Don’t forget photo ID

Sixteen years in and the Tories still claim that sticking with the same old unimaginative career politicians doing the same things they’ve done for years is the right choice for our communities. SEND and children’s services have been failing year after year for more than a decade; over £200m of highway repair works are outstanding while Conservative leadership has decided to carry on with horrendously inefficient, privatised, cost-plus maintenance contracts – and while they might claim otherwise, they’ve accumulated over £100m of debt since taking office, and spent £200m of the £300m savings that they inherited in 2009.

It’s time for change. Labour and the Green Party can’t win here to deliver it. And for anyone voting Reform: the best way to send the Conservatives a message and demand better for Devon is to vote Lib Dem, kick the Tories out of County Hall, and get a local champion who will listen and act on our communities’ behalf – not just parrot a party line. 

Last July, the country threw out a failing Conservative government that had run out of ideas. Thursday is Devon’s chance to do the same with our County Council.

The full list of candidates in each Division and Owl’s view of who to vote for was posted yesterday.

It’s going to be a tight race so don’t waste your vote.

For those up for a long read “Velociraptor_1906”, who claims to be a Devonian who has lived all across the county so can provide a decent amount of local knowledge, posted this insight on the election nine days ago. 

If the insights for the rest of Devon are as informed and plausible as those for East Devon then this is worth a read.

This campaign seems eerily quiet. But the councillors you elect will have important decisions to make on Labour’s plans for reorganising local authorities: eliminating district councils; writing rules that eliminate our County, and insisting on creating overarching mayoral authorities covering over 3,000 sq miles! 

These councillors, quite likely, will be the only ones you have if and when the government has its way on disbanding districts. They will be representing you on everything from planning, adult and social care to fixing the potholes and collecting your rubbish.

With fewer of them, councillors will be even more remote.

Despite the upheaval in the world order created by the election of Donald Trump and Labour’s struggles with the economic poisoned chalice it inherited. Now is not the time for apathy. It only plays into the hands of the zealots on the extremes. Nor is it time to experiment with snake oil remedies.

Below is the list of candidates for each County Division. They have been compiled from the Devon County list but please let Owl know if any transcription errors or omissions have inadvertently slipped in.

For reasons Owl doesn’t understand, East Devon is the only district in the County to have Divisions (two) represented by two councillors; Broadclyst and Exmouth.

The outgoing Devon County Council was controlled by the Conservatives, as East Devon District Council (EDDC) was until 2020. Facing National headwinds the Tories followed their instincts and tried to cancel this election on the grounds that they were on the fast track to reorganisation with their “oven ready plan”.

This didn’t fool the Government and the outgoing council’s latest draft proposal included five options.

It’s time for a change and EDDC since 2020 shows how the LibDems can create an inclusive administration. The reality is that the LibDems are the only realistic challengers with the experience and vision.

A couple of “Heritage Party” candidates appear in the lists. This seems to be another insurgent right wing party advocating “Traditional Values” and “No more Lockdowns” amongst other things.

Axminster Division: 

This is a Division where Owl would definitely back Independent Paul Hayward. Currently he is deputy leader of EDDC experience vital in any discussion of reorganisation.  The outgoing councillor is not seeking re-election.                                  

Broadclyst Division(two councillors):

This Division has been represented by an alliance between Henry Gent, ostensibly Green but of a distinctly blue hue (see Owl’s post “many shades of green” ) and the retiring Randall Johnson pursuer of development led growth and closures of community hospitals.

Eleanor Rylance (excellent Chair of EDDC) and Andreas Glover are Owl’s choice here for a clean sweep.

Exmouth Division (two councillors)

Scott and Trail both voted to cancel the elections – so time for change. Matt Hall is an experienced EDDC councillor and his running mate Fran McElhone has a deep grasp of local issues. Fran was a very independently minded  local journalist reporting on the Tory “goings on” during the formative years of East Devon Watch.

Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton Coastal Division

The Division vacated at long last by “venerable” Christine Channon, a good enough reason in itself to change, No one is more local than Exmouth born and bred Nick Hookway, again a candidate with plenty of solid EDDC experience as Portfolio Holder Culture, Leisure, Sport and Tourism.

Feniton and Honiton Division

Phill Twiss, County Cabinet member for finance is seeking re-election and another who voted to cancel the elections – knows where the skeletons are buried!

Time for a change with Richard Jefferies, another EDDC councillor with experience of getting things done.

Otter Valley Division

Here Owl would choose the Independent Jess Bailey, seeking re-election. She is the exception to Owl’s general rule of only considering Indys who are prepared to sign up to being members of EDDC’s “Democratic Alliance” formal political grouping, founded on upholding the Nolan Principles. (Which excludes many Indys in these tables).

Jess has shown enormous courage in pursuing what County knew about the John Humphrey affair and he campaigns on local issues have featured in many “Watch” articles.

Seaton and Colyton Division 

This should be a no-brainer with Paul Arnott, current Leader of EDDC standing. He has demonstrated how inclusive local politics can be made to work, with his coalition in East Devon bringing together councillors of different political colours with a common aim of serving the electorate. Perhaps more important in this election is that he has had the ideas on how the Government’s ill-conceived reorganisation might be implemented and has worked with other Devon District Leaders to form a consensus. His election will be vital if this mess is to be resolved.

[Interestingly he is competing against the decidedly not local “Local Conservative” Ben Ingham and one of the EDDC Indys who fails to pass Owl’s “General Rule on Indys”].

Sidmouth Division

Owl has only recently reported on how the “raving Monster” Stuart Hughes couldn’t find the time to attend the Sidmouth Hustings, and that neither Reform nor Labour had the courtesy to answer the invitation from Vision Group for Sidmouth.

With Denise Bickley voters could get “two for the price of one” as she is regarded by many greens as greener than most of them.

Time for Sidmouth to get a grown up councillor.

Whimple and Blackdown Division

If you want to read reasons why it’s time for long serving Councillors like Ian Chubb and Phil Twiss to be booted out try this for size from 2016:

Exmouth Seafront Cost Increases – Fantasy, Incompetent, Iconic or Ironic.

Owl’s view: back the LibDem

Feargal Sharkey comments on National Audit Office (NAO) Report on water regulators:

The @NAOorguk‘s damming report into the water industry and regulation is out today (25 April) “The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and water regulators have failed”.

At the current rate of progress it’s going to take 700 years just to fix the leaky pipes, we’re going to need another 5 billion litres of water, which we don’t have, by 2050 and last year WCs spent 4.7 million hours dumping sewage into the environment. 

