Initial Environment Agency pollution alert yesterday evening

South West Water apology

South West Water WaterFit today 31 August

Environment Agency current advice

This Heath Robinson affair of six pumps pumping into a tank with two tractors pumping it out and up to Maer Lane. This is what has overflowed and closed Exmouth beach for the third time in August.

This was supposed to replace a major pumping station for four weeks. Hand me another sticking plaster please.

This is SWWs solution to what should have been a replacement rising main.

It’ll cost Exmouth £m’s but SWW don’t care about that. Geoff Crawford ESCAPE

Angela Rayner, who builds the sewage treatment works we will need for more homes and when will they build them? Sometime or never?- Owl

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government www.gov.uk

• A new expert group will speed up delivery of stalled housing sites.
• Early analysis estimates there are 200 large sites across England which could delivery up to 300,000 new homes.
• Call for sites launched inviting developers and councils to share details of large-scale housing projects.
• Supports plans to boost economic growth and deliver 1.5 million homes.

Hundreds of thousands of new homes stuck in the planning system or partially built will be accelerated to help end the housing crisis and drive growth, thanks to the New Homes Accelerator launched by the Deputy Prime Minister today.   

An experienced team from the Ministry of Housing and Homes England will work across government and with local councils to accelerate the buildout of housing schemes delayed by planning and red tape to drive economic growth across every part of the country.

They will hit the ground running by bringing together key players, including government agencies, local planning departments and housebuilders, who will work to resolve specific local issues and deploy planning experts on the ground to work through blockages at each site identified. This includes looking at barriers to affordable housing delivery where relevant.  

Interventions could see the New Homes Accelerator provide resources to support local planning capacity where there are barriers and work across the board to make sure planning decisions are made in a timely fashion.    

Government analysis suggests 200 large sites have outline or detailed plans ready to go but are yet to begin construction, and the team is already getting started on some of those that would benefit from early interventions. The Accelerator will focus on lending a helping hand to frustrated housebuilders and local communities who want to play their part to get Britain building again, in turn driving local and economic growth.  

Devon County Council is set to launch a concerted campaign to persuade the Government to reverse the axing of winter fuel payments to needy pensioners.

Radio Exe News www.radioexe.co.uk

Conservative leader James McInnes and Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Connett have signed a motion to next week’s county council meeting calling on the Government to re-think.

The Government made the announcement last month that only the most needy elderly people on  Pension Credit and other benefits would continue to receive the £300 annual payment to help with their heating bills.

Even those whose only income is a basic State pension won’t qualify.

In the Notice of Motion, Mr Connett says: “In the Devon County Council area, the number of pensioners affected by the change in eligibility criteria is 180,579.

“That means around nine in 10 pensioners currently eligible for winter fuel payments will no longer be able to claim the payment from this winter onwards.

“Council believes that the Labour Government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify for winter fuel payments far too low. 

“Only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week or £332.95 a week for couples are eligible for pension credits. This is significantly lower than the living wage rate.”

“Council further notes that the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10 per cent in October which, combined by the removal of winter fuel payments, will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.”

Mr McInnes said: “It hasn’t taken this Labour Government long to show their true colours.

“The Government claims they will save £1.4 billion by this measure but at the same time has agreed above inflation pay increases for many.

“With their new salaries, many of them will be paying more in tax than our pensioners have to live on.

“It’s estimated these pay increases will cost the country £10 billion, dwarfing the cash that will be saved from hitting some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“It may well be that some better-off pensioners do not need this money but by making the cap so low I am concerned the Labour Government is effectively forcing some of our most vulnerable residents to choose between heating and eating this winter.

“Historically in Devon many buildings are older and hard to heat – the Government needs to realise that Devon’s residents don’t live in big cities but in rural areas.

“Older people tend to spend more time at home and so need to keep the heating on for longer.

“They’re also more likely to have medical conditions which require them to keep warm.

“Research has shown that rural areas in Devon are already in the most deprived 20 per cent nationally for housing quality and the availability of central heating.

“With the proposed Energy Price Cap, the Government is creating a perfect storm for greater cost-of-living impacts on Devon’s residents.

“As a county council we will do what we can to mitigate the effects of this heartless policy but I believe the Government should use their first Budget next month to announce they are withdrawing this and thinking again.”

In reality it is likely to be longer than this “official” estimate but they certainly would have been “culled” without Claire’s tireless campaigning and liaising with DEFRA and Devon Wildlife Trust.

Even forcing Hugo Swire MP to take up their cause. – Owl

Beavers are thriving in Devon a decade on from rogue rewilding

Tom Whipple www.thetimes.com 

The beavers keep us waiting. By the side of a Devon river, over the course of an hour the fish jump, a kingfisher dives and an egret flaps. But for the two dozen people gathered at dusk — beaver o’clock — there is nothing.

Then it appears. There is a flash of brown under the water and a clatter of cameras above. It is furry, flappy and surprisingly graceful. The beaver is back.

Four hundred years ago Britain’s last beaver was killed — probably for its pelt. Today, though, beaver hats are out of fashion and rewilding is in.

Conservationists are calling for them to return across the UK, just as they already have, partly by accident, here. “We know from a huge body of research that these animals bring some quite significant and exciting changes to our wetland river environments,” says Matt Holden, from Devon Wildlife Trust.

Yet despite promises, despite Boris Johnson’s 2021 pledge to “build back beaver”, in England and Wales plans to reintroduce beavers have stalled. “Where’s the action?” says Holden.

To see why more beavers are a good thing, he said, you only have to look at what has happened in Devon.

No one knows how, but between ten and 15 years ago, the first wild beavers arrived here. At first, all there were were rumours. Like the nearby Beast of Bodmin Moor, the beavers were spotted in Devon in fleeting glances, glimpsed in implausible sightings — and dismissed as otters.

However, you can only ignore nibbled branches, grazed river banks and unexplained dams for so long. Soon, it was clear that beavers really had returned. How did they get here? An escape from a private enclosure? An epic transoceanic beaver exploration from mainland Europe?

Or was it rogue rewilding? Many suspect that conservationists, tired of the bureaucratic impediments to returning ancient species, frustrated by seeing reintroductions in Scotland, decided to circumvent regulations by smuggling in a pair of beavers.

If so, the strategy worked. Once there were beavery signs on the ground (and, in their lodges, under the ground), official beavers followed. Amid strong local support, beavers were taken from Europe, tagged and introduced to new habitats in Devon.

Over the course of a full beaver lifespan they have now been followed, photographed and studied and — in official academic reports — declared to be on balance a good thing. “The overwhelming weight of scientific evidence on the impacts of beaver reintroduction is positive,” Professor Richard Brazier, from the University of Essex said.

Also, we like them. Once, humans were the enemy of beavers. It wasn’t just their fur that we found valuable, it was their scent glands too — which were prized for their vanilla smell. Although, at the time they were confused for another part of the body. Medieval woodcuts show beavers being chased by hunters and gnawing off their own testicles to present to their pursuers, to save their lives.

As we reach the tenth anniversary of Defra-approved Devonian beavers, there is considerably less interest in their testicles and considerably more in their cute noses. There are beaver cafes, beaver merchandise, a healthy population of baby beavers and — on once straight and boring streams — ever-shifting beaver dams. And, each evening, there are people who come to spot them.

