CPRE has published groundbreaking new research into the true potential for generating the electricity we need from rooftop solar. 

Our report shows the opportunities are huge. Putting solar panels on new buildings and over car parks alone could generate nearly the same amount of clean electricity as 10 new nuclear power stations.

And if we make use of low-cost opportunities for solar panels on the rooftops of large buildings like warehouses, the evidence shows that 60% of the solar panels our country needs can be sited on rooftops. 

But if we don’t make use of our rooftops, solar panels could swallow up 180,000 hectares of our countryside – an area larger than the size of Greater London! 

Executive summary 

The accelerating climate emergency poses the single greatest threat to the countryside. Without urgent action, iconic features of our landscapes, including English oak trees and our rare chalk streams, could be lost from many places, throwing the survival of much of our best loved wildlife into doubt. 

At the same time, the increased risk of severe flooding caused by climate change threatens both rural communities and our food security. Recent research by CPRE, the countryside charity, shows that more than 60% of England’s finest agricultural land is within areas at the highest risk of flooding. For these and many other reasons, it is essential for the countryside that over the coming decade we cut our carbon emissions. Critically, we need to complete the transition from reliance on fossil fuels to a new era of renewable energy. 

Yet, despite the urgent need to exploit the best opportunities to generate the renewable energy our country needs, we have a vast and largely untapped resource: roofs. Along with surface car parks, roofs provide space to generate solar-powered electricity, very close to where it is needed. Making the best possible use of solar on roofs and car parks is a solution that will enjoy almost universal support. 

By contrast, greenfield ground-mounted schemes done poorly can cause harm, provide little benefit to rural communities and become bogged down in contentious planning disputes. This briefing looks both at the potential of rooftop renewables and at the interventions needed to deliver them. 

To better understand the full potential of rooftop solar energy in this country, CPRE commissioned experts at the University College London (UCL) Energy Institute to undertake an independent review of the land use implications of meeting targets, drawn from a series of well-established net zero greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Using this data, UCL has produced assessments of the total energy that could be generated from solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops across England as well as the land area that may be required for wind, ground-mounted solar and biomass in England in net zero scenarios. 

Key findings

• Although ground-mounted solar projects will be needed in the short term to hit national decarbonisation, installing solar panels on new buildings, existing large warehouse rooftops and other land such as car parks, could provide at least 40-50 gigawatts (GW) of low carbon electricity, contributing more than half of the total national target of 70GW of solar energy by 2035.

• Longer term to 2050, and with further investment, there is potential for up to 117GW of low carbon electricity to be generated from roofs and other developed spaces, reducing the need for greenfield ground-mounted solar in the medium to long term. 

• Meeting national solar energy targets through ground-mounted schemes alone could require between 0.9-1.4% of the land in England, covering as much as 1,800 square kilometres/ 180,000 hectares of our countryside – an area larger than the size of Greater London (157,000ha)

Jermy Hunt slammed for using statistics, and confusing words, to imply debt is falling when it isn’t.

Worrying trait in a Chancellor, but he is a Conservative. – Owl

The official statistics watchdog has reprimanded the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, after he claimed public debt levels would fall in the coming years, when in fact they are simply forecast to rise less steeply than previously expected.

Peter Walker www.theguardian.com 

The head of the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA), Sir Robert Chote, said the watchdog’s regulatory arm had spoken to Treasury officials to warn them about accuracy after a complaint by the Labour MP Dame Angela Eagle over a tweet the chancellor sent on 25 April.

Saying the government had “made progress” on the public finances, Hunt wrote: “By 2027-28, headline debt levels are reduced by £53.7 billion.”

Eagle, a former Treasury minister who sits on the Treasury committee, wrote to Chote, noting that the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts indicate that public debt will rise between now and 2027-28, including a £90bn increase from 2026-27 alone.

She said Hunt appeared to be referring to a fall in the OBR’s current projection for headline debt in 2027-28 compared with the same forecast in last year’s autumn statement. Eagle wrote: “I am concerned that government ministers are using misleading statistics publicly regarding the economy, and believe it is critical that figures used are accurate.”

In a reply, Chote said Treasury officials had confirmed this was what the tweet referred to: a reduction in the size of the forecast increase of debt, not a fall in the debt itself.

“As you suggest, some readers of the tweet may have assumed that the chancellor was referring to the forecast change in public sector net debt between the last full financial year and 2027-28,” he wrote.