Govt’s response, regurgitate a 30 year old bit of legislation. 

See: Pollution and Sewage – Have Devon Tories, including David Reed MP, given up? Where the LibDems tried to strengthen the legislation and the “local” Tories turned their backs.

Bald summary of NAO findings

Will the threat of prison time be enough to stop polluting water bosses?

Read this extract from Richard Vaughan in the i paper

…As the indefatigable punk rocker-cum-rivers campaigner Feargal Sharkey has pointed out, the power to imprison water bosses for impeding investigations into sewage spills has been in existence since 1995.

Government officials strongly refute this, however, insisting that the new powers will for the first time give regulators the ability to pursue, investigate and convict the worst offending water company executives, and goes much further than the measures included in the Environment Act 1995. 

Crucially, it will be the water companies that will have to pay for the investigations carried out into their illegal sewage dumping, handing the Environment Agency the much needed resources to bring polluters to justice. 

But ministers may find that to finally turn doubters into believers when it comes to fixing the sewage crisis, they will have to put words into action and finally throw polluting water bosses behind bars.

Might Susan Davy be first in line?

Owl wonders if her new PR “Whizz Kid”, Simon Jupp, has a “Get Out of Jail Free” card tucked in his back pocket?

Though according to this excoriating report from the National Audit Office he could have included the Environment Agency, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and Defra as well.

But all will be well as Steve Reed, Environment Secretary, says polluting water bosses face up to two years in jail for illegal water spills (with caveats).

See today’s post: Pollution and Sewage – Have Devon Tories, including David Reed MP, given up?

Regulators have failed to deliver a trusted and resilient water sector – NAO press release

• Consumer trust is at an all-time low and confidence in water companies to act in the interest of the environment and provide a reliable service has fallen
• Government and the regulators have failed to drive sufficient investment in the water sector which now needs to build 30 new projects at a cost of £52bn to meet future water demand
• Regulators have not managed the rising tide of risk associated with the sector, which is contributing to increasing bills for customers
• While the UK has one of the highest standards of drinking water in the world, performance has not improved for almost a decade in key measures, including mains bursts, supply interruptions and pollution incidents

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and water regulators have failed to drive necessary investment for the sector, which now faces significant environmental, supply and infrastructure challenges, says the National Audit Office (NAO).

The report audits the three water regulators (Ofwat, the Environment Agency, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate) and Defra, which sets policies for the water sector. It examines their effectiveness in driving operational improvements; ensuring the nation’s future water supply and attracting necessary investments to meet government targets.

To tackle the challenges, including an anticipated daily shortfall of 5 billion litres of water by 2050, the sector now needs to attract an unprecedented amount of investment. Ofwat anticipates a 70% increase in infrastructure spending, totalling £47 billion in the next five years. This is part of £290 billion required to meet government targets over the next 25 years.

The need for investment coincides with a period of weakening financial performance, declining public trust and falling investor confidence. In 2023-24, Ofwat was concerned about the financial resilience of 10 of the 16 major water companies.

Although there is no national plan, there are 30 major water supply projects in development, including nine reservoirs. Ofwat estimates these projects will cost an additional £52 billion to build.

Over the next five years water companies must fulfil 18,000 actions to reach the Environment Agency’s (EA) expectations on environmental performance – this accounts for £27 billion of the £47 billion enhancement spend. Out of the 8,780 actions completed by the water companies in the last five years EA has conducted site inspections on 1%.

The regulators do not have a good understanding on the condition of infrastructure assets, as they do not have a set of metrics to assess their condition. On the work water companies have done, they have overspent for the last four years (some of these costs will be added to consumers bills) and moved slowly. At the current rate, it would take 700 years to replace the entire existing water network.

The poor performance has led to a record low in consumer trust. The highest-profile cause of environmental harm is the use of storm overflows, where companies release untreated sewage into rivers and seas.

The Environment Agency and Ofwat are taking enforcement action against every wastewater company over their management of sewage. There is no regulator responsible for proactively inspecting wastewater assets to prevent further environmental harm.

The NAO report recommends that Defra must understand the costs and deliverability of its plans, alongside the impact they will have on customers’ bills. Defra needs to address the gaps in regulatory responsibilities, and Ofwat and the other regulators need to work together to improve investor confidence and build consumer trust.

“Given the unprecedented situation facing the sector, Defra and the regulators need to act urgently to address industry performance and resilience to ensure the sector can meet government targets and achieve value for money over the long term for bill payers.”

Gareth Davies, head of the NAO

Read the full report

Regulating for investment and outcomes in the water sector

We all know that recent Environment Agency figures show South West Water discharged raw sewage into waterways for longer than any other company last year. It was spilt from storm overflows for a total of 544,439 hours.

It has also been revealed that Budleigh is one of the worst bathing beaches for causing sickness needing medical support.

In Wednesday’s parliamentary debate on sewage, Richard Foord MP argued that Ofwat should be scrapped but where was Budleigh’s and Exmouth’s MP – David Reed?

In this debate, contributions from Lib Dem MPs, who were trying to strengthen proposed regulations, outnumbered their Tory counterparts 3:1. Those nine Tories who did speak didn’t stay to vote.

Whilst four Devon Lib Dem MPs spoke, not one single Devon Tory rose to the occasion. Not even David Reed, fresh from his “On the same page” April 10 meeting could be bothered to promote his constituents’ concern or share whatever progress he has made. 

There is no evidence from the record that David Reed even attended the debate, though he did speak the day before on Birmingham: waste collection.

[Psssst David, isn’t your constituency at the other end of the M5?]

LibDem MPs from Cornwall, Somerset, and Dorset also spoke.

Tim Farron (LibDem) opened the debate claiming the Lib Dems were  “the constructive Opposition in this place” holding the Government to account and urging them to make the big changes that Britain voted for last July.

He summarised his impressions in a post on “X”

“Astonishing that so few Tories turned up for the vital debate on sewage pollution just now. Such a shame too that the government opposed the Liberal Democrat proposal to strengthen the regulation of the water industry to prevent this outrageous pollution…”

[The 64 LidDems were supported by Greens, Independents, Plaid Cymru and Reform]

For the record this is what the Devon LibDEm MPs said:

Steve Darling (Torbay) (LD)

Over Easter in Torbay, we had five sewage spills according to the Surfers Against Sewage app. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is extremely disappointing to say the least that, rather than colleagues just getting their cossie and towel to go swimming at their favourite swimming spot, they must now also check the sewage leak app? It is outrageous.