As 8.30pm approaches on the river — confusingly, it’s the River Otter — the beavers become bolder. One puts an ear adorned with a green tag above the water line and flops onto the bank. He nibbles at reeds. He masticates noisily. He gets photographed a lot.

Conservation researchers don’t name their animals. That kind of sentimentality is discouraged, in what is a serious science. So Holden only occasionally calls him Gordon the Beaver, before hurriedly correcting himself.

However charismatic Gordon is, though, the real economic case for his fellow beavers — if something furry and wet must be reduced to a spreadsheet entry — comes in what they do to the environment.

Twenty minutes’ drive away, cutting through the maize monocultures of a commercial farm, there is a little strip of woodland, too damp and soggy to be used. Here, there are also beavers. Holden stands on a dam: messy, bulky, leaky — and just occasionally patched up with stolen and nibbled maize.

When you manage waterways for flood protection, you build dams like this. It is hard work, said Holden. First you cut access, clearing trees for the HGVs. Then you move earth, bring in materials, and scar the soil. Afterwards, you have to maintain it.

Or, he said: “You can bring in a beaver … and they’ll go for it.”

The stream weaves and flows between pools. It makes wetlands and mudlands. It deposits sediment and runs clear. Most of all it takes its time. In storms four years ago, villages on an adjoining stream experienced once-in-50-year floods. Directly downstream from the beavers East Budleigh, the village where Walter Raleigh was born long after the loss of Devon’s last beaver, survived undampened.

Back on the River Otter, the light is fading. Gordon emerged from the underwater entrance to his lodge. This time, he is not alone. There is another beaver, younger than him. This time, they leave with purpose — with an intent to beaver away somewhere. But where that will be, the beaver watchers don’t know. Paddling together, they disappear into the Devon night.

In preparation for East Devon District Council’s new Local Plan, proposals for residential and employment development site allocations across East Devon will be considered at a series of public meetings throughout September.

Venue: Council Chamber, Blackdown House, Honiton

eastdevon.gov.uk

East Devon District Council’s (EDDC) Strategic Planning Committee will consider every potential development site allocation with dedicated time for residents, and town and parish councils, to make their views heard. EDDC has previously consulted on all sites under consideration either at the end of 2022 into early 2023 or in spring of this year and views expressed through these consultations are being considered as part of this process.

Each meeting will focus on certain areas:

• 3 September: Exmouth, Lympstone, Woodbury, Exton (morning); Budleigh Salterton, East Budleigh, Otterton (afternoon)
• 11 September: Sidmouth, Newton Poppleford (morning); Seaton, Colyton, Beer, Branscombe, Uplyme (afternoon)
• 20 September: Honiton (inc. edge-of-town sites in Gittisham), Dunkeswell, Upottery (morning); Axminster, Hawkchurch, Musbury, Kilmington (afternoon)
• 23 September: Strategic West End Sites, Broadclyst, Clyst St Mary, West Clyst, Whimple (morning); Ottery St Mary, Tipton St John, West Hill, Payhembury, Plymtree, Broadhembury (afternoon)

Details of how to participate in these meetings will be available on EDDC’s website. Meetings will also be streamed online via EDDC’s YouTube channel.

Agenda with easy access to the individual site selection reports can be found here

Cllr Todd Olive, EDDC Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning, said:

“After three public consultations and years of technical work, we are now approaching the stage where we must make decisions about what sites should be developed under the new Local Plan.

“Deciding where to build in our part of the world is one of the hardest decisions we have to make. In many cases, as residents ourselves, we share your concerns, and your frustrations, about the process we are going through.

“However, we have little choice but to push on. If we don’t, the government have made clear that they will not hesitate to step in and make a Local Plan for us – with 28% higher housing numbers. To avoid this, we not only need to make tough decisions – we need to make them quickly. If we don’t publish a final draft plan in the next few months then we will have to restart the Local Plan process under the new, higher housing targets.

“Going forwards, we will be making a clear case to government about the constraints of our area and our desperate need for more funding for infrastructure. We are also working with South West Water to understand the issues with existing sewage infrastructure, and to make sure  that improvements align with the increase in demand from new homes and come forwards before new development is occupied.

“The new Local Plan has a target of 946 new homes per year. Through this new Plan, we will also be striving to provide more affordable homes for our residents, protect green spaces and biodiversity, and drive decarbonisation and job creation.”

Watch Cllr Todd Olive’s video message.

The Budleigh correspondent who sent in the images of this mysterious tank now reports that it was removed sometime last week. Since it has gone, it seems it was not part of the proposed pump upgrade mentioned by Susan Davy in her letter to Cllr Henry Riddell. 

Owl’s correspondent is pretty sure that it is a separation tank that might be used to separate debris from cleaning water. So perhaps it was intended to be part of the Lime Kiln sewage pumping station cleaning operation. This was scheduled to require night closures of the car park, but is now reported to have been postponed because of “ongoing operations” in Exmouth.

The UK is at risk of missing its legally binding target to protect biodiversity and nature, a report has warned.

Britain pledged to protect and conserve at least 30% of the country’s land and sea by 2030 – an international target known as 30×30 that was agreed at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal in December 2022.

Rebecca Speare-Cole www.independent.co.uk 

However, the government risks missing the target unless it acts urgently to halt and reverse the unprecedented environmental crisis in the UK, according to a report released by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) on Tuesday.

The UK ranks among the bottom 10% of countries globally for biodiversity, with only 53% of its biodiversity remaining and 41% of UK species seeing significant population declines since 1970, it said.

Meanwhile, there is fewer than than six years left to meet the UN but less than 3% of England’s land and 8% of its seas are effectively protected, the paper adds.

The think tank said the new Labour Government has the opportunity to embed nature recovery into a bold agenda for national renewal as it outlined a blueprint for ministers to tackle the issue.

This plan involves measures like tackling sewage polluters by developing legally binding targets and strengthening powers for the Environment Agency to enforce sanctions.

Other recommendations include delivering a fair transition for farmers, through additional funding for environmentally friendly farming in England and legislating for a right to roam, expanding rights of responsible access to the English countryside.

Joseph Evans, a researcher at IPPR, said: “Britain’s natural landscapes are a source of pride for many of us, but the UK’s nature is in a dire state: biodiversity is failing, species are declining and many people simply don’t have reasonable access to green spaces.

“The new government has an opportunity to reverse nature’s decline and drive progressive change around the country. Restoring nature must be a cornerstone of the government’s national renewal strategy.”

A Defra spokesperson said: “Britain’s nature is in crisis, which is why we have wasted no time in announcing a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan to make sure it is fit for purpose to deliver legally binding targets and halt the decline in species by 2030. This government will also improve access to nature for all by creating nine new National River Walks and three new National Forests.

“We have taken immediate steps to put water companies under tough special measures and turn the tide on the unacceptable pollution of our waterways, while introducing a new deal for farmers to boost food security and restore nature.”

Plans for 42 new homes in Lympstone,  including some affordable housing, has been rejected by planners.

Bradley Gerrard www.exmouthjournal.co.uk 

The scheme by 3 West, based in nearby Woodbury,  would have been split into two areas, with five larger homes accessed from one point and the other 37 from another.

Concerns about additional traffic on roads serving the new houses – Strawberry Hill and Meeting Lane – were a key concerns of East Devon District Council’s planning committee’s reluctance to approve the development.

