Richard Foord posted:

Thank you to everyone who came to tonight’s discussion in Newton Poppleford. There were some great questions. I look forward to another opportunity to set out my stall ahead of the next election. Stellar chairing by Susan; a well-run event all round.

He also posted:

If you were unable to make it last night, or want to watch how the discussion went, you can find it at: https://fb.watch/qfax5Hd3hK/

Owl can find no reference to the “Question Time” on any of Simon Jupp’s social media accounts or on his web page. Not even a thank you to his constituents for hosting it.

The Government’s “minister for common sense” has appeared to blame “everybody who voted for lockdown” for the British economy’s dip into recession.

Cabinet Office Minister Esther McVey made the claim during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions, as she faced questions about who voters should hold responsible for the lack of growth.

She said: “I think everybody who voted for lockdown aided what we’re going through now. I absolutely do.”

The remarks prompted audible gasps from some members of the audience.

Owl expects to hear many more of these before the election.

There are now no Conservatives left on St Ives Town Council in Cornwall after deputy mayor Kenny Messenger resigned as a Tory councillor at a meeting last night (Thursday, February 15), saying that the party he once loved is now “full of political pygmies”. He left the party four months after the town’s mayor Johnnie Wells also ditched his Conservative connection.

Lee Trewhela www.cornwalllive.com

Cllr Messenger told the mayor and fellow councillors: “As you will recall, I announced at our September meeting that I was one more farce, fiasco or disgrace away from resigning as a Conservative councillor.

“Well, all three have happened in one email from the Conservative Party on January 18. It says we are allowing three million Brits who emigrated 15 years ago to vote in the next General Election. That, in my opinion, is gerrymandering the election system, to get elected through the back door. For God’s sake, lose gracefully. So it is with regret and a lot of soul searching that I announce my resignation as a Conservative councillor.”

He added: “The party I joined in 1976 was full of political giants and well-respected individuals. Today’s party is full of political pygmies who are not fit to lace the boots of politicians of all parties from the 1970s, ’80s or ’90s. People like Grant Shapps is a Cabinet minister of all trades and a master of none. They think more about themselves than their constituents.

“I have decided enough is enough. I haven’t taken this decision lightly, but next year I will be seeking re-election as an Independent.” Cllr Messenger made his resignation speech in front of Cllr Linda Taylor, Conservative leader of Cornwall Council., who was present at the meeting.

His resignation from the Tories came after the town’s mayor Johnnie Wells resigned from the party at a council meeting in September to cheers and claps from other councillors and members of the public.

Cllr Wells, who has continued as an independent member of St Ives Town Council, said: “I just feel that for me, in St Ives and for Cornwall, an independent role is better. Being a Conservative was becoming an issue. It was putting up more barriers than it was taking down. People would kind of shut off to you pretty quickly, so it was becoming more of a hindrance than a help.”

Cllr Messenger responded to his colleague’s resignation at the time, telling his fellow councillors: “As the last Tory standing, I resign … wait for it … I resign as the Tory group leader because I can’t be a leader of myself. All joking aside, I respect and admire the Mayor’s decision to become an Independent during the rest of his term of office.

“I am hanging on by the skin of my teeth being a Tory councillor, because I believe the Tory Government and Tory Cornwall Council have become deluded and out of touch with reality, and living in cloud cuckoo land.”

Owl’s take on the evening.

This was a civilised debate ably chaired by the Parish Council Chair, Susan Tribble.

It lasted just over two hours and covered subjects ranging from flooding, sewage and river pollution, through housing, education and ending with health.

Local services and infrastructure are crumbling around us. The problem that Simon Jupp faced is how to bat the questions away when the government has run out of ideas. 

He had two options: keep repeating the mantra that money is being spent and the plans are working (arguments that don’t really stand scrutiny as indicated by comments from remote viewers in the “chat box”. See also today’s post on failure to deliver “river restoration fund”); or simply lay the blame on someone else. He deployed both with some style.

Neither line of argument is very convincing from a member of a party in power and controlling events for the past 13 years. The conservatives’ failure is to come up with any credible change agenda.

Richard Foord’s closing remarks (paraphrased by Owl) after the final question on Health:

I want to respond specifically to comments Simon [just] made on the need for cross-party consensus. 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 on and share our pain.

This government deserves, deserves to be criticised.

All politics is about power. This government is making decisions about the health service that are detrimental to the health service and detrimental to the health of people in this country, in this county, and in this community.

I want to link this back to something Simon said on a couple of occasions attacking East Devon District Council for shameful incompetence and the same sort of charge made against our ICB. [Integrated Care Board, the NHS organisations responsible for planning health services for their local population.]

Sitting on the opposition benches of the House of Commons I frequently hear many, many conservative MP and government ministers laying the same charge that the responsibility lies with the locals: with that local authority, with that district council, with that ICB. When you look at it from a “bird’s eye” view you find they are all at it, for example all 39 ICBs are apparently failing or all the local authorities, it’s their responsibility.

Politics is about power; we cannot separate this from [the problems] in the health service. The government is on the hook for this and we need big serious changes to sort these things out. 

These final remarks from Richard Foord when Simon, in his reply, had proposed something along the lines “let’s work together to find a solution” summarises his frustration.

Is this the new Tory rallying cry, being stuffed through our letter boxes? 

“Together we’re making progress”.

