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Anti-sewage campaigners at Scarborough’s South Bay were forced to protest outside of the water on Saturday, due to poor water quality at the popular bathing spot.

Nick Ferris www.independent.co.uk 

The campaigners were taking part in a nationwide protest organised by the charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), which saw thousands join protests at 12 of the UK’s most popular beaches.

“We protested about dirty water, but could not go in the water because the water was too dirty,” said Steve Crawford, the Scarborough protest organiser.

“We went to one of the most prestigious beaches in Yorkshire, on one of the hottest days of the year so far, and we were told we could not go into the water.

“We had people coming from Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool and they arrived at the beach to be told they cannot go into the water.”

Crawford said that signs had been up for the past two weeks advising people not to swim in the water.

The 54-year-old has been forced to shut the surf shop he has owned on the beach for the past 17 years during that time. “Since 6 May I have not been able to work,” he said.

Elsewhere in the UK, SAS said that thousands of paddle-boarders, kayakers, swimmers and paddlers took part in the action.

Organisers described an “awesome turnout” at Brighton Beach, where hundreds of people took to the sea in the 20C heat.

Other locations staging protests include Falmouth and Gyllyngvase beaches in Cornwall, South Bay in Scarborough, Portobello Beach in Edinburgh, Penarth Pier Pavilion in South Wales and Tinside Beach East, Plymouth Hoe.

The Brighton protest also featured the world’s first-ever surfboard made from a mixture of raw sewage and resin, called The Floater, which featured two transparent windows where brown sewage water is visible.

“The public at large are sick and tired of greed taking precedence over the health of our ocean”, said SAS campaign manager Izzy Ross.

“Last year, 12 water companies paid out a combined £1bn to shareholders while relentlessly polluting UK waterways with sewage nearly 400,000 times.

“These mass paddle-out protests across the country are about holding polluters to account.

“We will not tolerate their shameless exploitation of our blue spaces any longer.”

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP for Brighton Pavilion, Tweeted: “Congrats to @sascampaigns‘s protest on #Brighton beach this morning. Southern Water dumped sewage into Sussex’s waterways *16,000* times last year”.

SAS is calling for a 90 per cent reduction in sewage discharges by 2030, and for all UK bathing spots to be protected.

A recent SAS survey showed that trust in water companies was at 21 per cent among UK adults and that 85 per cent of people supported a ban on bonuses for CEOs of companies that failed to meet environmental standards.

Research by the charity also shows that 12 UK water companies paid out a combined £1 billion to shareholders in 2022.

The protests come as Environment Agency data revealed in March that in 2022 there were 301,091 sewage discharges in England, 14,008 in Scotland and 74,066 in Wales.

“The figures are shocking, the transparency is questionable, and the accountability is non-existent. It’s a broken system and we’re sick of it”, said SAS at the time of the data release.

Earlier this week, industry body Water UK apologised for the sewage discharges and announced a £10bn plan to reduce the number of sewage discharges into UK waterways. But it warned that water bills would likely rise to cover the cost, with one water firm, Anglian Water, predicting the average customer would pay up to £91 extra a year until the end of the decade.

SAS is also urging people to sign a petition calling for an “end to water companies profiting while they’re polluting”. It has so far gained more than 114,000 signatures.

Labour faces accusations of overcentralised meddling after the party’s national executive vetoed planned coalitions with the Liberal Democrats or Greens in a series of formerly Conservative-held local authorities.

East Devon has been, and hopefully will continue to be, an example of progressive politics in action.

Described as “chaos” by non-progressive Tories.

To be decided at the Annual Council on Wednesday, 24th May, 2023, 6.00 pm – Owl

Peter Walker www.theguardian.com 

While it is longstanding Labour policy that local parties need a green light from the national executive committee (NEC) before forming coalitions, some activists say attempts to block deals risk allowing Conservatives to regain control instead.

In one council, Hertsmere, just north of London, where the Tories lost power for the first time since 1999 in this month’s elections, Labour councillors are threatening to sit as independents if the NEC continues to veto a deal with the Lib Dems.

“This has been a Tory area for the last 24 years, and we’ve worked so hard to change that,” one local Labour source in the Hertfordshire district said. “It’s quite insulting now to be told we can’t get the benefits.”

A similar stalemate at Cherwell council in Oxfordshire, where the NEC is refusing to allow the Labour group to govern with the Lib Dems and Greens, has prompted speculation it could end up returning to Tory control.

There have been similar vetoes at two other formerly Conservative-run local authorities that are now in no overall control, Lewes in East Sussex and Canterbury in Kent.

Several local Labour sources told the Guardian they believed the party was being overly rigid and interventionist. It comes after the NEC announced it would appoint the next leader of Birmingham council, following an internal report that said the Labour group was riven by factions.