Some councillors believed that separating the larger, more expensive homes from the others meant richer home buyers would essentially be segregated.

Some objectors stated that the scheme would only offer 14 affordable homes – 35 per cent of the total – even though planning policy dictates that half of such a site should be deemed affordable.

However, the developer had pledged to contribute nearly £300,000 to help pay for affordable housing elsewhere in the district, thus bringing its notional contribution up to half of its Lympstone scheme.

Opponents who attended the meeting raised fears about flooding, the capability of the sewage system to take on more waste, and that the site is outside the specified boundary for development in Lympstone.

“Using the sustainability argument for the site is disingenuous as most people commute by car,” resident Jane Moffat told the committee.

“We did a survey recently and it showed the train in the village didn’t go to the destinations people needed it too, and that it was too expensive, with bus travel being viewed in the same way.”

Ms Moffat added that the plan was for a coastal preservation area, and that the community did not have the infrastructure to accept 42 more new homes – “including a functioning sewerage system”.

Resident John Brewer, a civil engineer, said he was part of the Lympstone flood resilience group and that blocked gullies and drains on Meeting Lane were a constant issue.

“We categorise the road as a hotspot in terms of this issue, and this proposal will direct surface water to the drainage point on Meeting Lane,” he said.

“The pipe is already susceptible to blockages and the lane prone to flooding.”

Another resident of the nearby Gulliford Close, on the southern boundary of the proposed site, feared a loss of privacy.

“It was clear the developer was doing a survey of the land in 2022, but first approached the community in early 2023 with a development plan, and that hasn’t changed in spite of condemnation of it by residents surrounding its layout and the entrances,” the resident said.

Lympstone parish councillor Susan Francis said while the scheme “might tick a few of East Devon’s boxes, it doesn’t ours. It should be refused as it fails to respect the character of the village,” she said, adding that the proposed Strawberry Hill entranced would be “dangerous and unnecessary”.

“Two Meeting Lane entrances would be better, and designing it as two closes would be more cohesive, as this one creates clear areas of difference.”

David Matthews, 3 West’s director of operations, said his firm would look to deliver the houses “in haste” if it was approved, thanking the council’s officers for their support with the plans.

“We have agreed with officers that 35 per cent affordable housing on-site is acceptable, with a mix of rental properties and shared ownership,” he said.

“That has been endorsed by the affordable housing officer, as we will provide £292,000 for more affordable housing in the locality and district.

“Fourteen on-site units is notable and should not be overlooked as the council has been suffering from under delivery; building these would help it reduce its housing waiting list.”

He added the scheme would bring roughly £800,000 in community infrastructure levy payments, a quarter of which is paid to the parish council, while he expected it to create 120 permanent and temporary local jobs across his firm and local sub-contractors.

After a lengthy debate about the most robust policies by which they scheme should be refused, the committee settled on a range encompassing the scheme’s design, location and layout, as well as a lack of pedestrian access, concerns about the impact on mature trees on the site and the lack of social cohesion.

Nine members voted to reject the scheme, with two councillors in favour and one abstaining.