[PS. Owl was astounded to hear Simon Jupp blame everything from the lack of social housing and the annual target to build 900 on EDDC pulling out of GESP (the Greater Exeter Strategic Plan). Perhaps people have short memories, but Owl’s view of GESP is that it provided an opportunity for East Devon landowners to “offer up their land” to meet Exeter’s needs. This provided an easy “win win” option for Exeter which has consistently failed to find a five year land supply. Owl notes that since pulling out of GESP a lot more development has been planned within the city and to its western side.]

And thanks to the parish council for organising and hosting the event.

Did Simon Jupp apologise for this in Thursday’s “Question Time” in Newton Poppleford? – Owl

A key fund at the heart of the government’s plans to clean up rivers has not been established 15 months after it was promised.

The water restoration fund was first pledged by Thérèse Coffey when she was environment secretary. She said it would redirect millions of pounds of raised from fines headed to the Treasury to pay to improve polluted waterways instead.

Thérèse Coffey when she first announced the restoration fund – Marigolds added for H&S reasons by Owl

Adam Vaughan www.thetimes.co.uk

However, the fund does not exist, there is no timetable for its establishment and The Times can reveal that steering groups to establish it have not yet even met.

Ministers have repeatedly cited the fund as evidence that they are taking water pollution seriously. Coffey said it would that ensure money was “channelled directly back into the rivers, lakes and streams where it is needed”.

Her successor as environment secretary, Steve Barclay, recently said: “The money raised from penalties imposed on water companies will go towards restoring and protecting our waters.”

The government has introduced unlimited fines for water polluters, up from a previous cap of £250,000. The expectation is that penalties will be in the tens of millions of pounds.

Although those sanction powers were established in December, however, there is no sign of the fund to channel the millions of pounds into cleaning rivers plagued by sewage and agricultural waste.

That has raised questions over what will happen to any money raised from penalties before the fund is up and running. It is unclear whether in the interim money will go to the Treasury as before, or be kept in some form of holding fund.

Philip Dunne, the Conservative MP and chairman of the environmental audit committee, said the fund was “crucial” to the “restoration of river health”. He said the committee was looking for confirmation of the launch of the fund and details of the projects it would support.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has officially given no indication of when the fund will be launched, but the Times understands the plan is that it be some time in the next financial year.

“We’ve been involved in discussions and invited to join steering groups to ensure they head in the right direction, but those groups have not yet met,” said one river conservationist.

The idea is that any actual restoration or improvements will be carried out by local charities and green groups, and paid for with money disbursed by the fund.

Ali Morse, water policy manager for the Wildlife Trusts, a network of local charities, said: “Setting up this fund means that fines will no longer get absorbed into government coffers, and are instead allocated, in a formal and transparent manner, to projects that will improve the water environment. It’s a huge opportunity for nature.”

She said it was imperative the fund was established as soon as possible, given the severe difficulties facing UK waters. “The fund isn’t about ‘making up’ for the damage caused by polluters — companies must do that — it’s about making further improvements to the environment,” she said.

Tessa Wardley, director of advocacy at the Rivers Trust, said: “There has been much discussion but not a huge amount of action — yet. They have promised additional funding for catchment based approach, new approach to catchment planning and a water restoration fund. None of these have been set up yet.”

A Defra spokesman said: “We are putting into the fund all the fines levied against water companies for polluting the environment since the Plan for Water launched last year. Further details will be set in due course.”

The Times is demanding faster action to improve the country’s waterways. Find out more about the Clean It Up campaign

From ESCAPE facebook page

Geoff Crawford

I believe this to be the first genuine update. John Halsall even has emotion in his voice and I thank him for this update. I feel this is the first genuine apology.

[Geoff also draws attention to apparent discrepancies in statements from Stuart Madsen-Pilcher  (head of public affairs) referring to replacing the whole rising main and John Halsall’s statement referring to just replacing a 400m section.]

Council meeting Wednesday 21 February at 6pm

In summary the proposals are to:

Declare no confidence in SWW systems and processes

Request that the Leader write publicly to the Chief Executive of South West Water to inviting them to make five commitments.

Further request that the Leader copy correspondence to our local MPs to encourage them to support our efforts to engage South West Water, and to lobby government to take three actions.

Resolve that Strategic Planning Committee evaluate what planning policy measures are required to respond to any sewage capacity issues that might be identified by the upcoming Water Cycle Study,

Further resolve that the results of the Water Cycle Study and any resulting measures recommended by Strategic Planning Committee be actively publicised to residents and brought to the attention of South West Water

Instruct that Strategic Planning Committee, or another committee if this is considered more appropriate by officers, considers a standing item to annually review progress on any recommendations made by the Water Cycle Study.

Details of Motion received: 1 February 2024

Motion Proposed: Cllr Todd Olive Motion Seconded: Cllr Geoff Jung Motion

Signed: Cllrs Olly Davey, Nick Hookway, Paul Arnott, Richard Jefferies, Paula Fernley, Matt Hall, Marianne Rixson, Yehudi Levine, Anne Hall, Charlotte Fitzgerald, Sarah Jackson, Chris Burhop and John Heath 

The full text of the motion is set out below.

