Acres of ‘green lungs’ and wildlife areas in East Devon are at risk of being lost forever unless the district council wins its challenge to protect land from being earmarked for development.

Local Democracy Reporter eastdevonnews.co.uk

Plans to slash East Devon’s ‘green wedges’ have been sent back to the drawing board, writes local democracy reporter Will Goddard.

Green wedges are designed to protect the character of towns and villages and stop them blending together.

But they do not prevent housing development completely and are not part of national planning policy. Other protections also exist to safeguard landscapes and the environment.

The proposed cuts and changes to how the wedges are defined were brought forward at an East Devon District Council meeting, amid concerns they could be challenged in the future without clear evidence to justify them.

Green wedge proposed between Exmouth and Lympstone. Image: EDDC.

More than 70 per cent of the currently designated green wedges would have been lost under the plans, according to Cllr Geoff Jung (Lib Dem, Woodbury and Lympstone).

He said: “I appreciate that a green wedge is not a countryside protection tool, but a development and planners’ device to help protect the unchecked development of our conurbations, as well as helping to try and stop any correlating of settlements.

“But many of our residents see them as far more important, as the green lungs, wildlife areas and helping to reduce flooding, etc.

“Reducing them by this magnitude without any replacement policy sends the wrong signal that we as a council don’t care about environmental protection. Our countryside is our number one asset.”

Proposed green wedge between Ottery and West Hill. Image: EDDC.

Cllr Ben Ingham added: “The NPPF [National Planning Policy Framework] does not identify green wedges as such. That is not a green light to get rid of them, rather an opportunity for us to protect our green credentials.

“Green wedges came into form for this authority during the 1990s. Over the last 30 years, residents and Councillors have taken these to represent a part of our collective values and aspirations. To attack these collectively is to reject our current cultural values that embrace the East Devon vision.

“They come into play when different planning major applications come forward within a green wedge and can be the last resort of our protection for our planning policies and values.”

Proposed green wedge, East of Exeter and south of the A30. Image: EDDC.

Councillors voted unanimously to send the plans back for revision and more councillor input, and also for officers to look into whether areas of East Devon could be designated as ‘green belt’ land, a more established classification nationally.

[Featuring image first seen on East Devon Watch]

Unwitting constituents might be forgiven for thinking that the green leaflet that just slipped through their letterbox adorned with the face of a smiling politician was put there by their local Green Party.

Eleanor Langford, Hugo Gye inews.co.uk 

In fact, if they get as far as unfolding the pamphlet, they will see a small logo in one corner that reveals it is actually a leaflet for their local Conservative MP or prospective Parliamentary candidate, paid for and designed by the party’s central office.

The colours of the UK’s political parties are fairly well established – blue for the Tories, red for Labour, orange or yellow for the Lib Dems and, as the name suggests, green for the Green Party.

However, the Conservatives seem to be ignoring this distinction with the design of some of their recent flyers, leaving potential voters in many areas of the country confused.

Has the image of the party become so damaged by the turmoil of its latest spell in government that its MPs have become systematically shy about revealing that they are actually Tories?

It’s not just leaflets where they appear to be playing down or almost obscuring their party affiliation. Data compiled by Campaign Lab shows that, as of November 2023, 51 per cent of Conservative MPs did not mention the party in their bio on X, formerly known as Twitter, compared to just 10 per cent of Labour MPs and zero Lib Dems.

Philip Cowley, professor of politics at Queen Mary University, says there’s “no great mystery” why some Tories are going down this path.

“The national party is unpopular,” he says. “The local candidate is hoping that he or she can establish themselves as a local champion, while still relying on the core Conservative vote.

“The green works to make them look like the sort of person who will defend their patch against nasty house builders. The focus is all on local stuff, rather than national policy.”

The green leaflet isn’t the only design put out by the Conservative Party that has led to some confusion. A second, used by multiple MPs, uses pink and purple colours and a magazine-style layout with the heading “You & Your Family” – though it does include the sub-heading “how Rishi Sunak’s plan is strengthening our economy”.

A leaflet distributed by Simon Jupp MP (Image taken from eastdevonwatch.org/2024/02/08/)

Multiple voters from various constituencies have taken to social media to highlight the lack of any clear Conservative branding on both leaflets, with many questioning why the party’s name is left so small.

One Tory MP contacted by i insisted that, according to rules set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), any material paid for using parliamentary expenses can’t be political.

But that does not appear to be the case with these designs. Multiple MPs told i that both green and magazine-style layouts are templates provided and paid for by Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ), so political content and branding shouldn’t be a problem.

They also insisted that, while the front cover was green, there were frequent mentions of the Conservative Party throughout the inside of the leaflet.

One version of the leaflet, seen by i, did include a small Conservative logo on an inside page, the details of the local association that paid for it and listed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s five priorities on the back cover, but the copy included no mention of the words ‘Conservative Party’.

A veteran Tory strategist i spoke to had mixed feelings about the issue. They said the use of the green colour scheme was a “longstanding thing”, and insisted it wasn’t about “distancing from the party”.

“You get better engagement as it looks less tribalistic,” they said. “It’s taken a long time to convince MPs of this given they are so used to nailing their colours to the mast.

Some local Green Party associations have criticised the leaflets for being similar to their branding (Image: twitter.com/WokingGreens)

“As for not putting Conservative on it – that I have less sympathy for, it feels more like individuals doing whatever they can to win.”

According to one current Tory activist, MPs can choose which designs they want, and the contents have to be approved by CCHQ before they are printed.

“It really depends on the MP [or] candidate which one is chosen. I think the worry is that some people might throw away our leaflet based on the colours, without actually reading what we can do for them.”

“It’s pretty normal practice – I’ve been doing this 10 years and have seen lots of leaflets like this.”

And some Tories say they can’t see what the fuss is about. “I don’t think it’s particularly unusual having a green front cover,” a Tory MP, who had used the green leaflet told i.

“Before I became an MP I was chairman of the local Conservatives and we quite often did the green front cover.

“It’s for the green Commons benches. I don’t think there’s anything odd there.”

But other parties beg to differ and fear voters could get confused. In a statement on Facebook, the Luton and Bedfordshire Green Party accused the Conservatives of trying to “hide behind our branding that they clearly feel has more credibility than their own”, and even suggested that similarities were too close to be a coincidence.

“They have chosen two shades of green that very closely match shades that have been used by the Green Party in combination in exactly the way this leaflet does,” they said.

“In addition, this leaflet uses for its main headline the typeface ‘Bebas Neue’ that is exactly the same one chosen by the Green Party.

“This simply cannot be [a] coincidence. The design has been intended to replicate (to some extent) the appearance of a Green Party leaflet.”

It’s not the first time that politicians have been accused of trying to distance themselves from their own party’s national leadership.

Ahead of the 2019 general election, an investigation by the Daily Mail found that more than 100 leaflets distributed by Labour candidates did not mention the party’s then-leader Jeremy Corbyn. A separate analysis by The Telegraph also found that nine out of 10 of his shadow cabinet did not mention him.

But if the green leaflets are a deliberate Tory strategy for the next election some within the party fear it will backfire.

“The public are smart enough to see through a silly ploy like this,” a second Conservative source told i. “It’s so self-defeating to not work to repair the brand that will be next to your name in the ballot box.

