BA.4.6, a subvariant of the omicron COVID variant which has been quickly gaining traction in the US, is now confirmed to be spreading in the UK.

Manal Mohammed theconversation.com 

The latest briefing document on COVID variants from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) noted that during the week beginning August 14, BA.4.6 accounted for 3.3% of samples in the UK. It has since grown to make up around 9% of sequenced cases.

Similarly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BA.4.6 now accounts for more than 9% of recent cases across the US. The variant has also been identified in several other countries around the world.

So what do we know about BA.4.6, and should we be worried? Let’s take a look at the information we have so far.

BA.4.6 is a descendant of the BA.4 variant of omicron. BA.4 was first detected in January 2022 in South Africa and has since spread around the world alongside the BA.5 variant.

It is not entirely clear how BA.4.6 has emerged, but it’s possible it could be a recombinant variant. Recombination happens when two different variants of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infect the same person, at the same time.

While BA.4.6 will be similar to BA.4 in many ways, it carries a mutation to the spike protein, a protein on the surface of the virus which allows it to enter our cells. This mutation, R346T, has been seen in other variants and is associated with immune evasion, meaning it helps the virus to escape antibodies acquired from vaccination and prior infection.

Severity, infectiousness and immune evasion

Fortunately, omicron infections generally cause less serious illness, and we’ve seen fewer deaths with omicron than with earlier variants. We would expect this to apply to BA.4.6 too. Indeed, there have been no reports yet that this variant is causing more severe symptoms.

But we also know that omicron subvariants tend to be more transmissible than previous variants. BA.4.6 appears to be even better at evading the immune system than BA.5, the currently dominant variant. Although this information is based on a preprint (a study that is yet to be peer-reviewed), other emerging data supports this.

According to the UKHSA’s briefing, early estimates suggest BA.4.6 has a 6.55% relative fitness advantage over BA.5 in England. This indicates that BA.4.6 replicates more quickly in the early stages of infection and has a higher growth rate than BA.5.

The relative fitness advantage of BA.4.6 is considerably smaller than that of BA.5 over BA.2, which was 45% to 55%.

The University of Oxford has reported that people who had received three doses of Pfizer’s original COVID vaccine produce fewer antibodies in response to BA.4.6 than to BA.4 or BA.5. This is worrying because it suggests that COVID vaccines might be less effective against BA.4.6.

The capacity of BA.4.6 to evade immunity may however be addressed to a degree by the new bivalent boosters, which target omicron specifically, alongside the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. Time will tell.

Meanwhile, one preprint study shows that BA.4.6 evades protection from Evusheld, an antibody therapy designed to protect people who are immunocompromised and don’t respond as well to COVID vaccines.

Vaccination is key

The emergence of BA.4.6 and other new variants is concerning. It shows the virus is still very much with us, and is mutating to find new ways to overcome our immune response from vaccination and previous infections.

We know people who have had COVID previously can contract the virus again, and this has been particularly true of omicron. In some cases, subsequent episodes can be worse.

But vaccination continues to offer good protection against severe disease, and is still the best weapon we have to fight COVID. The recent approval of bivalent boosters is good news. Beyond this, developing multivalent coronavirus vaccines that target multiple variants could provide even more durable protection.

A recent study showed that a multivalent coronavirus vaccine administered through the nose elicited a strong immune response against the original strain of SARS-CoV-2, as well as two variants of concern, in mouse models.

Close monitoring of new variants including BA.4.6 is pressing, as they could lead to the next wave of COVID pandemic. For the public, it will pay to stay cautious, and comply with any public health measures in place to prevent the spread of what remains a very contagious virus.

Liz Truss is planning to levy lower tax rates and strip out regulations in certain parts of the country picked by the government.

Readers, you need to get your heads around the implications of this extension to the “freeports” that Boris Johnson announced.

As with freeports these low tax, low regulation investment zones will probably end up relocating, rather than creating, economic activity and jobs. They are unlikely to lead to the sort of growth transformation the Truss Government needs by the election due in January 2025. It’s a beggar my neighbour strategy.

The rules surrounding these zones will be open to “gaming”. They are likely, therefore, to be accompanied by some significant unintended consequences. The ability of the affluent in society to “relocate” by outbidding local people on a whim, is an example. The rise in second homes we see locally is driven by a desire to have a holiday home in more scenic parts of the country. Seeking residency in an area to reduce personal tax liability might provide a similarly strong motive for a second/alternative residence.

If these zones are a natural extension of freeports, consider this.

Dartmoor and the South Hams are already included in the Plymouth freeport area, so obviously would be included in any “Plymouth Investment Zone”.

Is Liz Truss going to replicate the Northern Ireland border issue all over the country as we move in and out of each “investment zone”, between the “low tax regimes” and “high tax regimes”? Sounds divisive to Owl.

Liz Truss to cut taxes in certain parts of the country picked by the government

Jon Stone www.independent.co.uk

Liz Truss is planning to levy lower tax rates and strip out regulations in certain parts of the country picked by the government.

The prime minister is reportedly planning to badge the areas “investment zones” – and will claim that the approach could boost economic growth.

Businesses based in the handpicked regions will be able to ignore some environmental regulations and pay lower rates of tax.

And workers living there could pay personal income taxes and national insurance at reduced rates, the government-supporting Sun On Sunday newspaper reports.

Details of the plans are still said to be being worked out, but an announcement could come as early as chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng‘s emergency budget on Friday.

The plans to apply the tax cuts to particular areas of the country only may raise eyebrows because the government has previously come under fire for playing political favourites.

A previous policy, the Towns Fund, selected areas to benefit from a £1 billion pot of investment – but this was mostly funnelled into Tory areas.

An inquiry by parliament’s spending watchdog, the Public Accounts Committee, concluded last year that the selection process to benefit from the fund was “not impartial” and decisions were “politically motivated”.

39 of the 45 places to receive the first round of funding were represented by Tory MPs.

It is not clear which areas will benefit from the “investment zone” tax cuts or how they will be picked.

Mr Kwarteng, who was appointed by Ms Truss earlier this month, is set to use Friday’s emergency budget to reverse Rishi Sunak’s rises in corporation tax and national insurance contributions.

Other policies are expected to include lifting the cap on bankers bonuses, which limits payouts to twice a banker’s annual salary. The policy was intended to reduce the risk-taking associated with bonuses incentives, and so reduce the risk of another financial crisis.

12 places earmarked for this status

Andrew Sparrow www.theguardian.com carries a bit more detail:

Planning regulations will be relaxed in up to 12 places earmarked for this status, and taxes will be cut to incentivise investment.

The West Midlands, the Thames estuary, the Tees Valley, West Yorkshire and Norfolk are among the places where the new zones might be sited. According to the plans set out by Truss in the summer, in each area there will be a central region, where regulations and planning rules will be eased to encourage industrial, commercial and residential development, and a periphery where the planning rules will be streamlined for housing.