Caroline Voaden (South Devon) (LD)

In South Devon last year, we had an astonishing 49,904 hours of sewage leaks, or 5.69 years-worth of sewage pouring into the glorious Dart and Avon and into the sea around South Devon. Meanwhile, my constituents write to me about bills that have gone up by as much as 50%. Does my hon. Friend agree that it is an outrage that the privatised water companies are able to carry on increasing bills, increasing dividends to shareholders and paying multimillion-pound salaries to CEOs while this obscenity of sewage pouring into our rivers, seas and lakes continues?

Martin Wrigley (Newton Abbot) (LD)

I thank the Secretary of State. I have just been reading about his core reforms, and I note that, as he has said, core reform 3 changes the way in which the season for bathing is determined. However, it continues the principle that water is not tested by the Environment Agency throughout the year. This is an important omission that must be rectified. During a bathing season, the water can become polluted. Will the Secretary of State consider introducing all-year-round testing for our Blue Flag areas?

Richard Foord (Honiton and Sidmouth) (LD)

The hon. Lady has mentioned Ofwat. Last August, it recommended penalties for four water companies amounting to £168 million, but so far it has not collected one penny. Does she agree that Ofwat needs to be scrapped?

As is customary “Vision Group for Sidmouth” invited all candidates to take part in a hustings. Only one candidate said yes.

Denise Bickley, standing for the Liberal Democrats, said she “would be delighted to take part in the hustings and will make myself available whenever you can arrange it”.

Sidmouth has a long tradition of holding hustings and Tories have “form “ for finding last minute excuses. In December 2019 Simon Jupp pulled out to go “late night shopping”. This week “Local Conservative” Stuart Hughes can’t find time in his diary which is a slap in the face for the local electorate.

He also added “it’s long days at the moment busy campaigning”, maybe he is struggling to keep up the pace as well.

In any event it doesn’t look as if accountability is high on his agenda.

So Vision Group for Sidmouth has had to cancel the event!

At the general election the voters in the new Honiton and Sidmouth constituency swung away from the Tories and voted for Lib Dem Richard Foord. Anyone reading his contributions to parliamentary debates will appreciate how passionately he is serving his constituents. This passion for caring for the community is shared by Denise Bickley. See: reflections on being a caring councillor.

Press release – 21 April 2025 – VGS cancels County Council election hustings event

The Vision Group for Sidmouth has had to take the decision to cancel its much-anticipated hustings event for the upcoming Devon County Council elections on 1st May.

Having announced at the town council’s Annual Assembly their intention to hold the event, the VGS contacted all four candidates for the Sidmouth seat, inviting them to take part in a Q&A session in front of a live audience at the end of April.

However, only one candidate replied to the invitation positively, despite repeated efforts by the VGS to produce a full ensemble of candidates.

Denise Bickley, standing for the Liberal Democrats, said she “would be delighted to take part in the hustings and will make myself available whenever you can arrange it”.

Stuart Hughes, candidate for the Conservative Party, said “I’m having a real problem trying to sort a date for this… so it’s looking as though unfortunately I shan’t be able to attend your planned event”. His agent added that “it’s long days at the moment busy campaigning”.

Neither Suzanne Bullock of the Labour Party nor Basil Herbert of Reform UK responded to invitations to attend the hustings event, whether directly or though offices and agents.

The VGS has held hustings for both general and local elections over the past twenty years, the most recent being in June last year when all the candidates were able to take part.

As one commentator says about hustings events, “I think they are an important and traditional part of the process”.

The VGS event would have been the only such opportunity available for voters in the Sidmouth seat.

It was a fun day on the campaign trail for Sir Ed Davey. It usually is.

Just over an hour after inhaling a full English, the Liberal Democrat leader led his council candidates to a bouncing pillow in a theme park, where they jumped for joy like excited schoolchildren.

Ali Mitib www.thetimes.com 

“This is bringing back memories of the election,” Davey said, before he lost his footing, bellyflopped on to the canvas and marched to the next ride at the Big Sheep theme park in Bideford, Devon.

After two minutes of waving to the cameras and petting a (fake) bear holding a honeypot, Davey’s wide smile faded. He dramatically turned to Ian Roome, the Lib Dem MP for North Devon, to discuss their chances at taking the Tory heartland in next month’s local elections.

Currently, the Tories hold 38 of Devon county council’s 60 seats, while the Lib Dems hold nine. The Conservatives have held the council for nearly 16 years, but there are hopes that Davey’s candidates can capitalise on frustrations at undelivered promises and declining local services to conquer Devon.

The county and the wider southwest are expected to prove particularly fertile ground for the Lib Dems, who predict that they will overtake the Tories in terms of the number of councils controlled to become the second biggest party. That crossover last happened briefly the year after Tony Blair’s landslide victory in 1997. At the moment, the Conservatives control 49 councils and the Lib Dems 37.

At the Big Sheep, Davey screamed and waved his arms on a solar-powered rollercoaster, joked with park staff about needing a responsible adult so he would be allowed to board the rides, and cuddled a pygmy goat.

But for the Lib Dem leader, the real fun began on the doorstep. After posing for pictures with candidates in nearby Barnstaple, he charged through the streets, leaving candidates and aides straggling behind.

Davey, who led his party to their highest ever number of seats in last year’s general election, had the demeanour of someone who feels victory is within reach.

“Ed, wait for us … He gets into canvassing mode and we just can’t stop him,” one aide said.

“I love canvassing,” Davey said on his way to the next door in a suburban street that would once have been firmly Tory. “When you’re talking to ordinary people, you get a much different view of things. It grounds you in what matters to people.

“It makes you realise the concerns that politicians become obsessed with are not the ones that matter to people. When I became leader, the party was quite upset by the Brexit debate and still wanted to talk about it the whole time, but people wanted to talk about the cost of living and the health service.”

Last year, Davey, the MP for Kingston & Surbiton, developed a reputation for stunts on the campaign trail, from bungee jumping to paddleboarding.

“This is the real campaigning,” he said, as he ticked addresses off his target sheet. “The last general election, when we were doing all these stunts, I had more conversations about Lib Dem policy than I had at any previous election, so by doing the funny stuff we had more conversations about the serious stuff. It’s a way for us to talk about our ideas.”

The Lib Dems hope to appeal to voters who feel betrayed not only by the Tories but also by Labour, who have historically had little support in the area.

