Letters to the Guardian. www.theguardian.com 

Thank you, Rachel Clarke, for highlighting the disturbing emerging reality of the so-called New Hospital Programme (For a doctor, the Tories’ empty promises on hospitals are soul-destroying, 23 August). Just look at West Hertfordshire NHS trust, one of eight in the first wave of NHP projects. When Boris Johnson visited Watford hospital in October 2019, he claimed the area would soon have “world-class facilities”. But it is not turning out like that.

The trust’s preferred option is for a new hospital facility to be housed in three tower blocks in a heavily congested and inaccessible spot, next to the current Watford hospital. Other local hospitals would get minimal investment. The trust’s choice has zero chance of being approved by the government. It will cost more than £900m, well over any budget – a unicorn hospital.

Several surveys have shown that many local people and experts would prefer what we advocate – investment in a really new hospital on a clear site, accessible for everyone. Given the financial constraints, the most likely outcome of the NHP for West Hertfordshire is a fudged and lengthy refurbishment of the existing cramped, unpopular and decrepit Watford buildings.

Let’s hope this sorry story of mismanagement isn’t a foretaste of what is to come for the whole of the programme.

Philip Aylett

Coordinator, New Hospital Campaign, Hemel Hempstead

Dr Rachel Clarke asks why Sajid Javid lies. The question can be answered with an example of the three-word slogans Dr Clarke references in her column: “He’s a Tory.” Nothing more is needed.

Steven Julians

Romford, London

Your editorial (29 August) catalogues the unforgivable treatment of NHS staff. But in your analysis and the suggested remedy, you miss what is the key factor in the difficulties facing the NHS: its decline is deliberate government policy. For a decade (following a pattern set by earlier Tory and Labour governments) the service has been managed on the basis of plans prepared by management consultants. These have reached their endgame with the health and care bill, which will return to the Commons in the autumn.

This bill will make lawful what has been happening largely without public debate or even awareness. Next April the NHS will be abolished. It will be replaced by more than 40 local variants whose boards will eventually be controlled by giant corporations – many from the US health insurance sector, some already with contracts in the service.

If this is allowed to continue, it will put an end to the clapping and the rainbow posters as more and more people are forced to go private – which has always been the Tory ambition.

Kevin Donovan

Birkenhead, Merseyside

Re the TUC’s call for more public holidays (Report, 30 August), may I suggest 5 July, the date of the creation of the NHS, as a suitable thank you to those who got us through the pandemic? A petition that I recently launched on the parliamentary website to achieve exactly that aim – the creation of an NHS Day – has the added benefit of proposing a gratitude bonus for all NHS staff: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/590154

Gal Travis

Norwich

Private Eye notes that the housing crisis in Torbay seems to have accelerated since the then Tory council spent £2.35m on beach huts compared to £470,000 on affordable housing. “Get a grip” local Tory MP tells Lib Dem Leader.

Private Eye recalls that in 2017 Alison Hernandez suggested that licensed gun holders could be used to fight terrorism in rural areas: “We’re a highly armed community”.

More than £3million is going to be spent on upgrading a number of public toilets across East Devon, saving the council thousands of pounds on running costs for years to come.

eastdevon.gov.uk

More than £3million is going to be spent on upgrading a number of public toilets across East Devon, saving the council thousands of pounds on running costs for years to come.

East Devon District Council (EDDC) is planning to use a substantial amount of capital investment to ensure the district has the best, most modernised loos, located in the right place, that cost less money to run while also maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness.

The consultation is running for the next eight weeks and closes at 5pm on Friday, 1 October 2021. (See this earlier post for the background to this consultation.)

The authority can’t continue to operate all the public toilets as they currently are, so is also investigating the locations and potential alternative uses for some sites, to make best use of what there is.

Residents are now being asked to share their views in a consultation on the project that looks at how much the public toilets are used at different locations, possible alternative uses, some of which could include public toilets provided by businesses or organisations – such as a café with a public toilet or another community facility.

The idea for ‘pay-to-use’ public conveniences is also being put forward – this could help pay for the running costs of the toilets that are important for residents and tourists alike.

There has been a lack of investment and refurbishment of the toilets over the years and now the majority of these facilities are difficult to maintain, to clean and many require major improvement works. The recent public health emergency has highlighted that our facilities are very difficult to maintain to the new high standard of cleanliness and hygiene that users now expect.

Due to reductions in central Government funding, over the past 10 years, EDDC is facing a £3million funding gap in 2022, unless it changes the way it operates some services.

In 2019 £473,000 was spent running the public convenience service. This provided 30 public toilet sites, 26 owned and operated by the council and four maintained for others.

It amounts to an average of £15,786 a year to directly look after each toilet block, this includes the maintenance of the toilets and providing water, toilet rolls, cleaning them twice a day and management costs.

You can find out more about other costs such as depreciation of the capital assets and recharges in our Cabinet Report here.

The council has also looked into using a third party contractor, to help with the maintenance and services, but thorough investigations showed it would cost less to keep the service ‘in house’.

Councillor Geoff Jung, EDDC Portfolio Holder for Coast, Country and Environment said:  

“We know that public toilets are important to residents and vital to our visitor economy, and an emotive subject, which is why we are asking for your views, so we understand what you consider is important. 

“Most of our public toilets are now requiring major updating and over the last 40 years there has been considerable changes to the areas they are located in, so a total reappraisal is now required of where toilets are required and what facilities are important for residents and visitors.   

“We plan to invest £3million in our toilets to create top class, premier facilities to be proud of, which can address the imbalance in equal access for all, to provide a level of toilet provision within a reasonable walking distance, incorporate adult changing spaces in some prime locations and make better use of some locations for other community use, such as café’s or spaces that still incorporate a public access toilet, such as the Hideaway Café in Seaton. 

“We have to look at doing something differently as we can no longer afford to continue with the status quo, and we believe the proposals we have put forward offer the best balance of high quality accessible public toilets, additional uses that would be a benefit and provide a service that is sustainable for the future.

“Please read our proposals and use the online consultation so we know what you would like.

Tell us what you think about our proposals by filling in the online questionnaire by visiting www.eastdevon.gov.uk/publictoiletreview   

If you need a copy of the consultation on paper or in any other format, please contact us to discuss your needs by email: publictoiletreview@eastdevon.gov.uk or call 01395 517569.

In this week’s Exmouth Journal Simon Jupp’s regular column concentrates on EDDC’s consultation on public loos.

This is one of EDDC’s legacy problems: dilapidated loos and reduced government funding. Simon Jupp explains how the government is trying to help by removing business rates from them – big deal.

Is he being a bit disingenuous?

What we need is recognition that tourist areas face huge costs without any additional revenue, particularly in the past two years. The loos in the seaside towns during the pandemic have been cleaned four times a day, and don’t mention the cost of rubbish collection. Local authority funding can’t continue to bear the brunt of austerity cuts. – Owl

Simon Jupp MP:

East Devon’s high streets are alive with the sound of people spending pounds in our shops and whether they are visitors or residents, they may also need to spend a penny too.

We are a first-class tourist hotspot and need to remember that our reliance on the visitor economy is based around the experience of the people who choose to visit our towns and villages. They’ll buy lunch, enjoy a coffee or something stronger or shop until they drop. Their contribution to the local economy and creating and preserving jobs should never be taken for granted.

