The government has successfully resisted disclosure of potentially explosive WhatsApp messages between ministers and Boris Johnson about decisions to send hospital patients into care homes without first testing them for Covid.

[The High Court has now listed the final hearing of Cathy Gardner’s claim. This will commence on 19 October 2021 and is likely to last for three days. – Owl]

Robert Booth www.theguardian.com 

Two bereaved women whose fathers died from Covid in care homes that received infected NHS patients in April and May 2020 asked the high court to force disclosure of the texts, as well as emails sent from a private account by the then health secretary, Matt Hancock.

But Mrs Justice Eady ruled the government did not need to provide them in evidence for a judicial review of the legality of the government’s care home policy.

Discharging hospital patients into care homes without testing caused “thousands, if not tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths”, the bereaved argued.

Dr Cathy Gardner, one of the women who claim the care homes policy breached human rights laws and discriminated against the elderly and disabled, described the decision to block the release of potentially “highly significant” informal communications as “very disappointing”. They are considering an appeal.

Dominic Cummings, the PM’s former aide, has already published excerpts from WhatsApp messages with the PM about Hancock, including one where Johnson described Hancock’s testing strategy as “totally fucking hopeless”.

Lawyers for Gardner and her fellow claimant, Faye Harris, claimed crucial advice “was given via informal channels, text messages, WhatsApps, personal emails”. Without its disclosure the truth about what the government knew about the risks of discharging would remain hidden, they said.

Government lawyers argued that demands for extensive disclosure amounted to an attempt to conduct a public inquiry through the courts.

Sir James Eadie QC described the informal messages as “chit chat” and said they were “unlikely [to] contain materials of relevance”.

The court also ruled that the government did not need to release records of a meeting between the prime minister and Hancock at which, Cummings told MPs in May, the health secretary promised patients would be tested before being discharged into homes. Hancock subsequently denied that, saying he pledged instead to increase testing capacity.

The bereaved also wanted to see advice from England’s chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, and the chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, to ministers about protecting care homes, plus evidence of what was known about the risk of asymptomatic transmission and the limits on testing capacity.

The ruling comes amid rising pressure on the UK government to announce the terms of reference for the public inquiry, after the Scottish government said on Tuesday its would be established by the end of the year.

The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, which represents more than 4,000 bereaved families, is separately seeking Hancock’s private emails under the Freedom of Information Act and a response to its request is weeks overdue. On Thursday the group marked a year of waiting since Johnson said he would meet the families.

A government spokesperson said: “As the prime minister said, we have committed to holding a full public inquiry which will start in the spring. Terms of reference will be set out in good time for the inquiry to begin, and we will consult with bereaved families and others before they are finalised.”

An army of volunteers could be needed this winter to tackle rising staff shortages in care homes fuelled by the looming requirement for all care home workers to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus, providers have said.

Robert Booth www.theguardian.com 

As the health secretary, Sajid Javid, urged care workers to book their jabs in time to meet the 11 November deadline for all staff in registered care homes in England to be fully vaccinated, the Independent Care Group said operators could be forced to hand back contracts to councils or close care homes and relocate residents because of a staffing crisis, exacerbated by ongoing vaccine hesitancy among a minority of staff. It is leading calls for retired nurses, doctors, carers, to be trained and DBS-checked to fill vacancies in case of a feared “winter meltdown” in staff numbers.

One in five workers on the books of a care worker agency in Sheffield are declining the vaccine, according to Nicola Richards, the director of Palms Row Healthcare. She also reported an “alarming” drop in the number of workers signing up, with many put off by the “no jab, no job” policy. She has been unable to provide temporary staff to some clients in recent weeks.

The government last month calculated that in a worst-case scenario as many as 68,000 care workers – up to 12% – could be lost as a result of the decision to make vaccination a condition of employment in care homes. A more likely prediction is 40,000, but care managers say that even small numbers of people refusing the vaccine will impact services because rotas are already threadbare, with well over 100,000 vacancies in the sector.

A survey at the weekend of care home managers by the Institute of Health and Social Care Management found 58% of operators believed they would have to lay off at least some staff by 11 November based on current rates of vaccination. More than a quarter (28%) of the 681 care operators who responded said they had already lost up to five staff. Three said they had lost more than 20 each.

Job adverts seeking replacements sometimes produce no applicants for posts that are highly demanding but pay on average just £8.50 an hour. Calls for a cash boost from the government to increase wages have so far gone unheeded. Post-Brexit restrictions on recruiting abroad had also compounded problems, operators said.

“We need some urgent funding to be put in place, like the government did with infection control, to enable providers to address pay within the sector and help them to recruit, because staff shortages are now becoming critical,” said Mike Padgham, the chair of the Independent Care Group. “Just when we need to recruit more people, [the government] put a block on it. It is like you are having to fight the pandemic and the government at the same time.”

HC-One, the largest private provider, is this week writing to all unvaccinated staff urging them to get their first jab by 16 September.

“It’s absolutely terrifying to think of what we have with winter pressure coming,” said Richards, who operates two care homes. “Over the last four weeks we have seen the staff challenges we had last April when we were hit hard [by the first wave of the pandemic].”

Workers were still citing beliefs over the vaccines’ impact on fertility, but Richards said many were refusing because they objected to social care being the only part of the health system where vaccination was being made a condition of employment. The latest available data, from June, showed that in London almost a quarter of staff were completely unvaccinated while across England the figure was 16%.

Richards called for the government to ease rules on recruitment from abroad after her fast-track application to bring in workers from countries like India was rejected. She will have to wait up to 12 weeks to find out if she can fill vacancies internationally.

On Monday Javid said in a message to care operators that vaccination “remains the most important tool for protecting your physical health and the health of the people you care for”. He said: “The ‘vaccination as a condition of deployment’ grace period ends 11 November this year, so if you haven’t booked your first or second dose, please do so as soon as you can.”

A Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “It is our responsibility to do everything we can to reduce the risk for the most vulnerable and, following extensive public consultation, we have taken an approach that reflects the experiences and concerns of both providers and people living and working in care homes.

“We continue to work with the care sector to encourage all adult social care staff to get vaccinated in local areas where vaccine uptake is lower so care homes are able to comply with the new regulations.”

A report last night pointed out that the Covid infection rates in the whole of Cornwall and in parts of Devon are now higher than some “red” list countries! – Owl

Holidaymakers visiting the English Riviera are being urged to take a lateral flow test before they arrive as ‘Covid-19 has not gone on holiday’.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

While visitors to Torbay and Devon are being welcomed by tourist boards, local authorities, and public health teams, a request has been made to make sure that anyone taking a trip doesn’t bring Covid-19 with them.

Rates in Devon are among the very highest in England, with all ten districts inside the top 14 of the 315 lower tier local authority areas, and neighbouring Cornwall at the very top of the list.

Mike Wade, Deputy Regional Director and NHS Regional Director of Public Health from Public Health England South West, told a media briefing on Wednesday that ‘Covid-19 has not gone on holiday’ and anyone with symptoms should be staying at home and getting tested.

And a spokesman to Torbay Council confirmed that they were joining other authorities who had asked anyone visiting the region to take a lateral flow test before doing so.

They said: “We welcome holidaymakers back into Torbay this summer and need everyone to play their part in keeping the area safe for us all.

“We urge everyone to get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. If potential visitors develop symptoms suggestive of Covid-19 or are a close contact of a confirmed case we advise them not to travel until they have a negative PCR test. As with Torbay residents, we recommend visitors take twice weekly lateral flow (LFD) tests and do a test before travelling.

“Everyone is urged to wear a face covering in enclosed and crowded places, and to respect requests by business owners to do so. Please make space and check in with the Covid-19 app when visiting venues.