“MPs tend to massively overestimate their own personal votes in their patch, so the best thing they can do is tie their efforts to the party or sink completely.”

The Conservative Party was contacted for comment.

Seaton filmmaker Chrissy Evans’ new 3-minute film has had 3,500 Facebook views in two days. Showing two women discussing – in no uncertain terms – the proposed disposal of the hospital wing that was paid for 100 per cent by local people, the film has captured the continuing mood of defiance in our East Devon community. You can play video here

Chrissy is the writer and director, and the film features local actors Mary Bowles and Val Christmas. Their group, Bus Pass Productions, has made several lighthearted-but-serious films aimed at older people, including, last year, one on dementia. ‘Old age is no place for the weak, but laughter is a strong weapon’, says Chrissy. To contact her: Chrispleck51@hotmail.co.uk or 07814 323988.

Meanwhile, in Parliament …

Richard Foord MP has had the reply (see text below) from the Government to the 9,000-strong petition that he presented recently. Unfortunately, it ignores the elephant in the room: that the ‘market rents’ that NHS Property Services charges are inappropriate for a community hospital paid for by local people. This makes the parliamentary debate on NHS Property Services, which Richard has obtained for tomorrow [today] (23rd), all the more pertinent.

Progress towards use of the wing for community health and wellbeing activities

The Seaton Hospital Steering Committee is preparing its plan for using the wing and has recently held a constructive meeting with Devon NHS ICB and NHS Property Services. Regular meetings will take place until the summer.

Contact: Professor Martin Shaw, Secretary, Seaton Hospital Steering Committee 

07972 760254

Text of government reply to petition

[Out of one pocket and into another – net change zero – very clever these Whitehall Mandarins – Owl]

The Government is aware that the NHS Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) is seeking to review its future requirements for Community Hospitals. We understand that the building of Seaton Hospital in 1988 was only possible with significant public fund-raising and that the continued availability of healthcare services delivered in community hospitals are strongly valued by the communities they serve. However, they also need to be able to adapt to changing clinical needs. 

Between 2015 and 2017, NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (now the ICB) undertook a review of community services which resulted in the transfer of ownership of the North Devon community hospitals estate, including Seaton Hospital, to NHS Property Services. At the same time the service delivery model was changed, resulting in a reduced requirement for community hospital beds and leading to some properties such as Seaton being significantly underutilised.

The ICB is responsible for meeting the costs of continuing to run this operational property and in seeking to address its significant financial challenges is now considering how best to rationalise its property needs. 

Ultimately, whilst the long-term healthcare commissioning requirements for Seaton Hospital is for the ICB to determine, the operational costs of running the property have to be paid for and therefore a long-term sustainable use must be established. The ICB is currently working closely in partnership with NHS Property Services to identify and evaluate suitable options to achieve this objective. Whilst the property remains an operational healthcare facility, it is not surplus to commissioning requirements and there are no current plans to sell the facility.

The Government believes that ICBs are best placed to make decisions on commissioning services for their communities, working with local authorities, stakeholders and local populations to meet people’s needs. 

For achieving nothing on rural broadband in Devon! – Owl

Richard Foord Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Defence)

Devon County Council is spending its broadband clawback money on anything but broadband. That £7.8 million was intended for improving broadband in rural areas, including in villages such as Northleigh. Residents have encountered numerous pledges on poles, but they still do not have full fibre. Does the Minister think the clawback funding for broadband should have been ringfenced by Devon County Council?

Julia Lopez Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office), The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

These issues have been highlighted many times by Conservative Members from Devon. We thought we had worked through some of those challenges. The clawback challenge that the hon. Gentleman highlights has not previously been raised with me, and I will happily look into it for him.

One of Devon’s most popular beaches is again being subjected to untreated sewage being pumped into the sea just a month after the last major spill.

David Parsley inews.co.uk 

South West Water (SWW) has told local residents that it has re-launched the use of tankers to transport sewage each day from a burst pipe to pumping stations along the Exmouth coast.

The move has, once again, resulted in pollution warnings at the East Devon tourist hotspot on several occasions in the past week. The water firm has apologised for the disruption.

Campaigners claim that the pollution warnings began on 8 February, but SWW did not directly write to customers alerting them to another burst pipe until last Wednesday.

In an email dated 13 February, the water company, which was fined £2.15m for illegally dumping sewage into rivers and the sea in Devon and Cornwall last year, told residents: “We’re working hard to repair another burst in the Exmouth area. We need to temporarily use tankers again to allow our team to safely work on the damaged pipe.”

Three days later the company wrote to locals again, apologising for the issues, which were ongoing as of Wednesday afternoon, 13 days after the tankering of millions of litres of sewage through the town began.

In January, i revealed SWW had been accused of dumping millions of litres of raw sewage into the sea at Exmouth after sending 240 tankers a day to an overflowing pumping station.

Local sea swimmer Jo Bateman, who is taking SWW to court over the sewage spills that regularly prevent her from taking her daily dip, said: “We’re just getting the usual guff from SWW. They say they care and are doing everything that can to fix the problems but they keep happening.

“There were all the issues from mid-December that went on well into January, and this latest burst pipe is leading to yet more pollution with warnings about the dangers of swimming at our beach being made since 8 February.

“The issue is that SWW just react to problems as they occur rather than proactively trying to prevent them from happening in the first place. Meanwhile, the executives and shareholders continue to profit from bonuses and dividend payments.”

Since the transporting of sewage from the site of the latest pipe burst to pumping stations and treatment works around Exmouth, the Environment Agency (EA) advised against swimming in the sea due to raw sewage being pumped into the water.

This warning from the EA, which was issued on 15 February remained in place on Wednesday evening. It reads: “Bathing is not advised, due to pollution from sewage.”

During a community meeting held by SWW in Exmouth on Tuesday night locals staged a protest against what they say is the company’s continued failure to protect the local environment.

East Devon District Council leader Paul Arnott, who attended the protest, said SWW had brought five security guards to the meeting for protection, but there were no reports of any trouble.

Twenty-six of the 30 district council wards in East Devon have experienced an untreated sewage spill since 2022, meaning more than 82 per cent of the local population lived in a ward affected by the pollution.

A spokesman for SWW said: “We want to reassure our customers that we are working hard in Exmouth to fix the burst on one of our critical rising mains.

“We have now completed the extension of the temporary overland pipe which we hope to bring online later today.

“This will mean we can then stand down the tankers. We are also working on a permanent replacement of the entire rising main which we expect to complete by the end of March.

“We are very sorry for the disruption caused, and we will continue to keep everyone updated.”

(Excuse the pun)

Last night EDDC overwhelmingly passed the motion in a recorded vote with 46 councillors voting for and two abstentions. It incorporated six actions (details here).

The two councillors who abstained  were the leading Tories: Cllr Colin Brown, Dunkeswell and Otterhead, and Cllr Mike Goodman (chair of scrutiny), Sidmouth Sidford.

Cllr Sophie Richards, Sidmouth Town, attended part of the meeting but had left the chamber before the vote. What could have been more important than sewage spewing into the sea for Sidmouth?

Given its importance, the chair had brought the motion to the top the agenda.

Two attempts to derail it by amendment were defeated. 