“Greater clarity and context would have avoided this confusion. The Office for Statistics Regulation [the regulatory arm of the UKSA] has therefore spoken with officials at HM Treasury to emphasise the importance of consistently adopting a transparent and accessible approach to communicating statistics and data in line with our guidance on intelligent transparency.”

Eagle told the Guardian: “As the statistics authority has confirmed, this government has a persistently troubled relationship with the truth – one that is becoming increasingly obvious if you read the fine print.

“It is incredibly disappointing to see the chancellor resorting to using such misleading statistics in a tweet of all places – a new low for the fourth chancellor in a year.”

The Treasury confirmed Hunt’s tweet had referred to the changing forecast for the debt increase, and that it had noted Chote’s points and would take any necessary action.

The owner of South West Water is being investigated by the industry regulator over whether it accurately reported leaks and figures showing how much water is used by its customers.

In August last year Owl reported on how SWW didn’t make it easy to work out what their leakage rate was. It now turns out Owl is not alone.

Joanna Partridge www.theguardian.com 

Pennon Group, which owns South West Water and Bristol Water Group, told its shareholders that Ofwat has announced an investigation into the company’s operational performance during 2021 and 2022.

Ofwat sets performance targets for water companies on leakage and “per capita consumption”, or the amount of water used by each household. It assesses companies annually and can issue penalties or rewards, depending on how they perform.

The regulator said the penalty could be up to 10% of a company’s turnover. Last year, Pennon brought in revenues of £792m.

Last November, the regulator said it was delaying a decision on whether South West Water was moving towards meeting its own targets on reducing leaks, as it tried to understand how the firm had calculated its performance figures.

Ofwat said it would now conduct a “thorough investigation” into South West Water, which supplies to customers in Cornwall and Devon, as well as small parts of Dorset and Somerset.

David Black, the chief executive of Ofwat, said: “We are committed to holding companies to account for performance and for sharing timely, accurate, and complete data with us and their customers. We want to ensure that is the case here.

“A thorough investigation will now be carried out and we will provide updates in due course on our findings and whether there is any further action Ofwat needs to take.”

Shares in Pennon Group, which is listed on the FTSE 100, slid by about 3% on Tuesday on news of the investigation.

Pennon said its operational performance data is “subject to rigorous assurance processes which include independent checks and balances carried out by external technical auditor”.

The company said it would work “openly and constructively” with Ofwat during its investigation.

Water companies are under increasing pressure to reduce the amount of water lost through leaks, particularly at a time when the government is also aiming to lower the amount of water used by households.

A fifth of the public water supply is lost through leaks in the network, according to the government’s “plan for water” which was released in April, part of its attempts to reach cleaner and more plentiful supplies in the UK.

The government said it made tackling leaks a priority for Ofwat in 2017, although water companies in England and Wales lost more than 1tn litres of water through leaky pipes in 2021-22, according to the industry’s most recent figures.

The figure is equivalent to filling 426,875 Olympic swimming pools or enough water to fill Lake Windermere three-and-a-half times.

South West Water has previously been investigated by the regulator along with five other water suppliers, as part of an investigation into the dumping of raw sewage, a topic which has prompted public anger over pollution in the sea and rivers.

Last week, water companies pledged to triple investment in the sewage system in England to reduce pollution but the move was criticised for passing the £10bn bill for investment, which should have been carried out years ago, on to customers.

Surprise, surprise, Simon’s sorry to be losing his “top cover” – maybe he is feeling a bit exposed?

Blow on the winds of change! – Owl

sidmouth.nub.news 

Conservative MP for East Devon Simon Jupp has said he is “very sorry” to see Dominic Raab decide to stand down as an MP at the next election.

The announcement reported in The Daily Telegraph comes a month after Raab quit his role as deputy prime minister after an inquiry upheld some bullying complaints made against him.

Simon Jupp, who was a special advisor to Raab when he was foreign secretary in 2019, said: “I’m very sorry to see Dominic Raab decide to stand down at the next election.

“He was a brilliant boss when I worked for him at the Foreign Office.

“Always across the detail, he knew more than most in the room about the topic under discussion.

“Another big loss from Parliament.”

Raab has been MP for Esher and Walton in Surrey since 2010.

Simon Jupp’s political master to stand down at the election. 

Simon was a SpAd (special adviser) to Dominic Raab (reporting to Dominic Cummings as well) for six months before being selected as the Conservative candidate for East Devon in 2019.

Time to remove this from his CV? – Owl

The Surrey constituency, which Mr Raab won by just 2,743 votes at the 2019 election, is a key target for the Liberal Democrats at the next national poll.