“Visitors can find information on where to collect LFD tests while visiting or book a PCR test if they develop symptoms or are identified as a close contact of a positive case, on our website at www.torbay.gov.uk/coronavirus.”

The Cornish tourist board had already asked holidaymakers not to visit without taking a Covid test, amid a rise in cases in the county.

Chief executive of Visit Cornwall Malcolm Bell told the PA news agency: “We are asking people not to come unless they have booked ahead and request they take a lateral flow test before, during and after (their) stay so that (people) can be safe and help us to manage the current spike.”

At the briefing, Mr Wade added: “Covid-19 has not gone on holiday and with a bank holiday and day-trippers, they need to protect themselves and others from Covid-19. Visitors should take a Lateral Flow Test before setting off, and if you have symptoms, you should be staying home and not travelling and close contacts should be encouraged to get a PCR test.

“Visitors should avoid queuing and pre-booking ahead for the activities that they want to do and pre-planning is important. We want visitors to know what to do if they become ill – where to get a PCR test, where they can self-isolate, or how to get home safely if they need to – and to wear face masks in busy indoor settings and to meet people outdoors if possible.”

He added that there had been a large influx of people to the region – ‘more than we expect to see in a normal season’ – and that people were opting to come to the South West rather than going overseas, and that rates were high in popular holiday destinations as a result of the mix of susceptible population and visitors driving up the rates.

And he said that it might not be for a further few weeks and when the holiday season is over before the high rates begin to reduce back down.

He added: “There will be a lag from when we start to see the impact and move out of the seasonal swell. We will see a slow down before a plateau, but then will probably see another spike as the young people take LFTs before going back to school, as rates are high in the 15-19s at the moment.

“We will see some turbulence but hopefully come mid-September we will start to see a stronger decline, but it is so hard to predict at the moment.”

Devon County Council added that they have throughout the summer months run a targeted social media campaign aimed at visitors/holidaymakers travelling into the county.

A spokesman added: “Those messages talk about the importance of taking regular lateral flow tests if asymptomatic (and point to our website for details of how and where they’re available), as well as the importance of wearing face coverings when indoors in public places; meeting outside where possible; and washing hands regularly.

“We’ve considered the impact of our messaging, and have not gone so far as to request holiday makers to take lateral flow tests before they come to Devon.”

Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, added: “We’re now seeing case rates rising again nationally. There are regional fluctuations, but the highest case rates are here in the South West.

“What we’re seeing now is not unexpected – with the removal of most restrictions and the opening up of opportunities for socialisation, positive cases are going to rise. Case rates are similarly high in other parts of the country that are popular to visit and where there’s a lot of socialisation, such as Blackpool, Isle of White, Bournemouth and Brighton.

“We should do everything we can to reduce the risk of transmission, to protect ourselves, our friends and families, but while people are not becoming as ill with the virus as they were, it’s a case of continuing to monitor the situation closely, and to be able to act quickly in response to any outbreaks of concern.”

It comes as all 10 areas of Devon have infection rates within the top 14 nationally at a lower tier authority level.

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has England’s highest infection rate for the seven-day period up until August 20.

Sedgemoor sits second, with West Devon 3rd, Teignbridge 4th, Torbay 5th, South Hams 6th, Mid Devon 8th, East Devon 9th, Exeter 10th, Torridge 11th, North Devon 13th and Plymouth 14th.

In March 2013, Cllr. Graham Brown, Chair of East Devon Business Forum,  was uncovered by a Telegraph sting offering to get planning permission for cash. Last week former Mayor of Exmouth and recent town and district councillor until 2019, now alderman John Humphreys, was jailed for 21 years for serious sexual assaults dating back to the 1990s.

Whether or not a rotten apple taints the barrel, depends on how quickly and assiduously those in charge act to root out the problem, investigate and learn any lessons.

What those in authority have to demonstrate is integrity, transparency and candour. The long term reputation of the organisation depends on this.

Graham Brown 2013

In the case of Brown, he was thrown out of the Conservative party and, after a short delay, he resigned from the then Conservative controlled East Devon District Council (EDDC).

However, his case raised issues of corruption and how widespread that might have been. The “masterly inactivity” of the then Tory District Council in investigating his case is chronicled in this East Devon Watch post, published on the first anniversary of the Telegraph story breaking. 

 A police investigation eventually started after a 15 month delay, but fizzled out in November 2014 when Mark Williams reported to councillors in an e-mail of 12.11.2014 that the investigation “hasn’t identified (anything) worth pursuing”.

Just after that, at a meeting of the EDDC overview and scrutiny committee Tony Hogg, the then Conservative Police & Crime Commissioner spent an hour and a half batting away questions on the slowness of the police response.

“Nothing to see here” would seem to be a good summary of this episode. How can anyone have confidence in an organisation whose “Top Team” appeared, by inaction, to condone such behaviour? 

Perhaps this episode marked the point at which the Tories began to lose control of EDDC.

John Humphreys 2021

In the case of Humphrey, so far there is a distinct contrast. Cllr. Ian Thomas (independent) as Chair of the “New Guard” EDDC has issued a statement (24 August) extending his, and the council’s, sympathy to the two victims. He also said, regarding the honour of “Alderman” bestowed on Humphreys in December 2019:

 “In view of Mr Humphreys conviction and offences, I do not believe he is a fit person to hold this honour.

I will therefore be convening an Extraordinary General Meeting at 6pm on Tuesday 7 September with the sole recommendation being that the honour is withdrawn forthwith.

This will be the first time any such step will have been taken and recognises the gravity of his crimes.”

But in this case, as with Brown, there have been unexplained delays in the police investigation.

Humphreys was brought to justice by a long and complicated police investigation which started when the second victim told his girlfriend and mother of the abuse in 2005, some four four years after it happened.

Police took a statement but did not prosecute at the time.

In a victim impact statement, he said he had bad feelings against the police at the time and felt Humphreys ‘had been favoured because of his political connections’.

The case was reopened in 2015, ten years later, when the first victim came forward, telling officers that he was making his disclosures after 25 years of psychological trauma and sleepless nights.

It is to the credit of the District Crown Prosecutor and police investigating officer (who, as has been pointed out by Tim Todd, are women) that the case was successfully pursued.

Questions remain

But questions remain. Who decided to drop these cases?   And what links might they have had – or still have –  and what roles did they have in common with other people who may also have had council roles or links during that time? Who during this long period of time was made aware of decisions taken by the police? 

Footnote

The picture painted by Sasha Swire and others is that Humphreys was a very political person, well connected and active within the local Conservative party. This would have given him all sorts of power, access and influence.

So far Owl has failed to find any mention of the case or expression of sympathy to the victims on Simon Jupp’s twitter account. Perhaps he has been waiting for EDDC to make the first move. Nor has Owl found any mention on the East Devon Conservative association website. Is Humphreys still a member? 

Dominic Raab also says ‘with benefit of hindsight’ he would have come home from holiday earlier.

“Hindsight is a wonderful thing but foresight is better, especially when it comes to saving life, or some pain!” – William Blake

(Also judgement. It seems Dominic Raab lacks both foresight and judgement – Owl)

news.sky.com 

First there were empty supermarket shelves and “pingdemic” staff shortages; now Nando’s is out of chicken and the car industry short of chips. It’s an unusual state of affairs for a country where normality was supposed to resume a month ago.

Richard Partington www.theguardian.com 

After the lifting of most pandemic restrictions on the government’s 19 July “freedom day”, the long hard slog of Covid-19 was meant to be all over bar the shouting. Britain’s economic potential would be unleashed, allowing for the fastest growth since the second world war.

Significant progress has indeed been made. Far from the jobs crisis forecast at the onset of Covid-19, unemployment is falling and businesses have survived, helped by billions of pounds of government support.

