A recently updated sewage map by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has revealed that nearly 30 beaches across the South West currently have pollution or sewage warnings in place. Beauty spots such as Exmouth, Sidmouth and Budleigh Salterton as well as Portreath, and Ilfracombe are just a few of the areas where warnings are in place as swimmers are urged to avoid entering the water.

Carl Eve  16/03/2024 www.devonlive.com

The majority of the incidents have been laid at the door of “storm sewage” which has plagued beaches across the South West in recent weeks due to heavy downpours.

The main contributing factor to polluted beaches is urban runoff, which sees fertilizers, pesticides, oil, and untreated human and animal waste entering waterways, such as rivers. They then eventually end up at our beaches.

Swallowing water that could be contaminated with faecal matter could lead to gastroenteritis, hepatitis, giardiasis, skin rashes, amoebic dysentery, nose, ear, and throat problems, pink eye, and other respiratory illnesses. Symptoms to look out for include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cramps, inflamed stomach and intestines.

Beaches currently marked as pollution risks

Sidmouth Town

Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours. Rock pools to the west, overhanging cliffs to the east, Sidmouth Town beach compromises 900m of legally protected pebbles broken up by rock groynes and backed by a promenade and the town. Two sewer overflows are located at Sidmouth, one discharges through a long sea outfall some 600m out to sea while the other discharges into the River Sid, just under 400m to the east.

Budleigh Salterton
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Part of the Ancient World Heritage Coastline, Budleigh Salterton is a 2km stretch of resort beach with red cliffs at the western end and the River Otter Estuary at the eastern end backed by a promenade and town. There are three sewer overflows in the area, one discharges directly onto the beach, another 400m east and another that discharges 1.3km away into the sea.

Dawlish Town
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Dawlish Town is on the south coast of Devon. It is a sandy beach resort approximately 650m wide and close to the town and cliffs. There are five sewer overflows covered by the Safer Seas Service here within 650m off the beach which can operate in heavy rainfall.

Teignmouth Holcombe
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
A small sand and rock beach located at the base of tall red cliffs, Holcombe is an isolated beach backed by cliffs and a railway line. A sewer overflow discharges into the Holcombe Stream 40m upstream of the beach.

Meadfoot
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.

Slapton Sands Torcross
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Slapton Sands Torcross is on the south coast of Devon. It is a remote shingle beach, approximately one kilometre wide, backed by Slapton Ley Nature Reserve.

Mill Bay
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Mill Bay Beach is a privately owned beach on the East Portlemouth side of the Salcombe Estuary. The beach can be reached by the local ferry or by car. It is a sheltered beach and is popular with families.

Hope Cove
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Hope Cove is on the South coast of Devon. It is a remote sand and rock beach, approximately 370 metres wide, surrounded by cliffs. There are two sewer overflows which discharge into the sea here which can lead to a temporary drop in bathing water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Mothecombe
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
A traditional family beach, Mothecombe is a remote, sandy beach backed by cliffs and sand dunes. The beach is split into 2 parts with one being private with limited access and the other being free. There are no sewer overflows directly on the beach at Mothecombe however a number of urban areas (Ermington, Ivybridge etc.) can discharge into the River Erme whose estuary Mothecombe is located in.

Plymouth Hoe East
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
A small shingle and rock city beach, Plymouth Hoe East is a narrow strip below a promenade and Plymouth Hoe. There is a sewer overflow that discharges SW of the beach and a number more in the surrounding area that support the city of Plymouth. .

Kingsand
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Kingsand is on the south coast of Cornwall. It is a sand and shingle beach resort, approximately 200 metres wide, close to the village of Kingsand. The Environment Agency carried out additional monitoring in the Kingsand Stream between 2010 – 2015, and made recommendations for further improvements to protect and improve the bathing water quality.

Seaton (Cornwall)
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
A mixture of grey pebbles and coarse sand forms this remote beach surrounded by gently sloping cliffs. It is located at the entrance to the Seaton Valley Country Park and is one of the few beaches in the area to offer great surfing conditions. There are a few sewage overflows from local sewage treatment works discharging upstream into the River Seaton which meanders across the beach.

Millendreath
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Millendreath is a small, sandy beach backed by cliffs and hills with a stream flowing across it. A sewer overflow from the Plaidy pumping station discharges off the rocks to the West of the beach and another from the urban area can discharge through the stream.

East Looe
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
A small sand and rock beach resort located at the mouth of the River Looe, East Looe is close to the town of Looe and so gets very busy. No sewer overflows discharge directly onto the beach here, however several discharge into the River Looe Estuary and catchment upstream.

Readymoney Cove
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Readymoney is a small, sandy, remote beach located at the mouth of the River Fowey. It is in a cove sheltered by tall cliffs between St Catherines Castle and the medieval part of Fowey. A sewer overflow discharges 100m from Readymoney beach and others discharge into the Fowey Estuary.