At the heart of frustrations on the doorstep in north Devon are problems familiar to voters in seaside communities around the country: a rapidly declining tourism industry, long GP waiting times, delays to upgrades to the area’s hospital, and dangerous potholes.

“The message is pretty similar across the country,” Davey said. “The Conservatives have not recovered from the last election when they got their worst ever parliamentary result. What is the Conservative Party offering people? Not a lot. Their councils haven’t done that well.

“Labour hasn’t done well in government, from the family farm tax to the fuel payments, so there’s a sense that people are looking for something other than Labour and Conservatives and in many parts of the country that’s us.”

Emma Parker, 34, an office manager, was pleasantly surprised to see Davey walking up to her door.

“I thought they were Jehovah’s Witnesses for a minute,” she said, chuckling. Parker grew up in a Tory household but began supporting the Lib Dems after growing frustrated at the dire state of services in north Devon.

“I originally voted for the Lib Dems tactically because I didn’t want the Tories to win but now I trust them and feel like my morals align with them. I’ve been frustrated with the Tories for so many years because all of the broken promises they have made to people here about improving our services,” she said.

On the doorstep, Frank Biederman, 54, a Lib Dem councillor in the region for the past 12 years, radiated a quiet confidence that he has never felt before.

“There’s a bit of a spring in the step that we have as a party now,” he said. “When you see us win 72 MPs and you see an awful lot of councillors working hard to serve their communities, that encourages you. We have a shot at taking the council. It will be hard, but we need change. We need fresh ideas and impetus.”

A feeling of dread is growing among Conservative candidates in the area. With just weeks to go, Linda Hellyer, an incumbent Tory councillor, appeared dejected as she sat in a Costa Coffee in Bideford, a historic harbour town with a picturesque bay.

Hellyer, a lifelong Bideford resident, fears that Tory voters flocking to Reform because of national issues could clear the way for a Lib Dem takeover.

“I might be out of a job on May 1st. It’s really annoying that people vote on national issues when all county councillors can do is local things. I’ve been going around the doors and a lot of Labour people seem to be saying they’re reluctantly going to vote Lib Dem.

“I keep meeting people who are normally Conservative, but they’re convinced that we’re being run amok with illegal immigrants being housed by the council, and that’s not true. We don’t have anything we can do about illegal immigration here as a councillor.”

But for lifelong Tory voters, the theme of betrayal looms large. For Daisy, 55, the party’s treatment of Boris Johnson transformed her from a loyal Tory to a floating voter.

“They should’ve never voted Boris off because he did what he was expected to do, but too many people stabbed him in the back. I was a Tory voter then. They would’ve still been in if Boris were there. We may have had the new hospital by now if they were still in,” she said.

For Beverley Cheesman, 68, a long-time Conservative voter who is leaning towards the Lib Dems, the party has betrayed its base by failing to build a new identity and escape the shadow of its failures in government.

“The Tories don’t stand a chance at the moment. I don’t know who they are or what they stand for any more,” said the retired publican, who has started working part-time in a tobacconist after struggling to make ends meet on her pension.

“The Lib Dems will do well this time because people here have no faith in the Conservatives and I’ll be shocked if anyone votes for Labour here,” she added. “I don’t even know what the Lib Dems’ policies are. I just want a bit of change.”

More than half the Tory candidates in East Devon for the county elections on May 1 are describing themselves as “local Conservatives” rather than “Conservative party candidates”.

(It’s one of twelve Tory descriptions registered with the Electoral Commission)

A third of those describing themselves as “local” are clearly not.

Is the national Tory image that toxic than they feel they have to distance themselves from it? 

This attempted re-brand doesn’t convince Owl.

The leader among them is Ben Ingham. He’s been a Conservative; an Independent; an Independent who formed a coalition with the “Build.build, build” Conservative minority in EDDC; then he went back to the conservatives.

He lives on the Lympstone edge of Exmouth and is contesting the Seaton & Colyton division, so how can he possibly describe himself as a “Local Conservative”?

[Truth is there’s probably not much love for him in Exmouth party circles as he once took a pop at ousting that old stalwart Cllr Christine Channon for the Exmouth and Budleigh Coastal Division in 2021 but failed. Significantly he failed to be selected for either of the two seats in the Exmouth Division or the seat Christine Channon is vacating.]

Another “crosser of the aisle” is Stuart Hughes, a one time member of the “Monster Raving Loony” party and cabaret act. He is the councillor who, as DCC cabinet member for highways management, failed to fix the potholes when the sun was shining in 2021

He was a notorious member of the “Build, build, build” EDDC council (described as the “Blue Kremlin” in a Guardian article). In 1989 he formed the breakaway “Raving Loony Green Giant Party” and finally(?) defected to the Conservatives in 1997.

As Chair of EDDC he cancelled the May 2020 elections in a crude attempt to deny a democratic transfer of power as Ben Ingham’s coalition fell apart. This disgraceful attempt failed as did the recent attempt by the Tories in County to cancel the elections this May, 2025.

Then there is Jenny Brown of Honiton, also stressing her “local” credentials, yet set to contest Axminster.

Cunningly, the Tories added “Local Conservative” to their list of twelve descriptions registered with the electoral commission in 2019.

It’s all subterfuge. Tories  disguising  themselves as: “local people trying to do the best for their communities, after all local elections shouldn’t be about national politics”. Don’t be fooled by it.

Only two Conservatives in the rest of the county feel the need to use this description.

Here is the  list of Tory candidate in East Devon claiming to be “local”:

BROWN Jenny, Local Conservatives (Axminster)

TWISS Phil, Local Conservatives. (Feniton and Honiton)

CARTER Paul Richard, Local Conservatives (Otter Valley)

INGHAM Ben, Local Conservatives (Seaton and Colyton)

HUGHES Stuart, Local Conservatives. (Sidmouth)

CHUBB Iain, Local Conservatives (Whimple and Blackdown)

This refers to swimmers needing to see a doctor.

Last year Budleigh was the eighth worst location nationally.

Swimmers have already fallen sick at Budleigh this year, according to reports logged by the Surfers Against Sewage waterborne sickness dashboard.

[And not all swimmers falling sick will have logged a report].

This is despite Budleigh’s “excellent” bathing water quality and “seaside award” flag.

