https://www.facebook.com/JessBaileyOtterValleyDevonCountyCouncillor/videos/424519300107536

Campaigners hoping to keep Tipton St John Primary School in the village have presented councillors with a petition containing nearly 1,000 signatures.

Bradley Gerrard, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

Judith Taylor, who represents the group, gave the document to Devon County Council’s full meeting as part of moves to try to keep the school in the community.

Its future remains uncertain as the Department for Education (DfE) has agreed to fund a new building at Ottery St Mary, with Devon County Council providing the land and paying for work such as road access.

Former East Devon Conservative MP Simon Jupp, who lost his seat the election, had campaigned on the issue, and earlier this year welcomed the-then education secretary Gillian Keegan to the school to urge that work begin quickly.

The DfE’s preferred location for a new school is two miles away, but campaigners who oppose this are growing louder.

“There is strong support to retain the school, which has existed for over 180 years, in the village, as it is a vital resource for our area,” Ms Taylor said.

“It is a popular school and local parents choose to send their children there due to it being a small rural school.

“It has a good reputation, but it is the quality of its rural location that is a key driver for most parents. It’s important that small rural schools are supported as they provide many benefits over and above their academic value.”

She added that there were “multiple sites” in Tipton St John that could accommodate a new school, and that reports reviewed by campaigners led them to believe that “sites in Tipton have not been reviewed fairly or without bias to date.

“Historically, there have been ongoing discussions of moving the school to nearby Ottery St Mary, and we feel this has clouded the assessment of potential sites in Tipton,” she added.

Following boundary changes at the last election, Tipton St John is now in the Honiton and Sidmouth constituency, represented by Liberal Democrat Richard Foord who says he would prefer the school to stay in the village.

This is despite the school being in a flood-risk area and being underwater on several occasions.

Shortly after the election, Mr Foord visited the school and met its headteacher and governors.

“It is a school that absolutely does need to be rebuilt, but there is a very big question over where,” Mr Foord said.

“Personally, I’m of the view that it should be kept in the village if at all possible.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We remain committed to improving the condition of the school estate, and the rebuild of Tipton St John is a part of that.

“We continue to work with the school and local partners and look forward to progressing the project when a new suitable site has been secured.

“All future decisions remain subject to the spending review.”

Local authorities in England would get new powers to run their own bus services under legislation being laid before Parliament on Monday, as the transport secretary promises to deliver a “bus revolution” that will save vital routes.

[History of Devon’s bus services can be found on Wikipedia].

Katy Austin & Lora Jones www.bbc.co.uk 

Currently only areas with metro mayors can introduce “franchising” to private companies.

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said that after “decades of failed deregulation”, “local leaders will finally have the powers to provide services that deliver for passengers”.

Some industry figures, however, said minimum service level guarantees should also be set out as routes and timetables have faced cuts in recent years.

There are only a few areas in England where the local bus company is owned by the council.

The model – known as bus franchising – sees local authorities grant private companies the right to operate in a specific area, although the council maintains control over things like routes, timetables and fares.

Supporters say it means profits can be reinvested into services. For example, if the council puts money into things like bus lanes it sees a direct return – better services, more passengers and higher revenue from fares which can then be reinvested.

In the run-up to the general election, Labour pledged, external that it would hand all local transport authorities the power to run their own bus services and lift restrictions on new, publicly-owned bus operators.

But Shadow Transport Secretary Helen Whately suggested in a statement that “Labour’s plans are unfunded” and the government needed to explain whether local authorities would be expected to raise tax or cut services to fund the proposal.

“Moreover, it won’t make a blind bit of difference for passengers.”

“It won’t increase the number of services and they would much prefer to have the £2 fare cap extended at the Budget,” she added, referring to a policy introduced by the Conservative government, external to cap single bus fares on participating bus routes at £2, which has been extended until December.

Buses are the most commonly used form of public transport, external in Great Britain.

But services have been in long-term decline, with the pandemic hitting passenger numbers and profits hard.

According to the Department for Transport, external, the number of local bus passenger journeys in England rose by 19.4% to 3.4 billion in the year ending March 2023.

This is much lower than usage levels before the pandemic, when journeys totalled 4.1 billion in the 12 months ending March 2020.

Until the 1980s, most bus services were delivered through publicly owned companies, often run by councils, but in 1986 services outside London were deregulated and privatised, leading to the mass sale of council bus companies.

In London a franchising system was introduced, with Transport for London deciding routes, timetables and fares and operators bidding to run services for a fixed fee.

This has contributed to the capital seeing an increase in bus use, with services less hit by cuts, in contrast to other parts of the country.

The newly-formed government has also launched a consultation on simplified guidance aimed at speeding up processes and reducing costs for local councils looking at bringing services into public control.

A “Better Buses Bill” will be put forward later on in this parliamentary session, which would look at measures for areas where leaders would not consider franchising.

Last year, Greater Manchester became the first place outside of London to bring bus services into public control since they were deregulated in the 1980s. The “Bee Network”, where all-night services have been trialled, has been described as a success, despite facing some teething problems with delays.

More city regions intend to follow, and the government’s plan would allow all local authorities across England to do the same.

Silviya Barrett, director of policy and research at Campaign for Better Transport, said giving local councils more power would create “a more reliable bus network for all”.

“Whilst franchising may not be suitable for all areas, everyone should have access to a quality bus service without risk of it being cut, which is why we are also calling for a minimum service level guarantee and long-term, ringfenced funding for all local authorities,” she said.

Emma Vogelmann, head of policy at Transport for All, told the BBC that buses play a crucial role for disabled people in the community.

“Often they are the only accessible form of public transport available…we’re cautiously optimistic that greater devolution of services will enable local authorities to pick up the pace of change,” she said.

Meanwhile, Adam Hug, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association which represents councils, said the proposals marked a “step towards helping to restore public faith in local bus networks”.

Businesses and residents in a Devon town are to launch what is set to become the largest group legal action against a water company seen in the UK, i can reveal.

[South West Water are reported as saying businesses were not entitled to compensation under Ofwat’s Guaranteed Standards Scheme. and advised businesses to check their burst pipe insurance.]

David Parsley inews.co.uk

Businesses and residents in a Devon town are to launch what is set to become the largest group legal action against a water company seen in the UK, i can reveal.