Sophie Wingate www.independent.co.uk

Dominic Raab, who resigned from Cabinet last month after a bullying inquiry, will stand down as an MP at the next general election.

The former deputy prime minister and justice secretary confirmed his exit plans to the PA news agency on Monday night.

He quit Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet last month over bullying allegations from civil servants.

An independent investigation by Adam Tolley KC found he had acted in an intimidating and aggressive way with officials in behaviour that could have amounted to bullying.

Mr Raab will not contest his Esher and Walton seat, which he has held since 2010, at the next election, due by January 2025.

The Surrey constituency, which Mr Raab won by just 2,743 votes at the 2019 election, is a key target for the Liberal Democrats at the next national poll.

He joins a slew of senior Tories, including former chancellor Sajid Javid and ex-environment secretary George Eustice, announcing their exit plans amid a polling slump.

Former health secretary Matt Hancock, who was a Conservative until he lost the whip over his I’m A Celebrity appearance, and Dehenna Davison, seen as a rising star in the Tory party, are also among around 30 Tories to be quitting the Commons.

In a letter to the chairman of his local Conservative Association, seen by the Telegraph, Mr Raab reportedly cited concerns about the pressure on his family as being behind his decision.

“I have become increasingly concerned over the last few years about the pressure the job has placed on my young family,” he wrote in the letter dated May 19, according to the newspaper.

“I will continue to carry out all my responsibilities to my constituents, and provide every support in campaigning, so that we win here next year – which I am confident we can do under this Prime Minister’s leadership.”

Mr Raab was sent to the backbenches after Mr Tolley’s report concluded he had engaged in an “abuse or misuse of power” that “undermines or humiliates” while he was foreign secretary. He was also found to have been intimidating to staff by criticising “utterly useless” and “woeful” work while justice secretary.

The senior lawyer led a five-month investigation into eight formal complaints about Mr Raab’s conduct as Brexit secretary and foreign secretary, and in his previous tenure leading the Ministry of Justice.

Though he stopped short of describing the conduct as bullying, Mr Tolley’s findings were consistent with what he said would amount to the offence under the ministerial code.

Mr Raab stayed true to his pledge to step down from Cabinet if any bullying claim was upheld.

But the karate black belt went down fighting, criticising the “Kafkaesque saga” and alleging the inquiry had “set a dangerous precedent” by setting a “low” threshold for bullying.

The 49-year-old said he had been warned that “unionised officials” were targeting him, in a widely-criticised tirade that raised concerns about a breakdown of trust between ministers and civil servants.

His departure spells the end of a colourful political career which left him no stranger to controversy, as well as his ambitions of one day taking over in No 10.

Mr Raab, who made an unsuccessful run to replace Theresa May as Tory leader in 2019, was demoted from foreign secretary after accusations of being “missing in action” by being on holiday in Crete during the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation.