Yet in this new version of normality, substantial challenges remain, as the initial buzz from the reopening of shops, pubs and restaurants begins to fade.

Retail sales suffered an unexpected fall in July, while Bank of England figures for credit and debit card transactions – covering the full gamut of sales in hospitality, travel and other services in addition to retail – show consumption has plateaued.

Confident forecasts for an unprecedented boom in consumer spending, fuelled by more than £200bn of household savings built up during lockdown, feel wide of the mark after most Covid restrictions ended – the supposed moment for their release.

So why is Britain only managing to muddle through? Listen to government ministers and a telling tonal shift offers a clue. Earlier this year, the hope had been that Covid could be beaten with the help of vaccines. But there is now a growing realisation that persistently high cases fuelled by the Delta variant, and high infection rates in other countries where vaccination rates are lower, mean normality remains some distance away. As the health secretary, Sajid Javid, is now fond of saying, we must “learn to live with Covid”.

For this reason, economic disruption related to the pandemic is likely to remain for longer than anticipated. Which brings us back to the problems with chicken and chips.

Peri-peri chicken wings became the latest casualty of Covid-related upheaval last week because Nando’s is struggling with staffing problems at its suppliers’ factories, as well as shortages of lorry drivers holding back deliveries.

Toyota said this week it would be forced to reduce global production in September by 40% owing to shortages of microchips around the world. Other car manufacturers, including Ford, Nissan, Honda and Jaguar Land Rover – Britain’s biggest carmaker – have also scaled back production for similar reasons.

In a sign of how the pandemic must be beaten globally before the UK and other economies can declare a return to normal, Toyota pinned the blame mostly on outbreaks in south-east Asia leading to delays in the delivery of components.

Opponents of Brexit have been quick to blame Britain leaving the EU for empty supermarket shelves and supply chain disruption. But many of the trends are international, with driver shortages evident in several countries. German companies are struggling and most expect such problems to persist into next year.

That said, erecting tougher trade barriers during an international supply meltdown is far from a bright idea. Politically motivated trade restrictions reduce the possibility of solutions being found and are indeed making a bad situation worse.

Against this backdrop, supply chain disruption risks feeding through to the price of goods in the shops. The Bank of England expects inflation to reach 4% this year as the economy reopens with supply constraints still dogging businesses – far higher than originally expected at the start of this year.

For several months Threadneedle Street has attempted to reassure us that this inflationary burst will prove temporary. There are good reasons for this, with much of the inflation rise down to the fact that a broad range of consumer prices fell sharply during the first lockdown. The measure for the cost of living is calculated using the annual change in the price of a basket of goods and services. It’s hardly surprising the only way is up after the catastrophe of 2020.

In one example, average petrol were 132.6p per litre in July 2021, compared with 111.4p a year earlier, a rise of 19%. But compared with January 2020 – before Covid sent global oil prices into a tailspin – petrol prices are just 4% higher.

Meanwhile, analysts believe inflationary pressures should fade as Covid disruption recedes. But if countries key to global supply networks face prolonged challenges due to slower progress with vaccinations, and if Delta means more disruption in the UK, how long might this “temporary” period prove?

With the world economy suffering Covid for longer than expected, analysts at NatWest believe it could take until late 2022 for elevated supply chain costs to fade. These pressures will prompt serious questions for how big central banks, including the Bank of England, plan to respond to prolonged periods of transitory inflation.

At this point, the evidence is that further pressure is looming. The Baltic dry index, the shipping industry’s bellwether, which measures the average prices paid for the transport of dry bulk materials across more than 20 routes, has hit a 10-year high in recent weeks in a sign of the mounting costs facing companies.

Though inflation fell back slightly in July, official figures show UK manufacturers are being hit by higher fuel and raw material costs. Industry’s input prices rose by 9.9% in the year to July, up from 9.7% in June. Labour market vacancy rates have hit record highs as many companies struggle to find enough workers.

Not all of these costs will be passed on to consumers. Companies fear they will lose customers if they jack up prices too far, and will allow profit margins to take some of the hit instead. And goods shortages do not always lead to inflation – sales may be forgone rather than prices raised – as evidenced by an unexpected fall in sales of electrical goods in July amid supply chain disruption.

However, supply disruption is the early signal of what living with Covid might look like. Rather than simply encouraging the nation to adapt, ministers need to do a lot more to tackle the economic consequences.

• The Conservative Party spending return says it spent £0 on transport for the Hartlepool by-election.
• But Boris Johnson flew to the area for an official visit and to campaign.
• The Ministerial Code says travel costs for official and political visits must be split between the government and the party.

Henry Dyer www.businessinsider.com 

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson used taxpayer funds to campaign in the Hartlepool by-election, breaching the Ministerial Code, a copy of the Conservative Party’s spending return suggests.

The spending return, which was obtained by Insider, outlined the costs of the campaign, which the Conservatives won.

On April 1, five days after the regulated period for the by-election started — during which spending in support of a candidate must be declared — Johnson flew by private jet from London Stansted to Teesside International Airport, near Middlesbrough. 

Johnson travelled in a motorcade from the airport to Middlesbrough, where he conducted official government business promoting a rise in the minimum wage at the DIY store B&Q. 

He was then driven to Hartlepool, where he met with the Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer for a visit to the local company Hart Biologicals, supporting her campaign in the constituency. The pair then visited a nearby housing estate for doorknocking, leafleting, and speaking to residents, the Hartlepool Mail reported.

That afternoon, Johnson flew back from Teesside International Airport to Stansted.

‘Transport: Nil’

None of the costs of Johnson’s travel by plane or car appear to be included in the spending return, which says the candidate spent nothing on transport.

Summary of Conservative Party expenditures in the Hartlepool by-election.Conservative Party

Electoral Commission guidance says transport costs should include the cost of transporting “party members, including staff members […] around the electoral area, or to and from the electoral area […] where they are undertaking campaigning on behalf of the candidate.”

Parties can spend up to £100,000 in by-elections. The Conservatives say they spent a total of £86,991.77.

The Ministerial Code says ministers “must not use government resources for Party political purposes.” It also says that “where a visit is a mix of political and official engagements, it is important that the department and the Party each meet a proper proportion of the actual cost.”

The spending return, signed by Mortimer and her election agent, Diane Clarke OBE, suggests the party did not pay for any of the cost of Johnson’s journey to Hartlepool on April 1. 

The spending return also shows that all campaign expenditure was run through Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ).

None of the expenditure listed in a separate document provided by CCHQ to Clarke is stated to relate to the cost of transport, or to a portion of travel costs:

An invoice produced by Conservative Campaign Headquarters showing a spending breakdown.The Conservative Party

Unlike other parties’ returns, the Conservatives do not provide invoices from the suppliers, only a single invoice of purchases made centrally by CCHQ.

A Conservative Party spokesperson told Insider: “Tours and associated costs […] were all declared in accordance with the rules and feature on the return under ‘Staff Costs.'”

“All candidate election expenses were included in the return made in accordance with the Representation of the People Act by the candidate’s agent,” they added.

The Conservative Party did not respond to Insider’s requests for evidence that the £24,154.02 staff costs included transportation, in addition to the cost of paying for party staff to work on the six-week campaign.

The party also did not respond to a request to see an invoice showing a repayment of transport costs to the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for invoices showing repayment of transport costs from the Conservative Party.

For comparison, the Labour Party’s return for its Hartlepool campaign says it spent £32,665.11 on staff costs, plus an additional £8929.50 on transport.

This amount is closer to the spending of staff costs by the Conservative Party in two other by-elections held this year: In Chesham and Amersham, the Conservatives spent £32,246.42 on staff costs, while in Batley and Spen they spent £33,773.34.

Johnson did not fly to campaign in either Chesham and Amersham or Batley and Spen, according to flight data.