Budleigh correspondents have frequently pointed out to Owl that those parking in the Lime Kiln car park should take a look at the now stagnant Kersbrook at the side of the skateboard park with its dying trees and the clearly visible sewer emergency outfall. These correspondents point out that this water flows into the sea 100m away through a conduit under the road. Its end is visible at low tide.

Sasha Swire, perceptively, once described Simon Jupp, now a member Pennon Group’s PR team, as “Jumping Jupp Flash”. (Pennon Group is the parent company of SWW).

So, come on Simon tell the people of Budleigh what the company solution is.

Owl would also like to know whether David Reed MP is “on the same page” as Simon Jupp, his predecessor, or vice versa?

Can you trust a Tory on pollution?

The 15 swimming sites with the highest risk of illness from water pollution 

Alannah Francis inews.co.uk

So far this year, 147 health reports have been logged by the Surfers Against Sewage waterborne sickness dashboard

The amount of sewage being dumped into UK rivers and seas is on a scale that “defies belief” and is putting public health at risk, water safety campaigners have warned.

So far this year, 147 health reports have been logged by the Surfers Against Sewage waterborne sickness dashboard. However, the link between the cases and water quality have not been confirmed by doctors.

The most commonly reported illness is gastroenteritis, an infection in the gut that causes diarrhoea and/or vomiting, followed by ear, nose and throat infections.

It comes after the number of pollution incidents recorded by water companies in England reached a 10-year high, analysis from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) shows.

The 2,487 pollution reports last year are more than double the target set by the Environment Agency, the charity said.

SAS said it received 1,853 sickness reports through its Safer Seas & Rivers Service app last year – an average of five a day.

A total of 331 people had to see a doctor, with 79 per cent of them reporting that their doctor had attributed their illness to sewage pollution. Fifteen people reported being hospitalised, according to the report.

Where have the most sickness reports been recorded?

Ramsgate in Kent, Bantham in Devon, Gyllyngvase in Cornwall, and Rest Bay at Porthcawl, Wales, top the table for the highest number of sickness reports recorded by SAS this year, with four cases each.

Branksome Chine in Poole, Dorset has three. The rest, including Westward Ho! in Devon, Southsea East in Hampshire, and Budleigh Salterton in Devon, each have two sickness reports.

Last year Westward Ho! was the third most common location for sickness incidents, with 31 reports; Southsea East was fifth with 25 reports, Budleigh Salterton was eighth with 23; and Gyllyngvase followed closely behind with 22.

What are the most common waterborne sicknesses?

According to the latest 2025 SAS sickness dashboard data, they are:

• Gastroenteritis – 114 cases
• Ear, nose and throat – 20
• Respiratory – 11
• Skin infection – 7
• Non-specific virus- 7
• Eye infection – 5

The total number of cases slightly exceeds the number of sickness reports as some have more than one symptom, SAS said.

Which bathing waters were most affected by sewage discharges in 2024?

The 10 bathing sites in England most impacted by sewage discharges last year, according to analysis by SAS, were:

• Wallasey – 2,201 discharges
• Dart Estuary – 1,553
• Plymouth Hoe East – 1,511
• St Annes – 1,232
• Steamer Quay – 987
• Wolvercote Mill Stream – 866
• Spittal – 782
• Walney Sandy Gap – 774
• Allonby – 768
• Fleetwood – 745

‘Water pollution landed me in intensive care’

Wellbeing coach Suzi Finlayson told SAS she fell ill after swimming at Aldwick Beach in Bognor Regis in December 2023.

The charity found that one sewage overflow from Southern Water in that month, into the waters at Aldwick, had lasted 343 hours.

In January, after weeks of sickness, Ms Finlayson was diagnosed with a blood infection that had led to endocarditis, a rare and potentially fatal inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

“I became critically ill and spent six weeks in hospital care, including intensive care, followed by six months of recovery from open-heart surgery for a mitral valve replacement,” Ms Finlayson said.

She had to close her business because of the impact on her health and the demands of her recovery.

How have the water firms responded?

A spokesperson for Water UK, the trade association for the industry, said: “We have been clear that the water system is not working and support the Independent Water Commission looking at every aspect of how the industry is regulated.

“However, no sewage spill is ever acceptable and water companies are investing £12bn to almost halve spills from storm overflows by 2030.

“This is part of the largest amount of money ever spent on the natural environment to help support economic growth, build more homes, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey says his party has “a big mountain to climb” to take control of Devon County Council in the forthcoming election from the Conservatives but is “working hard” to make gains.

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

Goating around. Sir Ed Davey (on the left) is optimistic for elections (image: LDRS)

Speaking during a visit to The Big Sheep attraction near Bideford to flag up pressures in the south west tourism industry and boost the party’s chances in the north of the county, Sir Ed said he is “optimistic” after last year’s general election when his party took six seats from the Conservatives in Devon.

The publicity attuned leader, known for his campaign trail stunts which  last year which included paddleboarding and water slides, was not holding back at The Big Sheep where he along with North Devon Liberal Democrat MP Ian Roome and seven local candidates tried out the rollercoaster, giant jumping pillow trampolines and other attractions.

Although the general election result was the best in 100 years for the Liberal Democrats,its contingent during the last term of Devon County Council was nine councillors, with the Conservatives holding 38 seats. The Tories took control from the Lib Dems in 2009.

“We feel there is some momentum behind the result we had last July and there is a lot of support coming our way,” he said. “I have been talking to some our candidates here in Devon who have been knocking on doors, really campaigning hard.

“They tend to be people who are active in the community already and are getting really good feedback with lots of lifelong Conservatives saying they are switching to the Liberal Democrats and Labour voters who have been disappointed by the government switching to us too.”

He said road maintenance in Devon is “a massive issue”, as well as social care and a lack of dentists.

“Social care is really important for the council’s finances which have not been run very well under the Conservatives. All councils are strapped, not just Devon, but Devon is one of the worst, with the massive debts they have run up in the last four years.

“The next administration is going to have a tough time sorting it out but if you listen to people and make sure you are focusing on their priorities you can do it and the Liberal Democrats are very committed to that.”

In his second visit to northern Devon in six months, Sir Ed called on the government to host an urgent south west tourism summit to address the impact of national insurance tax hikes and the cost of living crisis.

The Liberal Democrats have asked for an exemption for these sectors, which Sir Ed says will be disproportionately affected by the tax hike because they employ many seasonal workers on low wages.

“So far it has fallen on deaf ears, but we will keep campaigning,” he said.
 

So we are still getting one for the price of two, or is it three? 

Owl is confused about the pay status of the deputy who stepped up only to be suspended whilst being investigated for something else.