• Installation of roof over existing silage clamp Cockhayes Farm Upottery EX14 9RBRef. No: 23/1039/FUL | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Eucalyptus: fell. Cotmaton Cottage Cotmaton Road Sidmouth EX10 8QXRef. No: 23/1038/TCA | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Slurry store side extension and security fence with barb wire installed all around the top of the store Lees Farm Southleigh Devon EX24 6SARef. No: 23/1040/FUL | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Permisssion in principle for the demolition of existing garden building and construction of a single dwelling Camboree House Exton Lane Exton Exeter EX3 0PNRef. No: 23/1051/PIP | Validated: Thu 11 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• To decommission the internal furniture/layout of Barclays bank and to remove the external signage, night safe and atm and to infill and paint the aperture to match the existing wall. 106 High Street Honiton EX14 1JWRef. No: 23/1031/LBC | Validated: Thu 11 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• To decommission the internal furniture/layout of Barclays bank and to remove the external signage, night safe and to infill the aperture to match the existing wall. 106 High Street Honiton EX14 1JWRef. No: 23/1030/FUL | Validated: Thu 11 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application for a lawful development certificate (CLEUD) to confirm lawful commencement of existing bungalow and construction of a replacement bungalow. Land West Of The Orchard Ware Lyme RegisRef. No: 23/1028/CPE | Validated: Thu 11 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey extension and part garage conversion. 56 Livonia Road Sidmouth Devon EX10 9JBRef. No: 23/1020/FUL | Validated: Wed 10 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey green oak side extension measuring 5.25m in length, 3.9m in height and 2.2m to the eaves, with lantern light and rendered dwarf walls. Cawleys Farm Wiggaton Ottery St Mary EX11 1PYRef. No: 23/1023/GPD | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of Pole Barn, Construction of Workshop & Minor alterations to Southfield Farm. Southlands Farm Dunkeswell Honiton Devon EX14 4SHRef. No: 23/1002/LBC | Validated: Wed 10 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of Pole Barn, Construction of Workshop & Minor alterations to Southfield Farm. Southlands Farm Dunkeswell Honiton Devon EX14 4SHRef. No: 23/1001/FUL | Validated: Wed 10 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing bungalow and associated buildings. Erection of 10 dwellings (All matters reserved). Nostra Domus Lyme Road Uplyme Lyme Regis DT7 3XARef. No: 23/0990/OUT | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed curtilage garage/workshop building Hayes Drift Sidmouth Road Aylesbeare EX5 2JJRef. No: 23/1012/FUL | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of Lawfulness for the existing use of Land as Curtilage. Annexe The Barn Western Fields Ebford EX3 0PARef. No: 23/1006/CPE | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erect lean-to extension to silage clamp Higher Mallocks Farm Woodmanton Woodbury Devon EX5 1HGRef. No: 23/1005/FUL | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T14: Western Red Cedar – fell. 1 The Laurels Sidmouth Devon EX10 8UXRef. No: 23/0998/TCA | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of single storey polycarbonate roofed area to the rear with flat roofed extension with balcony 2 Riverside Terrace Riverside Sidmouth Devon EX10 8BURef. No: 23/0996/FUL | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from former barn/garage with pottery/artist studio above to classroom/workshop for pottery/art classes with permanent pottery/art studio above. Coaxdon Farm Axminster EX13 7LPRef. No: 23/0997/FUL | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey rear extension. 15 Rookswood Lane Rockbeare EX5 2LGRef. No: 23/1018/FUL | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed side and rear extensions, a second floor and a new garage. 2 East Budleigh Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6HERef. No: 23/1017/FUL | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey extension to dwelling and general purpose agricultural barn Landscores Cottage Gittisham Devon EX14 3AURef. No: 23/1009/FUL | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Internal alterations to re-locate the main bar outside the restaurant area, re-arrange the toilet facilities, open the courtyard and provide accommodation at first floor of skittles barn; creation of additional residential accommodation, currently storage loft space over skittles barn The Sidmouth Arms Upottery EX14 9PNRef. No: 23/1008/LBC | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Internal alterations to re-locate the main bar outside the restaurant area, re-arrange the toilet facilities, open the courtyard and provide accommodation at first floor of skittles barn; creation of additional residential accommodation, currently storage loft space over skittles barn The Sidmouth Arms Upottery EX14 9PNRef. No: 23/1007/FUL | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of cladding Deccan House Cotleigh Devon EX14 9HDRef. No: 23/1016/FUL | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 4 number new townhouses on site of former garage at Sidholme Hotel. Sidholme Hotel Elysian Fields Sidmouth Devon EX10 8UJRef. No: 23/0991/FUL | Validated: Thu 11 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension, demolition of existing garage and the erection of a two storey side extension. 49 Millers Way Honiton Devon EX14 1JBRef. No: 23/1010/FUL | Validated: Thu 11 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 4 number new townhouses on site of former garage at Sidholme Hotel. Sidholme Hotel Elysian Fields Sidmouth Devon EX10 8UJRef. No: 23/0992/LBC | Validated: Thu 11 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed front, side and rear alterations and extensions; installation of new roof dormers. Brownlands Sid Road Sidmouth Devon EX10 9AGRef. No: 23/0984/FUL | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Loft conversion and removal of rear chimney stack. Lovering Farm Cottage Marley Road Exmouth EX8 5DPRef. No: 23/0953/FUL | Validated: Wed 10 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1: Dawn Redwood – fell (unsuitable tree in an inappropriate location). Littlebrook Venlake End Uplyme Devon DT7 3SFRef. No: 23/0920/TRE | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Planning permission for already completed loft conversion, currently used as extended living accommodation of 9b Portland Avenue, to become a separate self-contained residential living. The Mount 9B Portland Avenue Exmouth Devon EX8 2BSRef. No: 23/0895/FUL | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion/partial rebuild of an outbuilding to form a new dwelling Riverside Bridge Street Sidbury EX10 0RURef. No: 23/0894/FUL | Validated: Thu 11 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• To erect a single storey Timpson Pod & 6x Ramraid Bollards Tesco Honiton Store Battishorne Way Honiton Devon EX14 2XDRef. No: 23/0880/FUL | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of the building to ‘Long Term Rental’. Bulverton House Annexe Road From Bowd To Station Road Bulverton Devon EX10 9DWRef. No: 23/0850/LBC | Validated: Wed 10 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change the use of the building to ‘long term rental’. Bulverton House Annexe Road From Bowd To Station Road Bulverton Devon EX10 9DWRef. No: 23/0849/FUL | Validated: Wed 10 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed dwelling and off road parking and double garage within the garden. Meadowgate Church Road Lympstone Devon EX8 5JURef. No: 23/0847/FUL | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of first floor extension over garage, single storey extension to rear and internal alterations. 31 Honiton Bottom Road Honiton Devon EX14 2EPRef. No: 23/0801/FUL | Validated: Tue 09 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey rear extension and external alterations Coppers Glow Higher Marley Road Exmouth Devon EX8 5DTRef. No: 23/0772/FUL | Validated: Wed 10 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposal for the refurbishment of dilapidated outbuildings for use as workshops Perriton Barn Talaton Road Whimple EX5 2QYRef. No: 23/0788/LBC | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposal for the refurbishment of dilapidated outbuildings for use as workshops Perriton Barn Talaton Road Whimple EX5 2QYRef. No: 23/0787/FUL | Validated: Fri 12 May 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

