On behalf of the Seaton Hospital Steering Committee, I am pleased to issue the following press release:

The Seaton Hospital Steering Committee, comprising representatives of the local community elected at a public meeting, has been working hard to develop a business plan for a community hub which would take over the wing of the Hospital which Devon NHS no longer requires for its services. 

In developing our plan, we have met with a range of groups and organisations which are interested in using space in the building. The aim is to bring different sectors of the community together, so that the new space serves local people of all ages and offers facilities which local groups can use to improve their health and wellbeing.

Since early this year, monthly meetings have been held with the NHS’s Integrated Care Board and NHS Property Services, which owns the Hospital building, in order to clarify the terms on which community use would take place. The present aim is to present a plan to our partners by the end of June. 

Following the successful application to list Seaton Hospital as an Asset of Community Value, the Committee has also submitted a funding application to the government’s Community Ownership Fund, which accepted our initial expression of interest, and Richard Foord MP (a member of the Committee) has sought support in Parliament for the community to make full use of the empty wing at the hospital to assist with health and wellbeing issues.

Contacts:

General enquiries about the Committee’s work: Martin Shaw, saveseatonhospital@gmail.com 07972 760254

Enquiries about using space in the Hospital wing: Ben Tucker, ben@restoreseaton.co.uk

Yesterday SWW stated that all its current water supply tests had come back clear and that customers should continue to use their water as normal………….

Anita Merritt www.devonlive.com

South West Water (SWW) has confirmed that further testing has found the presence of cryptosporidium in two areas of Brixham. Yesterday, May 14, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed 16 cases of the infection and around 70 reported cases of diarrhoea and vomiting in Brixham, with more cases reported by victims on social media.

Yesterday SWW stated that all its current water supply tests had come back clear and that customers should continue to use their water as normal. Today, May 15, it has announced it has detected ‘small traces’ of the organism in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham.

Residents living in those areas are being advised to boil their drinking water before drinking it and bottled water stations have been set up for them. Cryptosporidium is a parasite which can cause sickness and diarrhoea if consumed. Drinking water can become contaminated for various reasons and SWW says it is fully investigating the cause.

It added that data from its tests over the last several weeks showed that the treated water leaving its treatment works was not contaminated. However, in the Hillhead section of its network, further tests taken overnight and working with the advice of UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), it has found ‘small traces’ of cryptosporidium.

A South West Water spokesperson said: “Customers in Alston and the Hillhead area of Brixham are advised to boil their drinking water before consuming following new test results for cryptosporidium. We are issuing this notice following small traces of the organism identified overnight and this morning.

“We are working with the UK Health Security Agency and other public health partners to urgently investigate and eliminate the source. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and will continue to keep customers and businesses updated. Bottled water stations will be set up in the affected areas as soon as possible.”