No doubt Alison Hernandez has everything under control, or is she out taking selfies with vulnerable Tory County Council candidates?

[On this photo Tim commented: “Given that she suspended a police Chief Officer for inappropriate use of an official mobile phone, I hope she hasn’t claimed for the one she is here using for party political purposes, as an official PCC phone/camera!“]

Chief constable won’t be prosecuted

Radio Exe News www.radioexe.co.uk 

Investigation into Will Kerr dropped, but he remains suspended

The suspended chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police won’t be prosecuted over allegations of sexual offences.

Almost two years after Will Kerr was suspended, prosecutors in Northern Ireland have announced the decision, and also said he won’t face charges relating to an allegation of misconduct in public office.

Mr Kerr was a former chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and worked there for 27 years, before joining Police Scotland.

He took the top job at Devon and Cornwall Police in December 2022 but was suspended seven months later after it emerged he was under investigation for following allegations of sexual offences.

At the time he strenuously denied any allegations of criminality.

The force’s deputy chief constable Jim Colwell stepped up into the role, until he was suspended last year whilst an investigation takes place into a separate matter.

Today’s news does not mean that Mr Kerr will return to work in the short term. In light of the announcement, it is understood that the IOPC will resume its investigation into allegations of misconduct against Mr Kerr. He will remain suspended until its outcome.

Interim chief constable James Vaughan, who was appointed to the role last December, will remain in post until any outstanding matters are concluded.

Alison Hernandez, police and crime commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said: “I am delighted to hear that Mr Kerr is no longer under criminal investigation. This will be a significant relief to Mr Kerr and his family. It is disappointing that it has taken nearly two years to get to this decision. 

“While this is a major milestone, we await further instructions from the Independent Office for Police Conduct on any potential misconduct matters which may still need their oversight.

“The leadership of Devon and Cornwall Police remains under the stewardship of Mr Vaughan until any outstanding matters are concluded.”

Every morning, Jo Bateman checks her phone to see if the sea is closed.

Good Law Project 

Swimming in Exmouth has been vital for Jo’s mental health and wellbeing. But South West Water has shattered that routine by dumping raw sewage where she swims.

Last year the firm poured sewage out on to the beach in Exmouth 217 times, for a total duration of 2,156 hours, keeping Jo out of the water for days at a time. And there have been more than 100 dumps so far this year, with 1,115 hours of spills from January to March.

Jo says the sewage South West Water continues to dump into our waters is “disgusting:”

“It pollutes our beaches, harms nature, makes people sick – and takes away our right to swim.”

That’s why we’re backing Jo as she takes on South West Water – a company that unleashed a tide of sewage on her beach. After our Supreme Court win, she’s broadening her challenge to cover 300 days when swimming was impossible in Exmouth.

She’s fighting for transformational change – and she’s not backing down.

Best wishes,

Katrina, Good Law Project

Our latest Water Quality Report reveals that sewage is being dumped into our rivers and seas on a scale that defies belief—and the people who should be stopping it are cashing in instead.

Surfers Against Sewage Quality Report 2025 www.sas.org.uk (Extract)

[See separate post on how “industry leader”, South West Water, was rewarded £6.7m for failure.]

While private water companies handed £1.2 billion to shareholders, they also dumped 4.7 million hours of sewage into our waterways in 2024. That’s 592,478 spills in just one year.

At the same time, water bills are rising, targets are being missed, and public trust is circling the drain. Over a quarter of adults in England are so fed up, they’ve considered not paying their water bills.

Our latest Water Quality Report lays it all bare. Read the report

Water companies are failing

Our report reveals broken promises and missed pollution targets. Billions for shareholders, while customers pay more for less. Public health at risk, with zero accountability. And a total lack of transparency from those in charge.

England

In 2024, water companies in England recorded 2,487 pollution incidents—more than double the target set by the Environment Agency. This marks the highest number in a decade, despite promises to clean up their act.

The water industry was meant to reduce pollution by 40%. Instead? We’ve seen a 30% increase.

…….Results for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland omitted in this extract……

People are getting sick

Our Safer Seas & Rivers Service App received 1,853 illness reports from water users in 2024 alone—that’s five people a day getting sick after entering polluted water.

• 331 people saw a doctor
• 79% were told their illness was caused by sewage
• From gastro bugs to chest infections, even hospitalisations and heart surgery—the human cost is staggering.

Real people. Real impacts.

• Suzi, a sea swimmer from Bognor Regis, ended up in critical care and needed open-heart surgery after falling seriously ill.
• Charlie, an Ironman athlete, was left isolated and unable to train for months after collapsing from a virus caught while swimming.
• Shelley, a carer from Scotland, was hospitalised for 5 days after contracting a diarrheal disease from contaminated water, impacting her ability to care for her son.
• Martyn, a swimmer from Pembrokeshire, had his eye swell and close up after swimming at his local beach. He needed painkillers and antibiotics and was left unable to work or drive.
• Ben is the director and head coach at Surfability in Swansea, which runs adaptive surf sessions for people with additional needs. He’s been forced to cancel many surf lessons due to poor water quality, reducing access to the healing power of the water for many people.

These stories are just a few of thousands. Read more shocking stories in the report.

See more stories

We’re calling for radical reform

We simply cannot trust the UK’s water industry in its current state. Our Water Quality Report calls for urgent and transformational reform of the privatised water industry. It’s time to:

✅ Put people and planet before profit

✅ Give local voices a say in how water is managed

✅ Enforce the law—no more pollution without consequence

✅ End profit from pollution—once and for all

NOW is our opportunity for real change. The Independent Commission will be finalising its recommendations for water industry reform in England and Wales in May. This is our chance to be heard.

“Industry Leader” South West Water received a financial reward worth £6.7 million in 2019 for the promises it made to improve our water quality over the following five years. Ha, ha!

But SWW  is on track to FAIL by a wide margin

Owl thought that SWW was an “Industry Leader” in pollution but it seems, in this context, it means Industry leader in creative writing of future plans.

Now, in 2025, we are starting a new five year review period, similar promises are being made and Ofwat has again dished out a reward for SWW’s next set of plans.This time it’s worth an equivalent to £36 million. 

“The stench of the sewage scandal has become a fixture of the mainstream news in the last few years, with water companies making promise after promise to deliver record investments and hit all kinds of glittering targets. But can we ever truly believe them?” 

Extracted from Surfers Against Sewage Water Quality Report 2025 with a few additional headings for clarity.