If they have a bad experience, they may not return, and they may share with others the frustrations they encountered. One such experience might be if they are caught short whilst shopping. Currently, public toilets dotted around our towns provide a welcome solution but some may not be around for much longer.

East Devon District Council is currently carrying out a public consultation to help decide the future of our public conveniences. It’s fair to say that some of our loos are a bit bog standard so they are also investing £3 million in some sites to bring them up to scratch.

However, the sites earmarked for closure are a cause for concern and I’m not sure of the logic used to put them on the list. I can’t quite understand the rationale behind potential plans to close the toilets in the Market Place in Sidmouth. They are smack-bang in the middle of town and are busy. I’ve regularly seen queues outside over the years, especially during the summer. They’ll remain open at the Triangle, which is further from the seafront and less obvious to visitors.

I’m aware of significant concerns about the potential closure of the toilets at the Imperial Recreation Ground in Exmouth which would be an extremely foolish move given the popularity of the area for residents and visitors. Meanwhile, the toilets at Orcombe Point also face an uncertain future. Last summer, the area received nationwide attention for the wrong reasons after brawls broke out alongside some very unpleasant antisocial behaviour. Sadly, the country didn’t see our area in a great light – but they did see how busy the area can be. If these loos are closed, signage to the nearby Foxholes toilets will need to be improved dramatically.

Finally, the lavatories at Brook Road and Station Road in Budleigh Salterton are also for the chop. Given the age demographic of the town and the number of visitors, closing both toilets which are so near to the high street would seem rather short-sighted.

The government is trying to help and I supported legislation to help councils keep these services open. As announced by the Chancellor in the last budget, The Non-Domestic Rating (Public Lavatories) Act 2021 introduces a 100% business rates relief for public toilets. The relief is backdated to April 2020. By effectively exempting public toilets from business rates, the new policy reduces running costs for operators of public toilets (including local councils) to help keep more of these facilities open.

According to EDDC, it saved them £40,000 which I understand is a small dent in the cost of running the service across East Devon. I understand that discussions between town councils and East Devon District Council may help save some of the sites currently destined for closure. I really hope negotiations are successful for the sake of visitors and residents in our towns and villages.

If you want to have your say on East Devon District Council’s plans, you have until 5 pm on October 1st to respond to the council’s questionnaire on their website. The current administration at the council will then decide on the future of our toilets. I sincerely hope they make the right decisions for East Devon or I fear more people will ask why they are paying ever increasing council tax

Sadly, one of the reasons local news in print is declining is that it is obviously finding it difficult to keep pace with electronic news. The John Humphreys story is a case in point.

The Crown Prosecution Service published his conviction and sentence on 20 August, along with a statement of Police praise for the two victims.

On 24 August Ian Thomas, Chairman EDDC, published a statement expressing sympathy for the victims and announcing the calling of an Extraordinary General Meeting on 7 August to consider withdrawing from Humphreys the honour of the title Alderman.

Today, 1 September, the Exmouth Journal carries these elements of the story on page 3 under two headings: 

Police praise for two victims in historic sexual abuse inquiry.

“Shocking acts of violence says” Judge Humphreys groomed and assaulted.

There was a time when this would have been front page news within days.

Some affordable home ownership schemes are open to people on incomes as high as £90,000

www.independent.co.uk 

The bulk of the government’s new £8.6bn “affordable homes programme” will be directed at helping homebuyers rather than renters, housing secretary Robert Jenrick announced on Tuesday.

Out of the 119,000 new homes being built, 57,000 will be for ownership, and just 29,600 will be for social rent. Meanwhile, 6,250 are set to be rural affordable homes.

Mr  Jenrick said: “Creating more opportunities for homeownership is central to this government. This £9bn funding is a landmark moment for our affordable homes programme and will ensure good quality housing for all as we build back better after the pandemic.

“This huge funding package will make the ambition of owning a home a reality for families by making it realistic and affordable.”

But some so-called “affordable homeownership” schemes have required prospective homeowners to have saved a deposit with a stable income to be considered for a mortgage.

In London, “affordable” shared ownership properties can be open to people earning as much as £90,000, while outside the capital they can be open to people on an £80,000 salary.

The housing secretary added:  “We are also ensuring tens of thousands of new homes for rent are built in the years ahead, including social rent, so those on the lowest incomes can enjoy good quality, secure, rented homes, built and managed by reputable providers.” 

Housing tenure is considered a large predictor of how a person votes, with renters typically supporting Labour and owners backing the Tories.

The government has pledged to build up to 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s but is set to miss this target by a decade. In 2019, UK housebuilding fell to its lowest quarterly rate for three years, and in 2020, housebuilding output dropped by a fifth.

Lib Dem Spokesperson for Housing Tim Farron said: “With social housing waiting lists now over 500,000, this is too little, too late. The Government should be making delivering social housing the main priority, not an afterthought.

“This announcement once again completely overlooks rural communities which are being turned into ghost towns because of excessive second homeownership. From Cornwall to Cumbria, the Government has well and truly turned their back on our rural towns and villages.”

Dominic Raab accused of being ‘missing in action’ as he was on holiday when Kabul fell to Taliban – The Telegraph

Dominic Raab slapped down by ex-head of Army for beach holiday while Kabul fell – Mirror

Tory criticism mounts over Dominic Raab’s handling of Afghanistan crisis – The Guardian

Dominic Raab under pressure as delegated Afghanistan phone call never took place – The Telegraph

Afghanistan blame game erupts as British soldiers fly home – The Times

Dominic Raab ‘will be “toast” at the next reshuffle’ – Daily Mail

Dominic Raab ‘faces axe’ after up to 9,000 people left stranded in Afghanistan… – The Sun

PM claims to back Dominic Raab, but a government insider reckons he’s toast – The Canary

Dominic Raab’s BBC interview savaged as he slams ‘ridiculous’ claims he’ll be sacked – Express

‘Control freak Dominic Raab is toast in the next reshuffle’, govt source claims – Daily Advent

Johnson and Raab blasted for cringe photo op at Afghanistan crisis centre – Mirror

