Rishi Sunak’s advice to “jack” who, during the PM’s interview on LBC, said he faced increases in mortgage payments from £1,500 to £2,800 when his two-year fixed rate comes to an end this month.

When was the last time anyone passed a bank, let alone tried to actually speak to someone? – Owl

Background

The 2013 Tory administration set East Devon an eighteen year target to build a minimum of 950 houses/year (17,100 in total by 2031).

This binding target (Poisoned Chalice) is what the Lib Dem, Independent and Green Coalition inherited, and they are lumbered with it. Worse, under government rules, they have to ensure a five year rolling plan to supply these houses.

Because of the impact of Covid on house building, EDDC currently can only demonstrate that it can bring forward development sites to provide 4.68  years worth (including a 5% buffer) of development. 

Under government rules, which keep changing, unless a local authority can show a 5 year supply, a presumption of development will apply to all development irrespective of neighbourhood plans, built-up area boundaries, green fields etc. – Owl

The impact of a new development proposed for East Devon has been deemed ‘so harmful’ to the area it would ‘significantly’ outweigh its benefits, a new report has found.  

Local Democracy Reporter eastdevonnews.co.uk

Plans to build houses on a field just outside a village near Ottery St Mary received just one letter of support – and that turned out to be a sarcastic note of ‘approval’ from an objector, writes local democracy reporter Guy Henderson.

Now East Devon District Council (EDDC) has underlined its opposition to the plan and has called for an inquiry into the scheme to be held in public.

Members of the council’s planning committee met last Friday (July 28) to consider the proposal for 23 homes off Oak Road at West Hill. They heard that because the council had not ruled on the application by a legal deadline, it would have to be decided by a planning inspector at an appeal.

However, they decided to send a clear message to the inspector that the Morrish Homes scheme should not be allowed, and that any inquiry should be heard in public rather than being decided in private by the inspector reading written submissions.

Planning officers said any future residents wouldn’t find it easy to access local facilities and services, meaning the development would be ‘car-dependent’. A number of ‘significant protected trees’ would also be at risk.

The applicants say that because the site will be expensive to develop, the amount of affordable housing they could provide would be diminished. Officers disagreed.

Their report summed up: “Taking all of the evidence into account, the adverse impacts of the proposed development are so harmful as to significantly and demonstrably outweigh its benefits.”

But members were warned that because the district can’t meet its government targets for a five-year supply of land for housing, it is vulnerable on housing developments.

Neighbours Richard Green and Peter Shrubsole spoke against the proposal, with Mr Shrubsole saying: “Not a single supportive submission has been made, with the exception of one very sarcastic one which was, in fact, an objection.”

Villager Robert George said the development was not sustainable, and Alan Cook described it as ‘dense and unsympathetic’.

West Hill Parish Council chair Alison Carr said local schools and GP surgeries were already over-stretched, and Cllr Jessica Bailey (Independent, West Hill and Aylesbeare) said there were ‘very compelling grounds’ to throw out the plans.

Cllr Brian Bailey (Con, Exmouth Littleham) told the committee: “There are so many things that this scheme goes against, and there is no provision for affordable homes.

“As far as I am concerned it is not going to fly at all.”

The committee agreed unanimously to tell the secretary of state that the council would have refused the application, and to urge the planning inspector to decide the issue at an informal hearing rather than through written submissions.

Turn up the gas!

Police are cracking down on anti-social behaviour and other offences in East and Mid Devon.

It’s part of what they call Operation Loki, which a number of councils across the county have lauded as a positive step to make their areas safer or more attractive to residents and visitors.

Radio Exe News www.radioexe.co.uk

The latest campaign started last week in Seaton, Sidmouth, Honiton and Axminster. It will continue in Tiverton, Cullompton, Crediton and Exmouth later this month.

People will see officers on foot patrols, as well as in marked police vehicles during the period of intensification. They will focus on locations where ASB is a problem or issues have been reported to them.

Inspector Phil Gray, inspector for rural East Devon, said: “Over the course of the last few days we were joined by officers from the Devon & Cornwall Police Professional Development Unit, members of the Special Constabulary, colleagues from Roads Policing and the Prevent and Detect Team. We also worked with Youth Intervention Officers, homeless outreach staff and some members of the council who form part of the Community Safety Partnership.

“We work with partners to make sure that we reach those people in vulnerable groups who may need extra support. We like to engage with as many people as possible of all ages and get feedback on how we can help with any local concerns or priorities. We want to keep our communities safe, disrupt incidents of Anti Social Behaviour and make arrests where appropriate. If you see the officers out and about please come and say hello and let us know how we can help you.”

In Seaton, several vehicles were checked with the help of automatic number plate recognition systems and three people were also stopped and dealt with for drugs possession. 

On Friday, police were joined by representatives from Sidmouth Town Council, Gateway Homelessness Action Group, East Devon District Council Community Safety Partnership and other departments including roads policing.

Two vehicles were seized for having no tax, seven motorists were reported for vehicle and document defects and there were several stops for suspected driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs resulting in two arrests. Foot patrols took place in areas of anti-social behaviour and at least 30 motorists were detected for speeding through Sidford.

In Honiton, a specialist undercover team arrested someone for driving whilst being unfit through drugs, having no insurance and being in possession of a class B drug. Enquiries found they were also a disqualified driver.

The local neighbourhood police team stopped a motorist for having no insurance and no driving licence and another vehicle was seized as that motorist also had no driving licence. Two people were searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act and a vulnerable person was located and escorted home with the appropriate referrals to support agencies being made.

Police in Axminster searched a motorist and their vehicle which led to cocaine, cannabis, money and phones being seized. An arrest was made for drug driving, possession with intent and possession of an offensive weapon. The car was seized. A separate vehicle was seized after it was discovered the driver had an expired driving licence.