Owl was under the impression that these car parks were “owned” by the Pebblebed Heaths Trust. In 2018 the Trust published a pebblebed Heaths car park strategy.

The car parks are now being described as “four council-owned car parks”. When did that happen?

The design and access statement (para 2.1) indicates that this is in response  to the plans of East Devon, Exeter and Teignbridge to build over 40,000 new homes by 2030.

Looks like the change happened soon after Jan 2020. Old Guard decision?

So the costs fall on the Council Tax Payer – Owl

Joe Ives, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk 

Joney’s Cross – and you can see why (courtesy South East Devon Habitat Regulations)

East Devon District Council (EDDC) has approved its own planning application to redevelop four of its car parks at Pebblebed Heath near East Budleigh,  which one councillor said were currently “little better than a bomb site.”

The heath is a 1,400sq hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest and a special area of conservation for southern damselflies, nightjars and Dartford warblers.

Now four council-owned car parks surrounding the heath are to be resurfaced and will undergo drainage works and have improved signage following a decision by EDDC’s planning committee. The council hopes to improve safety and reduce parking pressure elsewhere around the beauty spot.

The works will be at Joney’s Criss, Hawkerland; Stowfood Woods, Colaton Raleigh; Four Furs, Woodbury and the Frying Pans,  Woodbury Common. Though the car parks will be improved, no new spaces will be added.

Councillor Geoff Jung (Democratic Alliance Group, Woodbury and Lympstone), portfolio holder for coast, countryside and environment, told the planning committee: “I think everyone would agree that the car parks on the common look little better than a bomb site: muddy puddles, ruts and no logic on where to park.”

Cllr Jung said there had been some misinformation on social media on the purpose of the improvements. He said the works would improve safety and movement around the car parks, increase their visibility from the road and “reduce the opportunity for theft and anti-social behaviour which is fairly common on the heath.”

The council says there has been increased use of Pebblebed Heath because of new housing developments in East Devon.

In a report on the application, officers argued:  “Increasing the capacity at the larger car parks means there would be an increased focus on these areas with less harm likely to arise in other satellite parking areas, thereby reducing the harm to the wider Pebblebed Heaths.”

There were worries that a footpath to the car park at Joney’s Cross would be removed, but the council said it will be keeping it open.

Councillor Olly Davey (Democratic Alliance Group, Exmouth Town) welcomed the improvements but wants cycle parking to be considered in future developments.

Councillor Paul Hayward (Democratic Alliance Group, Yarty) read a statement on behalf of Newton Poppleford & Harpford Parish Council which expressed “slight frustration” that it was not consulted on the application when it was first validated in the summer.

A planning officer apologised and said the EDDC would make sure it consults them in the future.

The rules governing the conduct of ministers and senior civil servants need to be toughened up, according to a new report.

www.bbc.co.uk

The Committee on Standards in Public Life – which advises the PM on ethical standards – has been carrying out a review into processes in Westminster.

It concluded transparency around lobbying was “poor” and the current guidance relied too much on convention.

The watchdog has recommended to Boris Johnson that rules be strengthened.

A Cabinet Office spokeswoman said the government would “carefully consider” the report.

The committee’s review began in September last year – shortly before a row broke out over the publishing of a report into allegations of bullying against Home Secretary Priti Patel, and the Greensill lobbying scandal involving former PM David Cameron hit Westminster.

It released its interim findings in July, calling for more transparency around lobbying ministers and for improvements to the rules about when ministers can take up private sector roles after leaving government.

Releasing the report’s full findings, the committee’s chairman and former director of MI5, Lord Evans, said social media, political polarisation and what he described as the “coarsening of public debate” had increased the risks to public standards, along with additional pressure from the pandemic and Brexit.

He added: “High standards of conduct support our democracy, economy, and foreign policy.

“The UK’s success in advocating against corruption abroad depends on its reputation for ethical conduct at home.”

‘Vigilance and leadership’

The report found the effectiveness of ethics regulators in Whitehall had “not kept pace with wider changes” and said there was a “particular need for reform in central government”.

The committee recommended strengthening the restrictions and guidance on lobbying – particularly when carried out through informal channels.

And it called for more power to be given to the independent adviser on ministerial standards, which advises the PM on the rules governing his cabinet’s conduct, the ministerial code.

Lord Evans also wanted to see that code include a list of possible sanctions the prime minister could impose on those who break it – including apologies, fines and asking for a resignation.

And he said he wanted these stronger rules to be written into law.

“The arrangements to uphold ethical standards in government have come under close scrutiny and significant criticism in recent months,” said Lord Evans. “Maintaining high standards requires vigilance and leadership.

“We believe our recommendations outline a necessary programme of reform to restore public confidence in the regulation of ethical standards in government.”

The report was welcomed by Labour, with its deputy leader Angela Rayner accusing Mr Johnson and his party of “repeatedly undermining standards in our public life”.

She added: “The system that is supposed to uphold the ministerial code, lobbying rules, business appointments, public appointments and transparency is clearly unfit for purpose.

“Ministers have disregarded the rules and it is about time for a radical overhaul of the system.”

Campaign organisation Transparency International UK also welcomed the report and said the recommendations should be implemented in full.

Chief executive Daniel Bruce said: “It is incumbent on the PM to enact these significant but sensible reforms without delay.

“Failing to do so would constitute a deliberate choice to leave the door wide open to abuses of public office for private gain.”