Might a little bit of judicious CV “airbrushing” be needed? – Owl

• T2 fell due to Ash Die Back. T5 and T3 Oak, remove dead wood. 7 Patteson Drive Ottery St Mary EX11 1TBRef. No: 21/2252/TRE | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear and side extensions Brooklands Ford Lane West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XERef. No: 21/2253/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• First floor side extension; single storey rear extension replacing existing conservatory; pitched roof over garage, kitchen and utility room; erection of porch, and change of materials to slate roof, rendered walls and anthracite grey patio door & window. 12 Orchard Close Woodbury Exeter EX5 1NDRef. No: 21/2254/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erect agricultural worker’s dwelling. Ridge Farm Stockland Honiton EX14 9ENRef. No: 21/2248/OUT | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• First floor extension over existing garage 60 Ivydale Exmouth EX8 4JXRef. No: 21/2257/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of new business unit at combined compounds 48, 48A, 48B, and 48C Unit 48 Greendale Business Park Woodbury Salterton Exeter EX5 1EWRef. No: 21/2238/MFUL | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Magnolia : To carry out a crown lift and crown reduction of the evergreen Magnolia tree. To reduce the crown to the natural break in the canopy as shown in the photo (approx 25% of the canopy) and to carry out a radial crown lift of the lower limbs (including the limb growing toward to Palm tree) to bring them off of the walls and away from the neighbouring property. T2, Sycamore : To carry out a radial crown lift of the Sycamore to a 4m height bringing in the limbs up to 100mm in diameter into the stem. To allow access to below the tree for garden maintenance and to emphasise the shape. Queens Haye Queens Square Colyton EX24 6JXRef. No: 21/2239/TCA | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two-storey side extension. Byeways Crewkerne Road Axminster EX13 5SXRef. No: 21/2237/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of bungalow with garage (application for approval of details of access, appearance, landscaping, layout and scale pursuant to outline planning permission ref. 19/0251/OUT) Land Adjoining 77 Alexandria Road SidmouthRef. No: 21/2240/RES | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of an agricultural building Gateshayes Farm Whimple Exeter EX5 2PARef. No: 21/2243/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Demolition of existing conservatory and erection of a single storey extension and reordering of existing property Catmoor Cottage Goldsmith Lane All Saints Axminster EX13 7LURef. No: 21/2244/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over yard, and replacement of existing building Burnside Farm Cotleigh Honiton EX14 9HTRef. No: 21/2218/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of condition 17 (operating hours) on application 09/0019/MFUL Tesco Stores Ltd Swan Road Seaton Devon EX12 2USRef. No: 21/2219/VAR | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a storage building Rydon Motors Clyst St Mary Exeter EX5 1BBRef. No: 21/2222/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Oak with significant symptoms of decay. Crown reduction by 2 – 2.5m and sever ivy required. The Old Vicarage Axmouth Seaton EX12 4BQRef. No: 21/2225/TRE | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 – magnolia. Reduce overhanging branches over Twyford House by up to 2 metres. Crown lift over pavement to 3 metres. Reduce upper canopy by up to 1.5 metres to suitable growth points, clearing BT lines. Reduce garden side profile by up to 1m to suitable growth points to for a more uniform, balanced crown. Approximate diameter of crown when work completed will be 4 metres. Works required to reduce overhang into neighbouring property, improve pedestrian access to footpath and clear BT lines. The Bays Coburg Road Sidmouth EX10 8NFRef. No: 21/2221/TCA | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from redundant agricultural building to dwelling and alterations to fenestration Whitehill Alfington Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1NXRef. No: 21/2215/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a summerhouse 5 Elm Orchard Axmouth Seaton EX12 4AHRef. No: 21/2216/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Extension to milking parlour, and single bay extension to silage clamp Higher Mallocks Farm Woodmanton Woodbury Exeter EX5 1HGRef. No: 21/2214/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey side extension 13 Linden Close Exmouth EX8 4JWRef. No: 21/2212/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Side extension and roof alterations Greendale Farm Shop Sidmouth Road Farringdon Exeter EX5 2JURef. No: 21/2220/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of pedestrian access Village Hall West Hill Beech Park West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1UQRef. No: 21/2207/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of foul water treatment plant Hoppins Farm Southerton Ottery St Mary EX11 1SDRef. No: 21/2202/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed construction of replacement garage with study above Culverwells Dalwood Axminster EX13 7EBRef. No: 21/2205/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing garage and car port and erection of side and rear extension and rear dormer 11 Carberry Avenue Exmouth EX8 3EHRef. No: 21/2204/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Partial demolition of boundary wall to facilitate widening of existing access and parking. Turls Cottage And Enfield The Butts Colyton EX24 6NURef. No: 21/2201/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension 19 Featherbed Lane Exmouth EX8 3NERef. No: 21/2203/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single garage with annexe accommodation 38 Church Street Axmouth Seaton EX12 4AFRef. No: 21/2209/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of barn to annex accommodation. Higher Westcott Farm Talaton Exeter EX5 2RNRef. No: 21/2196/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey rear extension to provide an extension to lounge and a loft extension to provide two additional bedrooms and a shower room. Proposed loft extension includes a rear hip to gable roof conversion. 50 Mount Pleasant Avenue Exmouth EX8 4QWRef. No: 21/2190/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• First floor rear extension with the addition of 4 x rooflights Meadowbrook Talewater Talaton Exeter Devon EX5 2RSRef. No: 21/2192/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• First floor rear extension with the addition of 4 x rooflights Meadowbrook Talewater Talaton Exeter Devon EX5 2RSRef. No: 21/2193/LBC | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of barn to annex accommodation. Higher Westcott Farm Talaton Exeter EX5 2RNRef. No: 21/2197/LBC | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of land for the temporary stationing of a mobile home for an agricultural worker Land At Sowton Farm BuckerellRef. No: 21/2185/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• (a) Retail Use of Building within Class E (Commercial, Business & Retail) (b) Minor External Alterations to Building & Replacement of Loading BayUnit 9-9A Axminster Power Tools Weycroft Avenue Millwey Rise Industrial Estate Axminster EX13 5PHRef. No: 21/2173/CPL | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace window with door and create new raised thatched porch roof on north elevation 22 Cotford Road Sidbury Sidmouth EX10 0SQRef. No: 21/2181/LBC | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of forestry tracks Axe Cliff Woodlands Axe Cliff Farms & Estates AxmouthRef. No: 21/2172/AGR | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of two polytunnels and additional polytunnel in additional field Passaford Farm House Northmostown Sidmouth EX10 0NLRef. No: 21/2178/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed conversion of existing dwelling to provide three additional apartments and rear extension to ground and first floor 20 The Strand Exmouth EX8 1AFRef. No: 21/2174/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• A compound comprising of a kiosk unit to house data exchange for telecommunications (Jurassic Fibre) including concrete slab for placement, and timber perimeter fencing. Playing Fields Scalwell Lane SeatonRef. No: 21/2167/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Single storey rear extension, loft conversion for habitable use with rear dormers and three Velux roof windows and addition of a porch 10 Grove Road Whimple Exeter EX5 2TPRef. No: 21/2171/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Alterations To boundary treatment, replacement porch, bay window to side elevation and alterations to rear elevations (ground floor only) 3 Arden Close Budleigh Salterton EX9 6JGRef. No: 21/2156/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension 12 Freelands Close Exmouth EX8 4AERef. No: 21/2162/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of 4nr air source heat pumps at roof level, replacing 4nr existing air conditioning units Trinity House Victoria Place Axminster EX13 5NQRef. No: 21/2140/LBC | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of an outbuilding 3 School Cottages Woodbury Salterton Exeter EX5 1PGRef. No: 21/2151/LBC | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of an outbuilding 3 School Cottages Woodbury Salterton Exeter EX5 1PGRef. No: 21/2150/FUL | Validated: Fri 20 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of two agricultural barns within this farmstead into four new small dwelling units Land West Of Luton Lane Farm Road Past Wrights Farm PayhemburyRef. No: 21/2135/PDQ | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of heat pump Lower Watchcombe Farm Shute Axminster EX13 7QNRef. No: 21/2128/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application for reserved matters approval (layout, appearance) of the Phase 3 internal road Land At Pinn Court Farm Pinncourt Lane Exeter EX1 3TGRef. No: 21/2122/MRES | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of dwelling (outline application with all matters reserved) Fourways Exmouth Road Newton Poppleford Sidmouth EX10 0BERef. No: 21/2129/OUT | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Proposed rear extension to kitchen with replacement to existing utility Kayandee Hawkins Lane West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XGRef. No: 21/2115/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of greenhouse and polytunnel to domestic garden Hackhams Farm Buckerell Honiton EX14 3EHRef. No: 21/2112/LBC | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of greenhouse and polytunnel to domestic garden Hackhams Farm Buckerell Honiton EX14 3EHRef. No: 21/2111/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a single storey outbuilding for parking and workshop Lower Upcott Marsh Green Exeter EX5 2HERef. No: 21/2103/FUL | Validated: Tue 17 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey extension to rear of property 4 Springfield Dunkeswell Honiton EX14 4RFRef. No: 21/2082/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• To erect a solid panel roof extension to the rear of the property. 1 Hamilton Road Exmouth EX8 2LDRef. No: 21/2076/FUL | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace 6no. windows and 2no. doors on front west elevation and replace 1no. door on north elevation and 1no. window on south elevation Brampford Speke School Brampford Speke Exeter EX5 5HERef. No: 21/2059/LBC | Validated: Thu 19 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of dormer window on second floor Lympstone Nurseries Church Road Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5JURef. No: 21/2044/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of attached garage to habitable use including new pitched roof over garage Whistledown Hawkerland Road Colaton Raleigh Sidmouth EX10 0HLRef. No: 21/2034/FUL | Validated: Mon 16 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey, 4-bed, detached, principle farm house with associated parking and amenity space Barrack Farm Exeter Road Ottery St Mary EX11 1LERef. No: 21/1860/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Erection of a front extension and porch 38 The Pines Honiton EX14 2JGRef. No: 21/1859/FUL | Validated: Wed 18 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