Liz Truss’s energy plans show the UK has effectively abandoned net-zero targets just three years after its world-leading commitment to cutting emissions, the government’s former chief scientific adviser has said.

Another example of the Tories demonstrating that they don’t see themselves in power for much longer. – Owl

Harry Cockburn www.independent.co.uk 

A major new fossil fuels campaign, including lifting the ban on fracking and expanding drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea, has already been announced by the new prime minister’s administration.

But the drive for more oil and gas production was “completely at odds” with the UK’s legally binding net-zero target, said Sir David King, head of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, who was chief scientific adviser to the government between 2000 and 2007.

Furthermore, it would bring large quantities of greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels to the market directly ahead of the 2050 deadline for reaching zero, he told The Independent.

He said the plans, announced last week by the prime minister’s new energy secretary, Jacob-Rees Mogg, were “extremely alarming”.

“We’re looking at a situation where the crisis is with us here today,” he said. “But we don’t recognise that when we say ‘let’s go ahead and start new fracking operations in this country’.

“It beggars belief. What it seems to show is that the leadership in the government does not understand the nature of the climate crisis.”

Mr Rees-Mogg, who has previously dismissed climate science as “alarmism”, said in a video on his second day in office that “we are lifting the moratorium on fracking. We will extract every ounce of oil and gas from the North Sea.”

During Ms Truss’s leadership campaign, she derided the role that renewable energy increasingly plays in the energy system, in particular solar power, which has become the “cheapest electricity in history”, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

But Sir David, who is the founder and chair of the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge, warned that the government’s revival of fossil fuels could backfire rapidly.

He said: “I fully agree with what the IEA is saying, which is ‘do not invest in new oil and gas recovery’.

“If we do invest in new oil and gas recovery, it will take a minimum of five years to get to the marketplace and more like 10-15 years, which is the average.

“In which case, they’re not dealing with the current crisis at all, and instead are investing in an operation that is likely to become a stranded asset.

“Quite frankly, it’s a policy that hasn’t been thought through in terms of climate change or in terms of the current climate crisis. It doesn’t attack either [issue].”

His assessment of the government’s position has been echoed by leading campaigning groups.

Doug Parr, Greenpeace UK’s policy director, told The Independent: “Sir David King speaks the truth. Most sensible countries realise that the economically rational course is to drive rapidly for zero emissions, because it boosts the whole economy and tackles the climate crisis and the cost of living crisis in one fell swoop.

“Truss’s current energy plans will do nothing for the economy any time soon, and will in fact create substantial stranded asset risks.

“Further, they accelerate climate breakdown, contributing to the deadly heatwaves and floods we see around the world, and do nothing to impact the soaring costs of energy that will leave households and the national overdraft in trouble for years to come.

“If Truss and Rees-Mogg continue on this course, it begs the question – whose interests are they serving?”

Sir David suggested the leadership of the country was using Russia’s war in Ukraine as an opportunity to expand the use of fossil fuels – even though doing so failed to address either the climate crisis or the energy crisis.

He said: “The immediate consequence of the Russia-Ukraine war is that energy prices have gone shooting up. The response to that [should be] to build more renewable energy – we can use an extension of an already successful operation.

“The opposite is to say ‘let’s use this as an opportunity to develop our oil and gas reserves’ – using the war as an opportunity to do this, knowing it has nothing to do with managing the short-term problems of the war.

“All of that indicates massive cynicism at the top of government. What they’re saying is ‘we’re not going to be in government in 2050, but we don’t believe in the net-zero target’.”

Friends of the Earth’s head of policy, Mike Childs, told The Independent that Sir David was “right to raise the alarm about the government’s enthusiasm for fracking and drilling more gas and oil”.

He said: “At best, it’s difficult to see how this enthusiasm for new fossil fuels is compatible with the prime minister’s commitment to deliver on the UK’s climate targets.

“At worst, it’s a sign that the new government is more interested in placating wealthy fossil fuel lobbyists than it is in tackling the mounting climate emergency and addressing the energy crisis for good.”

Energy experts have repeatedly called on the government to expand support for renewable energy technology and storage, implement a national insulation programme, invest in rolling out more heat pumps and halt investment in fossil fuel programmes.

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy did not respond to The Independent’s request for comment.

According to Vince Cable in his new book “How to be a politician” there are two ways for an ambitious MP to get on:

Make some brilliant eye-catching intervention that gets everyone talking about you.

The other more common route is obsequiousness. 

Looks like you have already chosen your route – Owl

Seven days is all the parliamentary time this Tory Government thinks is worth devoting to debating the problems this country is facing. Three of these will be next week to enable Liz Truss to conduct her “special fiscal operation”.

Could it be she wants to avoid scrutiny?

If the planned parliamentary schedule is followed, from 5:30 pm on Thursday July 21 to 2:30 pm on Monday 17 October, the House of Commons will have sat for nine days. These include the two days of special sittings to pay tribute to the late Queen. 

(That’s seven days devoted to running the country in what the rest of us would consider to be twelve working weeks in round numbers)

Meanwhile all the effort seems to be devoted to abstruse debates on subjects only of interest to her right wing such as:

Should she prioritise effort on: cutting taxes, oxford commas, and bankers bonuses.

Or following the deputy Prime Ministers, Thérèse Coffey, edict:

Should she prioritise effort on: cutting taxes, oxford commas and bankers bonuses.

(Do they know what they are doing? – Owl)

First rise since 2015

The cost of residents’ parking permits is set to rise under plans revealed by Devon County Council.

Ollie Heptinstall, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

If approved, the price of permits will increase to £35 for a property’s first vehicle, a rise of £5. Second permits will then be priced higher depending on the vehicles’ carbon emissions, while extra permits on top of that will cost £65.

All residential permits currently cost £30; a price the council says hasn’t increased since 2015. The price for a business permit for one vehicle is also going up to £35.

Explaining the move, which does not apply to Plymouth and Torbay, the county council said the consumer price index has increased approximately 19.5 per cent since the last rise – more than the planned base permit increase of approximately 17 per cent.

Under the proposed new scheme, which follows a public consultation, the only residential permits that will be priced according to a vehicles’ carbon emissions will be the second one in a household.

They will be £45 for electric and low-emitting vehicles in Band A (less than 100g/km), £55 for Bands B – K (101-225g/km) and £65 for the worst emitting vehicles in Bands L – M (226+ g/km)

A property’s first permit will be £35 irrespective of carbon emissions, as will the £65 price for a third vehicle or any additional ones.

Permits will also be required for motorcycles (first permit £35, second permit £45, extra permits £65).

Once the new scheme has been adopted all future permits will be issued virtually, which the council says will benefit the environment and see a reduction in waste.

It claims the new pricing structure will “positively affect a reduction in consumption of fossil fuels in private vehicles by encouraging the uptake of fuel efficient/low emission vehicles and discouraging multiple car ownership.