“There are two main options for improving England’s spectacularly broken system: empower regulators to restrict financial engineering and prevent companies that load firms with debt from entering this market, or nationalise the water supply. The government seems unwilling to do either.”

Guardian Editorial www.theguardian.com 

The revelation should anger all who care about England’s rivers and beaches. Two decades ago, ministers were warned about private equity firms buying up water companies. In a briefing prepared for Britain’s competition regulator prior to the takeover of Southern Water, researchers raised the alarm that private equity-owned water companies would become “impossible” to regulate. Despite the 20-year transparency rule, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has not released the briefing. Its existence was uncovered by this newspaper. Though its full contents remain secret, its implications are clear: ministers were alerted to the devastating impact that this industry could have on England’s water supply, but they chose not to act.

Since then, a tide of effluent has polluted England’s rivers. Following the privatisation of water companies in 1989, owners have enriched themselves while neglecting infrastructure and dumping vast quantities of untreated sewage. As investors have loaded water companies with debt, they have continued to pay dividends to their shareholders, which totalled £1.4bn last year. The public, meanwhile, have shouldered the costs. Water bills have risen. Last week, the industry apologised for these sewage spills and pledged to invest £10bn in infrastructure – to be paid for by increases in customer bills. Ruth Kelly, the former Labour cabinet minister who is head of the industry’s trade body, Water UK, said more should have been done to address the spillages. She was silent on the subject of dividend payments.

The main line of defence for consumers is supposed to be Ofwat. Yet water companies have run rings around the regulator. Its rules are premised on a version of capitalism that no longer exists. When it was founded in 1989, England’s water suppliers were listed on the stock market, allowing anybody to buy shares in this public resource. Today, most of them have been bought up by investment funds that do not face the same disclosure requirements. Opacity has shielded their finances from scrutiny. Since 2015, water companies have been required to demonstrate their “financial resilience”, and Ofwat will now prevent negligent ones from paying out dividends. But the horse has already bolted, and many of the firms responsible for loading these companies with debt have already moved on.

The regulation of England’s water suppliers is grounded in the illusion that it is possible to promote competition in a marketplace of natural monopolies. A narrow focus on competition and prices has led Ofwat to largely ignore other crucial issues such as the environment and the cost to taxpayers, and to overlook the risks posed by financial engineering. In 2007, for example, it credulously took the view that firms’ capital structures (and by implication their dividend payments) “are essentially a matter for companies and the markets”. Meanwhile, the CMA, which has been urged to do more to prevent private equity buyouts, has no remit to investigate these issues. Neither regulator was designed with this industry in mind, and both now find themselves outmanoeuvred by its tricks.

Solving these problems requires change from the top. There are two main options for improving England’s spectacularly broken system: empower regulators to restrict financial engineering and prevent companies that load firms with debt from entering this market, or nationalise the water supply. The government seems unwilling to do either.