Protests are growing across London against plans to build thousands of new council homes on green spaces and existing estates.

Harriet Grant www.theguardian.com 

Local authorities need to build desperately needed homes for social rent but they are facing resistance on the streets and in the courts, as council residents fight the destruction of communal gardens in dense and polluted areas.

Weekly protests have been taking place in Peckham, south London, where on 11 August Southwark council began tearing down mature trees on Joycelyn Street Park.

As they did so, campaigners called out “shame on you”. The trees are being removed to make way for the major Flaxyard development, which will bring 120 new homes, 96 of them for council rent.

The area is officially a brownfield site, one of the council’s arguments for building homes on it. But walking through it looks and feels very much like a small park. The new homes that will replace it sit minutes from one of the borough’s most polluted roads.

Southwark council says it needs to build homes for thousands of families stuck in overcrowded accommodation or bed and breakfasts.

In June Southwark said it would look again at plans to build on a large play area in Bermondsey – but it is facing further opposition on multiple estates.

The Bells Garden estate in Peckham sits in a densely packed corner of south London, ringed by busy roads. The estate has large communal green spaces scattered with mature trees and play areas.

It is at the centre of a standoff over plans to build 97 new homes – 65 for council rent – taking part of the communal green and play spaces.

“These flats were built on top of terrace houses,” said Paul Wright, chair of the tenants and residents association. “And the green spaces were to compensate for the lack of gardens.”

“We have worked it out that given the increase in the number of people living here there is a loss of 40% of green space per head. And they want to swap a football cage used by many children and teenagers for a smaller one aimed at young kids.”

He added that local people felt they were not being listened to.

Local campaigner Janine Below blinks back tears as she walks through the estate. She believes that increasing the density by so many flats can only make the estate worse.

“We pick pears here, this estate has beautiful mature trees, but 37 of them are due to go. This is a working-class community and we need these spaces for our mental and physical health.”

The council says the site will be well provided for, with new play spaces and a “linear walkway” – as well as providing urgently needed homes. It has made a much-publicised promise to build 11,000 new homes for social rent by 2043.

Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for council homes and homelessness, said: “Southwark is in the grip of a housing crisis with over 15,000 households on the waiting list for a home. We carefully assess the local area when planning new developments, including proximity to the borough’s extensive network of over 215 parks and green spaces.”

However, Tanya Murat, a coordinator for Southwark Defend Council Housing and founder of a new group opposing building homes on green spaces – Yes to Fair Redevelopment, is unconvinced and is angry that she is being accused of standing in the way of new homes.

“I have lived and worked in this area since the 90s and have been part of campaigns over the years to get developers to put more social homes in privately built estates,” she said. “So for the council to then turn round and say we don’t care about the homeless is disgraceful. We are in a climate and a mental health emergency, we need more green spaces not less.”

In Kilburn, north London, 700 people have signed a petition against the scale of development planned for Kilburn Square, where Brent council is consulting on plans for an extra 180 council homes. The plans will involve the removal of mature trees, a playground, a football pitch and open green space.

Keith Anderson, chair of the Kilburn Village Residents Association, says the site faces becoming seriously overcrowded.

“They are looking at increasing the number of people living here by over 80% – without expanding the current site, losing green spaces and mature trees,” he said.

He stresses that campaigners do not oppose new council homes, just the burden being placed on existing tenants. “The council own this land so it is easier for them to build here than if they have to negotiate with private developers. But the wellbeing of the residents here matters. We have been collecting memories and stories from residents and people are really worried about losing their community space, where they played as children and they can watch their children play now.”

The campaign site warns that “development is raising the temperature in cities with the running of buildings adding to heat produced and increasing climate change.”

Brent council has said it is still consulting on the site.

Residents are taking their fight to the courts, with more than one council facing legal action. In January a high court judge permitted the eviction of climate protesters on a site in Islington, north London, where they were trying to stop the destruction of several mature trees. The site, Dixon Clark Court, will be home to a block of private homes which the council says will help fund 25 new social homes nearby.

On the Mais House in Sydenham, one of the highest points in London, Helen Kinsey and her neighbours are in a battle with Lewisham council over plans to build 110 new social homes on the estate, taking part of the communal green and removing 19 mature trees.

“We live in flats so we don’t have gardens,” said Kinsey. “This green space fosters community. Children get to play among the mature trees and we have birthday parties here and Easter egg hunts.”

Kinsey and her neighbours secured an unusual victory in May against Lewisham at the high court, where a judge overturned planning permission for the new homes, ruling that the council had hidden key information about conservation from its own planning officers.

However, within weeks of that verdict the planning committee passed it again, something Kinsey finds incomprehensible. “We are devastated. We are social tenants here as well as private renters and owners. So we know there is an urgent need for council housing, but we don’t agree with the scale they are proposing here.”

Like other local authorities, Lewisham council says it is pressing ahead with what are desperately needed homes for local families. Paul Bell, cabinet member for housing and planning, said the site would not take up the whole communal green area and that some flats would have new private gardens.

Boris Johnson is facing a rising tide of disgruntlement among his own party’s grassroots councillors, amid anger about a decade of cuts and the imposition of planning reforms, which will downgrade town halls’ control over local development.

www.independent.co.uk 

A new survey, seen by The Independent, found that more than half of Conservative councillors think their local authority has been treated unfairly financially by central government, and two-thirds think Whitehall undervalues the role of local government.

Just 15 per cent – little over one in seven – of Tory councillors back Mr Johnson’s planning reforms, compared to more than three-fifths (61 per cent) who oppose them.