The report continues:

Promises, promises – Price Review Plans

“Water companies in England and Wales are regulated by multiple bodies, including Ofwat, which oversees their finances and operations. Every five years, each company has to submit investment plans to Ofwat through a process called the price review (PR).

PR plans show us what each water company is promising to deliver, the level of investment needed; and how much customers will have to pay in bills over the course of the five years the PR plan runs for. 

In a functional system, that makes total sense. But in a broken industry, you learn not to trust companies to deliver on their promises. Or the regulator to hold them accountable. 

Forget the old unmet promises – look on the bright side and welcome the new

Why are the new proposals welcomed into the room so warmly, when all the unmet promises from the previous plan are still sat there in plain sight?

In 2025, PR19 ended, and PR24 began. We took the opportunity to examine the past five years of PR19 (2020-2025), to see whether water companies got anywhere near achieving what they’d pledged. 

Assessing the “industry leaders” 

In its initial assessment of PR19 plans, Ofwat identified three companies that stood out: South West Water, Severn Trent and United Utilities. 

According to the regulator, this trio offered ambitious plans that set a new standard for the water sector. So, it awarded them fast-track status. In exchange for promising to trailblaze on positive outcomes for both customers and the environment, these companies were heralded as industry leaders; given a head start on other companies to get working on their big plans, and millions in financial rewards.11 But what standard were they really setting for the industry?

South West Water (SWW) received a financial reward worth £6.7 million for its 2019 plans. 

Part of this reward was allocated because SWW promised to deliver on its proposed sector leading outcomes, like improving its environmental ratings and reducing sewer blockages. 

SWW pledged to reduce pollution incidents to 19.5 incidents13 per 10,000 km of sewers by 2024-25. 

So far, it’s failed miserably. In fact, between 2022 and 2023, pollution incidents on its patch shot up by 80%. 

We can’t access official data on pollution incident reports until July 2025, but we have received unverified data from the Environment Agency through a Freedom of Information request. 

This data shows that there were 188 pollution incidents in 2024.

Assuming the length of the sewer network remained the same as the year before, this equates to 107.8 pollution incidents per 10,000 km of pipe. While this number may change once the final figures are released, our investigation suggests that South West Water is on track to fail its target – with five times more pollution incidents than they were aiming for. 

However we’ve been digging into SWW’s performance when it comes to sewage pollution over the last five years and they do not look like a water company performing exceptionally.

In April 2022, SWW’s Plan for Healthy Rivers and Seas14 contained a pledge to cut storm overflow discharges to an average of 20 per year by 2025. In 2024 their average discharges per overflow was 41.3, which is more than double the target. And 2025 isn’t looking much better. According to our live reporting data from Data HQ, 21% of SWW overflows surpassed this annual target by March.

In its PR19 plans, SWW boasted it would achieve a 4-star environmental performance rating, this was one of the key performance outcomes Ofwat cited as the reason that SWW would receive a financial reward. By 2023, the latest figures we had at the time of writing, it had only managed to hit 2 stars.

SWW states that it wants to “maintain excellent bathing water quality standards all year round, so everyone can enjoy our 860 miles of coastline, whatever the time of year”.

Last year, 3,168 sewage alerts were issued at bathing waters within South West Water’s region.

These alerts were throughout the year, with 541 alerts issued during the bathing season – May to September in England – and 2,627 alerts during the rest of the year. With such rampant pollution, we highly doubt the water quality will be anything close to excellent year-round.

The future for South West Water: a grim tide

After five years of SWW failing to meet targets, Ofwat has again dished out a reward for SWW’s next set of plans. This time it’s worth an equivalent to £36 million. 

One of those goals for the next 5 years will be familiar from last time: “The company will improve its environmental performance by achieving 4* Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) status by 2028.” 

SWW also announced in February 2025 that it will be investing more than £700 million to reduce storm overflows across the region in the next five-year period.

The aim is to make SWW the first water company to meet the Government’s target of fewer than 10 discharges per year – an impressive 10 years ahead of deadline. 

SWW has a huge mountain to climb. 872 of its combined sewage overflows (CSOs) discharged over 10 times in 2024 (64% of their total overflows). 

And as it’s failed time and again to meet environmental targets over the past five years, how are we supposed to trust them now?“

Ah! Is this why SWW has just recruited “super hero” PR expert Simon Jupp.

The local MP rejected by the electorate but with all the connections? – Owl

See this post to find Simon’s ambiguous record on “holding South West Water to account”.

Dear Owl,

The proposed closure of Santander Bank in Rolle Street Exmouth, has been greeted with dismay by hundreds of customers.  Santander has claimed that the fall in the number of customers visiting the bank and the increase in online banking removed the necessity for a high street presence in Exmouth.  However, the bank’s closure will cause major disruption to many residents and surrounding areas who rely on the excellent counter service that that staff provide at the Exmouth Branch.

Many elderly and disabled residents rely on the counter service to do their banking and could not cope with an online only service.  I stood for an hour last week collecting signatures from customers who opposed the bank closures.  It was distressing to hear from these customers the devastating impact that Santander’s branch closure would have on them.

Santander, like the other high street banks in Exmouth who have stopped providing face to face customer services are failing their loyal customers for the pursuit of even more grotesque profits. Santander’s profits of 12,574 million euros in 2024 represented a 14% increase on 2023.  Not too shabby for a bank that seeks to wring maximum profit from its banking operations regardless of the personal cost to its customers.

The hands off approach taken by successive governments to high street bank closures needs to be re-examined.  Why does the government not impose a swingeing wealth tax on those banks who are closing their branches and reward those banks and building societies which remain on in our towns and cities with preferential tax rates?  If governments provided disincentives for banks to close their branches, it would be a lifeline to the millions of elderly and disabled customers who would find online banking alone extremely difficult if not impossible to manage.  Such a policy would also  help small businesses in towns and cities to operate with a local bank available for their banking requirements.

Katherine Wilcox

[Katherine is a longstanding correspondent on consumer issues.]

Do we expect this every time we have a spot of rain?

https://www.sewagemap.co.uk/

This map shows, in real-time, which river sections are downstream of sewage discharges from storm overflows.

About the Data

The data is collected through Event Duration Monitoring by individual water companies, providing near-real time data on storm overflows. The data is accessed from the Storm Overflow Hub maintained by Water UK. Storm overflows release untreated, diluted sewage into the environment. Currently, only Thames Water provide an API to historical sewage spill data. We wrote an article about why water companies need to be more transparent with environmental models and data in 

This site was created by Alex Lipp (UCL) &  Jonny Dawe.