East Devon District Council,

Noting widespread concern among East Devon residents regarding the state of local and national sewage infrastructure,

Recognising with grave concern significant disruption to the functioning of Exmouth’s sewage network due to a series of major pipe failures in December 2023, and noting extensive disruption to residents resulting from tanker movements and repair works as a result,

Alarmed at the failure of South West Water to advise East Devon District Council of sewage overflows in Exmouth over the same period, leading to reports of people and pets falling ill from exposure to untreated human waste during sea swimming,

Stressing that these issues affect all East Devon residents, whether coastal or inland, and noting that in 2022, the last year for which full data is available:

• I. all five of South West Water’s worst-performing East Devon consented overflow outlets by hours of spill, and four of the five worst-performing outlets by number of individual spills, were located inland,
• II. sewage overflows from South West Water outlets in East Devon ran for over 20,000 hours, with over two-and-a-half thousand individual spills,
• III. four South West Water outlets in East Devon spilled for over a thousand hours each, with the worst-performing outlet spilling for 1966 hours, or nearly a quarter of year,
• IV. five South West Water outlets in East Devon spilled over a hundred times, with the worst-performing outlet spilling on more than two in every three days on average, and
• V. twenty-six of thirty East Devon District Council wards experienced a spill, meaning over 82% of East Devon’s population lived in a ward affected by untreated sewage overflows,

Noting with alarm that constraints and actions identified in a 2010 Water Cycle Study regarding sewage infrastructure capacities have not been actioned, including:

• I. The construction of a new Wastewater Treatment Works to serve the new community at Cranbrook,
• II. Improvements to existing treatment works at Maer Lane and elsewhere to facilitate new development and population increases in view of contemporary capacity limits, and
• III. Improvements to existing treatment works at Otterton and Sidmouth to improve river water quality,

Emphasising the importance of East Devon’s coasts and rivers to our area’s outstanding natural environment, and the intrinsic aesthetic, cultural, and existence value of this to our residents, and considering the substantial contribution that these natural assets make to our local economy via tourism, as recognised by our 2022 Tourism and Cultural Strategies,

Expressing concern that a failure to properly control sewage overflows into rivers and associated phosphate pollution is actively undermining efforts by East Devon District Council and others to promote ecological recovery, biodiversity, and nature restoration, and indeed is counter­productive for South West Water’s own efforts to improve the environmental quality of river catchments,

Mindful of the large number of comments and concerns raised by residents in the 2022-23 Regulation 18 consultation on the emerging East Devon Local Plan regarding the capacity of local sewage infrastructure,

Recalling concern expressed by Members at South West Water’s perceived failure to properly and appropriately respond to consultations on planning applications for new development in areas known to experience frequent sewage overflows,

Concerned at the lack of engagement by South West Water with East Devon District Council officers and the Coast Country & Environment Portfolio Team, including through a failure to follow-up on actions agreed between senior South West Water executives and the Portfolio Team at the November 2023 Beachwise Forum and a failure to include the District Council in consultations with relevant Town and Parish Councils,

Noting that central government funding for the Environment Agency, the relevant regulatory authority, had been cut by over half in real terms between 2009/10 and 2021/22, and

Conscious of the need for East Devon District Council to address these issues on account of its responsibilities to the environment, environmental health, and as the Local Planning Authority, while noting with frustration that many legal powers of investigation and enforcement are reserved to central government and under-funded, under-staffed statutory regulators:

• 1. Declares that it has no confidence in South West Water’s existing systems and processes for proactively managing and investing in East Devon’s sewage infrastructure;
• 2. Requests that the Leader write publicly to the Chief Executive of South West Water to invite the company to:
  • a. commit to involving the District Council in discussions with Town and Parish Councils regarding ongoing and upcoming works on South West Water infrastructure,
  • b. jointly convene a regular liaison group bringing together senior staff from South West Water and East Devon District Council, together with relevant East Devon Cabinet members, to proactively monitor and respond to ongoing developments and issues,
  • c. proactively and transparently engage with East Devon District Council’s Planning Policy team and processes on an ongoing basis to ensure that the emerging Local Plan can deliver development without exacerbating existing issues with storm overflows and capacity constraints, and in tandem with network improvements,
  • d. more broadly, to commit to working with East Devon District Council’s planning officers to help manage development pressures on infrastructure and respond to community concerns, to responding to requests for consultation and providing relevant data, to accepting invitations to Planning Committee meetings to discuss applications whenever possible, and taking other relevant steps, and
  • e. commit to actively engaging with East Devon District Council’s Beach Safety Officer and Environmental Health team to proactively advise of overflow discharges in the interest of public safety;
• 3. Further requests that the Leader copy correspondence to our local MPs to encourage them to support our efforts to engage South West Water, and to lobby government to:
  • a. revisit weak legislation allowing water companies until 2038 to reduce phosphate pollution in rivers from sewage overflows by only 80%, with a view to requiring more immediate action in the short- and mid-term to reduce storm overflows and ameliorate capacity issues,
  • b. resist a request by South West Water to raise bills by over 20% by 2030, before inflationary increases, until demonstrable action on sewage spills has been taken to reduce spills towards South West Water’s own 2025 targets, and
  • c. restore Environment Agency funding to 2009/10 real-terms levels, and properly fund other environmental regulators, to ensure that polluting activities are fully and robustly monitored, investigated, and where necessary enforcement action taken;
• 4. Resolves that Strategic Planning Committee evaluate what planning policy measures, including spatially and/or temporally limited moratoria on development, are required to respond to any sewage capacity issues that might be identified by the upcoming Water Cycle Study at the earliest possible opportunity following its receipt;
• 5. Further resolves that the results of the Water Cycle Study and any resulting measures recommended by Strategic Planning Committee be actively publicised to residents and brought to the attention of South West Water as the body responsible, including through the proposed liaison group if and when it is implemented; and
• 6. Instructs that Strategic Planning Committee, or another committee if this is considered more appropriate by officers, considers a standing item to annually review progress on any recommendations made by the Water Cycle Study.

These are the five foundations I know can build a better, more secure, more prosperous future that this country deserves.