The findings came in a survey by think tank Unlock Democracy of almost 500 councillors from across England, which found an overwhelming 88 per cent believed the power balance was skewed too much in favour of central government, to the detriment of municipalities, counties, districts and boroughs.

One Tory councillor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that central government “fundamentally dislikes and distrusts local government” and “considers it a necessary evil at best”.

Another complained about “interference and nanny-stating by the central government when they know nothing about local issues”.

And another said that London uses a “one-size fits all approach” and ignores the advice of local councillors.

Deep cuts in central funding for local councils under Conservative-led governments since 2010, coupled with restraints on increases in locally raised council tax, had led to a 17 per cent fall in cash available for services by 2019, even before the additional financial pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of 83 per cent of councillors questioned said their authority had been treated unfairly financially, with fewer than 10 per cent of Tory councillors saying that their financial settlements had been “very fair”.

Proposals for a radical revision of the planning system unveiled by the prime minster last year lit the blue touch-paper for an explosion of opposition from town halls across the country. Those proposals have been blamed for contributing to the Tories’ humiliating defeat in the “Blue Wall” seat of Chesham and Amersham, seized by the Liberal Democrats in a June by-election on a remarkable 30 per cent swing.

Mr Johnson has blasted the English planning system as “a relic” which ensures there are “nowhere near enough homes in the right places”.

His radical plans would sweep away core elements of the system, replacing them with a US-style model designed to accelerate and simplify the delivery of housing and infrastructure projects. But critics claim they risk sidelining local councils and clearing the way for poor-quality slum housing.

Unlock Democracy director Tom Brake told The Independent: “It doesn’t matter which party local councillors represent, their disgruntlement with central government is clear. 

“Their efforts to level up their communities are hampered by a lack of powers and insufficient funding. 

“This is why Unlock Democracy is campaigning for a new settlement between national and local government, which would stop the centralisation on steroids experienced in the last four decades and give local councils real powers and real independence.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We’re levelling up all areas of the country by empowering our regions through devolving money, resources and control away from Westminster. Later this year we will publish a Levelling Up white paper, setting out how we will help further improve livelihoods.

“We’ve also increased English councils’ core spending power from £49 billion to £51.3 billion between 2020 and 2022.

“Our much-needed planning reforms will make sure there is more engagement and local democracy, and will simplify and modernise the system – making it quicker and more efficient.”

• Unlock Democracy questioned 442 councillors on 2 July 2021.

They don’t like transparency, do they! – Owl

• Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick failed to disclose a meeting with members of the housing industry.
• The meeting was set up by The Enterprise Forum, a Conservative lobbying forum.
• Government rules say ministers’ meetings with external organisations must be disclosed.

Henry Dyer news.yahoo.com

Boris Johnson’s housing secretary failed to disclose a meeting with representatives of the housing industry set up by a top Conservative lobbying forum, Insider can reveal.

Official transparency records published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government contain no detail of such meeting attended by Robert Jenrick, the department’s top minister.

But social media posts by The Enterprise Forum, the lobbying group that set up and attended the meeting, and other attendees show that Jenrick spoke with representatives of the housing industry on March 23 via video call.

Jenrick gave a speech on “the government’s priorities on planning, local infrastructure and housing” before taking questions from attendees.

One attendee said Jenrick set “a new record for how many questions a speaker got through during this roundtable session.” Another attendee said how Jenrick “agreed to engage with our industry” on a matter they had raised in the Q&A.

The Ministerial Code is clear that “Departments will publish quarterly, details of Ministers’ external meetings.”

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by The Enterprise Forum or any other attendees.

Members of the Enterprise Forum can pay more than £2,500 per year for access to meetings set up by the group.

‘Administrative error’

The government say the failure to declare the meeting was an “administrative error.”

A government spokesperson told Insider: “The Secretary of State met with The Enterprise Forum on 23rd March 2021, where he delivered a speech on the Government’s future plans on planning, local infrastructure and housing.

“The transparency return was not declared at the time due to an administrative error by the department, however we are currently working on rectifying this issue and the meeting will be reflected in due course.”

In November 2019, Jenrick had also failed to declare a meeting with a housing-scheme developer, Richard Desmond, who lobbied Jenrick over dinner to fast-track his scheme’s application to save him £50 million.

Other so-called administrative errors by the Department of Health and Social Care saw 27 meetings by a health minister go undeclared for more than a year, Byline Times reported in June.

‘The rules on lobbying are seriously broken’

Susan Hawley, executive director at Spotlight on Corruption, told Insider that there needed to be powers to sanction departments for failing to disclose lobbying meetings.

“There is increasing consensus that the rules on lobbying are seriously broken, and that this is exacerbated by departments abjectly failing to disclose accurate and timely information about who is lobbying who and about what. This is seriously undermining trust and confidence in politicians,” she said.

“Serious consideration needs to be given to an independent regulator to oversee lobbying, with power to impose sanctions on departments for failing to disclose information properly. It should not be left to investigative journalists to ferret out this information, as valuable as that is.”

Rose Whiffen, research officer at Transparency International UK, told Insider that compliance with transparency rules can be “patchy.”

“It is commonplace for government to discuss policy ideas with outside interests, but there should always be full transparency over who gets access to – and potential influence over – decision makers. Ministers are supposed to declare any discussion concerning official business, but compliance can be patchy,” she said.

“There needs to be a comprehensive and consistent approach to transparency declarations across government. The body responsible for ensuring these rules are followed, the Independent Advisor on Ministerial Interests, should be given the power and resources to proactively investigate any failure to comply.”

More than 2,000 new cases of coronavirus have been reported in the space of two days across Devon and Cornwall, but new infections have started to decrease.

“Enhance your response” (whatever that means) – Owl

Edward Church www.cornwalllive.com

In the wake of an unprecedented surge in cases in the two counties which played host to thousands of extra tourists, as well as several festivals, in recent weeks – it remains to be seen if this trend will continue.

Saturday’s figures showed 1,143 new coronavirus cases across the two counties, with 443 in Cornwall, 68 in East Devon, 71 in Exeter, 43 in Mid Devon, 40 in North Devon, 221 in Plymouth, 57 in South Hams, 65 in Teignbridge, 66 in Torbay, 31 in Torridge, 38 in West Devon.

And today (August 29), 1,099 new cases were reported – 369 in Cornwall, 65 in East Devon, 52 in Exeter, 76 in Mid Devon, 82 in North Devon, 190 in Plymouth, 51 in South Hams, 77 in Teignbridge, 89 in Torbay, 34 in Torridge and 14 in West Devon.

While these figures are high, this follows a trend of the week-on-week total of infections beginning to fall.

For five days in a row, the total has decreased across Devon and Cornwall. For Devon alone, this has happened six days in a row now.

Cluster data published on Saturday (August 28) showed seven-day infections still at their worst in Newquay for the week up to August 23, which you can read about here. Having hosted of some 50,000 extra people from Boardmasters Festival, the town remains the Covid hotspot of the UK.

The effect of Boardmasters on the figures is expected to fall in the coming days and weeks.

However, both Devon and Cornwall – including busy tourist town Newquay – have been visited by thousands of extra tourists this bank holiday weekend. The effect of this will be seen in the next week or so.