Further visits were made by Johnson to Hartlepool on April 23 and May 3, and by Home Secretary Priti Patel on April 29. Johnson and Patel campaigned with and for Mortimer on all of these occasions. 

Labour calls for an investigation

The Labour Party is demanding an investigation into a breach of the Ministerial Code by Johnson. 

Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s deputy leader, told Insider: “Yet again the Prime Minister behaves like the rules don’t apply to him. Taxpayers’ money should not be abused to fund the Conservative Party’s election campaigns.

“The Prime Minister has clearly broken the Ministerial Code, and this time he can’t play ignorant and pretend that he didn’t know what was going on.

“The contempt with which the Prime Minister treats the laws governing election expenses and the rules that are supposed to uphold standards in our public life shows that he is only ever interested in helping himself, not acting in the interests of the British people.”

Rayner has written to Lord Geidt, the prime minister’s independent advisor on ministerial standards, and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, the UK’s most senior civil servant, demanding to know if public funds were used for party political campaigning by the prime minister.

In her letter, seen by Insider, Rayner says that Johnson cannot pretend he was unaware of the expenditure.

“Given the Prime Minister clearly walked himself up the steps onto his taxpayer-funded plane, and walked himself around Hartlepool talking to voters during a party political visit during a by-election campaign, this excuse can clearly not be used on this occasion,” the letter says.

“I trust that in the course of your inquiry you will also refer any evidence of illegal and criminal behaviour in breach of the Representation of the People Act in relation to the non-declaration of election expenses and donations in kind, the submission of false returns and any other wrongdoing.”

A Downing Street spokesperson told Insider: “The Prime Minister visited Teesside on official Government business, meeting workers to coincide with an increase in the national living wage. This was followed by a short political visit, as permitted by the Ministerial Code.

“All relevant costs have been correctly accounted for and appropriately proportioned. At all times Government rules and electoral requirements have been followed in relation to Ministerial visits.”

Downing Street pointed to section 10.16 of the Ministerial Code, which says the Prime Minister “may use their official cars for all journeys by road, including those for private or Party purposes.”

Got a tip? If you have information about spending in by-elections, please email the author at hdyer@insider.com. We can keep sources anonymous.

Plans to block the M5 junction for Tiverton and motorists heading to North Devon have been cancelled after the idea sparked controversy.

Ami Wyllie  www.devonlive.com

North Devon and Torridge Housing Crisis campaigner Emma Hookway proposed the plans to highlight the plight of many residents in the region struggling to find a home.

She posted her plans to blockage junction 27 at 5pm on Friday (August 27) in her housing crisis Facebook group and asked for support co-ordinating the event.

Immediately, people raised concerns and advised Emma to cancel the event, but she insisted that half an hour was all that was needed to make a dramatic statement.

Emma said: “Half an hour guys, that’s all I’m asking.

“Half an hour to let the rest of the UK know what is happening to you.”

However, after further criticism towards the idea, Emma cancelled the event due to the backlash she received, but asked for help coming up with new ideas.

In the North Devon and Torridge Housing Crisis group, she wrote: “It seems that the group was mostly against the junction 27 idea and I respect that.

“Therefore, what should we do next to keep the momentum going?”

Emma told Devon Live: “I don’t want to do something drastic, but I want to create an event that gets people to acknowledge what’s happening.”

It’s property – not coronavirus – that is emerging as the hottest topic in Devon now the dreadful pandemic rumbles towards its conclusion.

Several commenters raised concerns over the safety of a protest like this.

One person asked: “Could this not potentially cause accidents?

“Blocking a motorway junction doesn’t sound like a safe idea to me.”

She went on to warn: “I think this is potentially dangerous, on the junction of two roads that are incredibly dangerous as is.”

Other commenters were worried about the traffic implications on the last Friday of the school holidays, which doubles as a bank holiday.

They thought that blocking J27 would be counter productive to getting politician’s and the general public on side.

One person said: “Lobby your council representatives and your MP.

“Action like this will only turn people against your concerns.”

Another wrote: “When the traffic is already bad, a half hour hold up is an issue, especially when you have young children in the car.

“It doesn’t make sense, you want local’s help, yet you are making the local’s lives a nightmare.”

Someone else said: “What about locals going away?

“I’ll be travelling up north for the weekend next Friday.

“We have already postponed our wedding three times and our 10th anniversary once.

“Not knocking the sentiment, but I’d rather this time we just had a smooth run.”

Meanwhile, others raised concerns about the access route to larger hospitals.

Lewis Clarke wrote: “As somebody who has just returned from hospital with a poorly baby and used that route several times over the course of visiting Musgrove, I cannot help but feel for all those people in similar situations who would be help up because of something like this.”

Another wrote: “Not a cool idea. People use this route to access Bristol Royal Infirmary.”

Some argued that as the blockade would be on the Southbound carriageway, it would not interfere with people travelling North to Bristol.

However, it was pointed out that the return journey from the hospital would be impacted.

One person shared a personal anecdote: “Two years ago I travelled that road twice a day for a week to visit my husband who was in Bristol Royal ICU.”

In a separate comment, she added: “I drove that road having left my husband in BRI with malaria wondering if I would see him again.

“But I needed to get to my children who I hadn’t seen for four days with thoughts in my head wondering if I would be taking them to say goodbye to their daddy.

“That was my return journey.”

Not everyone was against the idea of a road block, some group members thought J27 might be too extreme, but suggested local roads in North Devon or council run car parks as an alternative.

Someone suggested: “Find local council meetings and block their car parks.

“Much better to inconvenience the people who make decisions.”

One person compared it to similar drastic action that rocketed campaigners into the public eye.

They wrote: “It’s about awareness though, people need to sit up and listen.

“Look at Extinction Rebellion and BLM, you would not even know who they were unless they took extreme measures.”

A similar protest was proposed in Cornwall, as locals facing a similar fight against second home owners and a surge in rental prices threatened to form a human barrier across the A30 into the county.

Emma is currently working on another plan to raise awareness for the North Devon housing crisis and will be holding a meeting at the Castle Centre in Barnstaple on 2 September at 7pm.

An extraordinary council meeting is set to be held to strip a former councillor of his Honorary Alderman title after his conviction for child sex offences.

This is a necessary but not sufficient next step.

Owl believes there now needs to be an in inquiry into a number of “eyebrow raising” questions that have emerged during the trial, not least to address the question as to why the police did not pursue their 2005 investigation.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

John Humphreys, who abused two schoolboys in the 1990s and 2000s, was jailed for 21 years last week after being found guilty at a trial at Exeter Crown Court.

He groomed and assaulted the first victim when he was aged about 13 and had three sexual encounters culminating in a violent sexual attack on Woodbury Common, and then went on to abuse the second boy when he was aged about 15 and met Humphreys while doing a work experience placement from school.

Humphreys, a former mayor of Exmouth, had served for 12 years as a Conservative councillor on East Devon District Council before stepping down ahead of the May 2019 local elections.

He was nominated and awarded the Honorary Alderman title by East Devon District Council in December 2019, with Humphreys accepting the honour despite knowing that he was under investigation by the police for the offences.

At the meeting, the vote was carried by a majority with only one councillor abstaining, believed to have been Cllr Paul Millar.

But now following his conviction, East Devon District Council plan on stripping the ex-councillor of his title – the first time it has ever happened in the 47 year history of the authority – as the gravity of his crimes means that he is not a fit person to hold the honour.

Cllr Ian Thomas, chair of East Devon District Council, said: “ Firstly, and most importantly, I would like to extend my sympathy and that of the council, to the two victims and their families. A large part of their lives has been dominated by unimaginable experiences as children. I hope that the conviction and sentence handed down may offer some level of closure.