One from Cllr Ian Barlow, Sidmouth Town, who continued the “non-confrontational” line he pursued at the SWW Scrutiny Meeting on February 1, trying to water it down. He wants a line drawn under the past and a new start made with SWW. (Despite this he voted for what he described as a “pointless” motion.)

The second from Cllr Mike Goodman to take it back into scrutiny.

Many councillors wanted to speak of their ward members experience with SWW.

One councillor mentioned that he had learned at the end of Wednesday’s SWW “Road Show” in Exmouth that the sewer repairs would take a year to repair.

Cllr Jess Bailey, West Hill and Aylesbeare, proposed strengthening the EDDC action to ask EDDC’s chief executive, Susan Davey, to forgo any bonus until substantive (to be defined) progress is made to improve matters locally, and to ask SWW to follow other water companies in actively monitoring sewage discharges into rivers before the government deadline of 2025. SWW is only doing the minimum. It was agreed that these sentiments would be added to the actions placed on the Leader.

Opening remarks

To finish, here is an extract of the remarks made by Cllr Todd Olive, Whimple and Rockbeare, when he proposed the motion. 

There are two things that I want to really pick out. First is the sheer scale of South West Water’s failure, and the environmental vandalism that has resulted. Sewage overflows in East Devon spilled raw, untreated effluent for over twenty thousand hours in 2022. That’s the equivalent of one pipe spewing poo into our rivers and onto our beaches for over two years and three months. In the few weeks since this motion was submitted, we have seen the third burst of a sewage main in the Maer valley in Exmouth in the space of barely two months, with the overflow at Phear Park operating twenty-four hours a day every day since February 13. The worst performing CSO in East Devon in 2022 spilled on more than two in every three days that year: it seems to me that South West Water is inadvertently heading for a new record. Only today I understand colleagues have been dealing with another burst pipe, this time in Colyton. Chair, briefly at this point, I should like to extend thanks to Geoff Crawford and Andrew Tyerman of Exmouth’s ESCAPE group for their tireless efforts in keeping track of what’s going in Exmouth.

Our residents are angry. They are angry at the desecration of our rivers and our coast; at the disruption caused by weeks of noisy, obnoxious tanker movements from works in Exmouth and Budleigh to try and keep a lid on this mess; angry at the literal eruptions of sewage from manholes that we are seeing in the West End, in Clyst St Mary, where raw sewage has more than once been flowing down our streets. Angry at a faceless, unaccountable corporation that sends PR chiefs to meetings of our Scrutiny committee with promises of answers in the future, and of a new sewage works in the West End that won’t be built until at least thirty years after South West Water themselves identified the need for it, found a site for it, ringfenced the funding for it, and obtained permission to build it. Angry with a government that has, belatedly, only this morning got its act together and provided only a partial restoration of the funding and capacity that was deliberately stripped from the regulator that’s supposed to keep an eye on water quality.

Between 2013 and 2018 the Environment Agency shed 20% of its staff particularly during Liz Truss’ efficiency drive in 2015, (2,500 staff and £80m). 

Now the government announces greater resources and manpower for the EA (by 2026) of 500 staff and £55m per year.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay says:

We are clear that we need to get much tougher with unannounced inspections to bring an end to the routine lawbreaking we have seen from water companies, which is what this announcement will deliver.

 Panicking? – Owl

Inspection surge to crack down on water sector pollution

www.gov.uk

• Fourfold increase in water company inspections to hold companies to account.   
• Includes up to 500 additional staff for inspections, enforcement and stronger regulation over the next three years, with recruitment already underway.
• Part of a tougher regime fully funded by government and water company permits.

Water company inspections will more than quadruple as the Government cracks down on poor performing companies, under plans announced today (20 February). In recent months, robust steps have been made under the Plan for Water with all 15,000 storm overflows now monitored and the cap on civil penalties for pollution removed. Last week, Defra went further in announcing that water bosses are set to be banned from receiving bonuses if a company has committed serious criminal breaches.

The Environment Agency (EA) is already ramping up inspections on water company assets, with over 930 completed this financial year. Today’s announcement goes further as water company inspections carried out by the EA will rise to 4000 a year by the end of March 2025, and then to 10,000 from April 2026. This will include an increase in unannounced inspections – strengthening oversight of water companies and reducing the reliance on water company self-monitoring, which was established in 2009. 

Increased inspections and enforcement will be backed by around £55 million each year. This will be fully funded through increased grant-in-aid from Defra to the Environment Agency and additional funding from water quality permit charges levied on water companies, subject to a public consultation closing in March 2024.

Environment Secretary Steve Barclay said:  

We are clear that we need to get much tougher with unannounced inspections to bring an end to the routine lawbreaking we have seen from water companies, which is what this announcement will deliver.

We are going further to quadruple the Environment Agency’s regulatory capacity – allowing them to carry out 4,000 water company inspections by the end of the next financial year.

Environment Agency Chair Alan Lovell said:   

Last year we set out measures to transform the way we regulate the water industry to uncover non-compliance and drive better performance. Today’s announcement builds on that. Campaign groups and the public want to see the Environment Agency better resourced to do what it does best, regulate for a better environment. 

Proposals to get extra boots on the ground to increase inspection visits will help further strengthen our regulation of the industry.”  

With 100% of storm overflows now monitored, data-driven analytics will also help the Environment Agency map discharges against rainfall more effectively so they can quickly direct new specialist officers to any sites at risk, identify any non-compliance and take action. 

The EA is already conducting the largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water and sewerage companies at thousands of sewage treatment works. Since 2015, the EA has concluded 59 prosecutions against water and sewerage companies securing fines of over £150 million.

Today’s announcement builds on the recent improvements the government has delivered to the water environment, including:

• 100% of storm overflows in England are now monitored – providing a complete picture of when and where sewage spills happen.  
• Removing the cap on civil penalties for water companies and broadening their scope so swifter action can be taken against those who pollute our waterways.  
• Increased protections for coastal and estuarine waters by expanding the Storm Overflow Discharge Reduction Plan, prioritising bathing waters, sites of special scientific interest and shellfish waters.    
• Requiring the largest infrastructure programme in water company history – £60 billion over 25 years – to revamp aging assets and reduce the number of sewage spills by hundreds of thousands every year.   
• Providing £10 million in support for farmers to store more water on their land through the Water Management Grants to support food production and improve water security.   
• Speeding up the process of building key water supply infrastructure, including more reservoirs and water transfer schemes.

Paul Arnott posted a video on Facebook and this statement: 

Today, I’ve been speaking to Exmouth residents protesting against South West Water, who held a behind-closed-doors Q&A at Exmouth Town Hall this afternoon – with no less than five private security guards. SWW’s failure to properly invest in our infrastructure, and their haphazard and disruptive approach to managing the effective collapse of the sewage network in Exmouth, has been as shocking to me as to any other resident – and I’m determined to see them held to account.

I’d strongly encourage anyone able to come along to Wednesday evening’s Full Council at East Devon’s offices in Honiton, starting at 6pm, to do so – we’ll be considering a strongly-worded motion calling out South West Water’s appalling track record, and trying to get us on the road to fixing things. You can also follow along via the Council’s YouTube channel.

Image from ESCAPE Facebook

Exmouth Journal Staff www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

Hundreds of residents turned up outside Exmouth Town Hall this afternoon to protest about sewage pollution.