“It is hoped more [people] will consider changing the mode of travel or adopt other sustainable modes of travel.”

Other changes to the permit scheme include:

• Refunds will be issued for part-used virtual permits.
• Introduction of virtual visitor permits which will be available as an alternative to physical ones.
• £30 per batch of 350 hours (allocated in 1 hour sessions) for schemes operating at all times (24hr/7days).
• £30 per batch of 200 hours (allocated in 1 hour sessions) for schemes not operating at all times.
• Virtual visitor permits will be required for motorcycles.
• Refunds will be issued for part-used batches of virtual visitor permits.
• New £10 administrative charge for essential visitor permits.
• Price for Exmouth (Langerwehe Way) business occupier permits and charity business permits increased to £35 for each permit.
• Supported living and school business permits introduced at charity business permit rate.
• Proof will be required for all applications.
• Exemption for car club vehicles from residents parking restrictions (including limited waiting and pay & display with exemptions for residents permit holders).

A report, due to be presented to a meeting of the cabinet later this month – rescheduled because of the queen’s death – also provides information on how Devon’s system compares to neighbouring local authorities.

Plymouth and Torbay currently charge £30 each for residents permits, with a maximum of two per household, while the prices differ completely in Cornwall and Somerset.

A first Cornish household permit costs £50 and £75 for the second. Only two are allowed per household.

Somerset’s scheme is based on the carbon emissions of vehicles for the first permit. They cost £60 as standard, but are discounted by either 100 or 50 per cent if a vehicle emits less than 100g or 110g/km. Second permits cost a flat fee of £100.

Devon’s ruling cabinet will consider and vote on the changes at a meeting on Monday 26 September.

Markets think the Bank of England will unveil the biggest hike in interest rates for over three decades when its decision makers gather for a delayed meeting.

www.newschainonline.com 

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to increase rates by 0.75 percentage points to 2.5%.

It would be the highest interest rate that the UK has had since the financial crisis. In December 2008 the base rate was slashed from 3% to 2%.

It would also be the highest single increase to interest rates since 1989.

Next week’s Bank of England meeting is crucial

“Investors think the most likely outcome is that the MPC will increase the Bank rate by 75bp (0.75 percentage points) on Thursday,” said Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

But he said that economists are expecting a smaller rise, to 2.25% – the same 0.5 percentage point change as the Bank’s last hike.

“For a start, hawkish surprises from the MPC have been far less common than dovish ones over the last year,” he said.

“In addition, Governor Bailey openly referred to a 50bp hike ahead of the August meeting, but has not given markets a nudge to price-in a 75bp hike.

“We think that the MPC still will deem a 50bp increase to be consistent with its pledge to act ‘forcefully’, if it sees signs of more persistent inflationary pressures.”

ING economist James Smith said that the Bank of England will have to react to recent falls in the price of the pound. Sterling hit a new 37-year low against the dollar on Friday.

“Next week’s Bank of England meeting is crucial,” he said.

“It will tell us not only how worried policymakers are about the slide in sterling and other UK markets, but also how the Government’s decision to cap household/business energy prices will translate into monetary policy.”

“We narrowly favour a 50bp hike on Thursday, taking the Bank Rate to 2.25%, although 75bp is clearly on the table and we would expect at least a couple of policymakers to vote for it.”

He said that rates will likely rise again in November and December, hitting 3% by the end of the year.

The decision to hike interest rates is a bid to keep inflation under control. It is the best tool that the Bank of England has to steer inflation – currently at 9.9% – back to its 2% target.

But the decisions will also have major impacts on people’s finances, not least those with mortgages who will need to start paying more for their home loans.

The MPC was originally set to announce its decision on Thursday September 15, but delayed this for a week due to the Queen’s death.

This is reported as costing £24m within the county.

Stand up all those, mostly Conservatives, who backed the closure of the community hospitals. – Owl

Edward Oldfield www.devonlive.com

Plans are being put in place to open more beds at Devon hospitals to head-off a winter healthcare crisis after one of the busiest ever summers for the NHS. An extra £5million is being spent in Plymouth which alongside Cornwall is among the worst in England for ambulance handover delays.

Some of the money will go on 41 extra beds at Derriford Hospital and community hospitals to ease the pressure on the emergency department. In the rest of Devon, £19million is being spent on creating extra capacity in the NHS for the winter. That includes £6million on creating 37 extra beds and spaces at Torbay Hospital, 18 at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, and 11 at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple.

The extra £24million has been secured from national funding to tackle the pressure across the NHS in Devon. More patients will be treated at home in so-called ‘virtual wards’, where support from clinical teams is provided remotely through the use of apps, platforms and devices which can monitor pulse, heart rate and breathing.

The £5million project will create three virtual wards covering Plymouth, Torbay and South Devon, and East and North Devon, creating the equivalent of around 75 hospital beds. The first of the schemes will go live in December 2022, and will be scaled up through to March 2024.

Patients will be given a choice of being an inpatient or receiving treatment at home, and their home circumstances and available support will be taken into account.

Devon will see £9.8million invested in the hospital discharge process, including for care hotels, agency support, rehabilitation care and support, and for patients with complex dementia. It includes extra capacity for mental health, on top of £219,000 already allocated for winter pressures.

An extra £900,000 is being invested in the handover of integrated community urgent care services to a new provider, Practice Plus Group, in October.

A communications strategy will focus on persuading people to contact the 111 service before going to an emergency department, take up the flu and Covid vaccines, use pharmacies, and use online services.

A report outlining the measures to Devon County Council said: “Devon’s system remains under sustained pressure due to a range of complex and multi-faceted issues – including the pandemic, increased demand, staff shortages, and vacancy rates in health and adult social care providers.

“The cost-of-living crisis is also impacting on health and social care services, not only for our population and our staff, but also in the care market. Staff nationwide have faced one of their busiest summers ever with record numbers of Emergency Department attendances and ambulance services facing extreme pressures, high demand for social care and mental health services, and the impact of another wave of COVID-19.

“As a result, bed occupancy levels in hospitals are high, people are staying in hospital for longer than they need to, and ambulance handover delays are increasing. Ultimately, it means many patients aren’t getting the care they need in a timely way. The past two years has seen significant pressure upon our urgent and emergency care (UEC) services. The workforce is stretched and exhausted, yet it continues to deal with high levels of demand against a backdrop of constraints which affect our ability to treat people.”

The rise in ambulance handover delays at hospitals has been blamed on shortage of beds and delayed discharges to social care. Figures at the start of September showed that in Plymouth, Exeter and Torbay, around one in 10 beds was occupied by a patient who was fit to leave, but was waiting for care to be arranged. In North Devon the proportion was 27 per cent – more than a quarter. GPs are seeing more patients and more complex needs, with appointments up by 8 per cent in the past year. Meanwhile the vacancy rate in the NHS has increased in line with the national picture. In July, there were more than 4,500 vacancies in health and social care in Devon.