The majority of new infections have been in the younger age groups – possibly skewed by Boardmasters.

Despite the fall in infections, Devon and Cornwall are still being handed ‘enhanced’ measures to combat Covid. You can read more about what that means here.

As well as this, tourists bosses in Cornwall have told visitors to put off their stay in the county unless they’ve tested negative for the virus.

The vaccine has helped keep hospitalisations and Covid-related deaths low.

Accurate to Friday (August 27), of the adult population, 78.8% in Cornwall, 83.2% in East Devon, 67.9% in Exeter, 81.6% in Mid Devon, 81.3% in North Devon, 73.8% in Plymouth, 80.2% in South Hams, 82.8% in Teignbridge, 78.3% in Torbay, 81.9% in Torridge and 83.4% in West Devon, have had a second dose of a vaccine.

However, while the numbers have come down – some people are still dying with the virus.

As Friday, there had been Devon 12 deaths with Covid in the past seven days, as well as seven in Cornwall, six in Plymouth, and five in Torbay.

Wealthy London townies think they are so clever. Stick a Devon or Kernow bumper sticker on their shiny new Range Rovers and us bumpkins on the peninsula will not have a clue you’re a grockle.

By David Parsley inews.co.uk

We’re wise to that one in these parts. See a flash car with a local green and white or black and white flag on the back, and we know that’s almost certainly a second homeowner bringing Covid down with them.

We may be the playground for the rich, but the region feels entirely neglected by those politicians that love to frolic among their loaded business friends down here. 

On Friday night health minister Nadine Dorries told local MPs the counties would become an “enhanced response area”. She instructed locals to wear masks and socially distance, while at the same time claiming this did not constitute Covid restrictions. School pupils are likely to be forced to wear masks at school from this week. The hospitals are limiting visiting times and allowing just one relative in at a time. Those sound like restrictions to me, minister.

Before the summer the south-west peninsula had done a remarkable job containing Covid, consistently showing the lowest rates of anywhere in England. Now it’s been put in special measures.

The feeling down here is that we were doing just fine before Boris Johnson insisted on bringing world leaders and 20,000 hangers-on down to Carbis Bay in Cornwall. Following the G7 Summit in June, rates around the areas where Johnson enjoyed a non-socially distanced barbecue with the likes of Presidents Biden, Marcon and Chancellor Merkel rocketed by more than 4,000 per cent. 

Downing Street ordered a Covid risk assessment before that summit, but for some reason it is not keen to share it. I know as I have asked No 10 to produce it on three occasions. Each request has been refused. 

Of course, we will never be sure unless No 10 is forced to publish it, but many may believe its reluctance to do so is because it contained a warning of a sharp rise in Covid cases as a result of the global leaders’ shindig. 

G7 was part one of what is turning out to be a miserable summer for both Devon and Cornwall.

Instead of sticking to the mask wearing and social distancing advice, Johnson went in the opposite direction. He permitted 53,000 largely unvaccinated young adults to mosh together at the Boardmasters music and surfing festival in Newquay earlier this month. 

Not only has this event been linked directly to at least 5,000 Covid cases in Cornwall alone, Public Health England is understood to be investigating whether it has led to a new strain of the more potent Delta variant. Just in time to infect the half a million or so young revellers at this weekend’s festivals such as those at Leeds and Reading. 

As Professor John Drury – one of the Government’s most senior scientific advisors – has told i: “The Government has basically said ‘it’s safe now, it’s fine, you’re not going to die’. The problem is of course that 100 people a day are dying.” 

There’s little doubt down here that Johnson’s determination to unlock has led to Devon and Cornwall’s under resourced health services being stretched to such a level that the army has been called in to help the ambulance service cope. 

Of the mere four main hospitals serving the 1.3 million residents – you can double that in the summer – Cornwall’s only A&E department in Truro is on black alert and people are being begged to call 999 only if we believe it’s a genuine emergency.

In her letter to local MPs on Friday – via which the additional Covid measures were announced rather than to directly to local people – Dorries wrote that Johnson was giving us five weeks to “act responsibly” or face “further restrictions”.

We have been acting responsibly, Prime Minister. We aren’t the ones who gave permission for 20,000 people from all over the world to descend on Carbis Bay for the G7 Summit or thought it was a good idea to infect as many unvaccinated young people as we possibly could in Newquay.

We didn’t unlock the entire country, end all Covid-precautions, or push our health services beyond breaking point. We didn’t do that Mr Johnson. You did.

Arms aloft, suit jacket on, Michael Gove has been filmed giving it his all in an Aberdeen nightclub after reportedly trying to avoid a £5 entrance fee by stating that he was the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Rajeev Syal www.theguardian.com 

Footage of the recently separated former Vote Leave supremo throwing shapes at 1.15am at Bohemia nightclub circulated on the internet on Sunday. His hands flailed wildly, and occasionally swung in time to the music, in the clip filmed by a fellow clubber. Friends of Gove denied that he had attempted to avoid paying.

The 54-year-old cabinet minister, who grew up in Aberdeen, was on a trip to see family when he apparently walked into O’Neill’s bar at 1.15am. After last orders were called, Gove was urged by drinkers to join them upstairs at the club Bohemia, where he reportedly stayed until at least 2.30am.

The club night, called Pipe, was described as “an unpredictable mix of the most high-energy UK and global club music scenes”. Adam Taylor, the manager of Pipe, told the Daily Record newspaper that Gove, who had been drinking downstairs, tried to walk past him without paying the entry fee.

“He was saying he shouldn’t have to pay because he is the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. I told him that my co-manager, Nina Stanger, was upstairs playing Jungle and going hard. Michael said, ‘I love dancing’ – and did he ever.”

One witness claimed Gove was there by himself. Singer Emma Lament, 30, who had performed an acoustic set earlier in the night, said she “couldn’t believe what she was seeing” when the “merry” MP “rocked up” just before closing time.

She told the Record: “I’m almost sure he was by himself. I heard people saying, ‘He’s a Tory MP.’ Others asked ‘Who’s Michael Gove?’ and were Googling him.” She said Gove was still there at 2.30am, adding: “He really was enjoying himself, I don’t think he left the dance floor the whole time I was there.”

The footage emerged just as the cabinet minister was being tipped to replace Dominic Raab as foreign secretary in a reshuffle later this year or in early 2022.

Gove and the journalist Sarah Vine announced their separation two months ago after 20 years of marriage and are in the process of getting divorced. The pair said they remained close friends and would continue supporting their two children.

A friend of Gove’s confirmed that he had been to the nightclub, but said claims he attempted to avoid paying were not recognised. “He loves Aberdeen and its nightlife,” the friend said.

A statement from the Pipe club said: “Thanks to all the amazing people, and Michael Gove, who made it out for the first Pipe last night. We had a great time going in for four hours straight. Definitely blew some cobwebs away.”

Parliamentary candidates, on their nomination form, must supply a home address to the Returning Officer. It doesn’t have to be within the constituency. Candidates have an option to ask for this not to be disclosed publicly.

Simon Jupp, unusually, chose not to have his address during the campaign disclosed as can be seen below. None of the other candidates withheld their addresses and Owl cannot recall seeing another example.

Simon Jupp was parachuted into the constituency as the Conservative candidate in the December 2019 general election, following Hugo Swire’s decision not to stand again.