Walking and cycling schemes across Devon have received millions of pounds of cash to help them come to life. A number of priority active travel projects in Exeter, Newton Abbot, North Devon and Torridge will be supported with the funding to enable and encourage more people to walk and cycle.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com 

Devon County Council is receiving just over £2 million of active travel funding from the Department for Transport. Plymouth City Council has been granted £2.5 million and Torbay £250,000.

In Exeter, £200,000 will go towards road layout enhancements in Queen Street and Iron Bridge which recently got underway. This scheme will ensure that the changes introduced during the pandemic to provide more space and improve safety for walkers and cyclists are made permanent.

Around £400,000 of funding will be used to upgrade walking and cycling links in Wonford, Exeter. This will include the construction of a bi-directional cycleway and pedestrian/cycle crossings on Rifford Road, which will form part of the E12 North-South strategic cycle route.

Work will also be carried out to design schemes to improve connections between the proposed Rifford Road cycleway and existing walking and cycling facilities.

Over £900,000 will help complete a section of the Tarka Trail between Ilfracombe and Braunton, delivering a key missing link of the trail near Willingcott Valley Holiday Village and on Nethercott Road, as well as enabling design development for other sections.

A zebra crossing will be constructed on Richmond Road in Appledore, near the Kingsley Avenue junction. This will support children, parents and staff walking to Appledore Primary School, as well as people visiting Anchor Park.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, Cabinet Member for Highway Management, said: “This is very welcome funding towards the development and construction of a number of important active travel schemes. All of these schemes will provide benefits for health and wellbeing, as well as helping people to access education, employment and leisure facilities. We want to enable and encourage more people in Devon to walk and cycle, while also creating more attractive environments in town and city centres.”

In Torbay, the grant will deliver a new crossing at Shiphay Lane as part of a hospital trail, but the council has expressed its disappointment that other schemes it applied for – a ramp to improve access at Rainbow Drive and funds for developing further designs for the wider network – have not been awarded funding.

Cllr David Thomas, the new Conservative leader of the council, said: “We are delighted that Torbay has been successful in applying for a share of national funding from the government’s latest tranche of the active travel fund and this means that work can start on delivering safer roads for all users in that area, and provide the connection across Shiphay Lane to make walking, cycling and wheeling a real choice for residents in the area.

“However, we know from consultation with the local community that we also need a ramp and other accessibility improvements. We are disappointed not to have been given the funding and officers will meet with government to discuss other opportunities. Ultimately, we want the Hospital Trail delivered in full.”

Funding has also been awarded towards the controversial plans for Queen Street in Newton Abbot to undergo improvements to support walking and cycling. This scheme will include footway widening, improved crossing facilities and greening and seating to improve the local environment.

Changes are also proposed to parking and vehicular access arrangements, to facilitate the improvements and reduce traffic noise and pollution, with £500,000 of funding awarded to complement Future High Streets funding.

But last year, two thirds of businesses in Newton Abbot’s main shopping street came out against plans for pedestrianisation. Only public transport vehicles, disabled drivers and delivery lorries getting access to a restricted loading bay would be allowed through into Queen Street if the scheme goes ahead.

Officers at County Hall, working with counterparts at Teignbridge District Council, said widening pavements and reducing on-street parking by 55 per cent would create “a package of pedestrian and public realm enhancements”. The work would be supported by the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, designed to enable economic recovery.

But the plans have proven controversial and unpopular in some quarters. Newton Abbot Town Council is resisting plans that would reduce parking and banish most traffic from Queen Street, saying it is worried about the impact on shops and businesses. Councillors from the South Devon Alliance have provided a survey that shows the scale of opposition to the proposals. They attempted to speak to all 66 businesses that operate in and around Queen Street to get their views on the plans.

Of them, 43 openly stated they were against the proposals. Only six were in favour of the scheme, with seven undecided at this stage. A further ten had no-one who wished to comment or were closed when the surveys were carried out.

The Newton Abbot scheme will be subject to approval by councillors. The next meeting of the Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee which will determine the fate of the plans is scheduled for Thursday, June 1 – although the agenda will not come out until later this week.

This latest grant from the Active Travel Fund is in addition to the £580,000 secured from the Active Travel Capability Fund 2022/23, and follows previous successful bids for nearly £3 million from earlier rounds of the Active Travel Fund.

Watch this space!

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.”

If this conduct lies within the code, then the code needs changing. – Owl

Donna Jones faced a complaints panel on Friday (May 19).

She stood accused of breaking the code of conduct and oath of impartiality by endorsing candidates in north Hampshire in this month’s elections.