Seaside resort Exmouth intends to take on South West Water in the courts after the town’s popular beach was dogged by “no swim” warnings following repeated raw sewage spills during the summer.

Dozens of the town’s independent business have joined forces to appoint a law firm to lead the action, which will claim the beach closures resulted in a significant fall in sales during the crucial summer holiday trading period.

The action will include independent restaurants, pubs, cafes, boat trip firms, sailing groups, ice cream parlours and gift shops.

Residents and summer visitors may also be included in the action after the beach’s blue flag was replaced by red-flag warnings on several occasions during the school holidays.

Nicky Nicholls, of beachside retail and leisure hub Sideshore, is co-ordinating between law firm Leigh Day and local business.

She said: “The reputational damage that has been done to Exmouth over this summer is unacceptable.

“Businesses and residents alike are angry. We intend to fight back, to get the system fixed and to get Exmouth back its beautiful bathing waters.”

Maisie Dawson, who owns The Beach pub by the town’s marina, said: “It’s definitely had an impact on the business.

“The worry is what impact is this going to have on the town in the future. People thinking of where they’ll go on holiday next year may well think they’re not coming to Exmouth because it’s got raw sewage all over the beach.”

Eric Bridge, who runs the Edge watersports and retail store on the beach, said: “When the red flags were out over the bank holiday weekend the beach was virtually empty.

“It was quite odd to see it so quiet, and it clearly has an impact on local businesses when the tourists stayed away.”

The no-swim warnings were issued by the Environment Agency after a South West Water sewage pipe burst on the 14 August.

While the water company claimed the issue had been solved after installing a temporary overland pipe, no-swim notices were imposed on two further occasions during August, including over the key bank holiday trading weekend.

South West Water said businesses were not entitled to compensation under Ofwat’s Guaranteed Standards Scheme.

Instead, the company has advised businesses to check if their business insurance policy may cover the hit to revenues due to the burst pipe.

The town has been dogged by spills since last December, when another pipe burst led to weeks of disruption in the town.

As i revealed earlier this year, 240 tankers a day drove through Exmouth carrying up to 18,000 litres of sewage to Maer Road sewage pumping station, just 200 metres from the beach, following a series of major pipe bursts.

The local council passed a vote of no confidence in South West Water in February.

Councillor Paul Arnott, leader of East Devon District Council, said the situation in and around Exmouth was a “civil emergency” and it was “just a matter of time before someone becomes seriously ill due to South West Water’s failure to control and fix its own infrastructure”.

Mr Arnott added: “The August Bank holiday weekend caused terrible losses for local businesses, and because of the national media coverage risks permanent damage to Exmouth and other parts of our district.”

South West Water is already facing legal action from resident Jo Bateman, who is claiming the company has prevented her from taking her daily swims following multiple spills over the past year.

South West Water is already facing legal action from resident Jo Bateman, who is claiming the company has prevented her from taking her daily swims following multiple spills over the past year.

As part of her campaign, Ms Bateman will be handing a 50,000-strong petition to Downing Street on Tuesday, calling for more government action on sewage spills.

“I will be handing in a petition to No 10 urging the Government to stop letting water companies off the hook,” said Ms Bateman.

“We demand: stricter penalties and fines for all water company offences, no more bonuses for water company executives, the prioritisation of urgent action for a cleaner and safer swimming environment for everyone – so we can all enjoy our right to swim.”

A spokeswoman for South West Water added: “We are serious about tackling storm overflows and change of this scale takes time, ambition, and increased investment.

“We are investing around £38m in the Exmouth area up to 2030 which includes upgrades to our pumping stations and treatment works to significantly reduce the number of spills and further protect the environment.”

Election of a Town Councillor for Exmouth Town Council (Town Ward) on Thursday 5 September 2024

Name of Candidate Description (if any) Number of Votes*

BENNETT, Julie D, The Labour Party 224 

CONDUIT, Dianne A, Liberal Democrats 373 Elected

with support from The Good Law Project.

Very honoured and excited to be handing this [petition] in next week! Hoping that there’ll be a good ‘gathering’ of supporters at the gates to Downing Street, please come if you can, it’s a great opportunity to express frustrations with South West Water. – Jo Bee

[Jo will be handing in her petition to No 10 Downing Street at 2:30 pm on Tuesday September 10, gathering at the gates to Downing St from 1:30 pm.]

Sign her petition here. The numbers are approaching 50,000

By Jo Bateman goodlawproject.org

Sewage dumping robs me of my daily swims and harms my mental health. So I’m heading to 10 Downing Street to demand urgent action.

Five years ago, I moved from the Midlands to Exmouth to be closer to the sea, and from the moment I took my first outdoor swim, I was hooked. I try to swim in the sea every day because of the huge benefits to my mental and physical health. Even in winter, when I’m shivering on the beach with the wind barrelling across the bay, I think of the buzz I feel as soon as I get out and that’s what makes me get in  – I couldn’t live without it. 

I’ve been on antidepressants for years, but since I began swimming in the sea, I’ve been able to reduce my dosage to the minimum – and I feel so much better for it. My daily dip is essential for my wellbeing, so when I can’t get in the water it takes a serious toll on my mental health. But there are some days when I can’t swim at all. Why? Sewage. As I’m writing this now – at the height of the summer holiday season – the beach is shut for swimming because of pollution from sewage. And this happens so often I have to check my phone all the time for alerts from Surfers Against Sewage.

I only learned about the sewage scandal when I started swimming and experienced its effects first hand. I didn’t realise how often it’s released and just how much of it is spread all over the country, with almost half a million spills last year. I’ve watched friends get sick from swimming in contaminated water and seen how it affects fish and seagrass – all while water company executives line their pockets.

So earlier this year, with the support of Leigh Day and Good Law Project, I started legal action against South West Water for dumping sewage again and again in my local swimming spot. I’ve had enough. 

And I’m not alone. Almost 40,000 people have joined me in calling on the new government to take action so that water companies are forced to clean up their act, and we can all enjoy our right to swim. Labour ministers have promised they won’t turn a blind eye to water companies like the Tories did, but actions speak louder than words. There’s no time to waste. So next week, I’m heading to 10 Downing Street to deliver the petition in person.

I can only dream of a time when I can just go for a swim without putting my health at risk. But if we carry on this fight, together we can make that dream a reality and we can all enjoy our right to swim.