Pentewan
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Pentewan, located on the south coast of Cornwall, is a privately owned sandy beach resort, approximately 1.1km wide. There is an emergency sewer overflow from the Pentewan pumping station that discharges to the St Austell River 250m from the beach. Within the Pentewan bathing water catchment there are four emergency sewer overflows that discharge into the St Austell River at least one and a half kilometres upstream of the bathing water.

Porthluney
Bathing not advised due to poor annual classification.
A sheltered and sandy beach popular with swimmers, it is backed by the grounds of Caerhays Castle. There is a ban on motorised watercraft here to maintain the peace and quiet.

Swanpool
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Swanpool is a pebble and sandy beach resort approximately 140m wide and backed by the Swanpool Nature Reserve. There is an emergency sewer overflow from the Queen Mary Gardens pumping station that discharges to the sea approximately 420m east of the bathing water.

Perranuthnoe
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
A small, rural, sandy beach with some rock and shingle areas. Cliffs and a quaint village back the beach. There are no sewer overflows discharging directly at Perranuthnoe, however, there are a number in the nearby Mounts Bay that may affect bathing water quality here. We receive sewage discharge alerts here from the Perranuthnoe pumping station overflow.

Long Rock
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
The second of four beaches enclosed in Mounts Bay, Long Rock beach is a one kilometre stretch of sand backed by sea defences. Within the catchment area of Heliport beach there is a sewer overflow that discharges into the Ponsdale Brook, 130m upstream of the beach, three that discharge into Trevaylor Stream and four more sewer overflows that discharge into the sea east and west of the beach.

Portreath
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Portreath is large beach with soft fine sand, with shingle below the shoreline and is popular with families. The harbour wall is popular with experienced surfers for its vortex surf break. On the left-hand side, the beach has a small stream running down to the sea. A few hundred metres off the coast is the huge Gull Rock, which as the name suggests is something of a haven for seabirds of all kinds. Portreath is a popular family beach which, like many beaches on the north Cornish coast, is attracts surfers and in particular bodyboarders. The beach backs onto the small town offering most facilities including several shops, toilets and cafes. The sewage from Redruth is pumped to a sewage treatment works (STW) at Kieve Mill to the northwest of Camborne. The treated sewage is then discharged to the sea at North Cliffs approximately three and a half kilometres to the southwest of Portreath.

Instow
Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification.
Instow has been classified as Poor for five consecutive years, meaning it has been de-designated and permanent advice against bathing is in place. Instow is a pretty and sandy beach that tends to get very busy during the summer. Calm waters, protected from swell by sandbanks at the mouth of the Taw estuary, make this a good choice for families. There are also shops and cafes in the village, which is directly behind the beach.

Ilfracombe Hele
Pollution Alert: Storm sewage has been discharged from a sewer overflow in this location within the past 48 hours.
Hele beach is a small, sand and shingle cove just to the east of Ilfracombe. It is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is sheltered from the prevailing winds. A sewer overflow discharges to the sea some 280m to the east of the beach. Other overflows from Ilfracombe urban area may also affect water quality here.

Dunster North West
Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification.
A large pebble and sand resort beach backed by Chalets, Dunster North West faces into the Bristol Channel and is just east of the popular seaside resort of Minehead.

Burnham Jetty North
Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification.
Just to the north of the rivers Brue and Parnett estuaries, Burnham Jetty North is a large, sand and mud, gently sloping beach resort backed by sea defences with a large tidal range. Although there are no sewer overflows discharging directly onto the beach, there are several within the catchment area that discharge into the rivers. More overflows from the surrounding urban area may also affect bathing water quality here.

Weston-super-Mare Uphill Slipway
Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification.
Uphill Slipway is a sandy beach resort next to the mouth of the River Axe. It has a large tidal range and areas of mud are exposed at low tide. It is just south of the popular seaside resort of Weston-super-Mare. A sewer overflow discharges into the sea at the southern end of the beach while sewer overflows from the surrounding urban area discharging into the River Axe and may affect water quality especially after heavy rainfall.

Weston Main
Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification.
Located close to the popular seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, Main beach is a large stretch of sand with a pier. Two sewer overflows discharge directly into the sea here – one at the northern extent of the beach and one 2km to the south. The bathing water quality may also be affected by discharges from the surrounding urban catchment area.

Weston-super-Mare Sand Bay
Bathing not advised due to Poor annual classification.
A sand and shingle beach resort, approximately 5km wide and backed by sand dunes. There is a saltmarsh at the northern end, and Sand Point Headland is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The outfall from Weston-super-Mare STW discharges to the sea at Black Rock 5km south of Sand Bay.

Rishi Sunak has been warned that scores of his most vulnerable seats risk being lost over an increasingly neglected cost of living crisis raging in marginal constituencies across the UK.

Michael Savage www.theguardian.com 

The seats held by Iain Duncan Smith and justice secretary Alex Chalk are among 85 Tory constituencies with a critical number of voters whose monthly outgoings are now higher than their income.

The new research comes amid concerns that falling inflation has led to the cost of living crisis dropping down the political agenda, despite households being left with energy bills far higher than they were three years ago and a widening group of people struggling to make ends meet.