Organiser Jo Bee rallied the troops, which included swimmers, environmental groups, Exmouth Quakers and councillors.

Lots of people drove past the protest and tooted their horns in support of the group’s cause.

The protest started at 1.30pm. Around 200 protesters turned up and Exmouth Quakers turned up and started singing sea shanties.

Councillors came out to see what the commotion was; Geoff Jung and Paul Miller were seen outside as well as Paul Arnott, who was supporting the protests.

The aim of today’s protest ‘to make it very clear to SWW that we simply don’t accept the damage they are doing to us, to our environment, and to our tourism. Enough is enough’.

A Facebook group called ESCAPE (End Sewage Convoys And Poollution Exmouth) is open for members of the public to join and find out the latest on sewage pollution in Exmouth and Budleigh.

Paul Arnott told the Journal: “I fully support these protests. I have been told that EDDC have laid on seven security guards inside the town hall as they heard news of the protests.”

Jo Bee added: “We are here today to show to South West Water that enough is enough. This is just the start, with my court case as well standing up to South West Water.”

SWW are hosting a series of coastal community roadshows across the region to share the latest business plan with customers. Today they were in Exmouth and residents decided to gate crash the meeting with a protest outside.

They are explaining to residents how the water and wastewater systems work and explaining more about the plans we have for Exmouth and the surrounding areas.

The meeting is being held from 2pm to 6pm and is fully booked, with a limited supply of tickets.

A motion is being carried through East Devon District Council on Wednesday (February 21) declaring ‘no confidence’ in the company’s sewage management systems.

The motion states that there is ‘widespread concern’ among East Devon residents, and notes ‘with alarm’ that specific measures to improve the capacity of the sewage system, identified in 2010, ‘have not been actioned’

In response to this, South West Water said: “The opinions of our customers matter to us greatly. We are listening and know we have more to do. The purpose of events like our Community Roadshow in Exmouth tomorrow is to hear directly from customers and have the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have.

“We are investing to help deliver improvements in our environmental performance, and will continue to do all we can to protect our region’s seas and rivers.”

What was lurking just a few metres away from the hospitality tent on Friday when Simon Jupp, Rebecca Pow, Minister for Nature, and assembled dignitaries were toasting the new “King’s nature Reserve”?

Are they going to continue to “look the other way”?

Read the full story in Simon Jupp’s facebook post and subsequent comments. – Owl

Simon Jupp on facebook wrote:

How lucky are we to live here? East Devon is a beautiful part of the world, and we should do all we can to protect our natural environment.

It was great to welcome the Minister for Nature, Rebecca Pow MP, to Budleigh Salterton last Friday for a fantastic celebration of Pebblebed Heaths National Nature Reserve being extended into wetlands created by the Lower Ottery Restoration Project (LORP).

The multi-million-pound investment into our local environment through the LORP is already paying dividends, with greater protections for biodiversity and a more resilient ecosystem.

To top it off, the expanded nature reserve is part of the “King’s Series” celebrating the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III. He has good taste!

Thank you to Natural England and Clinton Devon Estates for a great celebration, and for their important work in helping to take care of East Devon’s precious environment.

This post received these comments:

Karen Powers

Truly a fantastic achievement. Please Don’t let SWW ruin this nature reserve with their secret raw sewage dumping via the unreported Emergency Overflow (EO) back door. Graphic photos and videos have been released to EA but SWW are already trying to clean away the evidence. Escape have been reporting the Lime Kiln EDM as potentially faulty since November 2023. There is never a spill more than 1-2 minutes. SWW deny any faults and say it’s working as expected. I predict that now the back door (EO) will hopefully be closed the spills will start to be reported via the Lime Kiln EDM? Perhaps SWW wanted to hold back any publicity about poollution at this site before the opening?

Geoff Crawford

Hi Simon, pity SWW were reported to EA this morning for potentially illegally dumping sewage and all sorts of stuff there via an un reporting EO. Exactly why ESCAPE – End Sewage Convoys And Poollution Exmouth are asking you to lobby government to make SWW report on ALL overflows. It’s great that You and Rebecca POW want to protect this environment and nature reserve. Let’s see that action, report on ALL overflows, EOs and CSOs and prove your words by actions. Don’t let it look like you looked the other way.

Fran Swan

Geoff Crawford

Absolutely!

And please Simon Jupp MP, open transparency and let this comment remain!