Plymouth born and educated, Simon Jupp, in 2019, was a Special Advisor (SPAD) to Dominc Raab at the time which would have meant needing to live within striking distance of the “Westminster Bubble”.

With Claire Wright tipped to win the constituency as an Independent, having come close second in the previous two elections, one can understand that he mightn’t want to commit to permanent residence whilst campaigning.

The SPAD in him must have thought a “Westminster” address had the wrong look, especially for one with little experience and none as an elected representative.Though not having an East Devon address didn’t seem to hamper his predecessor, Hugo Swire, who had decamped to his manor in mid-Devon years ago.

So, what did he do to gain local residence credibility? Rent a property, an Airbnb perhaps? Or  was he offered the use of the house of one of the many Conservative activists as a “pied-à-terre”?

Whatever it was, either his or his constituency advisors’ political antennae thought it best to keep this East Devon address “secret”.

Devon County Council hopeful for funding settlement

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

Devon County Council bosses are hopeful of a three-year funding settlement from the government to help give them ‘certainty’ for the county’s finances.

Council leader John Hart (Conservative, Bickleigh & Wembury), said this financial year’s budget had been one of the “toughest” to set as they only knew in December how much was being provided by Whitehall.

The last two years have seen local authorities only given one-year settlements, with ministers stating Brexit and covid as reasons.

Cllr Hart said: “I would hope the government this time are promising a three-year plan for us, and if they can, then we have a better idea of where we’re going.”

He added: “It would give us a degree of certainty for the next two years after the year that you’re setting your budget. You’ve got a fair idea what the government’s going to give you – that’ll be a minimum figure. So you’ve got something settled, whereas at the present moment you haven’t got anything.

The comments echo those made last month by the county’s cabinet member for finance, Councillor Phil Twiss (Conservative, Feniton & Honiton), who said it was “incredibly hard to plan for one year, whereas previously they’d provide us with a three-year settlement” and revealed the council were lobbying for a return to that arrangement.

Last year, when the government announced another one-year deal for councils, James Jamieson, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: “Next year we need a three-year settlement and meaningful progress towards a long-term, sustainable solution to the funding crisis our adult social care services continue to face.”

In response, a spokesperson for the ministry of housing, communities and local government said: “The government believes a stable funding environment is pivotal to ensure local councils can effectively plan with early certainty.

“The last two years have had a one-year spending review, prioritising stability and financial certainty so we could focus on delivering EU Exit in 2020-21 and on tackling the pandemic in 2020-2022.

“How government determines its final approach for 2022/23 onwards will be informed by the upcoming spending review, which will be an opportunity to consider local government’s funding needs in the round.”

The leaders of the opposition Liberal Democrat and Labour groups on Devon County Council did not respond to requests for comment.

Devon and Cornwall set for ‘enhanced response measures’ as Covid rates soar

(But do carry on with the pub crawl Simon)

Alex Green www.devonlive.com

Enhanced response measures are set to be put in place across the South West due to high rates of Covid-19.

As the August Bank Holiday – one of the South West’s busiest times – gets underway, due to high prevalence of the virus in the area, Devon and Cornwall are to receive ‘an enhanced response package’ – subject to sign-off by Number 10.

While no extra restrictions will be put in place, from Friday, measures will be rolled out which will help with support measures for education settings and increased national communications support, clearly outlining the continued risks of Covid-19 and the need to take personal action, such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing.

The response will last for five weeks – but a review will be conducted at week four to determine whether the automatic roll off at week five is appropriate, or if there is a case for re-escalation of further measures.

A letter written by Nadine Dorries and sent to the regions MPs states that following discussions with officials in the relevant South West local authorities they will be identifying the appropriate interventions and will start deploying the enhanced response area measures.

And it states that while the Prime Minister has said we want the whole country to move out of and remain out of these restrictions together, they are trusting people to be responsible and to act with caution and common sense, as they have done throughout this pandemic, and to make decisions about how best to protect themselves and their loved ones, informed by the risks – with a warning that if it doesn’t happen, measures could be ‘re-escalated’.

For the week ending August 22, Cornwall has the highest infection rate in England, with West Devon 3^rd, Teignbridge 4^th, Torbay 5^th, Mid Devon 6^th, Torridge 7^th, East Devon 9^th, Exeter 10^th, South Hams 11^th, North Devon 12^th and Plymouth 13^th. Only Sedgemoor (2^nd) and Mansfield (8^th) are not in Devon and Cornwall.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “What this basically means is our rates are the highest in the country, and as a result they are kicking in new measures, which is basically a response to those high rates of infection.

“It also allows more communications, community testing, and a bigger push on some the advice such as wearing face masks in schools for instance.”

He added: “This affects all of the South West, but especially the peninsula, because the peninsula has the highest rates. So that’s Devon and Cornwall, Plymouth, South Hams and all the districts.

“It’s partly a reflection on the fact that we’re a tourist destination, partly a reflection on the fact that we didn’t have high levels of Covid during the main outbreak, because we had lower levels, and so there’s less natural immunity built up by people having Covid.

“We do have a good take up of people having the vaccine, so three quarters of the population are fully vaccinate, and despite there being challenges about vaccinating young people, there’s still lots of capacity for young people to come forward and have their vaccine.

“This happens at the point of Bank Holiday weekend, so one of our most important tourist seasons, and I think many tourist businesses will be concerned about this announcement. From my point of view, I want to see everyone follow the guidance and look after themselves.

“Our rate is too high at the moment, and what we mustn’t do is allow the virus to continue to spread at this level, because that puts pressure on our NHS and we’ve already seen at Derriford how we’re effectively on Black Alert.

“It might not feel like the peaks of the pandemic previously, but that doesn’t mean our NHS professionals aren’t being worked into the ground at this moment, and I think it’s a good reminder to say to people ‘please keep yourself safe, please keep others safe, please make sure you’re testing yourself twice a week, make sure you’re getting the vaccine’.”

Kevin Foster, MP for Torbay, added: “Over recent weeks cases have increased in our bay and region, although thanks to the high levels of vaccination across our region the impact is being mitigated. These latest measures are a proportionate response to the situation, including their reminders of what we can all do to help protect our neighbours.”

Full letter from Nadine Dorries

A letter written by Nadine Dorries, and seen by Reach’s titles in Devon and Cornwall, reads: “I am writing to you to inform you of plans, to be announced today, to add all the following South West local authorities to a list of areas receiving an enhanced response package due to high prevalence of COVID -19 in the area: Torbay Council, Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Mid Devon District Council, North Devon District Council, South Hams District Council, Teignbridge District Council, Torridge District Council, West Devon Borough Council, Cornwall Council, Council of the Isles of Scilly.

“In response to Delta now being the dominant strain and the move to Step 4 of the Roadmap, we have reviewed our approach to enhanced response areas, with simplified short-term support to areas where case rates and wider indicators suggest we will see the greatest pressure on the NHS.

“These modifications to enhanced response packages took effect from the 19 July. Guidance regarding extra support deployed in areas receiving an enhanced response to Covid-19 can be found on gov.uk.

As of 18 August, case rates for all ages in the South West were 441 per 100,000 which is above the national case rate of 324 per 100,000. Case rates are increasing across the whole of the South West region with case rates in the 11-16 and 17-21 years age ranges seeing the greatest increases.