“John Humphreys has been found guilty of ten charges relating to the sexual assault of two young boys between 1990 and 2001. The 21-year jail sentence and addition to the sex offenders’ list for life, reflect the gravity of his crimes.”

Cllr Thomas added: “In 2019, an Extraordinary General Meeting of East Devon District Council awarded the position of Honorary Alderman to Mr Humphreys. The position was established under the Local Government Act 1972 and is awarded in recognition of valued service to the community represented and the council.

“In view of Mr Humphreys conviction and offences, I do not believe he is a fit person to hold this honour.

“I will therefore be convening an Extraordinary General Meeting at 6pm on Tuesday, September 7, with the sole recommendation being that the honour is withdrawn forthwith.

“This will be the first time any such step will have been taken and recognises the gravity of his crimes.”

The meeting, which will be held virtually, will only provide an ‘indicative decision’, following the decision made by the council last month to change their standing orders to allow them to meet via Zoom again as a result of rising coronavirus rates in the district.

While the legislation permitting councils to meet virtually expired on May 7, and has not been renewed, the council agreed to temporarily change its constitution in order to comply with the law.

The approach means that at present, meetings are being held virtually, but only reach ‘indicative decisions’. The actual authority to actually take the decision would be delegated to the Chief Executive and/or Senior Officers who will then make a decision taking into account the views of the consultative meeting.

Humphreys, aged 59, of Hartley Road, Exmouth, denied but was found guilty of three counts of a serious sexual assault (buggery) and two of indecent assault on the younger boy and five counts of indecent assault against older one.

He was jailed for 21 years by Judge Rose, who also put him on the sex offenders’ register for life.

Judge Rose told Humphreys: “Six of these offences have to be assessed against the modern guideline for rape.

“These were shocking acts of sexual violence. You targeted a particularly vulnerable victim.

“It is clear you caused severe psychological harm which has damaged and blighted the life of your victims.

“You provided positive service to the community in your political career and as Mayor of Exmouth but your pursuit of a respectable life was undertaken while the dark and awful secret of your sexual offending remained unknown.

“These sentences must be consecutive. These incidents were entirely separate and 10 years apart against two children who did not know each other.”

The title of Honorary Alderman does not confer any special privileges or rights upon the appointee to speak or vote at Council meetings, beyond the rights and privileges already afforded to the public.

The only rights that are conferred to an Honorary Alderman by virtue of their appointment is to be invited to Civic functions and events by invitation of the Council. The Council will decide which Civic functions and events it is appropriate to invite Honorary Aldermen to.

Until now the river Otter is the only place in England where the Government has allowed the release of “wild” beavers. In all the other 17 licensed sites, beavers are supposed to live behind fences. Welcome back to the wild – Owl

Ben Webster www.thetimes.co.uk

Beavers will return to rivers across England under government plans to be announced this week to grant licences allowing them to be released into the wild.

They will also gain legal protection as a native species in England, meaning that it will be an offence to capture, kill, disturb or injure them or damage breeding sites or resting places without a licence from Natural England.

However, if they do cause significant damage landowners may be allowed to apply for a licence to kill them as a last resort after attempts have been made to trap and relocate them or prevent their dams from flooding fields.

At present landowners can apply for a licence to keep beavers in enclosures and there are about 17 sites in England where they live behind fences.

The only place where the government has permitted wild beavers in England is on the River Otter in Devon, where a family who may have been released illegally were allowed to remain last year.

Research on the River Otter beavers found that they improved water quality, reduced flood risk downstream and benefited other wildlife such as otters and kingfishers.

But the decision to allow more to be released into the wild will dismay many anglers and farmers who argue that beaver dams prevent salmon and trout from migrating upriver to spawn and destroy riverside trees.

A public consultation due to be launched this week will set out the criteria for allowing what the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will describe as “the cautious release of more beavers into the wild”.

Ben Goldsmith, a multi-millionaire financier and non-executive board member of Defra, said that he expected many wildlife charities, water companies and other landowners to apply for licences to release wild beavers.

He said that there might be problems finding enough beavers to meet demand. Some will come from Scotland, which has about 1,000; 87 were killed there under licence in 2019.

Goldsmith said that beavers could be imported from many parts of Europe, including Bavaria, Norway and the Netherlands.

The Caen, a river in Braunton in North Devon, could be one of the first new places where beavers are released into the wild.

James Wallace, chief executive of the Beaver Trust, said that about 50 farmers in the area had said that they would “tolerate beavers on the basis they might help with the considerable flooding issues they face, having had little success with human-made engineering in the past”.

Tony Juniper, chairman of Natural England, said: “Restoring the health of England’s natural environment will in part be achieved through the recovery of animals and plants that have become very rare, or which in some cases have disappeared completely.

“The beaver is one such species, and following the successful trial introduction on the River Otter in Devon we can see the benefits these fascinating creatures can bring, including the creation of wetland habitats for other wildlife, cleaning up the quality of water and helping to smooth out flood peaks.

“The launch of Defra’s consultation marks an important moment for the future of these animals across England.”

The High Court has granted permission for our legal challenge to the “Levelling Up Fund”. The huge £4.8bn fund pretends to be the centrepiece of a levelling up agenda – but we think it’s just a way to funnel money into constituencies of political benefit to the Conservative Party. 

goodlawproject.org 

This permission decision means the Government will have to defend itself in Court. It’s the latest in a string of permission decisions that have gone in Good Law Project’s favour. Of the 14 cases we have issued since the start of 2020, the Court has granted permission in 11 at the first time of asking. Since 2010, official statistics show that this has only happened in 17% of all judicial reviews. Good Law Project’s success rate on the other hand is a staggering 78%. Judges clearly agree that the Government is acting in ways that deserve closer scrutiny, and they see the importance of the cases we bring.

Building a judicial review that makes it to Court is no easy feat. It takes weeks, often months, of painstaking effort to identify the right legal point and gather evidence and witness statements to build a powerful case. We can only do this work because of monthly donations from people like you. Your contributions help to pay for the salaries of our small team of in-house lawyers and paralegals, our computers, and our office space. They help to keep Good Law Project going.

We want to keep taking on impactful cases and we want to keep making it all the way to Court. With your help, we can. If you’re in a position to set up a regular donation, you can do so by clicking here.

Devon County Council and the NHS has issued 23,000 ‘thank you’s – one to every care worker working in the county council area’ – for going above and beyond to keep vulnerable people safe and well throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Daniel Clark www.devonlive.com

But with the entire health and care system at full stretch the County Council says the situation is becoming unsustainable.

Now they are calling for over 1,000 more people to join the care workforce, and for families and communities to do all they can help ease the pressure.

“We all know that the whole health and care system is under tremendous pressure right now and it’s clear that we are all experiencing this together,” said Cllr James McInnes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet member responsible for adult health and social care.

“Everyone – care and support workers, doctors, nurses, our hospitals and voluntary and community groups – have all done a fabulous job to keep us safe and well throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

“Devon has an army of unsung and often forgotten care workers in care homes, the homes of vulnerable people, and other settings up and down the county every day, helping and supporting those that cannot look after themselves.

“I want to thank every one of the 23,000 care workers in the county, working all hours and putting their own safety second to the needs of the people they support, keeping our most vulnerable residents safe, well and cared for. And I want to thank the thousands of unpaid carers who are providing huge amounts of support to their families and friends.

“These caring care roles are essential, and working alongside community health staff, they are vital in helping keep people out of hospital.

“But the sustained pressure on them, and all staff in the health and care system, is beginning to tell, and they are also now struggling to cope.

“Care providers can only provide care to vulnerable people if the workforce is there, and with coronavirus impacting on care staff, just as it is everyone, we quite simply do not have enough care workers in Devon right now.”