• Discharge of conditions 21/1892/FUL : Condition 4 (landscaping), Condition 5 (materials) New Park Farm Awliscombe Devon EX14 3QARef. No: 24/1700/DOC | Validated: Fri 16 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Agricultural building to be used for the storage of hay Egremont Farm Payhembury Devon EX14 3JARef. No: 24/1699/AGR | Validated: Thu 15 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 24/1218/FUL : Condition 3 (surface water drainage) 3 Bramble Close Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6JSRef. No: 24/1703/DOC | Validated: Thu 15 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Magnolia: remove 4 secondary branches growing towards house and two secondary branches growing towards garage. The Vicarage Greenway Woodbury Devon EX5 1LURef. No: 24/1702/TCA | Validated: Thu 15 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of Conditions for 23/0283/LBC: Condition 3 (roofing materials, roof light details, rainwater goods details, eaves and verge details and finishes, sample of new stone conservatory plinth including mortar colour) The Coach House Berry Farm Hawkchurch Axminster EX13 5XLRef. No: 24/1697/DOC | Validated: Thu 15 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed rear extension; part two storey with a larger ground floor element 187 Manstone Avenue Sidmouth Devon EX10 9TJRef. No: 24/1695/FUL | Validated: Thu 15 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey rear extension 7 Willowdale Close Honiton EX14 1UFRef. No: 24/1689/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of Conditions for 22/1208/FUL: Condition 3 (door details, Condition 4 (materials for blocked up area), and Condition 5 (materials for ramp and handrail) Congregational Chapel High Street Honiton Devon EX14 1PJRef. No: 24/1685/DOC | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over existing silage clamp Heathfield Farm Awliscombe Devon EX14 3PJRef. No: 24/1692/AGR | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Addition of a third wire for a length of 672m; replacement poles and addition of a new pole and upgrading of transformer Land Between Porch Farm And Battleford Farm SmallridgeRef. No: 24/1676/OHL | Validated: Tue 13 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed agricultural buildings extension for storage of agricultural vehicles and food produce Four Oaks Clyst St Mary Devon EX5 1ATRef. No: 24/1677/AGR | Validated: Thu 15 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 22/2555/LBC: Condition 3b (Size, type and Manufacturers Model of all Solar Panels, including Method of Fixing) Eleanors Church Road Lympstone EX8 5JTRef. No: 24/1682/DOC | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed first floor extension 1A Trefusis Place Exmouth Devon EX8 2ARRef. No: 24/1678/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prior approval (Class Q) for a change of use of 2no. agricultural buildings to a single dwellinghouse with detached domestic store (Use Class C3) Lower Curscombe Farm Feniton Devon EX14 3EURef. No: 24/1665/PDQ | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Oak: fell and treat stump with eco-plugs T3, Strawberry Tree: reduce the total crown spread by an average of 4.0m. Extended limbs should be pruned back to most acceptable reduction points to achieve a 50% reduction. 5 Cyprus Road Exmouth Devon EX8 2DZRef. No: 24/1674/TRE | Validated: Thu 15 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Loft conversion with dormers, rooflights and solar panels, rear single storey flat roof extension, extension of existing garage and new front porch Storridge Rise Tytherleigh EX13 7BGRef. No: 24/1672/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of balcony balustrading to flat no.s 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Redcliff Court Cliff Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6JURef. No: 24/1666/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1633: Horse Chestnut – fell T1: Oak -crown raise to 2.5 metres over footpath T2: London Plane – crown raise to 2.5 metres over footpath and 3 metres over car parking and drivewayThe Green Fore Street Otterton Devon EX9 7HQRef. No: 24/1673/TCA | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Withdrawn
• Discharge of conditions for 20/1999/VAR: Condition 8 (Materials) and 10 (Drainage Scheme) North Cottage Aylesbeare EX5 2DBRef. No: 24/1661/DOC | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retrospective application for the removal of 32m of Hedgerow West of Dalwood Lane and 400M of Hedgerow at Hawley Bottom.Stonehayes Farm Lower Lane Dalwood EX13 7DWRef. No: 24/1622/HRN | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Withdrawn
• Demolition of ground floor shower room and construction of first floor rear and side extension. 3 Mill Cottages Mill Lane Exton Devon EX3 0PHRef. No: 24/1592/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side and rear extension 60 The Marles Exmouth EX8 4NSRef. No: 24/1586/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey extension and balcony Ware Harcombe House Harcombe Lyme Regis DT7 3RNRef. No: 24/1588/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) on planning permission 22/2142/FUL (Proposed two storey side extension with alteration to fenestration, loft conversion into habitable use with side dormer, detached garage with addition of first floor storage) proposal to allow the window on the north west elevation to be openable and not obscured Lime Kiln House 9 Maer Vale Exmouth EX8 2DXRef. No: 24/1584/VAR | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey extension, enlargement of existing porch, addition of cladding and landscaping works 1 Broadway Cottages Axminster Devon EX13 5RNRef. No: 24/1577/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing garage outbuilding, conservatory and bay window, and construction of new two story rear extension, new sun room to replace conservatory, and replacement bay window, including associated hard and soft landscaping with new gated access. Penrose Exton Lane Exton Devon EX3 0PNRef. No: 24/1553/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a first floor side extension and detached garage with alterations to fenestrations Mulberry House Higher Broad Oak Road West Hill Devon EX11 1XJRef. No: 24/1555/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed front porch, addition of accessibility ramp, alterations to fenestrations and extension of raised patio. Burnsall House Woodbury Salterton Exeter EX5 1PXRef. No: 24/1551/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed slurry store with tarpaulin cover supported above on anchored stainless steel cables, and perimeter fencing Land At Townsend Plantation SouthleighRef. No: 24/1544/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erect free standing solar photovoltaic array. Slewton House Talaton Road Whimple Devon EX5 2QLRef. No: 24/1529/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Fall back application to create new 2 bedroom bungalow. Platts Farm Shute EX13 7QQRef. No: 24/1523/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a covered feed yard building Rydon Farm Talaton Devon EX5 2RPRef. No: 24/1531/FUL | Validated: Tue 13 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Outline planning application for a mixed use development, including residential development of up to 450 dwellings, a 750 sqm community building, a neighbourhood centre of 1600 sqm gross ground floor non-residential floor space, formation of accesses from London Road (B3174), provision of SANGS and other public open space (including a MUGA), allotments and associated drainage and other infrastructure. All matters are reserved for future consideration except principal accesses. Land To The South Of London Road (Grange Area) CranbrookRef. No: 24/1524/MOUT | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Outline planning application for residential development of up to 89 dwellings, formation of access from London Road (B3174), provision of SANGS and other public open space together with associated drainage and other infrastructure. All matters are reserved for future consideration except principal access. Land To The South Of London Road (Grange Area) CranbrookRef. No: 24/1525/MOUT | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed change of use of land and construction of extension to warehouse The Lyme Bay Winery Seaton Junction Devon EX13 7PWRef. No: 24/1515/MFUL | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed loft conversion including rear dormer and hip to gable enlargement 9 Glebelands Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5JDRef. No: 24/1472/FUL | Validated: Fri 16 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction and operation of a micro energy storage facility Land On The North Side Of Blackhorse Lane Exeter EX5 2FSRef. No: 24/1466/FUL | Validated: Wed 14 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of land and a building, from agricultural to industrial storage (B8) and associated development (retrospective) Newcourt Barton Clyst Road Clyst St George EX3 0DBRef. No: 24/1356/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of existing conservatory, replace with single storey rear extension. Formation of two roof dormers on west elevation, addition of timber cladding Basses Longmeadow Road Lympstone EX8 5LWRef. No: 24/1233/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed two storey extension Woodbeare House Farm Kentisbeare Devon EX15 2DDRef. No: 24/0716/FUL | Validated: Mon 12 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Discharge of conditions for 24/1201/FUL : Condition 3 (surface water drainage) 19 Underhill Crescent Lympstone Devon EX8 5JFRef. No: 24/1663/DOC | Validated: Fri 09 Aug 2024 | Status: Unknown