The issue of “negative budgets” – where a family’s outgoings are no longer covered by their income – has become a key concern of Citizens Advice, which has been carrying out detailed research on the phenomenon.

While the problem is affecting a wider group of people, the group says there are now more far-reaching political implications for both main parties should they fail to consider radical action.

Its constituency-level research identified 85 seats won by the Tories in 2019 where the MP’s majority is smaller than the number of people with a negative budget.

It is also true of the 100 most marginal seats across Britain overall. It mirrors the regular Opinium polls for the Observer, which continue to suggest that the NHS and the cost of living are by far the most important issues heading into the election later this year.

Citizens Advice said that about 5 million people were affected by negative budgets, while a further 2 million were staying out of the red by cutting their essential spending on things such as meals, energy, and seeing friends and family, to unsafe levels.

The Conservatives have said that they are tackling the cost of living crisis by making two cuts to national insurance, a move they say saves the average worker more than £900 a year from April. However, higher earners save more than those on low incomes.

While Labour has focused many of its attacks on the cost of living, it has been criticised for not producing specific policies to tackle it in the short term, beyond vowing to handle the economy better than the Tories and pursuing economic growth.

Clare Moriarty, a former senior government official who now leads Citizens Advice, warned that falling inflation did not stop the cost of living being the critical factor for voters this year.

“For most of our history, Citizens Advice has seen people in moments of crisis,” she said. “But now, more and more people are stuck in a quicksand of hardship. What would’ve been a shocking level of living standards just a few years ago has sadly become the everyday reality for many in our society.

“Our advice can be life-changing, but our advisers can’t tackle the scale of this challenge alone. Falling inflation doesn’t mean this problem is over. For example, energy bills are still 48% higher than they were three years ago.

“Voters up and down the country want to hear what the next government will do to tackle plummeting living standards. But so far, politicians haven’t done enough to give them hope that any party has a plan to really turn the tide on the issue.”

A trade organisation that Lord Marland chairs with another Tory grandee, Lord Swire, opened doors for Hester’s healthtech company, The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), to expand internationally.

goodlawproject.org 

Tory Peer, Lord Marland, who claimed Frank Hester ‘is not a racist’ because he does business abroad, heads a trade organisation which lists The Phoenix Partnership as a ‘strategic partner’ and a ‘platinum’ sponsor for its summits.

Lord Marland was one of the first to jump to Frank Hester’s defence in the immediate fallout of the Guardian’s shocking revelations about his racist comments. On Wednesday, the Tory peer claimed in an LBC interview that his Party’s largest ever donor, “is not a racist” because “he does a lot of business in Jamaica, he does business in Malaysia, in Bangladesh and places like that”.

It’s an unconvincing line of argument to say the least. You might wonder why he’s even running it. And it now turns out that a trade organisation that Lord Marland chairs with another Tory grandee, Lord Swire, opened doors for Hester’s healthtech company, The Phoenix Partnership (TPP), to expand internationally.

The non-profit Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), lists TPP as a strategic partner and platinum sponsor of its annual trade summits.

And along with sponsorship funding, Frank Hester has given it glowing testimony: “We have grown our business across Asia, Africa and the Americas, through CWEIC’s flagship events and with the full support of their exceptionally capable team.”

According to a CWEIC brochure, the benefits of becoming a strategic partner include “the opportunity to influence Government policy and decisions as a collective voice by engaging directly with senior government leaders and policy makers”.  

The CWEIC has also taken on as a strategic partner Life Partners, a firm run by Zoe Ley, who made obscene profits from brokering a huge PPE deal through the Government’s unlawful VIP Lane.

“In Toryland, nothing ever happens without a reason”, said Jo Maugham, Executive Director of Good Law Project. “Everyone is buttering everyone else’s bread. And, with the proceeds of his vastly lucrative DHSC contracts, Frank Hester is operating a very large dairy”.

But not everyone who has been involved with the CWEIC has been as keen as Lord Marland to defend Hester. Another big Tory donor, Mohamed Amersi, was on the board of the organisation up until the new year. On Thursday, Amersi took to LBC to brand the way the Conservative Party has handled the Hester scandal as “an absolute disgrace” and warn Rishi Sunak that he is “holding the cheque book back” ahead of the next election.

We approached The Phoenix Partnership, Lord Marland and the Commonwealth Enterprise and  Investment Group for comment.

Lord Marland said: “The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) is a not for profit organisation with an official mandate from Commonwealth Heads of Government to promote trade and investment throughout the 56 member countries. CWEIC is a networking organisation and has no interest in and does not promote transactions.

“Many governments and businesses have sponsored CWEIC events for which we are very grateful”.

Back in September 2023, we were the first to raise the alarm about the money flowing back and forth between Frank Hester and the Government – exposing the £137m worth of hidden contracts his company received through the Department of Health and Social Care. And since then, we have shone a light on the close relationship he has with the Prime Minister – from helicopter rides to cosy conversations about AI.

And with reports emerging that the Conservative Party is sitting on another £5m donation from Hester, we’re continuing our investigations into the level of his influence over the most senior Government figures.

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