Thousands of care job vacancies are being advertised in Devon today, and with care staff off work – self-isolating because of coronavirus, or because they’re otherwise unwell – care companies are struggling.

It means vulnerable people are at risk of not receiving the care they need when they need it. And that more people are finding themselves as unpaid carers, caring for loved ones and friends or neighbours, in the absence of there being enough paid care staff available.

“23,000 is a lot of care workers, but we need more,” Cllr McInnes said.

“And we need them quickly. We are bringing in care workers from outside Devon, but that’s not a long-term or fair solution, given that their own communities may also be in need of care workers. The situation is becoming unsustainable.

“We are making an appeal today for people to come forward from communities across Devon.

“In Exeter we need about 300 people. In North Devon and Torridge, we need another 300 people, and another 300 needed in care roles across Teignbridge and South Hams. 150 people are needed each in East Devon and Mid Devon areas, and around 100 people are needed right now in West Devon.

“That many new recruits into social care would make a very real difference to the people who need support right now. We can help with training for those without it. We can match you up with where your skills are needed and the kind of work you want to do.

“So, we are asking, if you have worked in care before but left, can you return? Even if that is just for the next few months to help us over this period of greatest pressure.

“If you’re a personal assistant and have capacity to help, can you come forward?

“If you’ve not worked in care, but want to help, a warm welcome awaits you, regardless of age and experience. We need people who are compassionate, can communicate well and are ready to commit themselves to the rewarding range of roles on offer. If you have those skills we can train and support you and offer you the role that will suit you best.

“If you have time to spare as a volunteer, please get in touch.

“If you’re a family with elderly or vulnerable relatives, or you’re friends with someone who needs support, what can you do?

“Today is our call to action. Today is your opportunity to make somebody else’s life better.”

Contact Devon County Council now and register your interest by visiting https://devon.cc/findyourcalling leaving your name, contact details and a postcode, and the council’s recruitment team will get back to you. Or visit https://devon.cc/socialcarecareers to find the latest care job vacancies, apprenticeships and training opportunities in the care sector in Devon.

Last week former Mayor of Exmouth and District Councillor John Humphreys, who was also appointed an honorary Alderman in Dec 2019, was jailed for 21 years for a series of sexual assaults. Below we read how close he was to the Swires.

First, here is how the Judge described the assaults:

Judge Rose said the first victim had been no older than 13 years old when he was picked up by Humphreys outside toilets in St Andrew’s Road, Exmouth, and driven on three separate occasions to different locations for sex.

He said Humphreys, who had been ‘entirely responsible’ for the boy’s welfare to ensure he came to no harm, raped his victim orally and anally.

Judge Rose said Humphreys’ actions caused the male long-lasting psychological harm, lasting decades

The Judge said: “These were shocking acts of sexual violence. You targeted a particularly vulnerable victim.”

He added: “It must have been obvious to you that he was a vulnerable young boy that had a attended a location that was entirely unsuitable for him.

“You decided not to help him and ensure he came to no harm in that situation.”

The Judge said Humphreys inflicted ‘shocking acts of sexual violence’ on the same victim which culminated in raping the boy in a disused building on Woodbury Common.

Judge Rose said: “You instructed him to never talk about this and you told him that his life wouldn’t be worth living if he told.”

The court heard the second victim had been around the age of 15 and on work experience with Humphreys’s gardening firm when he was sexually assaulted multiple times by the defendant, who orchestrated time alone with the teenager.

Here is how Sasha describes the relationship between John Humphreys and the Swires

Owl has been asked (31 August) to delete the extracts from page 286 and page 445 by Susan de Soissons | Director, Author & Media Relations – Little, Brown Book Group:

“I write to remind you that permission has not been granted to extract from Diary of an MPs Wife by Sasha Swire. Please remove the extracts.  Any further uploading of extracts with be forwarded to our legal department.

Regards,

Susan de Soissons“

“The council chamber was packed for the ceremony, and the reception saw 110 friends and family mark the occasion at the nearby Masonic Hall.”

Owl’s followers might like to re-read this article from 2014 in the light of John Humphreys jail term of 21 years for sexual assault. They might also like to read a couple of relevant extracts from Sasha Swire’s “Secret” diaries which Owl is posting next: Sasha on Hugo Swire and “our beloved longtime helper, John Humphreys”.

Before doing so, take a moment to read how the Judge described these assaults, as reported in East Devon News:

Judge Rose said the first victim had been no older than 13 years old when he was picked up by Humphreys outside toilets in St Andrew’s Road, Exmouth, and driven on three separate occasions to different locations for sex.

He said Humphreys, who had been ‘entirely responsible’ for the boy’s welfare to ensure he came to no harm, raped his victim orally and anally.

Judge Rose said Humphreys’ actions caused the male long-lasting psychological harm, lasting decades

The Judge said: “These were shocking acts of sexual violence. You targeted a particularly vulnerable victim.”

He added: “It must have been obvious to you that he was a vulnerable young boy that had a attended a location that was entirely unsuitable for him.

“You decided not to help him and ensure he came to no harm in that situation.”

The Judge said Humphreys inflicted ‘shocking acts of sexual violence’ on the same victim which culminated in raping the boy in a disused building on Woodbury Common.

Judge Rose said: “You instructed him to never talk about this and you told him that his life wouldn’t be worth living if he told.”

The court heard the second victim had been around the age of 15 and on work experience with Humphreys’s gardening firm when he was sexually assaulted multiple times by the defendant, who orchestrated time alone with the teenager.

Mayor’s big day is a truly momentous one!

Dave Beasley www.exmouthjournal.co.uk 

History was made in Exmouth on Saturday as mayor John Humphreys and teacher David Marston said ‘I do’ on Saturday.

When Cllr Humphreys and former Journal reporter David tied the knot in front of family and friends it marked the first-ever same-sex marriage, both in Exmouth and East Devon.

They exchanged vows just 12 hours after the new marriage law came into effect; and to mark the occasion the ‘rainbow flag’ was flown aloft the town hall.

Cllr Humphreys said: “It was a wonderful day and we were delighted to be able to do something that was not only of personal importance but something we believe is of national importance in our home town.”

The council chamber was packed for the ceremony, and the reception saw 110 friends and family mark the occasion at the nearby Masonic Hall.