• Certificate of lawfulness for change of use of garage to a bedroom; remove garage door and replacement with PVC windows and a new partition.92 Ashleigh Road Exmouth EX8 2JZRef. No: 24/1660/CPL | Validated: Fri 09 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of Condition 7, (landscaping), of 20/1999/VAR to change implementation from commencement of development to completion of development. North Cottage Aylesbeare EX5 2DBRef. No: 24/1662/VAR | Validated: Fri 09 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Oak: remove overhanging branches; reduce the crown spread in a westerly direction by up to 2m to leave a spread of approximately 4m, reduce the height by up to 2m to leave a tree with a finished height of 7m; restricting cuts to a maximum of 65mm – this will leave the tree with a balanced and flowing shape. 39 Ivydale Exmouth Devon EX8 4TARef. No: 24/1656/TRE | Validated: Thu 08 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 24/0037/LBC : Condition 3 (joinery) 1 Stantyway Court Fore Street Otterton Budleigh Salterton EX9 7HBRef. No: 24/1675/DOC | Validated: Thu 08 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Loft conversion with rear and side dormers and roof lights.10 Hulham Road Exmouth EX8 3HRRef. No: 24/1655/CPL | Validated: Thu 08 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prior approval (Class Q) for a change of use of a building as an agricultural unit to 4no. dwellinghouses (Use Class C3) Land To East Of Haymans Farm BroadclystRef. No: 24/1651/PDQ | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of rooflights with dormer on front (east) elevation and alterations to change existing side flat dormer roofs to tiled pitched roofs, removal of chimney Park Chase Cotlands Sidmouth Devon EX10 8SPRef. No: 24/1650/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Request under the Environmental Impact Assessment (England) Regulations 2017 (as amended) for a screening opinion and if EIA development is confirmed a scoping opinion, for the development of land for employment development (use classes B2, B8 and E(g)), ancillary uses and associated infrastructure and works Land North Of Sowton Village (Venns Farm) Clyst HonitonRef. No: 24/0004/EIA | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 24/0763/LBC : Condition 3 (external soil pipe and vent) Hurford House Whitford Road Kilmington Axminster EX13 7RGRef. No: 24/1704/DOC | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Elder (T1) – Total removal. Coleridge Pre School Playgroup Jesu Street Ottery St Mary EX11 1EURef. No: 24/1646/TCA | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 24/0944/FUL: Condition 4(Surface water drainage) 2 Littlefields Seaton Devon EX12 2BZRef. No: 24/1644/DOC | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 + T2 Holm Oaks: cut back lateral branches growing towards property, to historic prunning points, carried out approximately 4 years ago, by up to 1.5m, maximum pruning cuts of no more than 75mm. Prospect House 1 Upper West Terrace Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6NZRef. No: 24/1643/TCA | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T3 Oak tree – fell and treat stump with eco plugs. Land Adjacent 10 Drakes Gardens Drakes Avenue Exmouth EX8 4ADRef. No: 24/1647/TRE | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of first floor extension, to include a rear balcony and metal flue on south elevation. 10 Bishop Court Colyton EX24 6RQRef. No: 24/1645/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Upgrading vehicular access for farm machinery. Land SW Of Seaton Road Off Roncombe Hill SidmouthRef. No: 24/1640/AGR | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Minor amendment for 23/1834/FUL: Design change to the dormar windows from lean to to gable style Burnthouse Cottages Strete Ralegh Whimple Devon EX5 2PPRef. No: 24/1624/NMA | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Unknown
• Conifer : remove the overhanging stem of approximately 10-15 lateral limbs, which is severely encroaching the customers property, leaving an appropriate pruning cut in the main stem of the conifer tree. 1 St Andrews Close Colyton Devon EX24 6NGRef. No: 24/1623/TCA | Validated: Fri 09 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Insertion of rooflight into rear kitchen extension. (Retrospective). Lower Wick Wick Devon EX14 4TYRef. No: 24/1633/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Ash – To fell to ground level. T1, The tree is showing signs of advanced Ash Die-back. T2, Ash – To fell to ground level. T2, The tree is showing signs of advanced Ash Die-back. T3, Pine – To remove the lower limb back to the stem. The lower limb is overhanging Farm Road. The Retreat Rousdon Lyme Regis DT7 3XRRef. No: 24/1638/TCA | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey extension on the eastern elevation. Willowmead Woodbury Salterton EX5 1PZRef. No: 24/1637/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Purple Leaf Plum: reduce western aspect where overhanging neighbouring property by approximately 1.5-2 metres. Prune remaining to shape, including height and lateral spread. Maximum diameter of cuts (MDC) 40mm. T2, – Ash: crown reduce by up to 2m, crown lift to height of lamppost and ensure a minimum clearance of 2.5m from neighbouring property to south. Remove major hazardous deadwood. MDC 50mm. T3, Silver Birch: reduce compromised northerly co-dominant stem by 1.5m. Hawthorn Cottage Flower Street Woodbury Devon EX5 1LXRef. No: 24/1639/TCA | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prior approval (Class Q) for a change of use of agricultural building to 2no. dwellinghouses (use class C3) Peradon Farm Clyst Hydon EX15 2NGRef. No: 24/1632/PDQ | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of existing lawfulness for use of land and buildings for a mix of agriculture and steel fabrication, which includes (but is not limited to), fabrication, alterations, welding, repairs, engineering and construction either in respect of existing or new parts, components or otherwise (Use Class B2) industrial use and incidental and ancillary uses Barns North Of Wick Cross WickRef. No: 24/1631/CPE | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 23/0400/FUL; Condition 3 (Schedule of Materials), Condition 5 (Construction Management Plan (CMP)), Condition 8 (Surface Water Management), Condition 9 (Tree Protection Plan) Land South Of Pump Field Close Dunkeswell Devon EX14 4XXRef. No: 24/1629/DOC | Validated: Tue 06 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 22/2120/MFUL: Condition 3 (CEMP) Condition 6 (Archaelogy) Jewson Ltd Fore Street Exmouth EX8 1HXRef. No: 24/1614/DOC | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 22/2555/LBC: Condition 3a (roofing materials), Condition 3c (rainwater materials), Condition 3d (window details), Condition 3g (eaves & verge details), Condition 3h (external vents), Condition 3i (render details) Eleanors Church Road Lympstone Devon EX8 5JTRef. No: 24/1618/DOC | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 24/0874/FUL: Condition 6 (Landscaping Plan) Gorse Lands Hawkins Lane West Hill Devon EX11 1XGRef. No: 24/1619/DOC | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Beech: reduce by 1-3m via thinning second and third order branches to leave a natural form with a height of approximately 14m and a spread of 5m.Gaunts Sid Road Sidmouth EX10 9AFRef. No: 24/1607/TCA | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Withdrawn
• Removal of 15m of hedgerow between 2 grazing parcelsCombe Wood Farm Salcombe Regis Devon EX10 0JNRef. No: 24/1599/HRN | Validated: Thu 08 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Rear single-storey extension 4 Sid Park Road Sidmouth EX10 9BWRef. No: 24/1581/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of rear dormer window to roof and roof lights to front of roof. 30 Woodbury Park Axminster EX13 5QZRef. No: 24/1572/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of existing conservatory on east elevation with an orangery Hawley Cottage Hawley Bottom Axminster Devon EX13 7HRRef. No: 24/1535/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of new dwelling and demolition of existing dwelling. Lismore Station Road Feniton Devon EX14 3EDRef. No: 24/1521/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed ground floor rear extension and extended raised patio 6 The Drive Farringdon Devon EX5 2JDRef. No: 24/1510/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from 3no. flats to 1no. dwelling; demolition of front external steps, front lean-to extension and rear extension and balcony to be replaced with two storey rear extension with enlarged terrace, external steps to first floor on south western elevation, alterations to fenestration Lion House 10 Fore Street Hill Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6PERef. No: 24/1486/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing dwelling, Proposed construction of 1no. replacement dwelling The Oaks Aylesbeare Devon EX5 2DERef. No: 24/1485/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing dwelling and replace with 1no new dwelling, extension of domestic amenity space, creation of a new driveway off an existing access to the highway, and associated landscaping and parking Site Of Penny Park Kersbrook Lane KersbrookRef. No: 24/1491/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of guest house to residential and owners/managers accommodation to residential The Bungalow The Barn And Pinn Cottage Bowd Sidmouth EX10 0NDRef. No: 24/1482/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Partial demolition, conversion and extension of building for leisure (Use Class F2) and apart hotel (Use Class C1) uses The Stables Winslade House Manor Drive Clyst St MaryRef. No: 24/1470/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a sand school Land 300M West Southwest Of Poltimore Village PoltimoreRef. No: 24/1468/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace existing conservatory with solid panel roof extension. Witley Cottage Woodbury Salterton EX5 1PTRef. No: 24/1481/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• A steel portal frame dual pitch covered fodder storage building Court Place Farm Wilmington Devon EX14 9LARef. No: 24/1419/AGR | Validated: Thu 08 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace existing building and metal store with 2no. new storage buildings; improve existing access The Old Quarry Farringdon EX5 2HZRef. No: 24/1352/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace 2no. windows and a door with French doors on rear elevation; create arched opening in drawing room; 2no. rooflights on rear elevation; re-locate WC on ground floor; remove wall/window in kitchen and extend existing conservatory and re-configure bedroom 5 and 6 with the removal of walls, bedroom 6 converted into ensuite Springhayes Town Lane Woodbury EX5 1NERef. No: 24/1317/LBC | Validated: Fri 09 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement single storey extension with 2 storey ancillary accommodation & demolition of conservatory. Stockers Cottage Wick Devon EX14 4TYRef. No: 24/0849/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision

An unusual scheme to build 20 homes alongside amenities such as a farm shop, hall and village green has been rejected by planners but a linked application for a football field is going ahead.

Midweek Herald Staff www.midweekherald.co.uk

The proposed scheme for Awliscombe, roughly two miles west of Honiton, featured one application for the houses and other community features, while a separate but linked proposal was submitted to turn some agricultural land into a recreation area.

East Devon District Council officers had recommended the scheme be refused, although some councillors tried to convince colleagues to approve the plan.

The new houses would have been built in the middle of the two existing parts in the village, almost joining them together, but officers flagged that the location would be considered as development in the countryside and therefore contrary to planning policy.

Officers said it wasn’t a “community-driven proposal”, albeit some in the village did support the idea.

They added that a five-home scheme in Awliscombe that featured three affordable dwellings had been approved in previous years and “remains extant”, suggesting that the need for affordable housing in the village was already being served.

Agent Ed Persse, from EJFP Planning, said the applicant R. Falle, had been working with the parish on this mixed scheme, which would include eight affordable homes and four aimed at the over-sixties’ downsizing market.

“It would bolster the council’s housing land supply, and also the council’s affordable housing officer supports it,” he said.

“The parish has protection over the land use and the site is outside the national landscape.”

But Wendy Ormsby, the council’s development manager, said the scheme actually proposed a location for a village hall, but not an actual building.

“Is there a willingness to actually build a second hall in the village at the cost of the community,” she asked.

“A new hall isn’t proposed as part of the development, so it is wrong to assume it will be a built structure.”

Cllr Colin Brown, (Conservative, Dunkeswell and Otterhead) said he thought the committee “should approve the scheme” based on a previous survey which showed the majority of respondents wanted affordable homes built.

Cllr Jenny Brown (Conservative, Honiton St Michael’s) agreed. “There is a need for affordable housing, and if somewhere has a school then you’ve got families, and you don’t want people moving out of thee villages,” she said.

“Villages need to grow and this is giving Awliscombe a chance for a more community feel, more social wellbeing and an age-balanced community.”

Cllr Ian Barlow (Independent, Sidmouth Town) added that even though council policy technically meant the development should be offering more social housing, he thought the scheme had merit.

“We always knock developers for being greedy, but here is one working with the community,” he said.

But Cllr Simon Smith (Independent, Axminster), who acknowledged this view, added that “it is important to differentiate between community-led and community-supported”.

“The parish council’s support focuses on the benefits of the football pitch and the other things it is looking to get rather than the extra housing,” he said.

Ms Ormsby added that there had been 25 letters of objection to the scheme and one neutral comment sent to the council about the plans with no letters of support.

While the housing application was narrowly refused, with six members opting to reject it against four in favour and three abstentions, the separate application for the playing field was approved.

Cllr Barlow added: “Hopefully this debate sends a message to the developer that this plan has merit, and so perhaps they can work with the officers so Awliscombe can have the houses and other facilities to go with it.”

The ten year wait for Cranbrook residents will soon be over

Supermarket giant Morrisons has revealed the countdown for its Cranbrook store has begun –  opening is expected within months and around 75 new jobs.

Becca Gliddon eastdevonnews.co.uk

Earlier this year East Devon News exclusively revealed Morrisons was assessing if the current store design and layout was still right for the town.

Now we can share the retail giant has confirmed it has started fitting out the supermarket with the view to opening ‘later this year or early next’, while creating around 75 jobs locally.

Morrisons said it was about to kick-start recruitment for a host of roles at the Cranbrook supermarket, and invited those interested in working at the store to apply.

The official opening date for the Cranbrook Morrisons is yet to be announced.

A Morrsions spokeswoman told East Devon News: “We know that the residents of Cranbrook are eagerly awaiting a new supermarket in the town and are pleased to confirm that we have started fitting out our new store.

“We are looking forward to welcoming customers and expect to open it later this year or early next – as soon as we have an exact date, we will be in touch to let you know.”

The spokeswoman added: “We will be creating circa 75 jobs locally and are about to kick-start our recruitment process.”

In May this year, Morrisons said it recognised Cranbrook residents were keen for the supermarket to open and had expected to be shopping in-store by now.

At that time, the retailer was unable to give an opening date, saying it was assessing the original blueprint of the store, in a bid to assess if the design still reflected the needs of community.

Construction of the supermarket site, in the Court Royal area of Cranbrook, began in October 2022, with the district council hinting the store – and much-awaited town centre – could open to the public at the end of 2023.

The retail-ready site – complete with car park – has been fenced off to the public since its completion.

Diggers moved onto the town centre site the autumn of 2020 and East Devon District Council (EDDC) held an official turf cutting ceremony to celebrate the start of the construction.

In October 2020 EDDC announced the work would take around a year to complete, saying the town centre was expected to have a Morrisons supermarket, children’s day nursery, retail shops, residential apartments, and a new market square ready by the end of 2023.

Cranbook residents have been waiting for a town centre for more than a decade, since building began in 2012.

Anyone interested in applying for a role at Cranbrook Morrsions can visit: www.morrisons.jobs.

Seaton (1), Exmouth (2) and Sidmouth (4) named in “worst” five nationwide. Full data below

LibDems call for an end to sewage dumping in bathing waters by 2030

UK’s pristine Blue Flag beaches ‘under threat’ after 2,328 sewage discharges

Eleanor Langford, Tom Bawden inews.co.uk

There are calls for the UK’s most prestigious beaches to be protected from environmental damage as new data shows sewage was pumped near them for thousands of hours last year.

New research by the Liberal Democrats has revealed a significant increase in sewage discharges near England’s Blue Flag beaches, with numerous reports of people falling sick after swimming in these areas.

The party’s analysis of Environment Agency data uncovered that in 2023 alone, there were 2,328 sewage discharges near these prestigious beaches, lasting over 17,174 hours – a 55 per cent increase from the previous year.

It follows i‘s own analysis in May that revealed 20 of the country’s 33 Blue Flag sites where sewage was released in 2023 had at least 30 discharges. Nine had more than 100.

Blue Flag status is awarded to beaches that meet high environmental and safety standards. However, there are fears that the surge in sewage dumping threatens the integrity of these sites with Devon, where all the top five worst-affected sites are located, likely to be worst affected.

The most at-risk beach, according to the latest analysis, is in Seaton, where sewage was discharged 340 times last year, amounting to 4,629 hours. Exmouth and Meadfoot also ranked high among the most polluted, with hundreds of discharges reported.

Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson Tim Farron condemned the situation as a “national scandal” and criticised water companies for prioritising profits over environmental protection, noting that “families are becoming sick after swimming at our beaches”.

He urged the Government to clamp down on what he described as years of Conservative inaction, demanding an end to sewage dumping by 2030.

Environmental groups have echoed these concerns, with Greenpeace UK’s policy director, Doug Parr, warning that the UK’s beaches are “turning brown” due to unchecked sewage dumping.

Mr Parr warned that water companies would “continue to fill our waterways with human effluent at the same time as their CEO’s and shareholders fill their pockets with cash” unless action was taken.

He called for tougher legal targets, better funding for regulators like Ofwat and the Environment Agency, and a ban on dividends and bonuses for water company executives until substantial progress is made.

The Government has pledged a new Water (Special Measures) Bill, introduced in the recent King’s Speech, which aims to address the issue of sewage spills and drive investment in water infrastructure.

Key provisions include holding water company executives personally liable for illegal activities and banning bonuses if environmental standards are not met.

The bill also mandates the installation of real-time monitors at every sewage outlet, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.

It is part of a broader effort to reform the water sector and restore the health of the UK’s rivers, lakes, and seas.

Ofwat, the water regulator, recently fined three of England’s largest water companies a total of £168m for “excessive spills” and poor environmental practices.

It is the first announcement to emerge from Ofwat’s continuing investigation into water firms’ performance, amid sustained anger over the environmental damage caused by sewage leaks and the poor practices of some companies.

During the general election campaign, 19 leading green groups backed i’s Save Britain’s Rivers manifesto, which sets out five pledges the new Government must commit to in order to help the country’s rivers recover from decades of pollution.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has already praised i’s campaign, but Labour is yet to back the manifesto in full despite it being supported by both the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party.