• We will halve inflation this year to ease the cost of living and give people financial security.
• We will grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.
• We will make sure our national debt is falling so that we can secure the future of public services.
• NHS waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly.
• We will pass new laws to stop small boats, making sure that if you come to this country illegally, you are detained and swiftly removed.

These are five pledges to deliver peace of mind, so that you know things are getting better, that they are actually changing.

That you have a government working in your interests, focused on your priorities, putting your needs first.

And I fully expect you to hold my government and I to account on delivering those goals.

Rishi Sunak January 2023

“A picture is worth a thousand words.”

The economy is as flat as a pancake

Debts of nearly £14m will go unpaid after the collapse of South West construction company Midas – but the eventual sum could be more than £60m. Administrators for the fallen Devon giant have notified the High Court that they are moving to dissolve the companies Midas Group Ltd (MGL) and one of its subsidaries; Mi-Space (UK) Ltd (MSL).

William Telford www.devonlive.com 

Between them, the two Exeter-based companies will have no cash to pay claimants, apart from £1.35m owed to a bank. Administrators from global business advisors Teneo Financial Advisory Ltd were able to claw back some cash from debtors and by selling property in order to pay the secured creditor.

But the vast majority of creditor claims will remain unpaid, documents filed by Teneo at Companies House reveal. They show HM Revenue and Customs will end up short of more than £3.5m in unpaid taxes and 150 unsecured creditors will be left owed £10.2m. A Teneo report said: “Insufficient funds were realised to enable a dividend to be paid to unsecured creditors.”

However, these debts pale in comparison to those run up by another Midas business – Midas Construction Ltd (MCL). That company is estimated to owe nearly £47m, including £45m to unsecured creditors, with it being unlikely there will be any cash to pay them. MCL is still in administration and Teneo has had it extended until February 2025 by court order.

Exeter-headquartered parent firm MGL and its subsidiaries: building arm MCL, housing division MSL, Midas Retail Ltd, Mi-Space Property Services Ltd, Midas Commercial Developments Ltd and Falmouth Developments Ltd, all fell into administration in February 2022. They blamed a toxic cocktail of Covid, inflation, money owed to them but not paid, and cash-flow problems for causing a financial doomsday.

The collapse left construction projects unfinished and creditors in Plymouth, Devon and Cornwall owed money. The fall of Midas was blamed for contributing to the liquidation of Plymouth- and Cornwall-based construction firm DNS (South West) Ltd, which is expected to leave creditors short of more than £1m.

Just before its collapse, Midas had been ranked as the ninth largest private sector firm in the South West, by the Western Morning News Annual Business Guide 2022, with a reported turnover of £291,267,008 and 498 employees. But it had announced a £2m loss in 2021 – its first deficit in 40 years of trading.

The company had offices at Indian Queens in Cornwall, Exeter, Newton Abbot, Bristol, Newport in South Wales, and Southampton. Administrators were able to raise more than £800,000 by selling the offices in Newton Abbot and Newport for £992,000 and £984,000, respectively, and some development land for £150,000 so Lloyds Bank could be paid as a secured creditor.

A comment from Nicholas Pegg

As this event unfolds, we’re seeing a clear choice. The choice is between a candidate who has facts and figures at his fingertips, has valid points to raise and coherent plans to propose, but who perhaps isn’t the greatest public speaker… and on the other hand, a candidate who has a glib tongue, a gift of the gab which is perhaps best described as Boris Banter Bollocks, and who will say absolutely anything if he thinks it will play well in the room.

And thanks to Newton Poppleford & Harpford parish council for hosting the event.

‘Question Time’: Richard Foord MP & Simon Jupp MP

Stream will begin at 6:45 for 7:00 start

No Facebook account needed, and a recording will be available afterwards for those not able to watch live.

https://www.facebook.com/events/359258383600776

Run by the Parish Council, this event is a sell out to local residents.

However, Owl has been told that the council intends to stream it on their facebook page.

So far this is unconfirmed.

A senior lawyer at South West Water justified withholding the data by saying “it is the regulators and not the press or the public” who should be able to view information regarding “complex technical and regulatory matters”.

Talk down to your consumers at your peril! 

Examples of “the little people” running rings around you are growing. 

By the way, the procedure derided by “my learned friend” is called transparency. – Owl

Adam Vaughan www.thetimes.co.uk

The chief water industry regulator has warned companies they are endangering public trust by withholding secret data that could reveal illegal sewage spills.

David Black, chief executive of Ofwat, said that six water companies should “not wait to be pushed” into releasing details of when they start and stop discharging raw sewage into rivers. He told the water companies they also needed to stop hiding behind an investigation he is running.

Cross-referenced with weather data, the water companies’ timings can show whether spills are happening when it is not raining — an illegal practice known as “dry spilling”. Experts believe widespread evidence of dry spilling is a looming scandal for the water sector.

Most of the six argue that making the information public risks prejudicing an investigation by two regulators, the Environment Agency and Ofwat.

However, Black unambiguously punctured that defence, saying that the investigation was no excuse for water companies to keep people in the dark about spill times. “They should not wait to be pushed. Customers have paid companies to install monitors and collect their data. They have a right to see what it says,” Black told The Times.

Much of the UK’s sewage system works by combining sewage and rainwater running off streets and fields, with companies legally permitted to dump sewage into waterways during heavy rainfall. Those permits do not allow for discharges on dry days.

When three other companies did release data on spill timings, the BBC, using weather data, alleged that the trio had dry spilled for more than 3,500 hours in 2022.