• Single storey side extension. 7 Brookdale Ottery St Mary EX11 1EBRef. No: 21/2195/FUL | Validated: Fri 13 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey side extension, single storey rear extension, and installation of entrance gates 16 Green Close Exmouth EX8 3QDRef. No: 21/2191/FUL | Validated: Fri 13 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Rear and side extension; adjustment of dormer over garage; new finishes to front elevations and balcony to the rear Brook House Sowton Exeter EX5 2AFRef. No: 21/2179/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension. 50 Featherbed Lane Exmouth EX8 3NERef. No: 21/2177/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey front extension. 24 Hillside Payhembury Honiton EX14 3HBRef. No: 21/2176/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of single garage and erection of two storey garage with second floor annex. Set Fair Barline Beer Seaton EX12 3LRRef. No: 21/2160/FUL | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of existing septic tank and including installation of new package treatment plan. Ashurst Cottage Woodhouse Fields Uplyme Lyme Regis DT7 3SHRef. No: 21/2159/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed new dormer window to rear elevation, the enlargement of an existing dormer window to the front elevation and the installation of French doors to the rear elevation 55 Bicton Street Exmouth EX8 2RURef. No: 21/2157/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 Ash – Dismantle to ground level Reason for works: Tree is showing significant signs of Ash Dieback Disease and is within falling distance from nearby property to the north Coach House 7 West Hill Lane Budleigh Salterton EX9 6AARef. No: 21/2161/TRE | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use from cattle barn (sui generis use) to stables (class E, D1) Home Farm Nutwell Road Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5ANRef. No: 21/2158/FUL | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Proposed renovation of the existing dwelling, new eastern extension, and change of roof form from hipped to gabled. Demolition of the existing garage, and new double garage constructed to the south of the site. Associated landscaping works, including new pedestrian access gate and formation of path across verge. Akora Southway Sidmouth EX10 8JLRef. No: 21/2155/FUL | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Extension of parking area Olinda Offwell Honiton Devon EX14 9SARef. No: 21/2165/FUL | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension and replacement garage. 13 Elmfield Crescent Exmouth EX8 3BJRef. No: 21/2130/FUL | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion of agricultural building to form 2x dwellings for holiday accommodation and provision of associated parking area Greenhayes Shute Axminster EX13 7QERef. No: 21/2137/FUL | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Sweet Chestnut : re-pollard back to existing pollard points. This is to manage the tree size. 6 Salisbury Avenue Feniton Honiton EX14 3DURef. No: 21/2136/TRE | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of garden room. Spindle Wood Knights Lane All Saints Axminster EX13 7LSRef. No: 21/2139/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Part two storey, part single storey front and side extension 3 Cannington Cottages Cannington Lane Uplyme Lyme Regis DT7 3SWRef. No: 21/2138/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension incorporating an existing single-storey element with roof re-alignment. Home Croft Parsonage Way Woodbury Exeter EX5 1HURef. No: 21/2148/FUL | Validated: Wed 11 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Rear single storey extension, two storey in-fill extension and addition of first floor window. Chowns House Parsonage Way Woodbury Exeter EX5 1HURef. No: 21/2147/FUL | Validated: Wed 11 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of an agricultural building Carnbrae Woodhouse Hill Uplyme Lyme Regis DT7 3SLRef. No: 21/2143/AGR | Validated: Fri 13 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• T1 – ash – fell because of infection with ash die-back. Heronsbridge Little Knowle Budleigh Salterton EX9 6QSRef. No: 21/2146/TCA | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed single storey side extension 47 Elmfield Crescent Exmouth EX8 3BWRef. No: 21/2131/FUL | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Refurbish and extend existing bungalow. Woodstock 6 Venlake Close Uplyme Lyme Regis DT7 3UXRef. No: 21/2126/FUL | Validated: Wed 11 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of 1 x fascia sign, 1 x wall mounted logo, 1 x wall mounted sign and 2 x wall mounted banner signs 3 – 7 Magnolia Walk Exmouth EX8 1HBRef. No: 21/2117/ADV | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of replacement windows 7 Clyst Mews Broadclyst Exeter Devon EX5 3JGRef. No: 21/2119/FUL | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• A general purpose agricultural building Winneford Farm Winneford Lane Awliscombe HonitonRef. No: 21/2116/AGR | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Internal reconfiguration and refurbishment of existing Bed & Breakfast and adjoining single garage to accommodate five independent living units on two floors, changing use from C1 to C2 Briar House Clyst Honiton Exeter EX5 2LZRef. No: 21/2110/FUL | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of milking parlour and erection of detached annexe Lower Upcott Marsh Green Exeter EX5 2HERef. No: 21/2101/FUL | Validated: Fri 13 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Reduction in size of lean-to shelter building, repositioning of entrance gates, alteration to Barn shutters, structural fixes to barn upper floor, and jamb walls, and formation of new opening into barn. Osmonds Clyst Hydon Cullompton EX15 2NBRef. No: 21/2085/LBC | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of two advertising signs 282 Queens Drive ExmouthRef. No: 21/2091/ADV | Validated: Fri 13 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• T1, Ginkgo biloba : Thin by 20%, as was done in 2018, maximum pruning cuts of no more that 75mm, in order to lessen the sail affect, due to dense crown and included bark union at base of tree, a listed wall in close proximity and home owners concern is over safety of tree during strong winds Carolcrest Bickwell Valley Sidmouth EX10 8SQRef. No: 21/2096/TRE | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a first floor extension 1 Vicarage Road East Budleigh Budleigh Salterton EX9 7EFRef. No: 21/2087/FUL | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Residential development Nursery Garage Courtlands Lane Exmouth EX8 5ABRef. No: 21/2069/PIP | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1 Yew – Fell to near ground level Reason for Works: The tree is showing a significant lean towards the road, evidence has proven that the lean to be significantly more pronounced since photos in 2019. If the tree were to fail it would breach the highway, the driveway is also a bus stop for school children Lansdowne Hindstrete Church Road Whimple Exeter EX5 2TBRef. No: 21/2077/TRE | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of residential annex. 3 The Old Dairy Barrow Road Payhembury Honiton EX14 3HXRef. No: 21/2043/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• First floor loft conversion to a habitable use, 2 x ground floor side extension, extension to decking and addition of a pool. Hillcrest Woodhouse Hill Uplyme Lyme Regis DT7 3SLRef. No: 21/2042/FUL | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension The Meade Sanctuary Lane Woodbury Exeter EX5 1EXRef. No: 21/2017/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace 4no. windows on front ground floor elevation (GFW 01 – 04) and 2no. windows on front first floor elevation (FFW 01 and 02) Broadway House Broadway Whimple Exeter Devon EX5 2TRRef. No: 21/2022/LBC | Validated: Fri 13 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of existing lean-to and construction of single storey rear extension Milcot Farway Colyton EX24 6EDRef. No: 21/1971/LBC | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey sun room with retractable glass windows and pocket doors Brampford House Brampford Speke Exeter EX5 5DWRef. No: 21/1980/LBC | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Demolition of existing lean-to and construction of single storey rear extension. Milcot Farway Colyton EX24 6EDRef. No: 21/1970/FUL | Validated: Thu 12 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of earth lined slurry lagoon North Waterhayne Farm Yarcombe Honiton EX14 9AXRef. No: 21/1938/FUL | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Internal alterations at ground floor to create combine retail unit: new partition wall with door opening; partition wall and new door opening to create WC; reinstate existing opening to connect to 78 High Street 80 High Street Honiton EX14 1PDRef. No: 21/1916/LBC | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of shed and layby The Old Forge Park Lane Whitford Axminster EX13 7NQRef. No: 21/1911/FUL | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Re-instate a blocked up window on side elevation 6 Ottery Street Otterton Budleigh Salterton EX9 7HWRef. No: 21/1850/LBC | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of a covered yard Clifthayne Farm Marsh Honiton EX14 9ANRef. No: 21/1813/AGR | Validated: Mon 09 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of up to 200 no. dwellings with associated access, infrastructure and areas of public open space/landscaping; outline planning application with all matters reserved except the access. Land At Park Farm (Phase 3) West Clyst ExeterRef. No: 19/1799/MOUT | Validated: Tue 10 Aug 2021 | Status: Awaiting decision

A ban on herbicides by one of Britain’s most eco-conscious councils has triggered a war of weeds.

Madeleine Spence www.thetimes.co.uk 

Residents of Brighton and Hove claim their pavements are becoming trip hazards and eyesores after a decision to eradicate the use of chemical-laden weedkillers. Two elderly women are said to have ended up in hospital after slipping.

Critics say the problem is getting out of control after a team of eight staff employed to pull out daisies, dandelions and moss was hit by Covid-19 and self-isolation rules.

Officials are being urged to find a more efficient way to remove the weeds and rethink other rewilding policies, such as the less frequent trimming of verges and hedges.

“It’s all very well for a trendy city-dweller to say, ‘Let’s rewild our pavements’ after hearing about the cause for the first time,” said Robert Nemeth, a councillor for Wish ward, on the seafront. “They probably haven’t got any friends who are elderly or disabled, who are most likely to be seriously injured under the current unsatisfactory situation.”

The issue has its roots in a decision by the council two years ago to phase out the use of herbicides by next year.