• Single storey rear extension 9 Yallop Way Honiton Devon EX14 2GNRef. No: 24/0286/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 21/1228/LBC : Condition 3 (building condition), Condition 4 (materials/rain water goods/windows/doors/vents) Hillside Farm Harcombe Devon DT7 3RNRef. No: 24/0287/DOC | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Timber Orangery Wessington Farm Awliscombe EX14 3NURef. No: 24/0290/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of Condition for application 22/0744/LBC: Condition 4 (Details) Springfield Kilmington Devon EX13 7SBRef. No: 24/0291/DOC | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Polytunnel Stockers Farm Wick Devon EX14 4TYRef. No: 24/0283/AGR | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawfulness for construction of single storey extension to western elevation (previously submitted under 15/0113/CPL)Mountfield Coreway Sidford Sidmouth Devon EX10 9SDRef. No: 24/0292/CPL | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 23/2432/FUL: Condition 3 (Materials) Laneside Drakes Avenue Sidford Devon EX10 9QYRef. No: 24/0275/DOC | Validated: Thu 08 Feb 2024 | Status: Unknown
• T1, Lime: re-pollard to previous reduction points. Sherwood Salcombe Hill Road Sidmouth Devon EX10 8JSRef. No: 24/0277/TRE | Validated: Thu 08 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 23/1207/LBC: Condition 4 (Details) The Lodge Gittisham Devon EX14 3ADRef. No: 24/0278/DOC | Validated: Thu 08 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Agricultural building for hay, straw and storage of machinery Chineway Farm Putts Corner Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0QQRef. No: 24/0281/AGR | Validated: Thu 08 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• To include Rentplus affordable housing provisions within Section 106 dated 29 April 2014 (Phase 3A) and Section 106 dated 27 February 2023 (Phase 3B) Land At Pinn Court Farm Pinncourt Lane Exeter EX1 3TGRef. No: 24/0274/V106 | Validated: Thu 08 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, hawthorn – fell. Reason – dead buds and suspected root death due to honey fungus. 20 Fore Street Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6NGRef. No: 24/0270/TCA | Validated: Wed 07 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Devon County Council consultation: Demolition of the Devon Lady, single storey classroom at Kilmington Primary School and construction of a modern equivalent of the same dimensions.Kilmington Primary School Whitford Road Kilmington Axminster EX13 7RGRef. No: 24/0273/CM | Validated: Wed 07 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, coastal redwood – shorten back low branches, to a suitable pruning position, away from wire by approximately 1m and balance as necessary. T2, weeping beech – shorten back from roof by 2m to a suitable side branch. Row of approximately 22 Lawson cypress on boundary – fell to as near ground level as possible. Heronsbridge Little Knowle Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6QSRef. No: 24/0269/TRE | Validated: Wed 07 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• G1, Western Red Cedar: crown raise lower foliage over graveyard in order to give approx. 1.5-2.0 metres clearance over headstones. St Andrews Church ChardstockRef. No: 24/0267/TCA | Validated: Wed 07 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of a main entrance sign to the access of a new Cats Adoption Centre (previously approved under application 19/2365/MFUL) Axhayes Cattery Clyst Honiton Exeter EX5 2HSRef. No: 24/0265/ADV | Validated: Wed 07 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Redevelopment of site to provide: (a) Care home building (Class C2) with associated parking, landscaping, staff and resident facilities and associated works (b) Extra care apartment building (53 units) with associated communal lounge, wellbeing suite, restaurant and care provision (class C2) (c) Retirement living apartment building (33 units) with associated communal lounge (Sheltered housing) and (d) Erection of 4 houses and 3 townhouses (Class C3) along with accesses, internal car parking, roads, paths, retaining walls, refuse and landscaping associated with development; retention/refurbishment of building B, erection of habitat building and sub-stations. (Demolition of buildings other than building B) (Variation to previous application (23/0571/MFUL) showing removal of balconies and elevational changes to west elevation of Retirement Living block) Former Council Offices Knowle Sidmouth Devon EX10 8HLRef. No: 24/0263/MFUL | Validated: Wed 07 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of garage to ancillary annexe for friends, family and for holiday accommodation Cranbrook The Glen Uplyme DT7 3TRRef. No: 24/0272/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposal for side extension (resubmission based on 23/1107/FUL) The Oaks Shute Road Kilmington EX13 7STRef. No: 24/0261/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed ground floor rear extension and introduction of weatherboard cladding to rear elevation 10A Portland Avenue Exmouth Devon EX8 2BSRef. No: 24/0253/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawful development for rear dormer loft conversion to the main roof.147 Egremont Road Exmouth Devon EX8 1SDRef. No: 24/0252/CPL | Validated: Mon 05 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Willow: Crown reduction to 15m high (from 18m) and to 9m wide (from 18m). 14 Sowton Village Sowton Exeter EX5 2ADRef. No: 24/0247/TCA | Validated: Mon 05 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T001, Weeping Willow : Crown Reduction by 0.5m-2m in spread and 1m-2.5m in height dependent on available pruning points. Tuckers Lodge Dalwood Devon EX13 7EGRef. No: 24/0239/TRE | Validated: Wed 07 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T7 – Cherry: reduce crown height by up to 4m and lateral spread by up to 3m, ensuring a minimum clearance of 2m from property. Maximum Diameter of Cuts 50mm. Crown lift to 2.5m above ground level, MDC 25mm. Rationale: This Cherry tree is now quite large and is dominating the garden, the works are suggested as part of the reasonable and responsible management of this tree and is appropriate arboricultural management. The works are to be planned for summer 2024. 5A Northview Road Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6BYRef. No: 24/0237/TRE | Validated: Mon 05 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of lean-to structure, proposed part conversion to 1no. residential dwelling with garden and associated works, and the rebuild, repair and conservation of the existing barns. Town Tenement Farm Clyst Hydon Cullompton EX15 2NBRef. No: 24/0226/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of lean-to structure, proposed part conversion to 1no. residential dwelling with garden and associated works, and the rebuild, repair and conservation of the existing barns. Town Tenement Farm Clyst Hydon Cullompton EX15 2NBRef. No: 24/0227/LBC | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retrospective application for a mud ventures building Greendale Farm Shop Farringdon Devon EX5 2JURef. No: 24/0225/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension and fencing. 27 Haydons Park Honiton EX14 2TARef. No: 24/0229/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a bungalow Bramley Ridgeway Sidbury EX10 0SFRef. No: 24/0222/FUL | Validated: Thu 08 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of earth lined slurry lagoon with security perimeter fence New Park Farm Awliscombe EX14 3QARef. No: 24/0220/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 16/0175/FUL : Condition 3 (materials and finishes) – in part Long Range Whimple Exeter EX5 2QTRef. No: 24/0212/DOC | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 21/3308/RES: Condition 3 (cycle storage), Condition 4 (air source heat pumps) Waterleat High Street Newton Poppleford Sidmouth EX10 0DURef. No: 24/0206/DOC | Validated: Mon 05 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Loft dormer with rear facing window (retrospective). 99 Byron Way Exmouth EX8 5SERef. No: 24/0201/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single-storey rear extension. 2 Canada Cottages Broadway Woodbury Devon EX5 1NXRef. No: 24/0196/FUL | Validated: Tue 06 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing garage and storage shed; construction of new garage; alterations to existing driveway and retrospective approval for existing garden office Bundels Ridgeway Sidbury Devon EX10 0SFRef. No: 24/0185/LBC | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing garage and storage shed; construction of new garage; alterations to existing driveway and retrospective approval for existing garden office Bundels Ridgeway Sidbury Devon EX10 0SFRef. No: 24/0184/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of Condition for 21/3067/AGR: Condition 3 (external roof finish materials). Land To South East Of Gore Lane KilmingtonRef. No: 24/0172/DOC | Validated: Tue 06 Feb 2024 | Status: Unknown
• Request for continuation of permission 20/0965/FUL to use Royston Farm as a not-for-profit therapeutic school and to use first floor areas as well as the ground floor, and increase placements from 5 to 10. Royston Farm Talewater Talaton EX5 2RRRef. No: 24/0158/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Alterations and minor extension to the existing commercial building and formation of customer parking area. Oliver Joseph Fitness & Land To The West And South Lyme Street Axminster EX13 5AURef. No: 24/0157/FUL | Validated: Wed 07 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• The proposal relates to the demolition and replacement of the existing dwelling. Kenwood Woodhouse Hill Uplyme DT7 3SLRef. No: 24/0139/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 30 no. EV charging points and battery farm (enclosed within a building – part retrospective) with associated parking spaces, internal road network/hardstanding and access and egress onto the Greendale Business Park Private Road Network. Land Adjacent Greendale Business Park Greendale Business Park Woodbury Salterton EX5 1EWRef. No: 24/0099/FUL | Validated: Fri 09 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposal for driveway and access enlargement with alterations to boundary wall and embankment Forge Cottage Cowley Devon EX5 5ELRef. No: 23/2761/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed 12 no. EV charging points and associated layby, site access and egress with new public footpath and cycle path Four Oaks Clyst St Mary Exeter EX5 1ATRef. No: 23/2640/FUL | Validated: Mon 05 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace lintel on south east ground floor window plus additional lintels if identified during course of work; replace all ceilings at first floor; remove and re-render east and west elevations; south elevation left exposed masonry; remove southern bolt on chimney; replaster internal walls at ground floor and repairs to purlins on projecting from southern gable wall plus addition roof work identified during course of work. 1 Rose Cottages Church Road Whimple Devon EX5 2SYRef. No: 23/2248/LBC | Validated: Thu 08 Feb 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision

South West Water will be hosting a ‘roadshow’ at Exmouth Town Hall (Tuesday) and members of the public are planning a protest outside.

Adam Manning www.exmouthjournal.co.uk 

They are holding a demonstration outside the Town Hall at 1.30pm, which the group behind it say is ‘to make it very clear to SWW that we simply don’t accept the damage they are doing to us, to our environment, and to our tourism. Enough is enough’.

A Facebook group called ESCAPE (End Sewage Convoys And Poollution Exmouth) is open for members of the public to join and find out the latest on sewage pollution in Exmouth and Budleigh.