Polling for the Consumer Council for Water has shown that 43 per cent of people do not trust water firms to protect the environment, and last year Water UK, the trade group, apologised over sewage spills. Black said that to restore trust it was key that the six companies should be more transparent with their data.

“One of the prerequisites for building public trust is a culture of openness. As trust in the water sector is falling, that tells us companies have more to do,” he said. The head of the economic regulator said companies should “be more open in sharing their plans and progress”.

Dry spills are particularly egregious because raw sewage is likely to be less diluted and more harmful to wildlife and people. The charity Surfers Against Sewage noted that many swimmers will avoid entering water after days of heavy rain but not when it is dry.

A senior lawyer at South West Water justified withholding the data by saying “it is the regulators and not the press or the public” who should be able to view information regarding “complex technical and regulatory matters”.

The Information Commissioner’s Office, the data watchdog, is investigating six complaints brought by The Times over the refusal to release stop and start times. Greater transparency is one of the key demands of The Times’s Clean it Up campaign.

James Wallace, chief executive of the campaign group River Action, said the secrecy by the six companies was an act of self-sabotage. “At a time when they desperately need to build trust with customers and communities, they must demonstrate transparency,” he said.

He accused the six of hiding behind “a smokescreen of missing information and, perhaps, illegal behaviour” while water companies propose raising bills by about a third between 2025 and 2030, partly to pay for curbs on sewage spills.

“The government must make all water companies declare when they release untreated sewage, regardless of whether they are being investigated or any other excuse they may have,” said Wallace.

There is no public timetable yet for when the Ofwat and EA investigation will be published.

A Water UK spokesman said: “The UK water industry is one of the most transparent in the world. In rare circumstances when a formal investigation is under way data may be excluded from immediate release to allow the process to complete.”

South West Water said: “We absolutely agree that water companies have a responsibility to embrace open data.”

The Times is demanding faster action to improve the country’s waterways. Find out more about the Clean It Up campaign.

Geoff Crawford of ESCAPE Exmouth posted this hilarious video mash of Jupp quotes interspersed with statements of the facts on Simon Jupp’s twitter page. 

In case it gets “flushed down the pan” Owl will use a link to Claire Wright’s repost, see llnk below.

Watch video on this link

Are they pumping too hard?

A yellow rain warning is in place today which won’t help. – Owl

Tankerloads of sewage are again being transported through Exmouth to the Maer Lane treatment works after another burst pipe.

Philippa Davies  www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

South West Water are currently in the process of replacing a long stretch of pipework in Phear Park.

On Tuesday, February 13, a pipe burst in a field near Maer Lane, and tankers were brought in to take the waste water to the sewage treatment plant while the pipe is repaired. There were reports of sewage overflowing into Littleham Stream and being carried into the sea and on to the beach at low tide.

The Environment Agency issued a sewage pollution notice for the beach and bathing waters.

South West Water said: “We know there have been a number of bursts in this area in recent weeks and we want local residents to know that we are sorry. We will repair the burst as soon as possible and are also working on a long-term solution for the area.”

That’s not good enough for local campaigners ‘End Sewage Convoys And Poollution Exmouth’ (ESCAPE), who say it’s clear that South West Water’s existing sewage pipe network simply cannot cope.

Geoff Crawford from ESCAPE said: “We consider that these bursts are a direct result of them increasing pump pressure and sewage volume throughout without first replacing the old pipe, which SWW state has been determined to be compromised by age and decay.”

Jo Bateman, who is taking South West Water to court over sewage pollution in the sea at Exmouth, said: “It’s frustrating – this just goes on and on, without any acknowledgement from them that they’ve failed to add to the infrastructure as required and to maintain what’s there.

“They tell us the sewage system in Exmouth is not at capacity – but if it’s spilling over as often as it does, then it is over capacity.”

The MP for East Devon, Simon Jupp, said: “The ongoing situation is completely unacceptable and has once again demonstrated the dire need for fast-tracked investment into Exmouth’s water infrastructure, which I have demanded to be fully funded by South West Water.

“I have asked to be kept updated by South West Water on the situation ahead of my meeting with their senior leadership this week. We pay the highest sewage bills in the country. We demand better from South West Water”

Mr Jupp said he has also asked the water regulator Ofwat to include this latest incident in its ongoing investigation of South West Water’s performance.

However, Exmouth’s campaigners don’t think an Ofwat investigation will achieve much.

Jo Bateman said: “They get fined, but that’s not enough. For example last year they were fined £2.15 million pounds for illegal discharges but they gave their shareholders £112million. Those fines sound like a lot of money but it’s not for them, it’s a fraction of what they’re giving to their shareholders.”

In South West Water’s latest update on the Exmouth burst pipe, issued at 7pm on Tuesday, February 13, the company apologised for the traffic disruption caused by the tanker movements, and said: “We’re repairing the burst as quickly as we can and will be fitting an overland pipe in the next few days that will transfer wastewater around the burst section. As you are aware, this depends on weather conditions, supply of materials and any potential flooding, which has cost us delays previously.

 “Once the overland pipe is in place, tankering will stop. We’ll then refocus our teams on replacing the rising main on a permanent basis.”

A recent comment on Information requests:

Dear Owl,

As a Budleigh resident I was shocked at the FOI describing the unmonitored discharge coming out of the SWW Lime Kiln sewage pumping station into the Kersbrook.  INTO A SITE INHABITED BY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL KINGFISHER which has brought such joy to many.

I cannot understand how the Environment Agency, which has spent so much money on the Lower Otter Restoration Project (LORP), could possibly allow this illegal, disgusting practice to continue.