Jo Bateman

Sign her petition here. The numbers are approaching 50,000

Jo Bateman’s case claiming damages against South West Water can be found here (with privacy redactions)

“The failure has clearly got to do with regulatory failure and a regulatory system that’s completely dysfunctional; there’s nothing here that deals with that, that even discusses it, there’s no reform…”

Pol Allingham www.independent.co.uk 

Environmental activist and singer Feargal Sharkey has criticised the new Water Bill for failing to target a “dysfunctional regulatory system”.

Under the new Bill, executives could face jail if they fail to co-operate or obstruct investigations, and regulators would have the power to issue severe and automatic fines without having to direct resources to lengthy probes.

However, Mr Sharkey, the Londonderry-born former singer of punk band The Undertones, told Sky News that the water pollution crisis “has clearly got to do with regulatory failure” and new laws are not required to solve it.

He said on Thursday: “The failure has clearly got to do with regulatory failure and a regulatory system that’s completely dysfunctional; there’s nothing here that deals with that, that even discusses it, there’s no reform.

“We don’t need new regulations, we don’t need new laws, we’ve got 35 years’ worth of laws that have never been applied – you should force them (the regulators) to go out and apply the law as it stands today, that would have been a massive step forward.

“I also note that simple instruction is missing from this long list of stuff.

“I think Government had a real opportunity here to show clear visionary leadership, to show it had an action plan, to fix all of this, and unfortunately we’ve ended up with a long list of stuff that, frankly, costs nothing and I suspect will achieve even less.”

Mr Sharkey told the programme that “for 20 years” existing laws have allowed for company directors to receive “unlimited fines” for “that kind of environment vandalism”.

“I cannot find a single example of any company director ever prosecuted, ever being fined a penny”, he said, adding that potential jail terms announced in the new Bill would be for executives who fail to co-operate or who obstruct investigations.

“I guarantee you right now it will never ever happen; what we needed was decisive clear leadership and sadly I can’t see that today”, he said.

Mr Sharkey told Sky that he became an environmental campaigner due to his love of rivers and fly fishing, and growing up in a “very unsettled” Northern Ireland with a mother who demanded they confront apparent social injustices when they see them.

Is there any way the council can take a more active role? in directing development?

Government threatens to put our housing numbers up by 250 a year if we don’t publish a draft new Local Plan in the next three months.

No pressure then! – Owl

Cllr. Todd Olive writes in this week’s local press (from print edition):

The expression “May you live in interesting times- supposedly comes from an old Chinese curse, though no source for that has ever been found.

When I first heard it, I thought it must mean “May you never be bored!”. Today, though, as East Devon’s Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning – responsible for, among other things, production of the new Local Plan – I think of it in a different light.

Regular readers of this publication will know that East Devon has several “interesting” and challenging decisions to take soon about where new housing development should go.

Those decisions have gained added urgency with the news that the new government intends to revamp the national planning system – putting up our housing numbers by 250 a year if we don’t publish a draft new Local Plan in the next three months. That would mean adding a community about half the size of Whimple, where I live, to East Devon every year – on top of the 900 homes a year we must already deliver.

If my inbox over the last week is anything to go by, deciding where to put those homes – around 20,000 over the life of the new Local Plan up to 2042 – is not going to win any of your District Councillors, of any political stripe, many popularity contests. An apparent failure to deliver on new infrastructure, not least to contain the sewage kindly dumped in our rivers and on our beaches by our water company, has quite rightly soured everyone’s taste for new development. The purely commercially-driven approach to the building of Cranbrook hasn’t helped, either. Listening to the new Labour Secretary of State, Angela Rayner’s announcement of sweeping changes to national planning policy back in August, though, you could be forgiven for thinking that “infrastructure” wasn’t in her vocabulary – much like the previous Conservative government. Her proposed changes are heavy on housebuilding, but light on the things that make development work.

No move towards a genuinely infrastructure-led system. No new powers for your local council to hold developers to account on their promises. No sign of the revolution in local authority housebuilding needed to deliver the government’s 300,000 homes a year target – let alone the affordable homes for rent that we so desperately need.

It’s a bleak picture. That’s nothing new at East Devon, we have little choice but to take that on the chin – and try to do the best we can with the few tools we have.

One of the ways we can do that is to try to make new development large enough that we can require developers to provide shops, schools, and GP places alongside new homes. Another is for the council to take a more active role in directing development.

Today the government publishes new legislation

Is this enough?

Does it restore the chronic under funding of the regulator and consequent “hands off” attitude which is in danger of becoming institutionalised?

Does anyone really expect a water boss to be jailed? – Owl

Water bosses face up to two years in prison if they repeatedly obstruct investigations into the pollution of the UK’s rivers and seas, under tough new measures to crackdown on the sewage crisis.

Richard Vaughan inews.co.uk

Ministers will publish new legislation on Thursday that will hand regulators sweeping new powers to bring criminal charges against water executives if they are found to be deliberately obstructing and failing to cooperate with any investigation into a water company.

The proposals are contained in the new Water (Special Measures) Bill, which will also hand the Environment Agency (EA) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate the ability to ban the payment of bonuses to water executives if they fail to tackle sewage dumping.

Under the tougher new measures, water companies will face automatic fines, similar to how speeding tickets are issued, if newly required real time monitors pick up any illegal spills from emergency outlets.

The bill will also lower the burden of proof in civil cases to allow the EA to bring criminal charges against water bosses more easily, which would amount in fines.

Crucially, the proposed laws will also ensure that water companies will foot the bill for any costs of investigations if they are found guilty of any wrongdoing, which officials believe will free resources for the regulators.

The laws will also tweak arrangements if a water company goes bust and falls into what is called “special administration”, where the Government steps in until a new operator is found.

Changes under the bill will mean if the likes of Thames Water goes bust and is sold for a fraction of the Government’s costs, the Secretary of State will be able to enforce any shortfalls be made up through higher water bills.

The bill is the second step in a three-part plan from the new government to regain control over the sewage crisis. The first was announcing a reset in relations with the water industry, setting out how the new water price settlement would require ring-fenced spending on infrastructure from the sector.

The third will come later in the parliament with further legislation that will seek to reform the wider water sector beyond sewage pollution, including improving water resilience, speeding up infrastructure delivery, and boosting upgrades.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said the measures were needed to “end the disgraceful behaviour of water companies and their bosses”.