“As of 18 August, case rates in the South West for those aged 17-21 was the highest across the country at 1,878 per 100,000 and almost double the national figure of 878 per 100,000. With regards to vaccination, 76% of the total population has been fully vaccinated, receiving two doses.

“As a region, the South West has the highest case rates nationally, with only a handful of areas below the national average. The proposed UTLAs of Devon, Cornwall, Plymouth, Torbay and Isles of Scilly have some of the highest case rates rises above the national average.

“The 7-day case rate per 100,000 population increases for West Devon is 157%, for South Hams it is 122% and for Isles of Scilly it is 400%.

“The enhanced response area package will help with support measures for education settings and increased national communications support, clearly outlining the continued risks of Covid-19 and the need to take personal action, such as the wearing of face masks and social distancing.

“Additionally, prioritised access to Wastewater testing, sequencing, national contact tracing capacity and national support with messaging will also be supported. I recognise the excellent work that Local Authorities have been doing, for a sustained period of time to manage the pandemic in their area. The enhanced response package is a short-term measure.

“Areas designated as enhanced response will automatically roll off after five weeks of receiving the enhanced support, a review will be conducted at week four to determine whether the automatic roll off at week five is appropriate, or if there is a case for re-escalation.

“Following discussions with officials in the relevant South West local authorities we will be identifying the appropriate interventions and will start deploying the enhanced response area measures from Friday 27 August 2021.

“As the Prime Minister has said we want the whole country to move out of and remain out of these restrictions together. We are trusting people to be responsible and to act with caution and common sense, as they have done throughout this pandemic, and to make decisions about how best to protect themselves and their loved ones, informed by the risks.

“I’m sure you will continue to reinforce that message locally and would like to again thank you and the efforts of residents locally.

“Thank you for your support in stopping the spread of COVID-19 – including concerning variants – to protect the NHS, and save lives.”

A Plymouth hospital has declared a critical incident over bed shortages as its emergency department becomes overrun by coronavirus cases.

www.independent.co.uk 

A spokesperson for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, which runs Derriford Hospital near Devon, said that the service is experiencing its highest rate of Covid-19 occupancy of the virus’s third wave.

The critical incident declaration means that all hospital departments must focus on tackling the problem. Already, bed capacity has been reconfigured to try to meet the demand of patients with and without Covid-19.

The hospital has also cancelled routine surgery appointments and temporarily banned visitors to try to prevent the virus being spread.

Jo Beer, Chief Operating Officer at UHP, said: “The incident was declared due to high bed occupancy and a sustained high level of emergency department attendance converting into an above-average level of admission.

“We are experiencing our highest level of Covid occupancy of the third wave and expect this to increase further – as a result we have reconfigured our bed capacity to manage both Covid and non-Covid capacity, but this needs continual review.”

Paul McArdle, Deputy Medical Director at UHP, said that the increase in Covid-19 hospitalisations reflects a “pattern that we’re seeing right across the country”, but added that it has been “compounded by a recent surge in Covid prevalence in our community”.

In a video message shared by UHP, he said: “We’d just like to inform patients that we’re currently experiencing high levels of attendance in our Emergency Department and in association with that, quite long waits.”

“For instance, last night we had I think about 130 patients present in our Emergency Department at 11 o’clock in the evening when we’d expect things to be a lot quieter.”

Covid-19 case rates are currently rising in all English regions except London and Yorkshire & the Humber, according to Public Health England.

Music festivals such as Boardmasters Festival in Cornwall and Latitude Festival in Suffolk have recently been blamed for coronavirus outbreaks.

A month ago, coronavirus cases were falling and the lifting of nearly all restrictions looked like it had been a success.

Nick Triggle www.bbc.co.uk

But just weeks later, infections levels are rising again, with more than 30,000 new cases being confirmed each day, and there is growing evidence immunity through vaccination is waning.

How worrying is waning immunity?

Immunity through vaccination was always expected to wane.

Two studies – one based on data from the Zoe Covid Study app and another from Oxford University – suggest this may now be beginning several months after the second dose.

Although it is also possible something else is at play here. The apparent drop in effectiveness could be related to the fact people are likely to be repeatedly exposed to the virus as time passes, increasing the opportunities for the virus to break through the immune system’s defences.

Either way this illustrates, once again, why we need to get used to Covid circulating.

Experts have been clear we should expect to be infected repeatedly over our lifetimes.

But each reinfection should be milder than the previous one.

And, for most, even those early infections will be milder than they would have been, because the vaccines remain highly effective at preventing serious illness.

The “good news”, Prof Adam Finn, of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), says, is the vaccines, having effectively taken the edge off the virus by giving our immune system a head start, are still working very well.

How worrying are rising cases?

When infection rates started to fall in mid-July, scientists said we should not expect a continuous drop like we had seen during the lockdowns.

Instead, the modellers predicted a period when infection levels would bob around – a series of mini-peaks.

That seems to be exactly what is happening now, with infection rates climbing but only gradually.

Experts believe we have effectively reached an equilibrium whereby small changes – either in immunity across the population or behaviour and the number of contacts people have – can make the difference between infection levels rising or falling.

How worrying are local hotspots?

The national picture can mask what is happening locally. And parts of the country are seeing significant spikes in infections. In places such as Cumbria, Cornwall and Devon, tourism has been cited as a factor.

And health chiefs are urging people to:

• think twice before visiting
• be cautious
• use rapid swab tests to check if they are carrying the virus

But there is also an acknowledgement our approach and attitude to Covid needs to change too.

About 4,700 cases have been linked to a festival in Newquay, Cornwall.

But local councillor and emergency doctor Andy Virr says the Boardmasters festival was held in the knowledge this could happen and he is reassured the cases are not translating into serious illness.

There are “no regrets” about allowing the festival, he adds, as it brought people a lot of joy.

But this, of course, does not mean we should abandon all caution.

There are other reasons some areas are seeing a spike in cases.

And in parts of Northern Ireland, with low vaccine uptake and high deprivation cited as factors, doctors say too many people remain at significant risk.

How worrying is the autumn?

Overall, the number of people dying remains very low compared with previous waves – showing just how effective the vaccines have been.

At this point in the winter wave, there were 10 times more Covid deaths than there are now.

More than 100 people a day on average are still dying with the virus.

But during a bad winter, 300 to 400 people a day can die from flu.

The big unknown – and the thing causing government scientists most concern – is what will happen in the autumn.

Prof Mike Tildesley, an infectious disease modeller at the University of Warwick, says September will be the crucial moment, when schools are back and people return to work.

“August is such an odd month,” he says, “it makes interpreting what is happening more difficult.

“In September, normal behaviour and contact levels return.”

And if the signs from Scotland are right – the holiday season has already ended and cases are rising sharply – there could be quite a jump.

“We are already at quite a high base level in terms of infection,” Prof Tildesley says.

“So if they go up across the board from here and that translates to a rise in hospital cases, there could be problems.”

But there are no guarantees that will happen – especially if we are truly close to an equilibrium whereby the levels of immunity in the population can keep the virus at bay.

“The truth is we just don’t know,” Prof Tildesley says. “And it will probably be the end of September before we can say with any certainty.”