National ambulance data for July showed record calls to the most serious incident, and the highest level of patient handover delays.

Last week a senior doctor warned that the NHS is facing a winter crisis as figures show 1,200 emergency patients in Devon waited more than 12 hours for a bed in August. Dr James Gagg said the latest data from the region’s emergency departments was “shocking”, with large numbers of patients “facing extremely long waiting times”. He called on MPs and councils to acknowledge a “looming crisis” facing the health service in the winter and to “act now before it is too late”.

The NHS in Devon says it is facing a “challenging” budget for this financial year, with a need to find savings of £142million. The county council, which funds social care, was forecast in July to face an overspend of £40million, including £6million on adult social care.

The proposals in the winter winter plan after learning from last year, when the health and care sector faced “severe and sustained pressure” due to an increase in demand and the impact of the pandemic.

Brexit is hitting the UK export market, according to data from HMRC.

This comes just as Kwasi Kwarteng has told Treasury officials to adapt to a new approach focused on boosting annual economic growth to 2.5 per cent.

One might ask what contribution overall government policies are supposed to play in this dash for growth – Owl

Joe Mellor www.thelondoneconomic.com 

The number of UK businesses exporting goods to the EU fell 33 per cent to 18,357 in 2021, from 27,321 in 2020.

Michelle Dale, a senior manager at accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young, pointed out the fall is due to the extra red tape UK businesses must now comply with when exporting to the EU.

“Businesses are not getting enough support from the Government to navigate the post-Brexit trading minefield,” she said, reports City A.M.

“A lot of SMEs can’t afford professional advice to cope with Brexit-related red tape. Many are likely to have decided trading with the EU is not worth the cost,” Dale added.

“Fewer UK companies exporting to the EU will result in lost opportunities for growth and expansion in Europe.”

EU receives UK’s response to legal threats

Meanwhile, the European Union is considering its next steps after receiving the UK’s response to legal threats over the failure to comply with the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol.

Despite politics as normal being paused while the nation mourns the Queen’s death, the Government responded to the action ahead of Thursday’s deadline.

The bloc had requested a response to its raft of infringement proceedings over the UK’s failure to comply with the rules before the end of the day.

European Commission spokesman Daniel Ferrie said: “I can confirm we have received a reply from the UK. We will now analyse the reply before deciding on the next steps.”

What the UK’s response contained was unclear, but the Government was expected to set out how it believes that no operational changes on how the protocol works are required.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will be in Westminster for the Queen’s funeral on Monday.

It is unclear if she will be meeting Prime Minister Liz Truss while in London, although Ms Truss is expected to hold some talks with political leaders during their visits.

There have been unconfirmed suggestions that Ms Truss will speak to Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin on the margins of the funeral amid tensions over the protocol.

Housebuilder Redrow’s revenue has climbed above pre-Covid-19 levels, as it continues its withdrawal from the London market.

(To concentrate on the regions – Owl)

By: Millie Turner www.cityam.com

Revenue grew 10 per cent to a record £2.14bn in the year to 3 July. While profit before tax hit £246m, down from the £314m, it reported a year prior due to one-time fire safety costs of £164m.

The group is expected to have completely exited the capital’s property market, except the Colindale development in north west London, by the end of the year.

“In addition to the record revenue achieved, the group still ended the year with an order book of £1.44bn,” non-executive chairman Richard Akers said in a statement.

“Excellent progress has been made during the year executing our strategy to grow in the regions. The new Southern business, based in Crawley, officially opened at the end of June but the team has been active in the land market for some time. This division is expected to make a positive contribution to profits in the current financial year.”

The London-listed company, like most housebuilders in the UK, has been boosted by rising house prices and demand.

Charlie Huggins, head of equities at investment firm Wealth Club, cautioned: “Make no mistake – the biggest reason for Redrow’s success is high house prices, and the general strength of the housing market.

“That is something over which it has no control, and the big bad wolf of recession could be about to blow away the good times.”

A former pub landlord who has been jailed for sexually assaulting women at his bar has been stripped of his licence by East Devon officials.

Local Democracy Reporter eastdevonnews.co.uk 

Peter Hayball had his personal licence revoked and will be unable to reapply until long after his release from prison, writes local democracy reporter Philip Churm.

The decision made by East Devon District Council’s licensing and enforcement sub-committee on Wednesday, August 24 was only disclosed this week (Wednesday, September 7).

Members agreed to revoke Peter Hayball, 56, of his licence after he was jailed in May for 18 months and placed on the sex offenders’ register for 10 years for offences committed between 2016 and 2018.

During the trial, the court heard how Hayball, who was running a pub in Devon at the time, would pull open women tops and push money into their cleavage.

He touched the breasts of at least one woman and was stopped from doing so by another.

Hayball claimed he was just using ‘Carry-On humour”, saying it had been misunderstood as sexual advances and never went beyond a joke.

He was prosecuted on 13 charges relating to four women and was found guilty of three sexual offences.

Independent Councillor for Cranbrook and chair of the licensing sub-committee Kim Bloxham said: “The licensing authority takes matters such as this very seriously.

“All licence holders are required to promote the ‘licensing objectives’ – including maintaining public safety and preventing crime and disorder.

“The committee considered whether the holder of the licence remains a ‘fit and proper’ person to continue to hold a personal licence with these two objectives in mind.

“The committee considers that the revocation of the personal licence on this occasion is a necessary and proportionate decision to ensure that the public remain safe where alcohol is being served, either in East Devon or wherever the holder might be operating in the future.”

All sales of alcohol must be made by, or under the authority of a personal licence holder.

The council’s legal advisor Giles Slater explained the long-term impact of Hayball’s conviction.

“Obviously if he applies for personal licence again, that will come up on his application that he’s debarred for the next 10 years and he will be unable to apply until 2032,” he said.

Mr Slater also said, under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, Hayball’s conviction would affect other areas of employment.

“A custodial sentence of 18-months imprisonment means that the rehabilitation for most other jobs is four years from the date on which the sentence is completed. So, he won’t be rehabilitated until 2026.”

A new tourism strategy has been approved by Cabinet.

eastdevon.gov.uk 

Beach walking. Image credit: Jay Cross

Building on East Devon District Council’s support for the tourism industry with the EastDevonly campaign, a new tourism strategy has been approved by Cabinet.

The new 5-year strategy aligns with the new East Devon Cultural Strategy and will help the tourism sector to grow sustainably and bring prosperity to the area. The vision is for “East Devon to be the leading, year-round tourism destination in Devon, whose diverse ecosystem of outstanding natural environments, distinctive, high-quality businesses, towns and villages, all thrive and grow through a commitment to Net Zero, accessibility and collaboration”.