I also cannot understand how the LORP project included the replacement of the old sewage outfall pipe which will allow raw sewage to continue to discharge on the eastern side of the Otter Head. ( 269.69 hours in 2022) The money should have been spent upgrading the sewage system so no untreated sewage needed to be discharged into the sea.

The Otter estuary is now a nature reserve and attracting so many new species but has raw sewage from places such as Honiton, Newton Poppleford etc.etc. passing through it.

From Louise who has launched an as yet unanswered Freedom of Information request to Natural England concerning permission to use glyphosate extensively during the Lower Otter Restoration Project:

Owl, the LORP is to become a formal nature reserve… however the spraying of glyphosate all over the site seems to contradict this…I included my EA FOI  Response within my application to Natural England and  as you will see the spraying was widespread🙄..  I will be Interested to see the response from Natural England which is subject to a delay… surely they cannot carry on using toxic chemicals when it has nature reserve status!

Dear Natural England, 11 December 2023

I have received the below information in response to a FOI made to the Environment Agency regarding the use of Glyphosate on land being treated as a Nature Reserve which is also adjacent to a SSSi.

Please confirm the following:
1. Was any contact received by Natural England, from any person involved in the Lower Otter Restoration Project (LORP)regarding the use of Glyphosate on any part of the LORP site.
2. If so what are the details of that communication.
3. If permission was required for the use of Glyphosate within the LORP site, was permission applied for.
4. If contact was received by Natural England was it made clear that the spraying was taking place within approximately 12-20 inches of waterways
5. Was permission granted by Natural England for the use of Glyphosate on the LORP site which is adjacent to a SSSi and is being treated as a Nature Reserve with a view to full nature reserve status.
6. . Was a copy of the contractors NPTC certificate seen by Natural England.
7. If permission was not required please give an explanation of why
8. If permission was required but not applied and granted, for what are the consequences for the companies/landowners/ persons involved who have not complied with the relevant legislation.

The below is FOI information received from the Environment Agency regarding the use of Glyphosate within the LORP site.

Herbicide has been used to suppress weed growth and ensure successful establishment of planting. Glyphosates are the only non-selective herbicide licenced to be used adjacent to watercourses in the UK. There is no further spraying planned this year and we are seeking to avoid its use next year.

Locations and dates used are as follows:

21/7/23 – South of South Farm Road around tree planting
28/7/23 – North side of South Farm Road, large area prior to cultivating & grass seeding
25/8/23 – North East path around tree planting
31/8/23 – Car Park edges
4/9/23 – Around plants to both North & South side of South Farm Road
13/9/23 – Triangular section of additional planting at end of North West path / start of Big Bank
25/9/23 – Spot spraying of growth coming through North West path (car park to farm)

The control of weeds using a herbicide is needed to prevent the weed growth overtaking and potentially smothering the grass and tree planting. Please note that the spot spraying was targeted and the actual chemical dose was very low.

Whilst strimming can sometimes be used for weed control, it is less effective and where we have invasive species such as Himalayan balsam (endemic in the lower otter), we would risk spreading the seeds.

The reason for spot spraying on the footpath which runs north of South Farm Road path was to stop the growth of weeds and grass which were actually growing through the path surfacing. We did not want these to establish and break up the surface. Without this action it is possible that the Council would not adopt the surfacing.

On a final point, whenever we have sprayed around trees near pathways we have always had a banksman in operation to control the movement of pedestrians. An alternative to this would be to close footpaths. However, we wanted to avoid this, as maintaining access has always been a priority for the project team. We have asked our contractors to put up signage when they have applied herbicide in the future where this is adjacent to public areas.

We respond to requests for information that we hold under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004. Please refer to the Open Government Licence: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o… which explains the permitted use of this information.

Please get in touch if you have any further queries or contact us within two months if you would like us to review the information we have sent.

Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly enquiries team:

Good afternoon

The Environment Agency is named as a major partner in the Lower Otter Restoration Project, (LORP) and applied for the planning permission for this project.

I have been advised by the Kier project team that a herbicide containing Glyphosate is currently being used on the land which forms part of LORP, they have also confirmed that spraying is taking place, has been taking place, and may take place in the future.

At approximately 07:45 on Monday 25 September, I witnessed the herbicide being spayed on either side of the western path north of South Farm Road. There was no signage in place, no verbal warnings were were given, and the path was fairly busy with walkers and dogs. After inhaling an extremely toxic lungful of the herbicide, it was apparent that a hazardous chemical was being sprayed, hence I approached the “sprayers” to find out what it was. (This is not their fault, they are only acting on instructions)

In relation to the geographical area of the Lower Otter Restoration Project site which runs from Lime Kiln Carpark to the 200 metre section of Little Bank, East Budleigh, I am requesting the following information:

1. On how many occasions, within the LORP site/ Lower Otter has the spraying of herbicides taken place during the project.
2. What herbicide/s have been used. If they are not branded please provide the mix of chemicals contained within them, and levels of glyphosate.
3. On what dates has the herbicide spraying taken place.
4. In which locations within the area has the herbicide spraying taken place
5. What risk assessments for both wildlife and humans were in place prior to, during, and post the spraying.
6. What non toxic options were considered, and if any, why were they not used.
7. What is the rationale for using a herbicide containing the extremely hazardous chemical Glyphosate which is lethal to wildlife, within an area which has high levels of wildlife, is adjacent to a SSSi, and is being promoted a bio diverse.
8. Who/which department or unit authorised the use of herbicide for use within the project area.