In a notably positive set of local election results on 4 May, Labour won control of 22 new councils, with a further 12 shifting to no overall control, many having previously been Conservative-run.

Among the latter group was Hertsmere, where from the Tories’ pre-election position of holding 29 of the 39 council seats they plummeted to 16, fewer than the combined total of 14 for Labour and nine Lib Dems. But plans for a Labour-Lib Dem coalition are in deadlock after the NEC vetoed it over apparent claims about a pre-election pact between the parties, something rejected by local Labour sources.

A number of Labour councillors are understood to be considering resigning from the party to sit as independents if the NEC does not back down.

In Cherwell, formerly the last Conservative-run council in Oxfordshire, the Tories’ post-election total of 20 councillors is fewer than the 12 for Labour, 10 Lib Dems and three Greens.

But plans for a coalition are at a stalemate after the NEC refused to allow the local Labour party to sign up to a deal with both the Lib Dems and Greens. A Labour source said the party’s policy was to make pacts with the fewest number of parties needed to form a majority.

The complication in Cherwell is that the Lib Dems and Greens, as well as one independent councillor, are grouped into the so-called Progressive Oxfordshire Alliance, and so will not accept the NEC’s insistence on a Lib Dem-only deal.

A first meeting of the new council removed the existing Tory leader but could not agree a replacement. One council source said that if the NEC did not back down the Conservatives might govern as a minority: “The Tories in charge again isn’t what people voted for, but there has to be an administration at some point.”

In Lewes, the Greens, who became the biggest party after an election in which the Tories were wiped out, say their plans for an all-party administration involving both the Lib Dems and Labour had reached agreement but was blocked by Labour’s NEC.

Labour councillors in Canterbury, where they are the biggest party, have been allowed to govern with the Lib Dems, but the NEC stopped the participation of the Greens.

Neal Lawson, the head of the cross-party campaign group Compass, called for the party to show more flexibility. He said: “No Labour councillors should be blocked from forming anti-Tory alliances. Protecting the interests of local voters must come before party tribalism.”

A South West Water project to reduce drought is to get £1 million from government quango.

Water regulator Ofwat is giving the money from its innovation fund to pay farmers in Devon and Cornwall to create water storage on their land.

“land use changes and the accompanying management practices have been linked to increased erosion and farm-scale runoff, and the degradation of soil structure. Of particular concern are winter practices that leave the soil surface bare or require the use of heavy machinery on the land, and also those actions that increase the surface and subsurface flow connectivity of the landscape, to give pathways for rapid runoff.” (From joint Environment/Defra 2004 study) – Owl

www.radioexe.co.uk 

It is one of 16 projects – and one of five involving South West Water – awarded a share of £40 million from Ofwat in a competition called the Water Breakthrough Challenge.

The project, which will be run by the company along with Westcountry Rivers Trust claims to contribute to better hydrated wetlands, woodlands and fields, and will help farms manage water demand through dry weather and boost biodiversity. 

Farmers will be paid to create ‘water batteries’, storing up water in soil ‘sponges’ as well as ponds and lakes. These stores will recharge during wet weather and can be drawn down during periods of drought, either for use on the farm to reduce demand on the mains supply, or sold to a range of buyers.

Carolyn Cadman, Director of Natural Resources, said: “This exciting project will embed new ways of thinking, valuing and storing water across the South West.

“The project will explore innovative ways of improving resilience to climate change, which we expect will bring more intense rain and more periods of drought. Working in partnership we will test ways in which farmers can capture and store that intense rainfall on their land, either to use themselves or by selling it onto others.”

Dr Laurence Cauldrick, CEO at Westcountry Rivers Trust said: “These ecologically connected and distributive ‘smart ponds’ would enhance water retention on land, charging during the winter, and enabling farmers during times of summer drought to either use the water for on-farm needs, thereby alleviating demand on the mains supply, or to sell to recharge our rivers via water companies adding to the water supply grid.”

The huge scale of damage caused to properties during last week’s flash flooding has been confirmed. Latest figures shared by Devon County Council (DCC) state that initial investigations have found more than 100 properties in Devon suffered internal flooding.

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com

For many residents, the misery of the damage caused remains ongoing prompting the council to host drop-in session next week to help those affected by the flooding. Parts of East Devon suffered some of the county’s worst flooding during heavy rainfall on Tuesday, May 5.

Newton Poppleford was the hardest hit by the flash floods with 55 properties affected. Properties were also flooded in a number of other areas including Tipton St John, Colaton Raleigh, Metcombe, Venn Ottery and Exeter.

Although a major clear up operation has taken place, temporary traffic lights remain on two sections of the A3052 at either end of Newton Poppleford. These are on Four Elms Hill, due to a collapse of the road, and on Exeter Road, Newton Poppleford, due to edge subsidence and a dangerous private wall.