Dear Owl, 

The MP for Exmouth and Exeter seems to spend a lot of time concerned about what is going on in other constituencies rather than his own. 

In the last week, he has commented about Hertfordshire and Birmingham. 

https://www.facebook.com/DavidReedMP

In Hertfordshire’s last Ofsted inspection for children’s services in January 2023 they gained 3 outstandings and 2 goods.

https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50210577

In Birmingham City Council’s last Ofsted inspection for children’s services in February 2023 they gained 5 goods. 

https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50214110

In Devon’s last Ofsted inspection for children’s services in January 2020 they gained 3 inadequates and 1 requires improvement. 

https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50214110

The recent Ofsted inspection for children’s services was carried out last year. Apparently it has been contested. 

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/devons-delayed-ofsted-report-being-9818189

The MP for Exmouth and Exeter East’s constituents would welcome an explanation from their MP as to why the publication of this report was contested. Was it because Devon County Council’s children’s served were judged as not reaching good or outstanding in all areas?

The MP for Exmouth and Exeter East hosted an Exmouth and Budleigh Water Summit. Constituents would like to know who attended, what was discussed and what he is doing to “make sure South West Water deliver on their promises.” 

It all sounds all words and no action. 

Constituents are concerned about the increase in their water bills. Is the MP for Exmouth and Exeter East posing questions about how well the company is being run. Was the appointment of Director of Regional Development – Pennon Group PLC necessary or was it a job creation?

The MP for Exmouth and Exmouth East should be raising questions about “The revolving door between water companies, regulators and government.”

Yours sincerely, 

A constituent who would value an MP who concentrates on his constituency rather than other places in the country. 

Richard Foord MP for Honiton and Sidmouth stands up in parliament for the people of Devon and Cornwall affected by pollution, calling South West Water “aloof, even arrogant”, “a byword for failure”.

He continued: “They are now trying to flush out constituents’ wallets, issuing bill rises of over 50% in some cases.”

He spoke on Tuesday in the Easter Adjournment Debate and  ended by saying:

“South West Water is proposing to spend £3.2 billion on infrastructure improvements, but the crying shame is that it has failed to invest in its infrastructure in years gone by. This week, we have learned that the PR side of the business is going to be joined by none other than the former MP for East Devon, Simon Jupp. He is going to speak for South West Water, having attacked it while he was a Member of Parliament.”

A very different speech to the self-serving one made by David Reed MP for Exmouth and Exeter East on Monday.

Here is the Hansard transcript of his full speech:

Richard Foord Liberal Democrat, Honiton and Sidmouth  5:39, 8 April 2025

I rise to talk about South West Water and Pennon Group. I speak today for  anyone in Devon and Cornwall who has ever had to walk past a polluted stream, stay out of the sea when visiting a beach, or stare at a water bill and wonder, “How did we end up here?” South West Water, like its parent company, Pennon, has become a byword in the south-west for failure, aloofness and even arrogance. In 2024, the company dumped sewage into our rivers and seas for over 540,000 hours. These spills are supposed to happen only in exceptional circumstances; in reality, this has been regarded as a licence to pollute.

If that were not enough, South West Water is now trying to flush out our constituents’ wallets, issuing bill rises of over 50% in some cases. I should say that Ofwat ruled last December that bills can rise by 36% on average over five years, before inflation. However, that 36% rise is permitted on average bills, and many bills for residents in Devon have risen by much more.

Stuart Thompson, who lives near Aylesbeare, has found that, even though he is not connected to South West Water’s sewerage system, his annual bill is now £761, even though last year it was just £486. That is a jump of over 56%. Stuart is a cancer patient, and his immune system is weakened from treatment. To protect himself, he boils his water before drinking it, because he is conscious that South West Water had an outbreak of the Cryptosporidium parasite last year. One can understand his caution, given his weakened immunity.

When Stuart tried to ring South West Water, he found himself 178th in the queue, and that is not a one-off. Graham Long, who lives in the Blackdown hills near Honiton, also tried ringing South West Water. Like Stuart, Graham found on the first occasion that he was 106th in the queue. On another occasion he was 94th, when he tried at a quieter time he was 87th, and on a day that was quieter still he was 74th in the queue. That is absolutely crazy from a water company hiking people’s bills in some instances by 56%.

Louise Thompson from Sidmouth contacted me in disbelief about her instalments. She did get through to South West Water, and when she raised her concern about her higher bill, she was offered a reduction to £49 a month, rather than the £70.32 for which she had been billed. However, she worked out that this was because the instalments would be spread over 12 months rather than 10, so it was a cloak for no bill reduction whatsoever. Yet, since privatisation, this company has paid out more than £4.5 billion in shareholder dividends.

South West Water is proposing to spend £3.2 billion on infrastructure improvements, but the crying shame is that it has failed to invest in its infrastructure in years gone by. This week, we have learned that the PR side of the business is going to be joined by none other than the former MP for East Devon, Simon Jupp. He is going to speak for South West Water, having attacked it while he was a Member of Parliament.

Tim has just posted this comment:

Owl’s reference to the political boards adorning numerous patches of local land fits with observations I made whilst moving about the area yesterday. It struck me that the blue boards for Scott and Trail may well also serve as markers for land that will be developed in the future. So, maybe Cllrs Scott and Trail can give us advance notice of the infrastructure proposals that might be appropriate.

Such boards are placed with the landowner’s permission and I’m guessing they may just be offered up for development at some time in the future.

I distinctly remember Hugo Swire getting very upset that similar boards for one of his elections were damaged at Goodmores years back. His reposte included a claim that they were on private not public land, and that the landowner had given permission. We know all know what has happened to the Goodmores Farm fields – well, apart from any infrastructure that is.

Mr Reed should perhaps look at his party’s past involvement in local planning – perhaps through the spectrum of the roles held by Cllr Stuart Hughes, a DCC councillor, a EDDC councillor and a town councillor. At DCC his portfolio included Highways – and highways includes potholes.

At EDDC he was known for planning amongst other roles- and of course his infamous “We plan everywhere” YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEeCh4d9wIw His party controlled EDDC when Goodmores was passed by planning.

Stuart was once a member of the Monster Raving Lunatic party. https://www.torbayweekly.co.uk/news/home/1543781/when-devon-became-a-loony-hotspot.html