Mr Reed told i: “There’s been little accountability for the illegal sewage dumping that’s killing our waterways. That all changes today.

“The threat of a two-year prison sentence will focus water bosses’ minds on cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas.

“Regulators’ new powers to issue severe automatic fines for illegal sewage discharges will stop companies treating pollution as a cost of doing business. The regulator will also be able to claw back the cost of prosecution from offending company so they can pump the money back into further enforcement.”

The action comes after years of under-investment by the privately-run water firms combined with ageing water infrastructure, a growing population and more extreme weather that has led to the quality of England’s rivers, lakes and oceans plummeting in recent years.

Sewage spills have contributed to a situation in which no single river in England is considered to be in good overall health, and beauty spots including Windermere in the Lake District have been polluted. Agricultural pollution has also played a significant part in the damage to waterways.

Some water utilities are also creaking under high levels of debt or face criticism over dividends to shareholders and executive bonuses.

The situation has prompted i‘s Save Britain’s Rivers campaign, which before the election called on the Government to sign up to a manifesto of five pledges in order to help the country’s rivers recover from decades of pollution.

It urges ministers to overhaul Ofwat and provide more funding for the Environment Agency to allow it to do its job properly.

Some of Labour’s pledges to date align with i‘s manifesto, including plans to introduce tougher penalties and restrict bonuses. However, the Government is yet to meet all i‘s demands, including increased funding for the regulator and farmers.

Responding to the bill, Charles Watson, chair of River Action, said: “It is obviously a relief to finally see the true horrors of years of incessant pollution and the accompanying abject failure of our regulators to do anything about it being candidly acknowledged by our government of the day.”

But he added that the “few one-off actions” announced are not alone going to fix the underlying causes of water pollution.

“It is imperative that this commitment to supplement today’s small steps with much more fundamental action is now brought forward with real vigour and urgency,” he said.

New sewage laws

What has been announced?

A new bill has been published that will allow regulators, including the Environment Agency and the Drinking Water Inspectorate, to hold the chief executives of water companies criminally liable amounting to possible imprisonment for persistent failures.

What will amount to jail time?

Under the plans, water bosses will be held personally criminally liable if they are repeatedly found to be failing to cooperate and obstructing an investigation by the regulators.

How does the law operate currently?

The Government says since privatisation a “justice gap” has emerged when it comes to criminal liability. As it stands, if a water company executive fails to cooperate by providing data or materials as part of an investigation, the maximum that an executive could receive was a fine, with the maximum at around £300.

How common is this?

The Government believes there is widespread illegality, but due to the shortcomings in the existing laws, only three people have faced criminal prosecution since privatisation was introduced.

What else is in the legislation?

The bill will hand the regulators powers to ban the payment of any bonus to water bosses to ensure that water companies fit real time monitors on all sewage outlets, including emergency outlets, with automatic fines, similar to speeding tickets, issued if any illegal sewage dumps are recorded.

Paul Arnott calls for government action on sewage “Civil Emergency”

Link to ITV interview here.

“Developers build and build to support the immigration of wealthy retired people from other areas of the country. We have more than met our housing targets, but we are still in a desperate housing crisis….”

Maiden speech puts county’s problems in the spotlight

Guy Henderson – Local Democracy Reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

A Devon MP has used her maiden speech in the House of Commons to highlight what she claims are the county’s harsh inequalities.

Caroline Voaden, the new Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, called for change in places like Salcombe, and told fellow MPs: “I would like us to think really hard about how we can help even out our society, so that no one is raising a disabled child in a mould-filled home within sight of a millionaire’s yacht in the harbour below.”

At the general election in July, Ms Voaden overturned a 14,000 Conservative majority to oust former MP Anthony Mangnall from the seat previously known as ‘Totnes’.

In her speech, she told parliamentarians how she came to live in rural Devon, and outlined some of its attractions and successes.

But, she added: “There is so much more to South Devon that does not make it onto the postcards or the chocolate boxes.

“We have Britain’s most expensive seaside town in Salcombe, where an average house costs £970,000, but not far away we have left-behind neighbourhoods where people struggle to make ends meet on low-paid seasonal work and live in poor-quality housing.

“This disparity of wealth can be hard to get your head around.

“We have communities that have been hollowed out by second homes to the extent that schools are closing, village shops have long gone and the last pubs are closing.

“Families are being evicted so that landlords can turn their homes into short-term holiday lets, and second homes registered as businesses are causing our council to lose out on millions of pounds a year of desperately needed resources. We must close this loophole.”

She said businesses are struggling to find staff because no one can afford to live nearby and there is no social housing.

Yet, she added: “Developers build and build to support the immigration of wealthy retired people from other areas of the country. We have more than met our housing targets, but we are still in a desperate housing crisis.

“The solution is not just build, build, build. It is about land prices, what we build and where, and who buys those homes.

“What we need is social housing, more community land trust schemes, innovation and ideas for breaking out of the developer-led disaster we are in.”

Richard Foord MP has put in a written question to parliament to make sure the school building program is going ahead and that Tipton St John is still part of it. He believes Rachel Reeves’ spending assessment doesn’t extend to the DfE’s capital budget.

Bradley Gerrard, local democracy reporter www.radioexe.co.uk

Certainty over a proposed scheme to relocate a Devon school is being sought amid the government’s spending review.

Tipton St John Primary School was in the previous administration’s priority schools’ rebuilding programme, but with Labour now seeking to cut plug a national funding gap, the future of the scheme is up in the air.

The Department for Education (DfE) had agreed to fund the construction of the new school, with Devon County Council providing the land and paying for work such as road access.

Former East Devon Conservative MP Simon Jupp, who lost his seat the election, had campaigned on the issue, and earlier this year welcomed the-then education secretary Gillian Keegan to the school to urge that work begin quickly.

The DfE’s preferred location for a new school is two miles away at Thorne Farm, Ottery St Mary.

But now, the county council says it is trying to find out whether the government will honour its predecessor’s commitment.

“With the new government still identifying its priorities, we are not yet clear what its intention is with the priority schools rebuilding programme,” a council spokesperson said.

“We are, however, seeking clarity.”

Following boundary changes at the last election, Tipton St John is now in the Honiton and Sidmouth constituency, represented by Liberal Democrat Richard Foord who says he would prefer to see the school stay in the village rather than moved to neighbouring Ottery.