A spokesman for the protest said: “Please come and demonstrate with us. SWW needs to be held to account, and they need to see just how unhappy we are with their actions (or, more accurately, their INactions).”

In response to this, South West Water said: “The opinions of our customers matter to us greatly. We are listening and know we have more to do. The purpose of events like our Community Roadshow in Exmouth tomorrow is to hear directly from customers and have the opportunity to discuss any concerns they may have.

“We are investing to help deliver improvements in our environmental performance, and will continue to do all we can to protect our region’s seas and rivers.”

SWW are hosting a series of coastal community roadshows across the region to share latest business plan with customers and to demonstrate how we’re investing record amounts in making improvements right across the South West.

In Exmouth, they will be explaining to residents how the water and wastewater systems work and explaining more about the plans we have for Exmouth and the surrounding areas.

The event is fully booked, representatives of the water company will be at Exmouth Town Hall, St Andrews Road, EX8 1AW from 2pm-6pm.

The smelly, nasty bacteria that spells bad news for rivers is flourishing in the UK. Here is how to spot it and what it means.

Leana Hosea www.theguardian.com 

What is sewage fungus?

It is slimy, murky brown, smells bad, and fills river enthusiasts and anglers with gloom.

But it is probably useful to know that sewage fungus, so called because of its fungal-shaped mass of filaments, is not fungus at all, but is primarily made up of several species of bacteria, most commonly Sphaerotilus natans, Beggiatoa alba, Carchesium polypinum, and Flexibacter species. By the time you see its characteristic slimy, floating fronds, it will contain some fungi and algae, too, and it always spells bad news for the river in which it is spotted and for any unfortunate wildlife living there.

Where do you find it and where does it come from?

Sewage fungus flourishes in waterways polluted with high levels of nutrients and organic matter.

Sewage discharges are a common source of this kind of pollution, but these microorganisms can also be carried into waterways from animal slurry and even from effluent from paper mills. Last month, a Devon farmer was fined £6,000 for polluting a stream with slurry, with thick sewage fungus visible for more than a mile downstream, the Environment Agency reported. A study by Oxford University found that sewage pollution, whether treated or untreated, was the primary reason for increased sewage fungus in rivers.

Is it dangerous?

Sewage fungus can reduce oxygen levels in water, suffocating aquatic life. So it can, for example, smother fish eggs and prevent them from hatching. In severe cases, a river may not be able to support invertebrates as a result. Mass fish deaths have taken place in watercourses plagued by the fungus, which can then affect the whole food web. Even when sewage fungus is removed it can have a long-term effect on river health and it can take time for life in the river to recover.

Underwater view of sewage fungus growing in a stream polluted from slurry and dung from a dairy farm. 

Does it pose a significant danger to human health? Dr Anne Jungblut, a microbiome expert from the Natural History Museum, says it is a mould, and so could contain human pathogens. “It’s the level of danger of the junk in the kitchen plughole, which wouldn’t be good to eat. If there’s a lot of it in the river you wouldn’t want to swim there, as it’s an indicator there’s likely to be sewage, which could have E coli in it and that is dangerous,” he said.

Some of the UK’s most prized landscapes are blighted with sewage fungus. It has taken hold in Lake Windermere and has been spotted on the picturesque River Wye, as well as on a public footpath in Surrey after sewage overflowed from a Thames Water treatment works.

Is it getting worse?

The more sewage releases there are, the greater the probability of an increasing growth of sewage fungus. In 2022, 389,165 sewage spills were reported in the UK, discharging for a staggering 2.4m hours.

“It is very hard to tell if the situation is getting worse, as there is so little research in this area,” says Dr Michelle Jackson, whose study for the University of Oxford found that sewage pollution was worse than agricultural runoff for rivers. “Although water companies have to report outbreaks downstream of treatment works, they only use a simple visual inspection.”

A citizen science survey project by the Rivers Trust reported 322 instances of sewage fungus in rivers across the UK and Ireland, which represents 9% of the surveys taken. The Environment Agency says river health has been improving since the Industrial Revolution, but that is a low bar and new and emerging pollutants are replacing those from older industries. Add to that increased pressure on the wastewater system from a growing population, underinvestment in outdated infrastructure, and stresses from climate breakdown, and it is clear that changes need to be made if rivers and the wildlife they support are to be restored to health.

How can sewage fungus be tackled?

Outbreaks will increase unless water quality improves. To better monitor sewage fungus, Oxford University has developed an AI model to detect where the bacteria are growing, even before they become visible. ​​The method uses imaging techniques and machine learning to identify sewage particles and sewage fungus in water samples. The researchers say this could act as an early detection system for spotting harmful outbreaks, acting as “a canary in the coalmine” to limit pollution buildup and halt species decline.

Dr Dania Albini, a co-author of the research, wants to see improvements to wastewater plants, along with more regulations. “These efforts are crucial in safeguarding the integrity and safety of our rivers – fundamental elements of both ecosystems and human wellbeing,” she said when the report was published late last year.

But until there is action to target the sewage discharge problem, people may have to get used to the sight of the insidious fungus and its slimy fronds in the UK’s waterways.

Battleground seats held by the Conservatives have the highest number of sewage spills of any marginal constituencies, The Times has found.

George Willoughby, Adam Vaughan www.thetimes.co.uk 

The figures show how exposed Tory MPs are to attacks over the party’s record on water pollution. Seats won in the 2019 general election by a margin of less than 10 per cent will be crucial when people next vote.

The Times can reveal that of the 79,467 sewage spills in marginal constituencies in 2022, over 39,000 were in Conservative seats, more than those held by any other party. Labour marginal seats were second at little more than 26,000.

The Liberal Democrats have made sewage one of their top campaign issues, with Sir Ed Davey, the party leader, saying Tory voters were “very, very angry” over spills.

Since being appointed last September, Steve Reed, the shadow environment secretary, has also concentrated on water quality, saying the “sewage scandal” was a result of “Conservative failure”.

Polling of 6,000 adults by Survation found that 56 per cent of people would consider raw sewage discharges when they voted in the next general election. The number for those who voted Tory in 2019 is 51 per cent, whereas for Labour voters it is 66 per cent.

The high number of spills in Tory-held marginal seats appears to be a ­result of the party’s gains in “red wall” areas in 2019. About 25,000 spills in 2022 were in marginal constituencies the party gained from Labour. About 14,000 sewage discharges were in marginal seats the Tories held in 2019.

The Welsh constituency of Carmarthen East & Dinefwr, held by Jonathan Edwards, the former Plaid Cymru MP who is now an independent, had the most sewage spills of all marginal seats, with 7,103 dumps. Edwards holds a 4 per cent majority.

The Arfon constituency, held by Plaid Cymru, had the second most spills for a marginal seat, followed by three Tory consituencies: Ynys Môn, North West Durham and Aberconwy.

The drier weather last year is believed to have led to a slight fall in the number of sewage spills.

Discharges happen mostly during heavy rain when sewer capacity is overwhelmed. Sewage releases are often a result of geography and water company infrastructure. Having a high number of spills in their constituency can leave MPs ­vulnerable to criticism, however.

The Lib Dems attribute their victory in the 2021 Chesham & Amersham by-election to their concentration on polluted local chalk streams. One of the marginal seats in the party’s sights is Cheltenham, held by Alex Chalk, the justice secretary, with a majority of 981.

