.

It is also probable that the testing system does not yet have the required capacity, or that not enough contact tracers have been hired. However, there is unused capacity in local councils that the government is choosing not to tap.

The mantra for the past seven weeks has been to “protect the NHS” by staying at home. Surely the intent was also to use this time to prepare for the calibrated end to the lockdown. What we got in the prime minister’s speech was advice to go back to work this week without using public transport (unless we can work from home), and a promise to reimpose the lockdown if Covid-19 flared up again. What we did not get was any list of the actions in place to pursue and contain the virus.

All this is reminiscent of another government soundbite, “the right steps at the right time”. That idea did not work out so well at the start of the epidemic – when mixed messages and a stuttering set of interventions resulted in the virus spreading. On Sunday Johnson said: “We have been through the initial peak.” He is quite right that coming down the mountain is “often more dangerous” – particularly if the peak was higher than it needed to be – but why make the descent even more perilous by refusing to deploy all the tools to hand. No mountaineer would do so without the right equipment.

What many public health specialists hoped to hear was a commitment not only to scaling up testing but to deploying it in a more targeted manner. A commitment to work in partnership with the devolved governments and the regional and local authorities. And a commitment to use the tests to reduce virus transmission. If the government has decided these actions are premature then, at the very least, the piloting of these strategies needs to take place.

Those defending the government’s Covid-19 response have reasonably pointed out that policy mistakes are always clearer in retrospect. So let me make a prediction. If we take the prime minister’s advice and return to work in large numbers now – and without the ability to test, trace and isolate – then virus spread will increase, there will be super-spreader events and local or regional lockdowns will have to be reconsidered. The prime minister implied in his speech that relapse will somehow be our fault – we were not sufficiently “alert”. The responsibility will lie, however, with a government that has encouraged a premature return to work before the epidemiologic conditions and interventions were in place to make it safe to do so.

What about the role of politicians, especially previous Health Secretaries in contributing to failure? Owl

Kate Devlin Whitehall Editor www.independent.co.uk 

The former health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has said lives could have been saved if the UK had ramped up coronavirus testing sooner, as he attacked “one of the biggest failures of scientific advice to ministers in our lifetimes”.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Hunt said it was clear there had been a “major blindspot” in the approach taken in Europe and America.

Both continents prepared for and focused on pandemic flu, not pandemic coronaviruses such as Sars or Mers, he said.

Asian countries that did the opposite have seen lower death tolls since the pandemic began.

They include South Korea, which has had fewer than 10 deaths on any single day, and Singapore which has had fewer than two dozen deaths.

By contrast more than 30,000 people have now died from Covid-19 in the UK.

Mr Hunt told MPs: “The failure to look at what these countries were doing at the outset will rank, I am afraid, as one of the biggest failures of scientific advice to ministers in our lifetimes.”

He warned the lack of transparency around the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), which advises ministers, hindered the UK’s response.

There was a “systemic failure caused by the secrecy that shrouds everything Sage does. Because its advice is not published it cannot be subjected to scientific challenge”.

Had Sage’s advice been published in January, he said, “an army of scientists from our universities could have challenged why testing and contact tracing was not being modelled. They could have demanded a ramp up of testing and challenged the behavioural assumptions that delayed lockdown”.

The result could have been “many lives saved” he said.

Ministers insist they have followed the science amid signs of increasing tension between ministers and advisers over how to fight the global pandemic and protect the economy.

Owl thinks that these changes in priority have been happening for some time and may be part of the reason voters voted for change in EDDC in last year’s local elections. A change Leader Ben Ingham has failed to deliver.

Fiona Harvey www.theguardian.com 

Measures of the UK’s quality of life should replace the publication of purely economic indicators, campaigners and politicians have urged, as polling has found a substantial majority of the public want ministers to focus on improving health and wellbeing over economic growth.

The UK’s latest GDP figures will be published this week, covering the period from January to the end of March, and they are expected to show a dramatic fall, as the first quarterly estimate to reflect the initial impact of the coronavirus and lockdown measures.

A YouGov poll has found eight out of 10 people would prefer the government to prioritise health and wellbeing over economic growth during the coronavirus crisis, and six in 10 would still want the government to pursue health and wellbeing ahead of growth after the pandemic has subsided, though nearly a third would prioritise the economy instead at that point.

The finding comes as millions of people face economic hardship because of coronavirus and the lockdown, while some measures of the quality of life – such as air pollution and the natural environment – are showing signs of improvement.

Positive Money, the campaigning group that commissioned the research, said the poll showed that the government should publish statistics on social indicators, health, the environment and quality of life to give a truer picture of the UK’s status and help policymakers better target what the public wants.

“It’s clear the vast majority of the public think we should worry more about people’s health and wellbeing than economic growth,” said Fran Boait, the executive director of Positive Money. “The government must not be tempted to pursue policies that would boost GDP at the expense of lives, wellbeing and the environment.”

In a report entitled The Tragedy of Growth, backed by politicians from several parties, including Clive Lewis of Labour, the Green party MP Caroline Lucas, and the former Conservative environment minister Lord Deben, who chairs the committee on climate change, campaigners call for a shift away from GDP as the government’s core measure of success.