This is despite the school being in a flood-risk area and being under water on several occasions.

Shortly after his election win, he went to visit the school and its headteacher and governors.

“It is a school that absolutely does need to be rebuilt, but there is a very big question over where,” Mr Foord said.

“Personally, I’m of the view that it should be kept in the village if at all possible.”

Mr Foord said that as it stands, chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending assessment doesn’t extend to the DfE’s capital budget – the pot of money it would use for large schemes such as rebuilding schools.

“Again though, we want some certainty so I have put in a written question to parliament to make sure the school building program is going ahead and that Tipton St John is still part of it.”

A Department for Education spokesperson said: “We remain committed to improving the condition of the school estate, and the rebuild of Tipton St John is a part of that.

“We continue to work with the school and local partners and look forward to progressing the project when a new suitable site has been secured.

“All future decisions remain subject to the spending review.”

Yesterday the following beaches: Budleigh, Sidmouth and Seaton were also polluted. What about them Susan?- Owl

“We have all the workarounds in place and our absolute job is to protect the environment and the watercourses and make sure we’re doing it in such a way that we minimise impacts on the community, which I know is really tricky at the moment and I fully understand and I apologise for all the disruption that we are causing here.”

Speaking in a video message from the Maer Lane site, Susan Davey, as reported by DevonLive,  said: “I’ve come down to Exmouth again just to make sure that I can see the good progress that’s being made by all the teams and this really is a joint effort. We have many teams who are working around the clock to make sure that we’re passing through all the sewage right up to the treatment works whilst we are working on the fix for the main that obviously burst previously.

“The teams are working 24/7. They’re fully supported with what they need to do. Obviously this is an enormous undertaking that we are working through but the teams are on with it and doing a very good job.

“Looking round the works that are being done today it’s incredible, the scale of the undertaking that we are on with. Obviously we are working with all our partners to make sure we get this done in short order but it will take a number of weeks before we get to a position that we have replaced the main that we need to replace

“In the meantime, we have all the workarounds in place and our absolute job is to protect the environment and the watercourses and make sure we’re doing it in such a way that we minimise impacts on the community, which I know is really tricky at the moment and I fully understand and I apologise for all the disruption that we are causing here.

“But absolutely, our focus is on protecting the environment and making sure that we get this main recharged in the way that it needs to be and that we are minimising our impacts on the community.

“One of the things that I’m really keen to do is that we have a wider plan for Exmouth that’s in train and we will see a new works being developed, which we want to make sure is in and up and running and working by 2028.

“Now what we’re going to look at is how do we bring some of that work forward, how do we make sure that we are supporting the community and all the work that we’re doing here will feed into that new infrastructure we’ll be putting in place.”