Councillor Nick Hookway, East Devon District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure, Sport and Culture, said:

I am delighted that this new strategy has been approved by Cabinet as it aligns perfectly with the Council’s vision for a clean and greener future, improved accessibility, good quality employment and higher wages across the area.  Tourism plays an important part of this work and brings many economic and social benefits, helping support our local cultural activities within our vibrant towns, villages and hamlets. 

The tourism strategy builds on the quality of the existing tourism offer and encourages growth through an increased focus on sustainability and inclusivity.

The strategy is based on strong evidence including existing strategies, stakeholder engagement, national analysis and trends. The strategy is achievable but ambitious, identifying a direction, actions and the role for East Devon District Council as an Enabler that will create lasting impact for the area’s tourism sector.

The strategy has already helped shape EDDC’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan.  Next steps include securing tourism data for 2021 to act as a baseline for future measurement and procuring a partner to run an East Devon Tourism Network to facilitate collaboration and sharing of best practice. In addition, the tourism strategy will inform relevant policy within the district’s new Local Plan, due later this year.

Read the full tourism strategy.

[Apologies for the delay in posting these – Owl]

• Garage conversion into habitable use with bay window extension. Granary House Granary Lane Budleigh Salterton EX9 6JDRef. No: 22/1957/FUL | Validated: Fri 02 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed ground floor side extension 46 Clyst Valley Road Clyst St Mary EX5 1DDRef. No: 22/1955/FUL | Validated: Fri 02 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension to existing storage building. Little Westcott Sheldon Devon EX14 4QSRef. No: 22/1960/FUL | Validated: Fri 02 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed conversion of redundant agricultural buildings to form 1no. single storey 2-bed detached dwelling and 1no. single storey 3-bed detached dwelling, provision of associated parking and associated works. Court Place Farm Wilmington EX14 9LARef. No: 22/1953/FUL | Validated: Fri 02 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Provision of offices and toilets to the existing light industrial units 5 Pankhurst Close Exmouth EX8 2TBRef. No: 22/1934/FUL | Validated: Fri 02 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement of existing balcony balustrade with new Cottington Court Sidmouth EX10 8HDRef. No: 22/1933/FUL | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Temporary agricultural workers dwelling Land At Hanger Farm Stafford Hill BroadhemburyRef. No: 22/1932/FUL | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Poplar : Lift crown to a height of approximately 6 metres above road as directed by the Highway Authority. T2, Poplar: Reduce low, eastern primary limb by approximately 3 metres making 1 target pruning cut approximately 150mm to reduce encroachment on property. T3, Pine : Lift crown above steps by reducing 2 lowest primary branches growing to East by approximately 2 metres making 1 target pruning cut on each branch approximately 150mm in diameter to reduce encroachment over steps. 4 West Hill Lane Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6AARef. No: 22/1937/TRE | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a detached triple car port with home office over an existing vehicle hardstanding. Home Cottage Burridge Axminster EX13 7DFRef. No: 22/1938/FUL | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of roof space to habitable use to include, 7 x rooflights, new front gable end and enlargement of existing porch. Thorntree Cottage 12 Drupe Farm Court Exmouth Road Colaton Raleigh Sidmouth EX10 0LERef. No: 22/1939/FUL | Validated: Fri 02 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Ash (T1) – Dismantle to ground level due to it showing signs of Ash Dieback, and is also growing out of a steep bank next to a water course showing sign of recent erosion. Ivy Cottage Stockland Honiton EX14 9BSRef. No: 22/1919/TCA | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension. 4 Eastfield Orchard West Hill Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1FSRef. No: 22/1920/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed holiday glamping pod Higher Coxes Farm Weston Sidmouth EX10 0PGRef. No: 22/1922/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension with associated alterations and erection of a detached double garage with home office above. Silverdale Bickwell Valley Sidmouth EX10 8SGRef. No: 22/1924/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side extension 58A Salterton Road Exmouth EX8 2NFRef. No: 22/1927/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of former hairdressers to form additional living accomodation with external alterations. The Wandle Fore Street Beer EX12 3JHRef. No: 22/1918/FUL | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• G1 – 5 x Chamaecyparis Conifers, 1 x Whitebeam, 1 x Cupressus Macrocarpa Conifer and 1 x Cherry trees found growing in a group along the boundary fencing adjacent with the neighbouring properties of the Burlands, Feniton. To prune and crown lift these trees to a height of 5.2 m. above the road and public footpath height removing the end weight and lever arm of all required branches making natural target pruning cuts of up to 50 mm. in diameter removing branch lengths up to 2 m. pruning as required all branches which are growing out towards the driveway entrances of the neighbouring properties. To then continue along the boundary hedge trimming back in line with the boundary fence all Conifer trees which continue along this boundary and which are adjacent to the neighbouring properties. Reasons for the work is to remove the potential failure of leaning stems and to alleviate the neighbouring properties occupants concerns regarding potential vehicle and pedestrian damage as branches have recently failed. Burlands Mead Feniton EX14 3BSRef. No: 22/1926/TRE | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side extension. 12 Clyst Valley Road Clyst St Mary Devon EX5 1DDRef. No: 22/1914/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension Berry Manor House Hawkchurch EX13 5XLRef. No: 22/1916/LBC | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension Berry Manor House Hawkchurch EX13 5XLRef. No: 22/1915/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of the existing Devoncourt building and outbuildings, construction of 77 no. new residential apartments (25% affordable) and new 62 bed hotel with access via Maer Road car park, associated car parking and landscaping works Devoncourt Hotel 16 Douglas Avenue Exmouth Devon EX8 2EXRef. No: 22/1910/MFUL | Validated: Thu 01 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Addition of a first floor, link attached double garage with store above and covered veranda. Windsor Bungalow Membury EX13 7TGRef. No: 22/1903/FUL | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Covered silage clamp. Cooksmoor Farm Stockland Devon EX14 9NHRef. No: 22/1904/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a garden storage building. Land Adjoining Town Dairy Church Road Lympstone Devon EX8 5ELRef. No: 22/1901/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey front extension with alterations to fenestration. Myrtle Cottage Feniton Honiton EX14 3BERef. No: 22/1892/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey rear extension with alteration to fenestration, demolition to workshop, proposed parking, detached garage with first floor annexe. 1 Manor Cottages Rockbeare Exeter EX5 2FERef. No: 22/1898/FUL | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from agricultural land to residential use to include erection of a green house and proposed new fencing. Little Acre Woodbury Lane Axminster EX13 5TLRef. No: 22/1884/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Existing stable to be replaced by a bat roost. Land South Of Money Acre Road Farway EX24 6EFRef. No: 22/1887/FUL | Validated: Fri 02 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Scots Pine : Fell. T2, Oak : Crown lift to approximately 4m above ground level MDC 25 mm. T3, Lime : Prune and crown lift all branches to approximately 1m above the apex of the storage shed MDC 25 mm. T4, Scots Pine : Remove 1 x windblown and hung up branch. T5, Beech : Reduce and prune all branches in the north east aspect of the crown which is growing out over the public highway by reducing 3 – 4 branches making 1 pruning cut 100 mm. in diameter and to various branches maximum 25 mm. in diameter. T6, Sycamore : Fell. Reasons for the works is to improve public safety as this is a highly frequented area by members of the public and there is also a day care nursery operating from this site. Replanting is proposed by the owner to replace any loss of amenity. Roman Catholic Church Guardian Angels Day Nursery Ottery Moor Lane Honiton EX14 1APRef. No: 22/1856/TRE | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension for 11 bedrooms Knappe Cross Nursing Home Brixington Lane Exmouth EX8 5DLRef. No: 22/1873/FUL | Validated: Thu 01 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension for 11 bedrooms Knappe Cross Nursing Home Brixington Lane Exmouth EX8 5DLRef. No: 22/1874/LBC | Validated: Thu 01 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of 4 no. dwellings. Land Off Gosling Walk Harepath Road Seaton EX12 2SXRef. No: 22/1846/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Extension of paving to provide car parking Hux Shard Church Hill Exeter Devon EX4 9JJRef. No: 22/1840/FUL | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace 1no. window at first floor and 2no. windows at second floor on rear elevation Old Clockhouse 12 Fore Street Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0SDRef. No: 22/1833/LBC | Validated: Tue 30 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Part two storey, part single storey extension, detached garage with office above and retrospective approval for the widening of the existing vehicular access to the boundary wall. Podburys Cottage Higher Way Harpford Devon EX10 0NJRef. No: 22/1813/LBC | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Part two storey, part single storey extension, detached garage with office above and retrospective approval for the widening of the existing vehicular access to the boundary wall. Podburys Cottage Higher Way Harpford Devon EX10 0NJRef. No: 22/1812/FUL | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension. 19 Meadow Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6JLRef. No: 22/1760/FUL | Validated: Wed 31 Aug 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace plain casement UPVC window with new UPVC window with glazing bars. 6 Trefusis House, Flat 1 Trefusis Terrace Exmouth EX8 2AXRef. No: 22/1763/FUL | Validated: Thu 01 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of a section of internal wall and raising and replacement of rear ‘lean to’ roof with roof lights and glazed gable end 1 Amyatts Terrace Sidmouth Devon EX10 8PERef. No: 22/1738/FUL | Validated: Fri 02 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of a section of internal wall and raising and replacement of rear ‘lean to’ roof with roof lights and glazed gable end 1 Amyatts Terrace Sidmouth EX10 8PERef. No: 22/1739/LBC | Validated: Fri 02 Sep 2022 | Status: Awaiting decision