The focus on GDP means economic growth can take place at the expense of the environment, and people’s quality of life, without any of the resulting damages ever being taken into account, the report argues. That in turn encourages ministers and officials to seek ways of raising the GDP figures, even if rising nominal growth is accompanied by environmental degradation, worsening health, poor educational attainment and increasing poverty.

Leading economists have called for governments to look beyond GDP, and some countries have begun to publish a broader suite of wellbeing indicators as a result.

The report calls for the Office of National Statistics, which collates the UK’s quarterly GDP statistics, to publish instead a “dashboard” of wellbeing indicators, which the Treasury would then be required to target for improvement.

At last EDDC are holding their first virtual meeting of the all important Development Management Committee (DMC) via Zoom on Monday. Owl welcomes this re-opening of democratic scrutiny. The controversial Daisymount application is on the agenda (item 11). There are a number of site images on the honiton nub site below.

The virtual DMC will have public participation and the details can be found here:

https://eastdevon.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/have-your-say-at-meetings/development-management-committee-virtual-meeting/

Agenda here:

https://democracy.eastdevon.gov.uk//documents/g1415/Agenda%20frontsheet%2018th-May-2020%2010.00%20Development%20Management%20Committee.pdf?T=0

Full committee paper here with the detailed report on Daisymount page 156 :

https://democracy.eastdevon.gov.uk//documents/g1415/Public%20reports%20pack%2018th-May-2020%2010.00%20Development%20Management%20Committee.pdf?T=10

Daniel Clark – Local Democracy Reporter honiton.nub.news 

Plans for a new drive-thru McDonalds as part of a massive new service station right next to the A30 are once again set for approval – despite planning officers slamming the proposed design.

The fast food giant hopes to open as part of a scheme that would also see a roadside service and petrol station built for the site at Straightway Head Junction, next to the Daisymount roundabout, just outside Ottery St Mary.

The scheme includes:

• A petrol filling station with five pumps
• A forecourt shop/sales building measuring 500 sqm located in the centre of the site comprising a sales area, a hot food and coffee outlet.
• A total of 103 car parking spaces, including 81 light vehicle spaces, • 4 disabled spaces, 10 motorcycle spaces, 8 HGV/coach spaces and two electric vehicle charging points
• A two-storey building with accompanying drive-thru and associated outdoor play area.

The applicant has stated that McDonalds is the intended operator

Councillors back in December 2019 agreed to defer a decision until a future meeting over concerns they had about the proposed design of the scheme and to allow for CGI images to be produced.

Such images have since been submitted, but East Devon District Council’s Landscape Architect has said ‘they are very disappointing and misleading’.

The report to next Monday’s development management committee meeting, which is to be held by Zoom and will be the first virtual meeting that East Devon has conducted, added: “It is disappointing that the montages produced are not of a form or accuracy which can support officers in determining the impact that the proposal will have.

“Officers cannot be sure that the CGI’s are 100 per cent accurate and as such do not recommend that Members given them full weight when determining the application.”

Planning permission for a much larger service station that also included a hotel had previously been granted and implemented due to the construction of the vehicular access to the site, planning officers said, saying that the principle of a service station in the area has already been agreed.

As a result, the report says that planning officers are left in the same place they were in December, and again recommend that the proposal would be acceptable in terms of its visual impact on the landscape, albeit recognising that from close range the proposal will be highly visible, and thus are again recommending approval.

The report adds: “Notwithstanding the localised impact, it is considered that the proposed roadside services scheme has been sited, designed and landscaped to minimise its impact on the character and appearance of the wider landscape.

“In addition, the proposal would meet an established need and perform an important road safety function by providing opportunities for the travelling public to stop and take a break by closing the existing gap in the provision of roadside facilities along this section of the A30.

“The benefit from the additional roadside service facility and associated road safety function, when weighed alongside other benefits such as job creation during construction, longer term employment opportunities within the petrol filling station, shop and the drive-thru building, and the contribution to the local economy that would be derived from this scheme, are considered to be significant social and economic benefits that outweigh the limited and localised visual impact and landscape harm.”

But local councillors are in opposition to the scheme and have said that their preliminary view is that it should be refused.

Cllr Kathy McLauchlan, who represents the Whimple ward, said: “The CGI images that were requested by the Development Management Committee are misleading and not representative of how the service station would appear on the landscape.

“I am still of the opinion that the plans as they stand would cause significant harm to the countryside and I have driven the length of the A30 from Ilminster to Daisymount and still feel that this service station is neither desired nor required at this point on the A30.”

Cllr Vicky Johns, who represents the Ottery St Mary ward added: “I also have concerns that the shop is quite large and not a farm shop, as I believe it should be within the policy on retail within the open countryside.”

Cllr Jess Bailey, who represents the West Hill and Aylesbeare ward, said: “It is a highly sensitive and prominent site and I believe that the very urbanising appearance of the two storey McDonalds and service station will be severely detrimental.

“The retail element is likely to cause significant harm to existing retailers in surrounding towns and villages and approval of this application would directly contradict the climate change emergency declared by EDDC.”

The application will be discussed by councillors on Monday morning with officers recommending approval.

When the committee debating the scheme in December, votes for approval and a site visit were lost, while councillors struggled to put forward a reason for refusal, before deferring to allow CGI images to be produced.