Natalia Forero www.portsmouth.co.uk 

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Panel Complaints Sub-Committee received three complaints on April 11 from three individuals who wanted to remain anonymous, against the commissioner.

They took exception to videos she made during purdah, the pre-election period, when she was campaigning in the Hart district.

The videos played at the crime panel showed Ms Jones supporting Annette Whibley from Crookham East, Spencer Farmer from Hartley Wintney, Roy Fang from Fleet Central and Jennifer Copeland from Hook.

Some comments were: ‘Please, please do support Annette on May 4 in the local elections’, ‘Here in Hart, you will be getting a new police station or a building, which I will buy, which will make sure that we have front counter access for you, the people of this local area’ and ‘Please do support Roy in the local elections’.

Of the four videos, two were posted on Facebook at the ‘Hart Conservative’ profile and Crookham’s profile.

The PCC talked about problems in Hart, such as the specialist operation Op Chromium – set up to tackle unauthorised car meets – anti-social behaviour and the importance of quality CCTV cameras.

The complainants claimed that the PCC had broken the code of conduct and the oath of impartiality required to perform her duty as a public representative.

One complaint said: ‘I am truly outraged that this is allowed to happen and deepens the perception that the police are heavily influenced by politics for their own game. The PCC role should not be a political one.’

Another said: ‘I refer you to the APPC guidance – “Whether or not police and crime commissioners have a particular allegiance to a political party, it is recognised that this is a political role, but in seeking re-election themselves or supporting other individuals seeking election, police and crime commissioners are acting in a personal capacity and should not use their public office to influence the outcome of the PCC Elections”.’

The complainants’ aim was that the PCC remove the social media posts, apologise for the ‘political propaganda’, stop using her office to campaign, and distance themselves from ‘any candidate or party that attempts to use her office/name for their own promotion’.

Peter Baulf, city solicitor and monitoring officer from Portsmouth City Council, said that according to the Code of Conduct of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, there were ‘two potentially legally applicable’ aspects .

‘Point 2.1.4 Act in a manner which could not reasonably be regarded as bringing the office into disrepute. And 2.1.7 Not use resources improperly for political purposes (including party political purposes).’

Mrs Jones sent a letter to the panel to defend herself. This read: ‘I am aware and always cognisant to the duty placed upon me by statute of law, to act impartially when representing the public. It is worth pointing out that I’m not responsible for the publications of others, and the posts included in the complaint are for third-party social media channels and not mine.

‘But in any case, if the post were on my social media channels, this is not a breach of the legislation or the guidance.

‘Finally I have provided for the panel, some examples of images of PCCs from the two political parties represented by PCCs from across the country, campaigning in the last few weeks, supporting their politically aligned colleagues. This information is meant to assure the committee that my activity is normal and in accordance with the law and with the guidance.’

Conservative Cllr Sean Woodward said: ‘We agreed that the code was engaged because she attended as a police and crime commissioner.

‘The police and crime commissioner is elected as a politician; it is a politician. Much like a government minister who will carry on his duty in an impartial fashion, engage with all parties, and then go out and campaign for their own party. It is the same for a council leader, executive member, police and crime commissioner or government minister; that is what they do.

“I don’t think there is evidence whatsoever of any use of the resources for political purposes.’

Labour councillor Tony Jones said: ‘From my perspective, we agree it hasn’t been a breach. I’m not happy with the way it is laid down – [just] as much as if it [were] a Labour crime commissioner or anybody else. But they are politicians trying to promote their people; it might be very biased, but that’s politics, I’m afraid.

‘Therefore, there is nowhere to go. It is not good for the public, in my view, as they might see it from a different perspective.’

The panel resolved that no action would be taken since there was no breach of the code.

Afterwards Mrs Jones said: ‘I am pleased to have been exonerated unanimously by the panel. Unfortunately, as an elected individual, when you’re doing a good job and being effective, you become the focus of attacks from those who don’t support the cause. This has been a clear case of people trying to discredit me as a Police and Crime Commissioner in spite of the overwhelming public support that I have.

‘I will continue to do a good job to make communities safer, working alongside our new chief constable, and place on record my thanks to the panel for coming to the right decision in a timely manner.’

Publicly-elected police and crime commissioners were introduced in 2012. Hampshire’s first was an independent, Simon Hayes, who held the post from 2012 to 2016. He was followed by Conservative Michael Lane up to 2021, and Mrs Jones, a former Tory leader of Portsmouth City Council, has had the role since.