We are still waiting for Liz Truss’ and Kwasi Kwarteng’s “special fiscal operation” which will bypass much of the analysis and scrutiny a formal budget gets. – Owl

Alexandra Rogers www.huffingtonpost.co.uk 

The EU is planning to bring in a windfall tax on energy firms so their huge profits can be “shared and channelled to those who need it most”.

Ursula Von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said it was “wrong” for companies to make “extraordinary” profits on the back of consumers and the war in Ukraine.

The move is in stark contrast to the approach taken by Liz Truss, who last week ruled out bringing in a fresh levy on the companies’ excess profits.

The EU is also proposing to cap the revenues of electricity-producing companies that are making extraordinary profits thanks to the war in Ukraine and climate change.

Von der Leyen told the European Parliament in Strasbourg that the proposal could raise 140 billion euro (£121 billion) to help people hit by spiralling energy prices.

During her state of the European Union address, Von der Leyen said: “These companies are making revenues they never accounted for, they never even dreamt of.

“In our social market economy, profits are OK, they are good.

“But in these times it is wrong to receive extraordinary record revenues and profits benefiting from war and on the back of consumers.

“In these times, profits must be shared and channelled to those who need it the most.”

She added: “And because we are in a fossil fuel crisis, the fossil fuel industry has a special duty, too.

“Major oil, gas and coal companies are also making huge profits. So they have to pay a fair share – they have to give a crisis contribution.”

The EU’s intervention is likely to lead to increased calls for a further windfall tax on UK firms.

A windfall tax on the UK’s oil and gas sector introduced on May 26 remains in place but there have been calls from Labour for it to be extended due to the worsening economic situation.

In her first week as prime minister, Truss unveiled a £150 billion package to cap energy bills at £2,500 for the next two years, saving the typical household £1,000 a year.

The policy has been welcomed as a much-needed intervention but the funding of it — through government borrowing — has been criticised by those who do not believe the taxpayer should shoulder the burden.

During prime minister’s questions last week, Truss ssaid she was against a further windfall tax when challenged by Keir Starmer.

“I believe it is the wrong thing to be putting companies off investing in the United Kingdom, just when we need to be growing the economy,” she told the Labour leader.

The 27 member states that make up the EU are also struggling with the cost of living crisis that has taken hold in the UK.

Since the outbreak of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, EU member states have sought to wean themselves off Moscow’s exports, which in turn has pushed prices up as demand for other supplies intensifies.

Russia has already cut gas supplies partially or entirely to 13 member countries in response to the EU’s decision to impose sanctions of Moscow for its continuing aggression against Ukraine.

In her speech, Von der Leyen said there needed to be a “deep and comprehensive reform of the electricity market” to reduce the influence of natural gas on the way that prices are set.

This month Southern Water announced changes to the Beachbuoy map, which means it will no longer automatically flag all raw sewage releases into bathing waters via storm overflows.

This is a result of a  “software upgrade” apparently – Owl is unconvinced

Sandra Laville www.theguardian.com 

A water company has changed its pollution alert map for the public to stop issuing automatic red alerts after a discharge.

Southern Water attracted public criticism this summer for releasing raw sewage via storm overflows after heavy rain along coastal Kent. Campaigners used social media to widely share the company’s Beachbuoy map, which marks beaches at risk of pollution from raw sewage discharges with a red cross, often revealing that much of the coast has been affected.

After storms in August at least nine Kent beaches were issued with pollution alert warnings and the Environment Agency issued a “do not swim” warning for beaches across much of the north and south-east Kent coasts.

This month Southern Water announced changes to the Beachbuoy map, which means it will no longer automatically flag all raw sewage releases into bathing waters via storm overflows.

Instead Southern Water is analysing the overflows by modelling tides and weather, before deciding which are likely to cause water quality problems at beaches.

Explaining the change on its website Southern said: “In September 2022, we upgraded the map to take into account the impact a release has on a local bathing water, based on the location of the outfall, the duration of the release and tidal conditions at the time.

The Southern Water Beachbuoy map marks beaches at risk of pollution from raw sewage discharges. Photograph: Southern Water

“For instance, if the outfall is 5km [3.1 miles] out to sea, the release was short and the tidal conditions meant there could be no impact on a bathing water, we no longer turn the bathing water icon red.”