• Discharge of conditions for 23/0747/MFUL : Condition 11 (communal open space management and maintenance) Land At Pinn Court Farm (Phase 4) Pinncourt Lane ExeterRef. No: 24/1771/DOC | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Cherry : shorten back over garden and re-shape by 1m to leave a natural form. T2, Hornbeam: reduce height by no more than 2m and shorten side growth to leave a natural form. T3, Thujopsis: fell. T4, Ash: shorten side growth by approximately 1m to a natural pruning position. Reduce height by approximately 2m to leave a natural form. T5, Pine: lightly shorten back side growth by approximately 1m to a natural pruning position. 8 Rolle Barton Church Hill Otterton Devon EX9 7HRRef. No: 24/1778/TCA | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 17/1019/MOUT: Condition 13 (Construction and Environment Management Plan) and Condition 36 (Construction Method Statement) (in relation to Infrastructure Application 23/0085/MRES) Land North Of Old Tithebarn Lane Clyst HonitonRef. No: 24/1779/DOC | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 24/0807/FUL: Condition 3 (surface water drainage) The Old Barn Sheldon Honiton EX14 4QSRef. No: 24/1770/DOC | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 24/0139/FUL: Condition 8 (materials) and Condition 9 (landscaping) Kenwood Woodhouse Hill Uplyme Devon DT7 3SLRef. No: 24/1764/DOC | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 17/1019/MOUT: Condition 26 (Phasing Plan) Land North Of Old Tithebarn Lane Clyst HonitonRef. No: 24/1767/DOC | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 24/0004/LBC: Condition 3 (roofing materials, windows, doors and render) Hawley Cottage Hawley Bottom Axminster EX13 7HRRef. No: 24/1769/DOC | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Minor amendment for 22/0856/MRES: Amended PV panel layout on the roof Land Adjacent Babbage Way Exeter Science Park Clyst HonitonRef. No: 24/1760/NMA | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Unknown
• T1, Lime: re-pollard back to existing pollard points. Remove all epicormic growth from main stem. Flat 51 Kings Gardens Kerslakes Court Honiton Devon EX14 1FLRef. No: 24/1763/TRE | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 21/2020/MRES: Condition 10 (Hot food Takeaway Units) Parcel TC4A Land To The South Of Tillhouse Road CranbrookRef. No: 24/1744/DOC | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Minor amendment for 23/0747/MFUL: Substitution of the Forbes house type and replacement with the McQueen house type on plots 44 and 45. Land At Pinn Court Farm (Phase 4) Pinncourt Lane ExeterRef. No: 24/1751/NMA | Validated: Wed 21 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 24/0157/FUL: Condition 3 (Schedule of External Materials) Oliver Joseph Fitness Lyme Street Axminster Devon EX13 5AURef. No: 24/1750/DOC | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 24/1141/LBC: Condition 3 (Re-use of historic bricks) Condition 4 (Roofing Materials) Rawridge Mill Farm Rawridge EX14 9QSRef. No: 24/1740/DOC | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 – Hawthorn: fell to ground level. T2 – Walnut: crown lift over both properties to approximately 2.5m above ground level, as measured from 2 Chowns Cottages. Maximum Diameter of Cuts (MDC) 50mm. Prune away from outbuilding to achieve 1m of clearance. Prune any extending branches where overhanging neighbouring property to tidy and contain. MDC 40mm. T3 – Birch: reduce lateral spread by approximately 1-1.5m. MDC 20mm. Rationale: Works for the Hawthorn are proposed due to the decline of the tree. Works for the Walnut and Birch are proposed as part of the reasonable management of these trees. 2 Chowns Cottages Parsonage Way Woodbury Exeter EX5 1HYRef. No: 24/1733/TCA | Validated: Tue 20 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 23/2536/FUL: Condition 3 (Materials) Toilets Lace Walk HonitonRef. No: 24/1729/DOC | Validated: Wed 21 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 23/0970/VAR: Condition 3 (landscaping scheme) Virtues Vineyard Southleigh Colyton Devon EX24 6JARef. No: 24/1731/DOC | Validated: Wed 21 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 – Cedar: crown reduce height by 2m, Maximum Diameter of Cuts (MDC) 75mm. Reduce southern lower canopy by 2m, MDC 50mm. Reduce lower western canopy by 1m, MDC 25mm. Reduce northern lower canopy by 1m, MDC 25mm. Reduce eastern lower canopy by 1.5m, MDC 25mm. Reduce upper canopy by up to 1m to shape accordingly, MDC 25mm. Crown lift over road and pavement according to the Highways Act 1980 and by 2m above the driveway to Number 15. 15 Cheriswood Avenue Exmouth EX8 4HGRef. No: 24/1734/TRE | Validated: Wed 21 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 24/0215/VAR: 4 (CEMP – SHF.002.022.GE.R.001.B) & 11 (5M_LIGHTING_COLUMN-2639565) (PROPOSED_SITE_PLAN_2-2639563) Land At Marsh Green Farm Marsh Green EX5 2EURef. No: 24/1728/DOC | Validated: Tue 20 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Screening opinion for Seaton Hole Coastal Protection Scheme. Seaton Beach The Esplanade SeatonRef. No: 24/0005/EIA | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of the existing dwellings and the erection of five new dwellings with associated access and landscaping. Tillhouse Cottages London Road Rockbeare Devon EX5 2EERef. No: 24/1721/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 23/0747/MFUL: Conditions 3 (CEMP), 4 (cycle/scooter storage), 5 (hedge, tree & shrub protection), 6 (landscaping), 7 (drainage & surface water runoff), 8 (walls/fences), 9 (exterior materials), 10 (noise levels), 12 (energy network connection) & 14 (parking/visibility splays/turning areas & access drainage) Land At Pinn Court Farm Pinncourt Lane ExeterRef. No: 24/1717/DOC | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 24/0750/FUL: Condition 3 (Drainage Strategy) Wellington Farm Wilmington Widworthy EX14 9JRRef. No: 24/1719/DOC | Validated: Tue 20 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of proposed annexe Jasmine Cottage Greenway Lane Sidmouth Devon EX10 0LZRef. No: 24/1725/FUL | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 17/1019/MOUT: Condition 5 (Framework Plan and the Appearance Palette) (In relation to Phase 4 and 5 only) Land North Of Old Tithebarn Lane Clyst HonitonRef. No: 24/1720/DOC | Validated: Tue 20 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 20/1436/FUL: Condition 9 (Drainage Scheme) Condition 10 (Foul Drainage) Ratclyffe Farm Clyst Hydon EX15 2NQRef. No: 24/1723/DOC | Validated: Tue 20 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 Liquidambar – remove two lowest branches from protruding over ‘Tenzing’ on northern aspect. 9 Little Knowle Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6QSRef. No: 24/1709/TCA | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed detached garage with first floor ancillary living accommodation. 16 Raddenstile Lane Exmouth EX8 2JHRef. No: 24/1679/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of 3 Chicketts ( small decorative non structural gables) at roof level. 2no. on Rolle St Elevation, 1no on Magnolia Walk Elevation 21A Rolle Street Exmouth EX8 1HARef. No: 24/1668/FUL | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawfulness to convert garage to living accommodation with replacement flat roof and skylight, and new fenestration.2 Stoneborough Lane Budleigh Salterton EX9 6HLRef. No: 24/1664/CPL | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Insertion of rooflight into rear kitchen extension. (Retrospective). Lower Wick Wick Devon EX14 4TYRef. No: 24/1634/LBC | Validated: Tue 20 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed cladding on external elevations 1 Hickory Close Honiton EX14 2UNRef. No: 24/1610/FUL | Validated: Tue 20 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of planning condition 2 (approved plans) on planning permission 24/0157/FUL (Alterations and minor extension to the existing commercial building, formation of customer parking area and external plant area) alterations to include addition of bollards and safety balustrading, increase in fence height around plant area and reconfigure plant area Oliver Joseph Fitness & Land To The West And South Lyme Street Axminster EX13 5AURef. No: 24/1617/VAR | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of office buildings to two apartments, addition of 3no windows on west elevation Barnfield Office Kerslakes Court Honiton EX14 1FLRef. No: 24/1615/FUL | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Existing annex: replacement windows, door to replace window on East elevation, and new single storey extension on West elevation. Little Thatch Monkton Honiton EX14 9NPRef. No: 24/1603/LBC | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of roofing over existing silage pit and dung store (S/W) Parklands Farm Talaton Devon EX5 2RERef. No: 24/1576/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of two storey side extension and single storey rear extension 28 Halsdon Avenue Exmouth EX8 3DWRef. No: 24/1583/FUL | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of roofing over existing silage pit and dung store (N/E) Parklands Farm Talaton Devon EX5 2RERef. No: 24/1575/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of roofing over an existing silage clamp (maize pit roof) Parklands Farm Talaton Devon EX5 2RERef. No: 24/1574/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prior notification for construction of new general purpose agricultural building for storage Higher Silverdale Land East Of Yawl Cross Lyme Road UplymeRef. No: 24/1569/AGR | Validated: Thu 22 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Yew: pollard, leaving a trunk height of approximately 6m with branches being cut back to a union with the trunk. May House Musbury Axminster EX13 8ARRef. No: 24/1561/TCA | Validated: Wed 21 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey extension on both north and east elevation. Removal of some walls to create opening into extension. Buckley Hill Cottage Bridge Street Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0RZRef. No: 24/1559/LBC | Validated: Wed 21 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey extension on both north and east elevation. Extension of rear patio Buckley Hill Cottage Bridge Street Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0RZRef. No: 24/1558/FUL | Validated: Wed 21 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Install 7no. photovoltaic panels on east elevation and 9no. photovoltaic panels on south elevation including siting of battery and inverter in the kitchen Village Hall Church Street Axmouth Devon EX12 4AFRef. No: 24/1539/LBC | Validated: Wed 21 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Holm Oak : Cut back lateral extension of branches over roof by 2.5m. Lift secondary branches over roof to give 2.5m clearance where possible. 4 Cedar Shade All Saints Road Sidmouth Devon EX10 8EURef. No: 24/1533/TRE | Validated: Wed 21 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Extension to front elevation with alterations The Willows Fenny Bridges EX14 3BGRef. No: 24/1537/FUL | Validated: Tue 20 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition 2 (plans condition) of application 20/0993/MRES (Reserved matters application (layout, scale, appearance and landscaping) pursuant to outline planning permission 14/0330/MOUT for 300 residential units including 16 affordable units, associated roads, open space (formal and informal) and an attenuation basin; the provision of serviced land for mixed-use employment/commercial uses and land for the provision of a primary school) to allow for layout and appearance amendments to approved plots 1-40 (inclusive) Goodmores Farm Hulham Road Exmouth EX8 5BARef. No: 24/1514/VAR | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use wooden shed from storage of agricultural implements to use as compost toilet. Additional adjacent wooden shed to be constructed for storage of agricultural implements and small workshop together with relevant hardstanding to connect structures Land On The North West Side Of Greenway Lane AwliscombeRef. No: 24/1507/FUL | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposal for change of use of current car port, pigsty and paddocks to dog day care and dog walkingTiphayes Upottery EX14 9NZRef. No: 24/1475/FUL | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Withdrawn
• Installation of solar panels on flat roof 19 Barton Rise Tipton St John Sidmouth EX10 0FFRef. No: 24/1483/FUL | Validated: Fri 23 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision
• 1no illuminated freestanding sign Kennaway House Coburg Road Sidmouth EX10 8NGRef. No: 24/1397/ADV | Validated: Mon 19 Aug 2024 | Status: Awaiting decision