Rise in sewage dumped near Blue Flag beaches as the LibDems call for an end to sewage dumping in bathing waters by 2030

EMBARGO: 00:01 Monday 26th August www.libdems.org.uk (extract)

• Top five worst affected Blue Flag beaches for sewage discharges in Devon
• Staggering 2,328 sewage discharges near England’s Blue Flag beaches in just one year – up 55% on 2022
• Liberal Democrats call for popular beaches to be protected from sewage pollution amid fears of swimmers becoming sick

Data for sewage dumping on Blue Flag Beaches in 2022 can be found here.

A beach on the south coast of England has been evacuated after a suspected unexploded bomb was discovered.

Piers Mucklejohn www.independent.co.uk

The object washed ashore in Beer, a seaside village in east Devon, on Sunday afternoon and is believed by some witnesses to be a shell.

It was swept back out to sea before it could be assessed by a bomb squad, the coastguard said.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they received reports of a “suspected unexploded ordnance” at 4pm and put a cordon in place, which has since been lifted.

It is understood the suspected device may have first been spotted by a metal detectorist and identified by a second person, who raised the alarm.

A nearby road was closed while police and members of the Coastguard secured the area.

An explosive ordnance disposal unit attended the scene but could not access the object because of incoming tides, HM Coastguard said.

Coastguard rescue teams will return at low tide to “reassess the situation”, the service added.

In a Facebook post, the Beer Coastguard Rescue Team warned residents not to touch the item if it washes ashore elsewhere and to call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

Martin Richards, chairman of Beer Parish Council, earlier told the PA news agency a “full squad of coastguards” was on the beach and people could not “get anywhere near it”.

He added: “A shell may have washed up onto the beach earlier on today. The beach has been evacuated.”

Sunday – Surfers against Sewage retain warnings at Exmouth, Sandy Bay and Sidmouth

There has been an outpouring of anger after another sewage alert stopped bathing at two of Devon’s most popular beaches today [Saturday]. East Devon District Council urged swimmers not to go into the water after being warned about potential sewage danger at Exmouth and Sidmouth.

William Telford www.devonlive.com

South West Water (SWW) completed a “temporary fix” at Exmouth only last week and apologised for leaking raw sewage into the sea, preventing people from swimming. Today, the district council received a pollution risk forecast from the Environment Agency and a storm overflow notice from SWW and lifeguards ran up red flags, warning of danger.

In Exmouth, swimmers took down the beach’s Blue Flag in protest. The Blue Flag scheme awards the flags to beaches that achieve high environmental and quality standards.

Following the alerts at Exmouth and Sidmouth, people took to social media to vent their wrath at SWW. Angela Barrett Rose posted: “SWW has to be held accountable…too much nonsense going on…it’s shameful in a civilised country in the West…if this happened in Africa or India or in other very poor countries but it’s happening in one of the richest countries in the world …shocking and shameful.”

Denise Bickley wrote: “It’s Sidmouth Regatta and should have been Surf Lifesaving East Devon Championships…but we had to cancel. This is unacceptable. Please keep the pressure on SWW East Devon District Council.”

Hollie Doidge said: “Again? SWW needs to be held accountable for this.” And David Bottrell posted: “When will SWW be held accountable?

Maurice Ayling wrote: “South West Water should not be polluting our beautiful coast line like this.” And Sue Truesdale echoed: “Oh come on! I’ll dry out if I don’t get a swim soon. It’s really not good enough SWW.”

On social media, East Devon District Council said: “Unfortunately we have received pollution risk forecasts (from the Environment Agency) and combined sewer outfall storm overflow notifications (from SWW) for all our beaches today (Saturday). The lifeguards are flying red flags at Exmouth and Sidmouth and signs advising against bathing are displayed at all our beaches.

“Normally Blue Flags would not be lowered in circumstances that are prompted by wet weather. However the Exmouth flag was taken down today in protest by a group of sea swimmers, and recognising the strength of local feeling currently, we have decided to leave it down until conditions improve. We hope that if the weather continues to improve things will return to normal tomorrow (Sunday).”

SWW has put the problem at Exmouth down to a burst pipe at the Maer Road pumping station which caused raw sewage to flow into the sea. It said teams had been “working round the clock” to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

There has been uproar in the Brixham community, following the announcement of a meeting by South West Water to discuss water quality. It comes after the town was hit by an outbreak of the cryptosporidium parasite in May, with at least 100 confirmed cases of the vomiting and diarrhoea bug.

But terms and conditions apply, including pre-registration! – Owl

Uproar over South West Water meeting in parasite-hit town

Mary Stenson www.devonlive.com 

When people first began reporting feeling unwell, the water company said it was carrying out tests that had come back clear and initially told customers it was safe to continue using their water as normal. Just days later, they confirmed that they had found traces of the parasite and placed large parts of the town under a boil water notice.

South West Water said cryptosporidium had entered its water supply due to a damaged air valve on private land. The boil water was gradually lifted as the network was cleaned and extra protection, including microfilters and UV were put in place.

The notice was lifted for all properties on July 8 and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there had been no confirmed cases since then but it was reported last month that residents were still fearful of drinking their tap water.

The water company has invited residents to a meeting with a South West Water panel and South Devon MP Caroline Voaden on September 12 at Scala Hall in the town centre, which it says will answer questions about drinking water quality.

But there has been anger in the community after the meeting was announced, according to Tanya Matthews, who had symptoms during the outbreak and was among the last households to have the boil water notice lifted.

Residents have been asked to submit questions for the panel in advance, prompting concerns that not all questions will be answered. Tanya has also raised concerns about the limited capacity of Scala Hall and its distance from affected residents in Hillhead and Kingswear. She says there has also been a lack of clarity about who will be on the panel and whether it will include Susan Davy, the chief executive officer of parent company Pennon Group.

She said: “It sounds like they are going to sit and talk at us, answering the questions they choose to while we all have to remain silent?

“Then it sounds like it will be the same as the meeting they had right at the start. That is not what we want.

“We also did not want it in town as that has always been an issue. Also, by having it in town, they have excluded Hillhead and Kingswear yet again. The Scala Hall is nowhere near where the residents that were affected live. A very dirty tactic on South West Water’s part.”

DevonLive has asked South West Water about the concerns that have been raised. It now says that they will take questions on the night but has not confirmed which of its representatives will attend the meeting.

The questions we asked and the company’s answers are as follows:

Will residents have the opportunity to ask questions on the night?

“Yes. The pre-submitted questions will be prioritised, but the panel will take questions from the floor as much as time allows. We want to answer as many questions as we can”

Will South West Water be answering all pre-submitted questions?

“We have found through attending similar events with stakeholders that pre-submitted questions help to get through more questions and give equal opportunities to people for their questions to be answered. We will answer as many questions as we can.”

Why is it being held at Scala Hall?

“We explored a range of venues across Brixham and Kingswear. This venue was identified as most suitable, considering a range of factors including accessibility and availability.”

What is the venue capacity?

“The capacity of this event will be guided by health and safety. Those that have expressed an interest in the event via our website will receive an email confirmation nearer the time.”

Will chief executive Susan Davy be in attendance? If not, why not?

“The event will be hosted by an independent chair and the panel will include the local Member of Parliament, Caroline Voaden, as well as senior representatives from South West Water. The SWW representatives have yet to be confirmed.”

The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 12 at Scala Hall, with doors opening from 6pm. Spaces have to be booked online and more information can be found here.

“None of the four “initial steps” announced by the environment secretary, Steve Reed, last month are likely to cause sleepless nights in any boardroom.”