The company said the releases were still available on its website in the accompanying table of combined sewer overflow (CSO) locations. It said most of its outfalls were long sea outfalls and where they are close to bathing waters they were designed with bathing waters in mind.

Ed Acteson, of campaign group SOS Whitstable, said he believed the changes were a way of turning a red map to blue to avoid bad PR.

“They are no longer indicating every CSO release on to beaches on their map, which is what it was set up for,” said Acteson. “They say they are taking into account the impact the release has on local bathing water but they don’t have the information to make that decision. The map has been covered in red recently; it is bad PR for them. It has been shared across social media and caused an outcry. That is what they are trying to avoid.”

Mike Owens, of Hayling Sewage Watch, analysed the data on the map on Wednesday morning. He assessed there were 15 out of 83 beaches marked blue that would have been red before the latest software update because outfalls were discharging raw sewage nearby.

“This is a question of trust in Southern Water to provide accurate, open and transparent information,” said Owens. “They say that they want to improve the user’s experience but manipulating data without giving us detail is most unhelpful and frankly neither open or transparent.

“They say they are using tide and weather and location to determine whether the discharge impacts on water quality on a beach but there are not showing us how they are making the calculation.

“I don’t know how they are doing it and how they have implemented it so quickly.”

Owens said for 246 outfalls the company would need to analyse the granular detail for every parameter in making a decision about whether a discharge impacted on water quality – including data for several different tide times, wind speeds and weather.

“If you multiply those together that is quite an astonishingly large amount of data.”

Martin William, Beachbuoy product owner at Southern Water, said: “This is an important step for the tool, ensuring we provide accurate, fair and clear information to wild swimmers, kayakers, paddleboarders and all users of the beautiful beaches across our region.

“Beachbuoy is leading the way in providing near-real time data about storm releases, but we must ensure it goes further to inform the public about the impacts to the watercourse and not limit their enjoyment of their local bathing water. We’ll never hide data though, with all releases still available on the website.”

A Court has fined South West Water £233,000 for supplying water unfit for human consumption affecting Bratton Flemming and other communities in North Devon in 2018.

South West Water had told customers to add a slice of lemon to the water but the court found that blaming the weather wasn’t acceptable and that South West Water should have reacted earlier to algal bloom in summer 2018.

According to a report on last night’s BBC Spotlight.

This is why your drinking water tastes weird at the moment 

(Extract) www.devonlive.com

“It’s the terrible taste of it, so earthy and mouldy flavour. How much longer do we have to put up with it?”

“Why is our water slightly brown and tastes like mud? What’s going on?”

“Some customers in north east Devon may have noticed a change to the taste or smell of their tap water over the last two weeks.

“The warm, dry weather has caused a natural change in the raw water at Wistlandpound reservoir, which supplies Bratton Fleming and Horedown Water Treatment Works.

“The earthy or musty taste is not harmful to health.

“We have installed an extra treatment stage at both water treatment works, and customers should notice a return to normal over the next few days.

“In the meantime, chilling a jug of tap water in the fridge and adding a dash of lemon can assist with lessening the taste and odour issue.”

Got to get your priorities right.

Let’s hear it for the Bankers! – Owl

Kevin Schofield www.huffingtonpost.co.uk 

Kwasi Kwarteng wants to scrap the cap on bankers’ bonuses in a bid to make the City of London more globally competitive.

The new chancellor is reported to be considering the move as he steps up government attempts to boost economic growth.

However, ending the cap – which was introduced in 2014 by the European Union – is likely to draw fierce criticism from the government’s political opponents.

The cap limits the amount bankers can receive in bonuses to twice their annual salary.

Its supporters say it is necessary to prevent bankers taking unnecessary risks like those which led to the 2008 financial crash in order to pocket huge bonuses.

But the Conservatives have long argued that the cap hampers the UK’s attempts to attract the best global banking talent.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson was in favour of ending the cap, but feared a huge political backlash if his government went ahead with it.

When the idea was first proposed in June, Labour leader Keir Starmer described it as “pay rises for bankers, pay cuts for district nurses”.

But according to the Financial Times, Kwarteng has told City bosses: “We need to be decisive and do things differently.”

The new chancellor will unveil his plans to boost economic growth in a mini-Budget when parliament sits again next week following the period of national mourning for the Queen’s death.

He will confirm that the government is ending the rise in national insurance payments, as well as scrapping plans to increase corporation tax.

The government has already courted controversy by refusing to bring in a fresh windfall tax on the excess profits being enjoyed by energy firms as a result of the war in Ukraine.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, yesterday announced that the EU would be bringing in its own windfall tax so the firms’ huge profits can be “shared and channelled to those who need it most”.

Looks like Simon Jupp MP, great supporter of the hospitality sector, won’t be back in the commons until 17 October.

Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng have other priorities e.g. scrapping the cap on bankers’ bonuses – Owl

Jon Stone www.independent.co.uk

The government has been urged to cancel a “ludicrous” parliamentary recess and recall MPs to work so that they can pass energy bill measures before prices rise in October.

Businesses in sectors such as hospitality and manufacturing have warned they could go out of business this autumn due to soaring prices without urgent government assistance.

The government has pledged to help – but in contrast to its plan for households, support for businesses will require parliamentary time so that fresh legislation can be brought in.

Yet parliamentary business has been suspended following the death of the Queen, and this break is expected to dovetail with a planned recess for parties to hold their conferences.

As a result MPs will not even begin to look at legislation until the second half of October, meaning business may have to wait until November for energy support.

Hospitality chiefs on Wednesday urged the governemnt to cancel the conference recess to get a move on.

“This [delay] is because energy plans require legislation – unlike domestic support – and with Parliament going back into recess next week there may be insufficient time to pass it before price hikes take effect from 1 October,” said Kate Nicholls, chief executive of industry group UK Hospitality. “This is why it seems ludicrous to go ahead with conference recess.”

The prime minister has promised support for businesses “equivalent” to her £2,500 annual price cap for households, but legislation is required to bring it in because there is no existing system like the domestic Ofgem energy price cap for firms.

The government says the details of the legislation is being worked on and it will be delivered in a “timely” manner.

But business chiefs have reportedly been warned in recent meetings that the scheme may not be ready until November.

“It is not worked through yet,” one government official told the Financial Times. “I don’t know whether it will come in before November. There’s some debate about whether it can be brought forward and happen before then.”

Some small firms like pubs and takeaways are already closing as they receive revised energy bills, with predictions that as many as 7 out of 10 nightlife venues could have to shut down.

The 10 day parliamentary suspension plus the conference recess beginning on 22 September means MPs are only expected to return to work in Westminster on 17 October.

Conference season is important to political parties because the events give them a significant media spotlight – but the gatherings are also financially important.

Parties bring in significant revenue selling stall pitches to lobbyists in their conference halls, and there could be significant costs associated with a last-minute cancellation of a major conference venue.