Tim Farron, the Lib Dem environment spokesman, said the Tories’ failure to tackle the sewage crisis would cost them seats at the next election. “Lifelong Conservative voters are planning to vote Liberal Democrat for the first time because of this,” he added.

Labour is yet fully to set out its stall on how it would tackle water pollution. The Tories recently pinched one of the party’s headline ideas: ending self-monitoring of water companies.

Rebecca Pow, an environment minister and MP for Taunton Deane, said: “We have a plan and it’s already in place. The water companies have to be taken into account.”

Reed said: “This Conservative government has meekly sat back … while toxic sewage pollutes our waterways.”

(and into the sea)

Peter Williams, whose freedom of information request kicked this whole “thread” off, has posted today a comment on the ESCAPE  (End Sewage Convoys and Poolution in Exmouth Facebook page.)

(A link had been made to Owl’s post yesterday).

In this post he includes one of his “evidence images” – not for the squeamish. – Owl

Almost two decades ago, the concept of “Cranbrook” kicked off with a dedicated EDDC planning team and high hopes. This planning team created a viable community plan but was dissolved, on government instruction, with all the time and effort wasted.

The new town, built on Grade I agricultural land, ended up being a pioneer of “hands-off, developer-led” community planning. The private sector knows best.

But given the chance, developers will build on every available inch. It is extraordinary that EDDC and DCC have now had to buy land to plan for, and provide, essential infrastructure.

One of the main reasons for building a large town on a greenfield site was to provide “affordable” homes for local people. Where are the numbers we need?

It is probably the biggest legacy problem that the the Coalition led EDDC has had to tackle since ousting the Tories. – Owl

Will Goddard www.devonlive.com

A masterplan to give Cranbrook a town centre is now to be drawn up more than a decade since construction began on the new East Devon settlement in 2011.

A high street is slowly emerging in the new town, with a supermarket, children’s nursery and shops with a town square currently being built and due to be complete this year.

These will be the first completed developments in the town centre since the Cranberry Farm pub was opened in 2017.

Now, after a public consultation with over 1,700 responses, and East Devon District Council (EDDC) and Devon County Council having bought more land, a masterplan for the town centre is to be devised by EDDC by the end of this summer.

Cllr Olly Davey (Green, Exmouth Town) praised suggestions made by members of the public, which included having a leisure centre and a health and wellbeing hub, access to the town centre on foot, and good public transport.

He said: “Thank you to the residents of Cranbrook who clearly stepped up and filled in the consultation and enabled us to move forward with confidence that we are reflecting the views of residents on this occasion.

“Personally, I was very pleased to see the support there was for active travel and the desire to see better public transport, plenty of walking and cycling provision, as well as the kind of priorities as they saw it, being the leisure centre and health and wellbeing and so on.”

Cllr Kim Bloxham (Independent, Cranbrook) added: “Cranbrook town centre has been a long time in the making.

“I think I can say no more than please can we get on with it.”

Cranbrook is expected to eventually have 8,000 houses and a population of 20,000. This would make it the second largest town in East Devon and one of the biggest in the county. It has a population of over 6,700 as of 2021.

A second new 8,000-home town is also on the way for East Devon. It will be built on land south of Cranbrook between Exeter Airport and Crealy Theme Park, with 2,500 homes expected by 2040.

…..Photoshop can create an alternative reality.

Which is the REAL you?

Images submitted by a correspondent.

Michael Gove is targeting Airbnb and other property rental websites with laws that could curb the number of short-term holiday lets in England’s tourist hotspots. 

This proposal has been on and off the government agenda over the past year. 

It will take secondary legislation to enact which may or may not need parliamentary approval. Whether the government has time to fit this in the timetable before the election is a moot point.

So Owl is filing this away as just another interesting Tory “promise”.

Oliver Gill www.thetimes.co.uk

Owners will need to seek planning permission before renting out their properties through the likes of Airbnb, under new legislation to be announced this week.

The housing secretary is acting amid fears that locals in English seaside towns are “being shut out of the housing market”, while traditional B&Bs and hoteliers are being undercut by private rentals.

Going forward, anyone letting out their property for more than 90 days must first apply for planning permission and sign up to a government registration scheme, under changes to short-term letting laws, say industry and Whitehall sources. The new rules would apply to a “main or sole home” and could also apply to second homes.

The default position will be that permission will be granted. But new laws will devolve the decision to councils, empowering local authorities to remove “permitted development rights” in areas where there are large numbers of short-term lets.

Making a change of use planning application costs about £450, experts said. Current laws allow for the setting up of a registration scheme. Changes to planning laws will require secondary legislation.

Gove’s decision to press ahead with the plans is likely to anger some in his own party. When they were first mooted a year ago, Sir Simon Clarke, his predecessor as housing secretary, said they were “anti-business”. Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former business secretary, called the proposals “misplaced”. But sources close to Gove were last night about forging ahead with restricting holiday lets.

A government source said: “Short-term lets play an important role in the UK’s thriving tourism sector, but in some areas, too many local families and young people feel they are being shut out of the housing market and denied the opportunity to rent or buy in their own community.

“So the government is taking action as part of its long-term plan for housing. That means delivering more of the right homes in the right places, but also giving communities the power to decide. This will allow local communities to take back control and strike the right balance between protecting the visitor economy and ensuring local people get the homes they need.”

The housing secretary has previously attacked a proliferation of second homes in English tourist locations as turning seaside towns into “permanent Airbnbs”.

Gove has insisted that he is not against allowing people to let out their holiday homes. But he has expressed concern that second-home owners letting through Airbnb are benefiting from a competitive advantage compared with a local bed and breakfast or small hotel.

Airbnb is understood to be supportive of Gove’s changes to planning laws, which apply only to England. It is thought that this is because the new laws provide clarity and are less stringent than in Scotland and Wales.

Laws in Scotland already require short-term lets to be licensed. From April, local authorities in Scotland will be able to apply to charge double council tax for second homes, including those used as holiday lets. Rules are also more onerous in Wales where council tax of up to 300 per cent can be levied on second homes.

The American technology giant has, however, pushed for the registration scheme to be applied to short-term lets of any period, rather than for anyone renting out their property for more than 90 days a year. This is because it would prevent property owners from sidestepping the rules by moving their listing to another website every 90 days.

Amanda Cupples, Airbnb general manager for northern Europe said: “Many communities have legitimate concerns about housing. Airbnb is not the cause of England’s housing challenges, but we do want to work hand in hand to address the challenges that people face.

“A national registration scheme, alongside planning powers for councils to effectively manage any local impacts where they do arise, will be a positive step forward. New rules will help give authorities reliable data to understand and respond to the activity taking place in their communities.”

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According to an exclusive interview in the Sunday Times,  Henry Staunton Post Office Chair, (from 2022) and sacked by Kemi Badenoch, said: 

“He was instructed by a senior civil servant to stall on compensation payments to Horizon victims so the government could “limp into the election” with the lowest possible financial liability.“

Source www.thetimes.co.uk

A correspondent has sent Owl a photo of the “unmonitored” emergency overflow (EO) pipe flowing directly under the footpath from the sewage pumping station in Budleigh’s Lime Kiln car park and discharging into the Kersbrook.