East Devon District Council, (EDDC), wont be cutting some grass verges in the county this summer – to allow wildlife and flowers to grow.

Adam Manning www.midweekherald.co.uk

Some selected sites across East Devon will be left alone to flourish between April and September These will be signposted. While others will still be maintained to allow for safety, sport, recreation, and amenity purposes.

EDDC say that: “Letting the grass grow at their selected sites means less CO2 emissions caused by mowing, and more habitats for insects and wildlife. Enabling vegetation to flower provides essential nectar for bees and pollinators, aiding nature and biodiversity.”

Future plans will see Streetscene expand the list of re-natured areas further, following consultation with local residents. Machinery has been invested in, that will help to cut and scarify these spaces, transforming them from long grass to wildflower areas in the future.

Tom Wood, Streetscene Operations Manager, said: “I’m delighted that we are expanding the number of areas within our greenspaces that we leave uncut for nature and wildlife during the mowing season. These critical habitats provide nature recovery corridors for insects and pollinators to thrive and survive. Over time we will develop these areas into wildflower meadows, providing stunning displays and boosting biodiversity”

Residents and visitors are encouraged to look out for longer vegetation in East Devon’s greenspaces and see what wildlife they can spot such as the Meadow Brown Butterfly, Blue Tit, and Common Field Grasshopper. Look out for new ‘let it grow’ signs with bees on, which identify nature recovery areas, and for more information, visit our webpages.

Ministers were warned about the dangers of private equity taking over the water industry in a briefing that has been kept secret for 20 years, the Guardian can reveal.

Sandra Laville www.theguardian.com 

Details of the analysis are still being withheld as sewage pollution and the failure of water companies to invest in infrastructure are under national scrutiny.

On Thursday the water industry – after more than three decades running a privatised model – apologised for its failures to properly manage and invest in water, and for the scale of raw sewage discharges that have fuelled huge public anger.

It promised to triple funding in pipes, treatment works and infrastructure over the next decade to £10bn and apologised for polluting beaches and rivers with raw sewage. But all of this will be paid for by increased customer bills.

The report being withheld from publication predicted the state of the privatised water industry today, and warned against private equity being allowed to move into water firms.

It was prepared for the Competition Commission (now the Competition and Markets Authority, CMA) in 2002 and has never been published in full. It should have been released under the 20-year rule last summer, but despite repeated attempts to have it published it is being kept secret.

Today, as private equity dominates ownership of the water sector in England, bringing with it high levels of debt and underinvestment leading to sewage pollution, water shortages and leaks, the author of the report has called for full disclosure of his warning two decades ago.

Chris Goodall, who wrote the report for the Competition Commission investigation into a proposed takeover of Southern Water, said: “My real concern was about the financial structure of the proposed deal. In my view the transaction created an entity which would prove impossible to regulate.

“Large external private equity shareholders would load the company with debt and Ofwat inevitably would lose any regulatory control. For example, it would prove extremely difficult to ensure that water companies invested enough in sewage control.

“This report should be published in full now because it helps to show why the last 20 years of increasing private equity dominance of the water industry has proved so disastrous.”

This year the chief executive of Thames Water, Sarah Bentley, admitted high levels of pollution in rivers were the result of “decades of underinvestment” by the privatised water company. New data from the Financial Times shows the 10 biggest water companies more than doubled their dividend payments to shareholders in 2022 to £1.4bn, despite an outcry over sewage pollution in rivers and a failure to invest in infrastructure.

The CMA said the report, written in September 2002, had been passed for publication. But eight months on from the date it should have been published, it has not been released.

The CMA has warned it would be exempt from releasing the report under freedom of information laws if a request to do so was submitted. The authority said: “Without wanting to prejudge the outcome of any request you may make under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, I wanted to refer you to the exemption at s.22 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

“This exemption provides that information intended for future publication is exempt from release provided the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in release.”

The economist Dieter Helm has warned that the high levels of debt that the privately owned water companies have leveraged risk the stability of the companies.

Asked by the Guardian why the Goodall report and the full investigation it was part of had not been released under the 20-year rule, the CMA said: “As the statement is now over 20 years old, it has been reviewed by our records management team in line with the above process … however, there are a significant amount of documents which make up this matter which are yet to be reviewed. Further, the CMA, consistent with normal processes, will transfer these records with other records which have reached the 20-year mark and which have also been selected for transfer. This process will be completed over the course of this year.”

Water companies ‘apologise’ to their customers – cartoon