A government spokesperson said: “We will confirm further details of the business support scheme next week. The scheme will support businesses with their October energy bills, including through backdating if necessary.”

Citizen scientists are being trained as the best hope to protect rivers from pollution and over-abstraction as data suggests the Environment Agency’s new monitoring programme leaves waterways unprotected.

(See also this post)

Sandra Laville www.theguardian.com 

A £7m programme to set up citizen science testing in 10 river catchments across England is under way in an attempt to standardise the way volunteers carry out the monitoring.

Modelled on the testing carried out by volunteers at Chesapeake Bay in the US, the third largest estuary in the world, the project aims to create thousands of volunteer scientists who will monitor their local rivers and provide a grassroots voice to protect them.

“What we want eventually is to have thousands of people volunteering and monitoring their local rivers,” said Simon Browning of the Rivers Trust. “These could be 15-minute surveys or more detailed invertebrate surveys, which give us another level of data. We are trying to formalise the volunteer structure and standardise the monitoring so that we know the data is reliable.

“We want to bring along as many people as possible over all the river catchments across the country, so that by the end of the three years of the project there is no going back, we will see volunteers operating across the country.”

The aim is for the monitoring to be complemented by a network of sensors and the information will be gathered and shared into a central visualisation platform. The project, which is led by the Rivers Trust and United Utilities, is funded via the water regulator Ofwat’s first water breakthrough challenge, and involves academic partners. Browning, who set up a citizen science monitoring project for the Westcountry Rivers Trust which is ongoing, said the Environment Agency testing regime was no longer widespread or comprehensive enough.

The EA should monitor the chemical quality of rivers, focusing on levels of phosphates, nitrogen, ammonia and dissolved oxygen. But citizen data gathered in Devon exposed the holes in the new EA testing programme, adopted last year, which involves randomly selected sites for spot testing.

“Some of our river catchments have gone from being monitored 12 times a year to nothing,” said Browning. “So it is not so much a question of whether citizen science is better than EA monitoring but where there is no data at all, citizen science monitoring can empower communities and get them involved in understanding the issues in their rivers so that they can speak up and protect them.

“We want to see real benefits at a local level, with communities in towns and villages taking the local environment by the scruff of the neck and speaking up for rivers.”

Data from the River Creedy in Devon suggests the EA’s phosphate tests have dramatically reduced in 20 years. In 2000 the EA tested 12 sites for phosphates on the Creedy 12 times a year; totalling 144 tests. Testing started to drop off in 2014 with sample frequency reduced dramatically to a low of four times a year. By last year monitoring of the original 12 sites was abandoned altogether. Sites have been replaced with randomly selected areas as part of the new EA spot test system and there were 67 phosphate tests at these new sites in 2021, compared with a high of 189 tests conducted in 2002.

On the Creedy one of the new sample points is upstream of all sewage discharges, population centres or productive farmland. Critics say the new system is likely to misrepresent the scale of water pollution across the country.

“This detailed, local level spatial analysis [of the Creedy] reveals a huge shift in monitoring approach,” said Browning. “Long-term sampling sites have been wound down and abandoned, new ones initiated with a much-reduced sampling regime – one year in five – and at ‘random’ locations that are in no way representative of overall water quality at the waterbody scale.”

Annual funding from the government for monitoring activity has halved in recent years. The agency said its new River Surveillance Network testing was designed to provide a robust assessment of the health of rivers nationally over time. The agency said it welcomed the various emerging citizen science initiatives, which promised to deliver practical results in a collaborative manner.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We continue to take tens of thousands of water quality samples every year as part of our work to keep rivers clean. In recent years technological advances and increased efficiency has enabled us to concentrate our resources, and target areas where the environment will benefit most.”

“We’ve had seven housing ministers in the last five years and none of them have sorted it out.”

Dave Doyle www.bristolpost.co.uk

The cost of private home rental in our region grew by the fastest rate ever in the twelve months up to June, Bristol Live can reveal. Prices were 4.1 percent higher in June of 2022 than in June of 2021 – the largest year-on-year increase since comparative records began in 2006.

Taking the twelve months to July 2022, private rental prices had risen by 4 percent – the third largest rise of any UK region. Only the East and the East Midlands saw faster increases, of 4.1 and 4.3 percent respectively.

The record-breaking hike in home rental came at the same time that workers across Britain saw their regular pay fall by 3 percent, according to separate figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Ashley Day is the founder and director of Bristol Property Centre, an award-winning independent letting agent based in Redland. He called the average rise of 4.1 percent “quite modest”, suggesting that prices had jumped by much more in many cases.

“I’ve run BPC for ten years and supply has never been like this,” said Ashley. “Some tenants are offering up to £100 more than the landlord is asking for.”

The difficulty and expense of renting in the city is a popular topic amongst members of the Reddit forum r/Bristol, as suggested by the title of the weekly general discussion thread: “Buying, selling, moving, renting, lost property and general chat should go here.”

“I would say it’s an average price, not the best deal but equally nothing super high,” replied Party-Efficiency7718. “Good value in the current market I’d say in that location. Unfortunately, the market is messed up.”

“Just been notified that our rent is going from [£1,400] per month to [£1,900] in Horfield, and I am in disbelief,” wrote user Beardy_Will, in another thread. “Landlord reckons it is reasonable as the local letting agents told him to charge [£2,000]. Of course they tell him that as it is in both their interests to do so.”

Jeetz88 replied: “I really struggle to understand how they can justify a massive rent increase just cos some other locals are charging more. Pure greed.”

Spiralling rents come down to supply and demand, the property expert explained. “There’s simply not enough property,” he said. “There was a time we were advertising 30 properties in a month – at the moment it’s about 10 or 15.”

Many landlords are selling up due to changing regulations, which are making it less profitable to let. “Landlords can’t claim back the interest on their mortgages any more,” said Ashley. “It’s perhaps one of the only businesses in the country where they can’t claim back a legitimate business expense.

“They are also talking in Parliament about making the minimum energy efficiency band C, so landlords are exiting before they have to spend to bring property up to that standard. It can be very expensive, especially in older properties.”

He added that some landlords are capitalising on a buoyant post-pandemic sales market, cashing out and further reducing the stock of housing available in the city. And there is very little renters can do about it.

“There isn’t a situation I can see where people are going to be renting in Bristol for what you might call a reasonable amount,” said Ashley. “You can look at areas slightly further out, like Mangotsfield or Warmley, but it’s still very competitive out there.”

He added: “Try and stay where you are, if you can. If I was a tenant now, I’d probably come armed to a viewing with a tenant CV which you can hand to the agent. And offer what you feel you can afford – but don’t go beyond your means.”

The solution to the situation is “supply, supply, supply,” Ashley says. “There’s not enough student housing, so students are coming into the private sector. The council aren’t building enough social housing, and the private sector is shrinking because landlords are selling.

“We’ve had seven housing ministers in the last five years and none of them have sorted it out.”