This EO featured in two recent posts.

The first referenced a freedom of information request  (FOI) from an individual, Peter Williams, and the second was a comment from a shocked correspondent in response.

Peter Williams submitting the FOI through the “What do they know” open website on 10 February 2024 said: “I have video and photo evidence that this EO has discharged sewage and related items, including sanitary pads, into the Kersbrook channel and from their to the beach through a culvert.” He went on to ask questions about the frequency and duration of discharges and whether or not the public and environment agency had been informed.

This EO is not marked on SWW “WaterFit LIve” maps nor is it marked on the Rivers Trust maps yet is only 100m from the sea. 

In the head to head “question time” in Newton Poppleford, Simon Jupp said, in answer to questions on sewage:

“Now, what has the government done? For the first time ever, we have 100 per cent monitoring of storm overflows.”

Not so hasty Simon – WE DO NOT HAVE 100% MONITORING of discharges onto our beaches.

PS. What goes in the rivers also ends in the sea and we have no live monitoring of sewer outfalls into rivers. – Owl

A comprehensive press account:

At least one MP will lose his job.

Richard Foord (left) and Simon Jupp, separated by the debate’s chairperson (image courtesy: LDRS/Alfie Richardson)

Will Goddard, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

Two MPs vying for the same new Devon seat have gone head-to-head in a public debate. 

Conservative MP for East Devon Simon Jupp, and Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Honiton Richard Foord, will both contend the new Honiton and Sidmouth constituency at the next general election. 

In a packed cricket pavilion in Newton Poppleford on Thursday, the Question Time-style debate, hosted by the parish council, proved civilised and courteous, with one member of the public saying the pair were both “jolly nice chaps” and the area would be lucky to have either as their next MP. 

But the politicians did clash on some local and national issues raised in audience questions. 

Asked about the current state of the country, Mr Jupp said: “It is very difficult at the moment.  

“We know that there are several issues… that have not gone in the right direction. Not all of that is down to government. 

“We are working really, really hard to solve these problems within the confines of what we can do as government.  

“Whether it’s getting a GP appointment or getting an NHS dentist, we know at the moment it’s impossible to get an NHS dentist in this part of East Devon and that’s why we’ve announced a plan in the last week to try and incentivise NHS dentists back into the profession.  

“I want to see the fruit of that labour. We are doing as much as we can and working really, really hard, but some of these problems are not of our own making.” 

In response, Mr Foord laid the blame at the feet of former prime minister Liz Truss. 

He said: “I’m afraid that some of the very hard work that was put in by Liz Truss in her very short premiership has damaged this country and our economy.  

“We saw interest rates shoot up and that has meant mortgage rates have gone through the roof.  

“I’d been in parliament for all of four months when Liz Truss stood up at the despatch box and got her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng to list off what her government was going to do.  

“It was obvious to me, sitting on the opposition benches, that what they were prescribing for the rest of us was rotten, completely rotten. The idea of scrapping the 45p rate of income tax, for example, was only going to serve the privileged few and was going to do nothing for public services in this country. 

“And we’re seeing some of these terrible, tragic decisions playing out in our locality. I think about in my own constituency, Seaton Hospital, which is threatened by having a whole wing ripped away from it, potentially sold off and demolished for housing.  

“These are the sorts of decisions that we’ll never sort out by writing a few letters locally. We need a competent government in Westminster addressing these problems nationally.” 

Another series of questions put to the duo were centred around the NHS. 

Mr Jupp spoke about how he believed the NHS Devon ICB (integrated care board) needed overhauling, and highlighted his work in calling for more local hospice funding and menopause care. 

He said: “I think people are right to be angry and disappointed with health services in parts of the country, including around here.  

“We are, of course, trying to tackle the problems. We’ve got the only Nightingale hospital in the country still operating and bringing down waiting lists.  

“It’s no good blaming Westminster for everything when it comes to the NHS. An awful lot of our services are commissioned locally, and I’m afraid our ICB, as it stands, does not have my confidence. 

“I think that we need an overhaul of our ICB because it’s in special measures and it’s not working. 

“I think that it’s very easy for politicians to say this, that and the other. But if we can take the politics out of it, we can take the heat out of it and put patients first.” 

Mr Foord criticised this approach, saying NHS problems should be sorted out by the government at a national level. 

He said: “Cross-party consensus is what governments on the rack tend to plead for. When the government is on the ropes, they say, come on, come and share our pain.  

“This government deserves to be criticised. This government is making decisions… that are detrimental to the health service and are detrimental to the health of people in this country, in this county, and in this community. 

“I frequently hear many, many Conservative MPs and government ministers laying the same charge: the responsibility lies with the local, it lies with that local authority, with that district council, with that ICB. 

“And yet when you actually take on a bird’s-eye view, you find that they’re all at it. You find that all 39 ICBs are apparently failing, or perhaps all of the local authorities. It’s their responsibility.  

“The reality is that the government is on the hook for this and we need, I’m afraid, big serious change to sort things out.” 

Sewage dumping was also raised at the debate. Mr Foord called for the government to do more on the issue, while Mr Jupp spoke about what he was doing in the local area to tackle sewage-related problems. 

Mr Foord said: “What we have seen is companies that have been very happy to use this very basic utility as a cash cow and to extract very large dividends for shareholders without the concomitant investment in sewage infrastructure.  

“I think we do have to go back to good regulation by government, because what we have seen is a regulator in Ofwat that has no teeth, and it is government’s responsibility to give the regulator proper powers as well as duties. 

“What we have seen in recent years, in fact since 2008, is that water companies have been able to monitor the sewage themselves and that for me is a nonsense.  

“You need a regulator to monitor sewage discharges and that’s why I introduced the Water Quality Monitoring Bill in parliament in January and I’m pleased that since then the government has, I think, caved under pressure… to talk about moving that responsibility for water quality monitoring away from water companies and to put it in the hands of the regulator.” 

Mr Jupp branded the regions’ water and sewage provider as “shameful” and decried what he saw as its “environmental vandalism”. 

He said: “South West Water have historically underinvested in our area, and we’re seeing the fruits of that failure.  

“We saw it in Exmouth at the start of January. We’re seeing it this week again in Exmouth with the same pipe bursting. It is totally and utterly unacceptable.  

“Now, what has the government done? For the first time ever, we have 100 per cent monitoring of storm overflows. Those are the sewage pipes that have been there for decades.  

“So we know the scale of the problem. It lifts the lid on the scale of underinvestment that we are seeing.  

“I live in Sidmouth, a stone’s throw from the beach, I care about this. I want them to clean up their act and our water.  

“We have got investment coming. I want it more quickly, I want to see thorough plans delivered. 

“South West Water must pay for their failure and there is an awful lot more they need to do.” 

The new Honiton and Sidmouth constituency will include parts of both MPs’ old seats. 

Both also currently have small majorities. Simon Jupp took East Devon for the Tories by 6,708 votes in the 2019 general election, and Richard Foord won a by-election in Tiverton and Honiton for the Lib Dems in 2022 with a majority of 6,144. 

What could make this race even tighter is that Claire Wright, who was hot on Mr Jupp’s heels when she gathered over 40 per cent of the vote in East Devon as an independent in 2019, has endorsed Mr Foord’s campaign. 

A general election must be called by the prime minister at some point this year.