David Reed goes on facebook to blame “the Liberal Democrat-run East Devon District Council” for planning homes that the water and sewer infrastructure cannot support. The real culprits, as pointed out by Independent Councillor Joe Whibley are the housing targets imposed by the government and the failure of SWW to invest.
As an ex Royal Marine you might have expected David Reed to be a better shot.
David Reed MP posted on his own facebook page and then on community facebook pages the following tirade about the EXMO_20 development plans for 700 homes proposed by developers 3West Group. Placing the blame on the Lib Dem run East Devon Council.
In the interests of full disclosure Owl wished to point out that David Reed declared receiving a donation of £5K from 3West Group in 2024.
David Reed MP [Exmouth Community UK facebook page]
Last week, I secured a Government commitment to examine whether water and sewage infrastructure can support the scale of housing growth proposed by the Liberal Democrat-run East Devon District Council.
In Parliament, I raised concerns that thousands of new homes could place additional pressure on already overstretched wastewater systems, and highlighted the need to learn lessons from previous developments where infrastructure failed to keep pace with growth.
The Liberal Democrats on East Devon District Council are proposing to build tens of thousands of new homes across our area, and I do not have faith that South West Water will keep pace with all this new development.
I soon hope to be hosting a public town hall meeting on the proposed EXMO_20 development, where local people will have the opportunity to hear from East Devon District Council, South West Water, developers and other key stakeholders. And to ask questions and raise concerns about the impact on infrastructure, the environment and local services. Watch this space for further updates.
You can watch my exchange with the Water Minister below.
[To watch the video go to the facebook page]
This prompted the following string of comments
Hi David – thanks for your mention in Parliament and the assurances you obtained.
Before continuing I’d like to stress I’m not a Lib Dem.
I’d also just like to point out that the ‘Lib Dems in East Devon’ are not choosing to build thousands of houses. The administration there are drawing up a new local plan with housing numbers imposed by Central government. Those numbers will increase significantly if we abandon that plan now and start again or significantly amend it. To build nothing would mean we would lose control of all planning control over our district.
We need to work together. You’re dead right that SWW need to be able to cope with new connections, because government housing targets are not going away – we can’t simply ignore them.
We can work as one to call for tougher sanctions for SWW, easier introduction of Grampian conditions and a removal of the presumption that a planning authority has to accept a water company’s word if they say they can accept a connection and we know they can’t.
We’ll not beat this by politicising it as we all face the same rules and restrictions. We need them to change and there’s not a single Lib Dem locally who would disagree with that.
Thanks for your continued work on our behalf.
That’s only half the story.
Exmouth is surrounded by water on 2 sides which limits access into the area. Any further housing will further clog up our roads.
Also, the actions of the developers is simply scandalous in reducing the numbers of “so-called” affordable houses by revising plans after gaining planning permission. New houses are are then offered at unaffordable rents for local people.
Furthermore there is a potentially devastating impact on significant areas of ecological importance due to proximity. Building on green field sites is simply wrong and is just ruining the area.
We have also seen UK birth rates declining over a number of years, so if we continue to see greater control over net migration, this should reduce the demand for housing.
I disagree with nothing you say (maybe your migration point excluded) but nobody, David Reed included, is in a position to tackle this head on. Your points are eminently sensible and everyone of right mind would concur – however, If I’m able to be political for a moment, ultimately Labour housing and planning policies have, and increase, our inability to access the tools we have to fight this kind of thing. EDDC have, again, been painted into a corner not of its own making but I’d then taking the blame for it. Yes, some details of the plan could be different, but this scenario would then be happening somewhere else in the district.
The tools I mention are merely the ones most immediately available to us.
I accept that Labour policies are making it harder to fight against this continued development – housing seems to be their only real plan for growth. The actions of the Planning Inspectorate are inexcusable in waiving anything through despite genuine objections, whereby councils then can’t afford to take further action.
However, I believe we need to take whatever actions are possible and we should expect our local MP to stand up and be counted.
East Devon Watch 