Susan Davy off the hook? – Owl

Nils Pratley www.theguardian.com

The organisers of the March for Clean Water – that’s Feargal Sharkey and River Action, supported by organisations that range from Surfers Against Sewage to the RSPB to the Women’s Institute – make an excellent point: while it’s nice that the government will bring a water bill to parliament, the initiatives revealed so far “are not nearly extensive enough to address the scale of the UK’s water pollution crisis”.

You bet. None of the four “initial steps” announced by the environment secretary, Steve Reed, last month are likely to cause sleepless nights in any boardroom. The first, to ensure companies’ funding for infrastructure investment is ringfenced, read like a description of how the regulatory system in England and Wales was always supposed to work. One fears that the second, to add the protection of customers and the environment to companies’ articles of association, will be cosmetic; directors can always be fuzzy about how they interpret their fiduciary duties.

The third would create “powerful new customer panels” to “hold water bosses to account”. Really? Surely such panels’ powers can only ever be minor compared with regulators’. The fourth would double compensation for customers when basic water services are affected but is “subject to consultation” and seems aimed primarily at rare cases in which water doesn’t flow from the taps, as opposed to being targeted at pollution.

In Reed’s defence, he said his first steps were exactly that, and his “special measures” regime will contain more. The yet-to-emerge detail on chunkier stuff, including personal criminal liability for water bosses and new powers for Ofwat to block the payment of bonuses, may carry more weight.

Behind it all, though, sits the basic imperative to ensure environmental laws are enforced, not just on sewage discharges but also on agricultural runoff. That is rightly one of the campaigners’ core demands. It comes down to the government’s appetite – or not – to back regulatory reform and fund an effective enforcement regime.

Ofwat, as the economic regulator that took a decade-plus to wake up to the size of the companies’ dividend-extraction after the leveraged buyout boom of 2004-08, naturally tends to cop most of the heat for the industry’s failures. But the Environment Agency (EA), the body overseen by Reed’s department, deserves more attention.

The agency’s long decline was reported on in depth by this newspaper in June, and a few lowlights are worth recalling. Funding for environmental protection was cut by 80% between 2010 and 2021. Just 91 people out of a workforce of 13,400 were qualified to inspect sewage treatment plants, the EA’s new-ish chief executive, Philip Duffy, told parliament in April this year. “There was a withdrawal successively in 2009 and again in 2015 from regular investigations into compliance,” he said.

The last government gave the agency funding to recruit 500 new staff, and Duffy these days is in must-do-better mode (an improvement on his predecessor’s claim, as late as 2019, that the country’s water quality was “better than at any time since the Industrial Revolution”). There is a vague sense of a corner having been turned. The investigation into sewage treatment works by the EA and Ofwat, which last month led to the latter hitting three firms with provisional fines totalling £168m, was the largest ever.

Yet the EA still looks miles away from being a muscular enforcer that can move swiftly and create fear among polluters in the style of some of its US equivalents. Does the government have a vision for such a body? If it does, hard financial commitments are required for credibility. The march on 26 October – four days before the chancellor’s budget – is well timed.

Cash from doubling council tax on second homes in North Devon should be used to address local housing issues and not go elsewhere, that’s the view of local councillors.

Alison Stephenson, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

Second homes cash ‘must stay in the district’

North Devon Council along with other local authorities in the county have agreed to increase property tax on second homes from next March which could bring in as much as £5 million countywide.

A report by the Devon Housing Commission recommends that this money is earmarked for addressing housing challenges and infrastructure needs across Devon.

The county’s housing crisis is believed to be exacerbated by the 11,000 second homes, as well as the rising number of empty homes and not enough affordable housing.

Councillors in North Devon welcomed the report, which they said presented an accurate and clear summary of the challenging position in Devon, but want to make sure extra funds are secured for the district.

Cllr Caroline Leaver (Lib Dem, Barnstaple South) said North Devon’s problem were significant, with only 11 per cent of people on the housing register likely to be housed this year because of a shortage of properties, and that money raised by doubling council tax should address local needs.

The council’s strategy and resources committee was told that Devon County Council receives the lion’s share of the council tax and it is for the county to decide how the money is spent, although district councils could make representations.

Cllr Leaver said: “If money is raised in North Devon and we have specific issues, the money should be spent here and not in Kingskerswell in South Devon or elsewhere. I would like to strengthen our position on that.”

The committee agreed to lobby the county council to ensure the money comes to North Devon.

The district currently has 3,673 second homes and holiday lets, which equates to seven per cent of properties, but in coastal areas like Mortehoe, Woolacombe and Georgeham near Braunton nearly 50 per cent of homes come into that category.

The council’s chief executive Ken Miles said the cash could be used collectively to solve some of the issues in the county.

“I understand the wish to get it earmarked for our district, but some of the pressures on our system are countywide and not just in North Devon.

“For example, providing accommodation in Torridge for care leavers will also benefit our care leavers. At the end of the day, it will be a political and financial issue for the county council to decide.”

The Devon Housing Commission report contains recommendations for adoption by local authorities, centre government, the proposed Devon and Torbay combined local authority and Homes England.

The recommendations for local councils include employing dedicated housing  officers to work with developers, social housing providers and across boundaries, prioritising local need over open-market demand in the planning system and increasing social rented homes and community land trusts.

The report, established by the Devon Housing Task Force made up of the 11 Devon local authorities, and supported by the University of Exeter, says the housing emergency in Devon is caused by high house and rental prices and lower incomes.

House prices are inflated by people moving from more expensive areas. Middle-aged and older people are moving in while younger people are leaving, resulting in employers having difficulties filling vacancies and key workers being unable to afford to live near their place of work.

The commission, led by Lord Richard Best, said the popularity of services such as Airbnb are responsible for properties being switched from longer-term lets, severely impacting people who need to rent.

It believes that switching from long-term to short-term lets is a key reason for the fall of 50 per cent in private lettings across the county, and by as much as 67 per cent in North Devon alone between 2019 and 2021.

“There is a real housing crisis in this county,” said Lord Best. “The problem is an acute shortage of homes affordable for the next generation.

“Homeownership is beyond the reach of first-time buyers and it is virtually impossible for those on average incomes or less to obtain a rented home that is both available and affordable. Devon is simply running out of any housing options.”

Councillors in North Devon said they were glad that Ilfracombe had been used as a case study in the report for the challenges it faced with poor quality housing, a weakness in the labour market, limited opportunities for residents and inadequate public transport.

The report says people move to the town because it is affordable because of a high number of houses of multiple occupations (HMOs) but this type of accommodation traps people in poor employment and life outcomes.
 

East Devon District Council

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Temporary arrangements for Maer Road Car Park in Exmouth this Bank Holiday weekend.

Maer Road Car Park will be partially closed this weekend to allow South West Water safe access to the Maer Lane pumping station whilst the repairs to the burst sewage main are carried out. The area of the car park shaded red, including the main entrance will be closed to the public and a temporary entrance will be available at the bottom of the car park.

There will also be up to 10 South West Water tankers parked at Estuary Coach and Lorry Park for the duration of the weekend.

The pipe repair will require continuous waste removal from the pumping station, and East Devon District Council will support South West Water during these essential works. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause, and we will work with SWW and their contractors to minimise the ongoing disruption and ensure the safety of car park users.