Please acknowledge receipt of this email and in line with current legislation I look forward to receiving a response within 20 working days.

Yours faithfully
Mrs L Arnesen

“The instant focus for me will be around environment. We know there’s the crisis with South West Water, but that’s not just about beaches, that’s about rivers as well.  

“We’ve got an absolute crisis around insufficient homes, particularly for younger people, but it does present as an issue for older people as well. 

Paul Arnott (courtesy: Todd Olive/Exmouth and Exeter East Liberal Democrats)

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

The Liberal Democrats have chosen East Devon District Council leader Paul Arnott to stand as their candidate for the newly formed Exmouth and Exeter East constituency at the next general election. 

The new seat will be formed from much of the old East Devon seat, including Exmouth, Topsham, Budleigh Salterton and Cranbrook, but also eastern parts of Exeter like Pinhoe.  

East Devon and its former incarnations has been Conservative since before Queen Victoria came to the throne, whilst Exeter has been held by Labour since 1997.  

Despite this, Cllr Arnott believes he has a realistic chance of winning and has received the backing of Claire Wright, who gathered more than 40 per cent of the vote in East Devon in the 2019 general election as an independent, leaving the Conservatives with a majority of 6,708. 

He also highlighted the success of the Lib Dems in the area in the 2023 local elections. 

Cllr Arnott said: “I think it will become apparent that it’s a two-horse race.  

“Claire’s 25,000 votes have to go somewhere, and I would be hoping to get a healthy chunk of those.  

“In the East Devon part of the constituency, at the district council, there are 12 Lib Dems, there are two Greens and one Labour [councillor]. 

“I think that shows that the Lib Dems are the people, by the most recent electoral evidence, who are there to beat.”

However, not all of Claire Wright’s votes in 2019 would have come from the new constituency. The politically independent Boundary Commisison has also created a new area called Honiton and Sidmouth. It reviews constituency boundaries periodically to try to roughly balance them in terms of population numbers.

Clrr Arnott continued: “When you come to St Loyes and Pinhoe, clearly they sit within a Labour city council. The Lib Dems are definitely getting stronger within that and campaigning, and that is somewhere where I will obviously pay a lot of early attention and get out there and meet people.” 

Mr Arnott was born in London and was adopted at birth. Educated at Exeter University, he later worked as a journalist and in television and has published four books. He became the leader of East Devon District Council in 2020 and has lived in Colyton since 2001. He is married with four children and one grandchild. 

Asked why he thinks he would make a good MP for the area, he said: “My entire work as a district councillor has been across the whole district and I would say disproportionately around what would be my constituency.  

“As district leader, I can say truly that I work in the constituency. And I think that’s pretty fine bona fides to want to become a member of parliament.  

“I know its major settlements really well, and I lived in Exeter for years, and I lived in Topsham. 

“I live nine miles outside the constituency, which I think in Devon terms is more or less next-door neighbour. It takes me about 15 minutes to drive into the constituency. 

“What I would hope to bring is the knowledge – the deep knowledge and understanding that I’ve managed to gather as district leader at East Devon, which covers absolutely everything from homes to economy and environment. 

“I’ve dealt with those in the constituency, and I’ve dealt with them nationally as well. As a candidate, I come ready with that knowledge. I understand it. I know a lot of people in the constituency.  

“I’m not the youngest candidate, but sometimes that’s not such a bad thing. I’m not a career politician knifing his way up. I’m just there to try and do stuff for the benefit of the people of Exmouth and Exeter East.” 

Cllr Arnott describes himself as “absolutely centrist” and was an independent councillor before the 2023 local elections, in which he retained his seat in Coly Valley after joining the Lib Dems. 

He said: “In order to become selected as a Liberal Democrat candidate, you have to make a study of the Liberal Democrat manifesto.  

“I think it’s really strong, and it’s what we’ve been doing at the district, in effect.

“The instant focus for me will be around environment. We know there’s the crisis with South West Water, but that’s not just about beaches, that’s about rivers as well.  

“We’ve got an absolute crisis around insufficient homes, particularly for younger people, but it does present as an issue for older people as well.  

“That’s about getting stuck into the planning system and about trying to get new social housing going. And I know at East Devon, that is a priority for us already. 

“It’s about continuing the good work on the economy, because actually it’s thriving, I think largely due to the work of the district council. We have the [Exeter and East Devon] Enterprise Zone and that’s working very well.  

“For me, working with my continuing district contacts on homes and homelessness will be really important. 

“And then finally, it’s about working to protect the NHS, which does seem to be coming under consistent attack from the government, tragically.” 

A general election must be held by the end of January 2025.  One other candidate, Conservative David Reed, has been announced for Exmouth and Exeter East so far.
 

According to the “Top of the Poops” web site South West Water pollutes rivers for longer than any other water company and is the top polluter of shellfish. River pollution is not recorded on SWW’s WaterFit Live but all discharges into rivers end in the sea.

In Owl’s view this makes SWW Waterfit Live “unfit for purpose”.

Swimming in sewage

Most, if not actually all, of the beaches and designated coastal bathing locations around England and Wales are regular recipients of a good layer of sewage.

Accuracy Warning We use data from the water companies, but we are seeing many anomalies, that make us believe that bathing location information is quite poor. The situation is likely far worse than reported here.