DCC, the Environment Agency and East Devon District Council are working in partnership to assess the scale of the damage caused by the flash flooding event. The agencies will all be in attendance at the drop-in session taking place on Tuesday, May 23, at Newton Poppleford Pavilion from 3pm to 7pm.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for Highway Management, said: “I would encourage everyone affected by these flash floods to attend this drop-in session and help provide us with the insight on how events unfolded. We always work closely with other agencies and authorities to hold these sessions and they have always proven to be an effective way of gaining information about flood events.

“It’s vitally important that the local community helps us to understand how they’ve been impacted to see what we can possibly do to reduce their flood risk in future.”

Matt Blythe, East Devon District Council’s assistant director for Environmental Health and Climate Change, added: “Since the extreme weather, staff from East Devon District Council have been supporting those who have been impacted by these extreme weather events. Our team will be present to help with any housing issues or those who may require support from our financial resilience officers.”

Jon Snowden, recovery manager for the Environment Agency, added: “We feel for those who have been flooded; the impact on people and property can be devastating. As the focus now turns to recovery, we will support communities and look at all options to reduce the risk and impact of further flooding.

“It’s an opportunity to ‘build back better’ and ensure any repairs do not encroach further into vital flood storage areas. Please come along to the public-drop in session to discuss how you can minimise your flood risk and further protect your property.”

Earlier this week, DevonLive reported how communities have rallied together in the wake of heavy floods which wreaked havoc on homes, businesses and a school in East Devon. It has prompted calls to improve the area’s flood defences.

The sheer power of the water during the flash floods caused significant damage to people’s homes. Newton Poppleford local Hilary Pinfold said she felt “helpless” as she watched water gush through her garden and into her home, knocking over a wall and a fridge and even moving their car.

She said: “We were just shocked because we just felt helpless because we didn’t know what to do. We couldn’t get our heads round the volume of water and how powerful it was.

“It had the power to move a car, it’s moved my husband’s car in the garage, it’s turned over a fridge-freezer, it’s knocked down two walls in the garage that have just collapsed.

“I just heard my neighbour shouting at one point ‘your outhouse is going’ and the outhouse just collapsed. We’re in a bit of a mess.

“We’ve got to have the floors replaced because we don’t know if water’s gone under the house. We’ve lost a hell of a lot of stuff as well.”

She described the community effort to help those affected as “absolutely brilliant” as people came together to clean up the village. Local pub The Cannon Inn on Newton Poppleford High Street even jumped in to act as a temporary fire station.

Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, said earlier this week he has spoken to residents as well as school leaders at Tipton St John Primary School who fear that this could happen again. He says he has called on the Environment Agency, Devon County Council, East Devon District Council and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to address a range of issues including blocked drains and damaged road surfaces.

Mr Jupp said: “I want to put on record my huge thanks to the staff from local councils and various organisations, as well as selfless residents and volunteers, who have been supporting those impacted by the terrible flash floods which occurred last week. It was heart-breaking to see the damage and I will do what I can to help.

“With over 60 homes flooded and Tipton St John Primary School severely damaged, I am pursuing a comprehensive multi-agency response to provide support and a plan for the future. That is what residents deserve.”

Anyone who would like more information should email floodrisk@devon.gov.uk For other useful contact details and answers to FAQs visit East Devon District Council’s webpages.

Session to be held on Tuesday

People who were affected by flash floods in East Devon earlier this month are being invited to drop-in session at Newton Poppleford on Tuesday (23 May) from 3 to 7 p.m.

www.radioexe.co.uk

Initial investigations into the scale of the damage caused by the flash floods have found that more than 100 properties in Devon suffered internal flooding. Fifty-five of the properties were in the village. Tipton St John, Colaton Raleigh, Metcombe, Venn Ottery and Exeter were also affected.

Now residents can meet with staff from Devon County Council, the Environment Agency and East Devon District Council, who can offer the following advice.

Environment Agency
– Flood warning service and the event.
– Assets and recovery work.
– Land use management, remedial works and longer-term management.
– Repair works and flood risk activity permitting requirements.
– Waste disposal advice.

Devon County Council
– Flood Team: Production of Flood Investigation Report, Property Flood Resilience, Ordinary Watercourse regulation, consideration of future flood improvements.
– Highways: maintenance and clearance of drainage systems and road surfaces.

East Devon District Council
– Housing issues.
– Waste collection and street cleaning.
– Advice on financial support that may be available.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highway management, said: “I would encourage everyone affected by these flash floods to attend this drop-in session and help provide us with the insight on how events unfolded. We always work closely with other agencies and authorities to hold these sessions and they have always proven to be an effective way of gaining information about flood events. It’s vitally important that the local community helps us to understand how they’ve been impacted to see what we can possibly do to reduce their flood risk in future.”