‘I’m an Exmouth business owner – I’ve lost thousands due to sewage outpours’

Businesses say they have lost thousands of pounds because of sewage outpours at a popular coastal holiday town in east Devon.

Kyriakos Petrakos, Alexa Phillips inews.co.uk

One business owner in Exmouth, who teaches watersports, said he had to repeatedly cancel classes and issue refunds last month following a “no swim” alert triggered by a burst sewage pipe.

The alert was lifted but i found that South West Water, which is responsible for wastewater services in the area, poured sewage into the sea at Exmouth again days later following downpours. Water companies are allowed to pump untreated sewage into the UK’s rivers and surrounding seas when too much rainfall threatens the capacity of their water tanks.

i also revealed earlier this year that 240 tankers a day drove through Exmouth carrying up to 18,000 litres of sewage to the Maer Road Sewage Pumping Station, just 200 metres from the beach, following a series of major pipe bursts.

Edward John Morgan, 52, said he and other business owners in the area have lost money because of repeated sewage spills last month.

Mr Morgan, who runs watersports business Red Rock, said the impact of sewage spills this August was “the worst I’ve ever known”, saying it was “very disappointing” that people were unable to go swimming. August is usually his busiest month of the year.

“We’ve had large school groups waiting on the beach to go afloat, and then had to do something else with them because we couldn’t take them on the water,” he told i. “That’s significant, because one of our big selling points is being on the water for our camps.

“We’ve also had cancellations. People are on holiday and they can’t come back – we have to refund them if they can’t take them out that day.”

He worries others have not visited the area as a result of the spills.

Sewage was discharged into the sea at Exmouth after a burst pipe, according to Surfers Against Sewage’s Safer Seas & Rivers Service

“We want people to holiday in England,” he said. “We’ve got bad weather half the time, and now we’ve got that as well. It’s too much. It’s got to stop.”

He said the sewage spills have cost him thousands of pounds in cancellations.

It is not only watersports businesses like his that have been affected, but also local restaurants and pubs that rely on visitors to boost their income, he said.

Mr Morgan, who lives in the area, said water firms were “taking the p*** – literally”, adding that the town is “so fed up with it”.

‘This has put my wife off of going to Exmouth’

Andrew Halden, 68, has been going on holiday in Exmouth for each of the past 10 years – but their experience this year means he and his family may not be coming back.

“One of the main features of the holiday is the beach and sea swimming,” he told i.

“Last year, we lost a day or so due to storms but this year the sewer pipe break meant we couldn’t go on the beach or in the sea at all.

“Even on those days when South West Water said you could go in we were very wary of trusting this advice. The last thing we wanted on our holiday was to have a family member falling ill.

“We instead chose to play it safe and head to a beach that was consistently good.”

He said they usually do not drive outside the area, but this year they travelled 40 minutes to find a beach they “could trust” – in Dawlish Warren. He and his family, which includes his 11-year-old granddaughter, went to Topsham Lido on another day.

“We then weren’t spending money in Exmouth which must have impacted local businesses,” he said.

“As a family we felt that we hadn’t spent much leisure time at all in Exmouth and consequentially not spent our money with many of the local businesses.

“Having now had two years of uncertainty with regard to the beach we are now seriously looking at alternative locations for our family break in 2025. We will most likely be moving away from the South West altogether based on the way South West Water operate.”

He said sewage outflows have tarnished the area’s reputation as a “safe and happy holiday destination”.

“Last year we had a small issue with the sewage alerts but this year’s fiasco has definitely put my wife off going to Exmouth again,” he said.

“We as a family looked at our spending this year and we all found we had spent so much less in Exmouth this year.”

Local resident Tracey Bosworth, 58, told i she has been “so worried about the impact the sewage dumps have been having on the town, tourism and the businesses”.

“I’ve noticed a huge reduction in the amount of people visiting the beaches at Exmouth this year,” she said.

“Exmouth is my most favourite place on Earth and this is heartbreaking.

“We’ve all had enough of the contempt for our environment, the residents and businesses. Also, the lack of care by South West Water for people’s health, particularly the children who love being in the sea.

“They are our future and so this could have a detrimental effect for generations.

“Exmouth has such a bad reputation now regarding sewage and it’s completely the fault of South West Water.”

i previously revealed that another resident, Jo Bateman, is taking South West Water to court, claiming that sewage spills in Exmouth have prevented her from cold water swimming, which improves her physical and mental well-being.

A spokesperson for South West Water said: “We are doing everything possible to protect the environment while we complete a permanent fix to the burst pipe in Exmouth.

“Our teams continue to work around the clock. We fully understand the disruption this is causing and we are sorry for that.