Water companies have a duty to report on the summer bathing season separately, and this made grim reading in 2022. For more details check out Surfers Against Sewage Water Quality Report 2022

Top of The Poops – Beaches

1.United Utilities – New Brighton 7,056 hours

2.United Utilities – Allonby 6,754 hours

3.United Utilities – Morecambe North 5,348 hours

4.South West Water – PLYMOUTH HOE (EAST) 5,158 hours

5.United Utilities – St Annes 4,700 hours

6.United Utilities – Morecambe South 4,614 hours

7.United Utilities – Seascale 4,545 hours

8.United Utilities – Southport, St Annes Pier, St. Annes North and Blackpool South 3,671 hours

9.Southern Water – COWES, GURNARD 3,161 hours

10.South West Water – MOTHECOMBE BEACH 2,884 hours

[See all beach rankings]

Rivers & Streams

Of the 4700 rivers in England, few escape from sewage dumping

Top of The Poops – Rivers

1.South West Water – Unknown 19,395 hours

2.Yorkshire Water – River Calder 18,079 hours

3.Severn Trent Water – River Severn 17,495 hours

4.Dwr Cymru Welsh Water – River Garw 16,134 hours

5.South West Water – River Tamar 15,546 hours

6.Dwr Cymru Welsh Water – River Teifi 14,079 hours

7.Dwr Cymru Welsh Water – River Tawe 13,981 hours

8.Yorkshire Water – River Aire 13,810 hours

9.United Utilities – River Irwell 12,939 hours

10.United Utilities – River Eden 11,780 hours

Sewage in the food chain?

Shellfish are sensitive to the quality of water that surrounds them, and as they filter the water, they can become contaminated with bacteria from the water around them.

Top of The Poops – Shellfish

1.South West Water – Teign 10,838 hours

2.South West Water – Fal Estuary 9,245 hours

3.United Utilities – NORTH WIRRAL (EAST) 8,665 hours

4.United Utilities – MORECAMBE BAY EAST 8,528 hours

5.South West Water – Exe 6,411 hours

6.South West Water – Dart 6,123 hours

7.United Utilities – MORECAMBE BAY (LEVEN) 5,529 hours

8.United Utilities – RIBBLE 5,155 hours

9.United Utilities – Morecambe Bay East and Lune (Broadfleet and Plover Scar) 5,104 hours

10.United Utilities – Solway 4,604 hours

[See all shellfish rankings]

Although South West Water is a private company it must comply with Freedom of Information (FOI) requests on environmental issues.

A correspondent has just pointed out to Owl that SWW has been deluged with FOIs from Exmouth and Budleigh residents in the past few days. Below are the details of one that caught the correspondent’s eye regarding unmonitored raw sewage discharge into the Kersbrook at the Lime Kiln car park Budleigh Salterton. This discharge is only metres away from the popular bathing spot in front of the car park.

This is followed by a short list of a dozen recent requests with links to the details.

[The reason these are in the public domain, visible for us to see, is that the requests were made through the “What do they know?” website. An essential tip for anyone launching a FOI]

Request for discharge information, Emergency Overflow from Lime Kiln SPS, Budleigh Salterton

10 February 2024

Dear South West Water Limited,
We have recently become aware that there is an Emergency Overflow (EO) which comes out of the Lime Kiln SPS [sewer pumping station] at Budleigh Salterton. This EO is not monitored through EDM [event duration monitors] sensors.
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. This site is due to become a National Nature Reserve this week.
Information I would like please:
1) How many times, and which specific dates, has this EO discharged since 1st January 2022 (ie: 2 years)?
2) How long have these discharges lasted, and what volume has been discharged?
3) What reporting has been made on these discharges, both to EA and to the public?
4) In view of this site being newly categorised as a National Nature reserve, when will this be monitored through EDM, and data published in near real time?Yours faithfully,
Peter Williams

The list

Exmouth SPS Pump Failure information

Response by South West Water Limited to Geoff Crawford on 13 February 2024.

 Awaiting classification.

Exmouth, Phear Park SPS maintenance records 2019 – 2024

Response by South West Water Limited to Geoff Crawford on 13 February 2024.

 Awaiting classification.

Maer Road pumping station Exmouth overflows

Response by South West Water Limited to Karen Powers on 12 February 2024.

 Awaiting classification.

Exmouth SPS pump capacity and volume

Response by South West Water Limited to Charlie Edwards on 12 February 2024.

 Awaiting classification.

Hartopp SPS storm tank, Maer Road and Phear Park Emergency Overflows

Request sent to South West Water Limited by Geoff Crawford on 11 February 2024.

 Awaiting response.

Sewage Sludge and Fertiliser Cake HGV transportation and Environmental Impact

Response by South West Water Limited to Geoff Crawford on 30 January 2024.

 Successful.

Exmouth – Request for Clear and Accurate Schedule of Inspections, Asset Lifespan, and Replacement/Upgrade Plan

Response by South West Water Limited to Geoff Crawford on 6 February 2024.

 Delayed.

Faulty EDMs at Budleigh

Request sent to South West Water Limited by Karen Powers on 11 February 2024.

 Awaiting response.

Exmouth discharges between 30 Dec & 2 Jan 2024

Response by South West Water Limited to Karen Powers on 5 February 2024.

 Awaiting response.

2023 bathing water discharges

Response by South West Water Limited to Karen Powers on 5 February 2024.

 Awaiting response.

Request for discharge information, Emergency Overflow from Lime Kiln SPS, Budleigh Salterton

Request sent to South West Water Limited by Peter Williams on 10 February 2024. – See below

 Awaiting response..

Tankers at Budleigh Lime Kiln January 2024

Response by South West Water Limited to Karen Powers on 5 February 2024.

 Awaiting classification.