Simon Jupp congratulates David Reed but, unusually for Simon, shows no selfie with him.
Was Simon rooting for one of the others?
There has now to be a big question mark hanging over David Reed’s head.
From David Reed’s facebook page, the only local Tory “Grandees” greeting his selection are Philip Skinner and Ben Ingham!
Looks a bit down market (second stringers) to Owl
Worth remembering how Ben Ingham described Simon Jupp at his selection meeting in 2019::
“If they wanted someone charismatic, which is what I think they tried to do, they would have been better off with Iggy Pop in my opinion. People would be able to relate to him more than a DJ from Plymouth.“
Exact date Britain will see a month’s worth of downpours in just 48 hours
Brits are in for heavy downpours as up to a month’s worth of rain is expected to fall in 48 hours while the rest of Europe continues to bake in a record-breaking heatwave.
Up to 60mm of rain could fall across a 48-hour period of Saturday and Sunday, medium-term forecasts indicate.
Up to 180 new homes will be built near Rockbeare as part of the wider Cranbrook development, writes local democracy reporter Ollie Heptinstall.
East Devon District Councillors approved the outline plan, for land west of Gribble Lane and south of London Road, at a planning meeting on Tuesday [July 18].
It is thought around 27 affordable homes could be built as part of the latest plans. Affordable housing will account for 15 per cent of the homes (classed as up to 80 per cent of market rates), and four per cent will be custom or self-build plots.
The homes agreed for land west of Gribble Lane. Image: EDDC planning documents.
The development includes an adjoining piece of land to be used as natural green space, while all other matters will be considered as part of a detailed ‘reserved matters’ application at a later date.
Approval was given despite more than 100 public objections, as well as from Rockbeare and Whimple parish councils.
It was suggested the development contravenes the local plan and Rockbeare Neighbourhood Plan, that Cranbrook was originally planned with no building south of the former A30 (London Road), and it would have an adverse impact on wildlife.
Others suggested it would have a “detrimental impact on the rural character of the area,” cause greater pressure on local public services, go against efforts to reduce climate change, and lead to a loss of agricultural land.
However, subject to a number of conditions, planning officers recommended approval, deciding it would be an “attractive and legible development, which would integrate well with the natural environment within the site and beyond.”
Councillor Mike Howe (Independent, Clyst Valley) agreed, stating: “Our policies here and now dictate the Cranbrook Masterplan overrides the neighbourhood plan of Rockbeare. It’s the newer document and, as such, it has prominence.”
“When you add that to the fact we still don’t have a five-year housing land supply and, to be frank, this looks – I know it’s indicative and we’ve got reserved matters [to come]– like a lovely scheme. And this is the type of scheme we should be having.”
The planning committee voted to approve the plan by eight votes to three.
Campaigners gathered outside the AGM of South West Water’s parent company Pennon Group to protest against the ‘failure to keep rivers and waterways’ safe. Groups gathered before the meeting – before a further group protested inside the AGM on Thursday.
Protesters from Extinction Rebellion, Surfers Against Sewage, Friends of the River Exe and Greenpeace, wild swimmers, kayakers and citizen scientists attended the meeting at The Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Sandy Park. Their protests highlighted concerns over the state of our rivers and waterways.
A further group protested inside the AGM with a number of speeches. Searching questions to the board followed and the meeting ended with the unfurling of a ‘Dirty Profits = Dirty Water” banner. The protesters message was clear – Clean up your act!
Last week, South West Water (SWW) has been rated as among the worst water companies in England for water pollution. The company was given two stars, out of a possible four, in the annual Environmental Performance Assessment report for 2022.
It is an improvement on the previous rating of one star but the Environment Agency (EA) said the level of pollution remained “unacceptable”. SWW said it had delivered the biggest improvements on pollution sector-wide – but overall, SWW was ranked at the bottom of national performance tables – alongside Anglian Water, Thames Water, Wessex Water and Southern Water, the EA said.
In response to the protests, a Pennon Group Spokesperson said “We were pleased to see our customers at the Annual General Meeting today. The views of all our customers matter hugely to us and we fully respect the rights of those who wish to protest peacefully.
“We are listening and there is more to do. We are investing more than ever, delivering improvements in our environmental performance, and protecting our region’s beautiful seas and rivers.”
Campaigners gathered outside the AGM of South West Waters parent company Pennon Group
Alison Campbell from Extinction Rebellion, said: “This action is a result of the growing public outrage at South West Water’s poor record of sewage overflows and under investment. On average, last year there were over 100 sewage overflows from their network to our beaches and rivers every single day. South West Water puts profits before people and planet. This has to stop.”
Marcus Kern from Surfers against Sewage, added: “Clean water is a basic human right; protecting our waterways and seas is vital. In what world does poisoning the planet while paying out dividends to greedy corporations achieve this? As we protest outside, Pennon shareholders voted to help themselves to a whopping £112 million dividend, an increase of 11% over last year, while their water infrastructure fails to protect us from jaw dropping sewage pollution.”
Lib Dem leader vows to ‘get clowns out of No 10’ after Somerset by-election success
Sir Ed Davey came to the county to celebrate his party’s victory in the Somerton and Frome vote after Sarah Dyke gained the seat from the Conservatives overnight
Sir Ed Davey and new MP Sarah Dyke were greeted with loud cheers in Frome
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has lauded his party’s victory in a by-election overnight in Somerset as they gained another seat in the House of Commons. Sarah Dyke won the vote in the Somerton and Frome constituency, which was triggered by David Warburton’s resignation, overturning a Tory majority of 19,000 in the process.
Ms Dyke ended up claiming victory by 11,008 votes from Conservative rival Faye Purbrick during a victory which she described as “humbling”. This morning (July 21), members of the party gathered in Frome to celebrate the win, with Sir Ed being among the guests along with Ms Dyke and Bath’s Lib Dem MP Wera Hobhouse.
The party also unveiled a sign which featured a dig at the Tory Government, who lost another seat in a by-election for Selby and Ainsty but kept hold of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s old Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat. The sign, shaped like a cannon, said: “Get these clowns out of No 10!”
As he and Ms Dyke arrived at the celebration, Sir Ed quipped that was “really starting to like by-elections”. Along with last night’s win, the Lib Dems have also gained seats for North Shropshire, Chesham and Amersham, and Tiverton and Honiton in the past two years.
Speaking in Frome, Sir Ed said: “We are back in the West Country. We will certainly not take voters for granted.
“The Conservatives keep taking people in the West Country for granted with their appalling record on the health service, on the economy.
“We won’t be complacent at all. But there are 15 seats in the West Country with majorities smaller than Somerton and Frome was.
[E.g the old East Devon constituency which Simon Jupp held with only 6,708 votes]
“We’ve got every reason to believe that people across the West Country … are turning to the Liberal Democrats as the party best placed in this part of our country to defeat the Conservatives.”
East Devon Watch 