“We are investing around £38m in the Exmouth area up to 2030. This includes upgrading our pumping stations and treatment works to significantly reduce the number of spills and further protect the environment.”

Following heavy rain last night, the Environment Agency detected a sewage discharge at Exmouth starting at 01:56 2 September.

Surfers against Sewage map shows alerts at Exmouth, Budleigh, Sidmouth, Beer and Seaton

“The best way to move forward is to move as one.” – David Reed MP

Surely we look to our MP to take the lead. – Owl

David Reed MP

This weekend’s ‘Red Flag’ sewage warning on Exmouth beach has become too common of a sight. The negative effect on local wellbeing, business and tourism has been palpable, and I have deep concerns that our area is starting to gain a national reputation for all of the wrong reasons.

Since being elected last month, I have kept to my word and prioritised finding the fastest but most long-term solution to sorting out the sewage situation we find ourselves in.

Over the last month I have met with South West Water (SWW), the Environment Agency and a range of local businesses and landowners to establish consensus on how best to move in the right direction.

SWW have told me that they are willing to quickly bring structural engineering funds forward to start upgrading and enhancing their network across Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton.

Although this is the right move by SWW, there needs to be a visible plan so that all local people can hold SWW to account on delivery, as well as seeing improvement.

I have let SWW know that once their investigation across the wider local network is complete (circa 3 weeks), they need to communicate their new delivery plan.

To that end, I will be getting in touch with all local councillors from affected areas (Town, District and County) to arrange an in person briefing session with SWW. There will also be an opportunity for representatives of local business and activist groups etc. to attend a briefing session.

The best way to move forward is to move as one. By collectively working together at the local level, we can get the local results we need.

I will also be working in Parliament to ensure that national legislation is effective, and that regulators have the teeth needed to bite down on underperforming water companies.

#ExmouthandExeterEast

Sewage flowing, helmets on, at ease everyone!

Initial Environment Agency pollution alert yesterday evening

South West Water apology

South West Water WaterFit today 31 August

Environment Agency current advice

This Heath Robinson affair of six pumps pumping into a tank with two tractors pumping it out and up to Maer Lane. This is what has overflowed and closed Exmouth beach for the third time in August.

This was supposed to replace a major pumping station for four weeks. Hand me another sticking plaster please.

This is SWWs solution to what should have been a replacement rising main.

It’ll cost Exmouth £m’s but SWW don’t care about that. Geoff Crawford ESCAPE

Angela Rayner, who builds the sewage treatment works we will need for more homes and when will they build them? Sometime or never?- Owl

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government www.gov.uk

• A new expert group will speed up delivery of stalled housing sites.
• Early analysis estimates there are 200 large sites across England which could delivery up to 300,000 new homes.
• Call for sites launched inviting developers and councils to share details of large-scale housing projects.
• Supports plans to boost economic growth and deliver 1.5 million homes.

Hundreds of thousands of new homes stuck in the planning system or partially built will be accelerated to help end the housing crisis and drive growth, thanks to the New Homes Accelerator launched by the Deputy Prime Minister today.   

An experienced team from the Ministry of Housing and Homes England will work across government and with local councils to accelerate the buildout of housing schemes delayed by planning and red tape to drive economic growth across every part of the country.

They will hit the ground running by bringing together key players, including government agencies, local planning departments and housebuilders, who will work to resolve specific local issues and deploy planning experts on the ground to work through blockages at each site identified. This includes looking at barriers to affordable housing delivery where relevant.  

Interventions could see the New Homes Accelerator provide resources to support local planning capacity where there are barriers and work across the board to make sure planning decisions are made in a timely fashion.    

Government analysis suggests 200 large sites have outline or detailed plans ready to go but are yet to begin construction, and the team is already getting started on some of those that would benefit from early interventions. The Accelerator will focus on lending a helping hand to frustrated housebuilders and local communities who want to play their part to get Britain building again, in turn driving local and economic growth.  

Devon County Council is set to launch a concerted campaign to persuade the Government to reverse the axing of winter fuel payments to needy pensioners.

Radio Exe News www.radioexe.co.uk

Conservative leader James McInnes and Liberal Democrat councillor Alan Connett have signed a motion to next week’s county council meeting calling on the Government to re-think.

The Government made the announcement last month that only the most needy elderly people on  Pension Credit and other benefits would continue to receive the £300 annual payment to help with their heating bills.

Even those whose only income is a basic State pension won’t qualify.

In the Notice of Motion, Mr Connett says: “In the Devon County Council area, the number of pensioners affected by the change in eligibility criteria is 180,579.

“That means around nine in 10 pensioners currently eligible for winter fuel payments will no longer be able to claim the payment from this winter onwards.

“Council believes that the Labour Government has set the threshold at which pensioners do not qualify for winter fuel payments far too low. 

“Only those receiving a pension of less than £218.15 a week or £332.95 a week for couples are eligible for pension credits. This is significantly lower than the living wage rate.”

“Council further notes that the Energy Price Cap is due to rise by 10 per cent in October which, combined by the removal of winter fuel payments, will push thousands of local pensioners into fuel poverty.”

Mr McInnes said: “It hasn’t taken this Labour Government long to show their true colours.

“The Government claims they will save £1.4 billion by this measure but at the same time has agreed above inflation pay increases for many.

“With their new salaries, many of them will be paying more in tax than our pensioners have to live on.

“It’s estimated these pay increases will cost the country £10 billion, dwarfing the cash that will be saved from hitting some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

“It may well be that some better-off pensioners do not need this money but by making the cap so low I am concerned the Labour Government is effectively forcing some of our most vulnerable residents to choose between heating and eating this winter.

“Historically in Devon many buildings are older and hard to heat – the Government needs to realise that Devon’s residents don’t live in big cities but in rural areas.

“Older people tend to spend more time at home and so need to keep the heating on for longer.

“They’re also more likely to have medical conditions which require them to keep warm.

“Research has shown that rural areas in Devon are already in the most deprived 20 per cent nationally for housing quality and the availability of central heating.

“With the proposed Energy Price Cap, the Government is creating a perfect storm for greater cost-of-living impacts on Devon’s residents.

“As a county council we will do what we can to mitigate the effects of this heartless policy but I believe the Government should use their first Budget next month to announce they are withdrawing this and thinking again.”