Hundreds of residents of Brighton — which has the country’s only Green MP — signed a petition in support of a ban to prevent chemicals such as glyphosate, a key ingredient in many weedkillers, from polluting the environment. Nemeth, a commercial beekeeper, is himself against the use of glyphosate.

Two elderly women are understood to have suffered head injuries when they tripped over weeds NAMMIE MATTHEWS

Alistair McNair, another councillor, says he has been inundated with complaints from residents who have ended up in hospital after tripping on uneven or cracked pavements, where invasive plants such as sycamore, nettles, buddleia and ragwort are bursting through the concrete.

In the well-heeled Rottingdean ward two women in their eighties are understood to have suffered head injuries when they tripped over weeds.

Some people have started taking matters into their own hands. Ian Cox, a long-time resident, has not only been buying and squirting weedkiller outside his home, but has also taken to mowing nearby verges.

Sprouting pavements are not the only problem. “Overgrown hedgerows left untended are certainly more dangerous to the blind or partially impaired because white sticks don’t navigate them well,” said Natasha Spearhil, 48, who is partially sighted. “Speaking from experience, I certainly get sick and tired of injuries that would otherwise not be sustained because of overhanging bushes.”

In recent years concerns about glyphosate have been subsumed by a rising tide of broader environmentalism, reflecting a new trend in urban rewilding in the UK.

Overgrown areas can prove hazardous to disabled people who may not be able to negotiate a clear path

NAMMIE MATTHEWS

More than a quarter of councils in England have embraced or are considering rewilding, according to an investigation by Inkcap Journal, a nature and conservation magazine.

Some residents of Brighton have suggested that the environmental cause has become a convenient cover for a council unable or unwilling to keep up with the sprouting problem.

Joy Flowers, 68, who lives in Hollingbury, said: “We did have the hand-weeding team around, but you wouldn’t know it. I think the ‘rewilding’ is a bit of an excuse. The pavements should be kept clear.”

The council said that many residents “have welcomed the weeds as habitats for insects and bees, and complain when we remove them”.

It added that the weed problem had been exacerbated by staff shortages during the pandemic and that the weather had also contributed to “a growth spurt”. It will hire an external contractor to help speed up removal.

For Colin Pow, 74, a Rottingdean resident, weeds are simply wild flowers, and he is all in favour. “I think it’s a great idea. I have nothing against wild flowers and it’s a good way for the council to save money.”

A Covid-19 testing company co-owned by a former Labour justice minister and a Labour councillor has been accused of failing to deliver kits and test results and not refunding customers, forcing them to fall back on the NHS.

Rob Davies www.theguardian.com 

RT Diagnostics is one of hundreds of firms that won government approval to sell PCR tests to travellers planning to enter England, after ministers decided to leave provision to the private sector, under a system that has drawn criticism over allegations of poor service against several companies.

Travellers to the UK have spent at least £500m on PCR tests from private companies since mid-May. But evidence is mounting that the taxpayer-funded NHS testing service, which itself has been outsourced to contractors, is in effect being left to bear the costs when private companies fail.

Customers who paid RT Diagnostics for tests said kits had arrived late or not at all, or that they had never received results. Several said they had been forced to call the NHS, which can offer testing for travellers free of charge in exceptional circumstances.

The company denied the claims, saying in cases of lost kits it absorbed all the costs and refunded individuals 100% of the time.

The former justice minister Shahid Malik and Calderdale councillor Faisal Shoukat are listed as shareholders in RT Diagnostics and Real Time Diagnostics.

Malik has a majority stake in RT Diagnostics, according to Companies House filings, held via a company of which he is the sole shareholder called Premier UK Life Sciences. The company was set up in February 2021, a month before RT Diagnostics was incorporated.

Fred Molin, a university worker based in Hampshire, said he paid £81 for day two and day eight tests in mid-June, before a flight from Sweden to the UK, but has never received them and has yet to be refunded six weeks later.

“They’ve sent me an email saying the refund has been sent but there’s been no money,” he said. “I’ve called them three or four times, whereupon they tell me that their operations are down and they’ll be back up in the next week and a half.”

Molin said he had resorted to calling the NHS, which sent him a test for free.

Khadija Podd said she had found she was unable to register her test on the company’s website and had ended up calling the NHS 119 helpline for advice.

“It wasn’t just the money, I wanted to know if I was committing an offence. But I really couldn’t afford to buy another test. It cost me £168 on top of everything else.”

In an email seen by the Guardian, RT Diagnostics told her it might take “several weeks” for a refund to be processed. After she told them she had spoken to her MP and to the Guardian, Podd received a refund the next day.

“I’m fuming because of the whole system, not just RT Diagnostics, but the whole thing has been so badly done when you compare it to Europe.

“It’s a business here. The UK is using Covid as a business and countries in Europe are not doing the same thing. It has to be called out.”

Rob Crisp, a drum teacher, said the results of tests he bought in June had arrived late and that he had not received a refund, despite requesting one.

He said: “Why should the NHS have to pick up the tab for the failings of a private company who are making a small fortune?”

Paul Myers, the managing director of e-bike company Cooler King, said he still hadn’t received a refund after the company failed to send him test results for a day five “test to release” service purchased in June.

He said the company had promised to refund him in late June but had not done so. “I email them every couple of days and they don’t respond,” he said.

Multiple reviewers on TrustPilot, Google and Twitter said they had received test kits late or not at all – and had not received refunds.

When the Guardian called a customer services number for RT Diagnostics on Wednesday, the person who answered said: “We are out of operations for the moment but we will definitely be back in operations very soon.”

They said customers who had not received tests would “definitely” receive refunds.

They added: “It will be very soon but I can’t commit when it is, but it will be in the next few days.”

A spokesperson for the company denied the claims on Thursday.

“It is a totally preposterous and 100% defamatory accusation that we would not refund anyone whose kit did not arrive,” the spokesperson said.

“For the record, we have a no-quibble 100% refund policy for any kits that get lost via our courier Royal Mail – in these cases we absorb the costs for the lost kit and refund the individual 100%.

“If you are aware of any cases where anyone has not received a refund due to lost kits, please forward us the details immediately.”

RT Diagnostics said Malik was no longer a director of the company and had no managerial responsibility. It also said it was no longer selling test kits and has not been since mid-June. Its website states that tests are out of stock. The company no longer appears on the list of government-approved test providers.

Private PCR testing companies have left a trail of unhappy holidaymakers complaining that test kits, or their results, failed to arrive as promised.

The firms typically charge £80-£200 for pre-bought PCR tests that are mandatory for people arriving in the UK, almost twice the price that passengers pay in Europe.

Recorded new Covid-19 cases in East Devon have risen by seven per cent in a week, but have dropped in Exeter by 18 per cent. 

Local Democracy Reporter eastdevonnews.co.uk 

Some 512 cases were logged in the district, with 626 in the city, in the seven days up to August 15.

This is a rise of 34 in East Devon, where the infection rate is 345.8 per 100,000 people, when compared to the previous week.

But there was a decrease of 139 in Exeter where the infection rate is 469.5 – the second highest in Devon.

Both areas are still well above the national average rate of 304 cases per 100,000 residents.

Torbay once again has the highest Covid rate in the county after cases rose by 20 per cent.

Lower tier local authorities in the week up to August 15.

The biggest weekly rise was in West Devon, which has seen cases rise by more than 41 per cent.

There was also a significant increase in Teignbridge, which now has the third highest infection rate in Devon.

Upper tier local authorities in the week up to August 15.

HOSPITALISATIONS

The number of people in hospital with Covid in Devon has risen.

The latest figures, up to Tuesday, August 17, show 120 patients with the virus in the county’s hospitals – a rise of 31 on the previous week.

Of the 120 patients, 34 are at the Royal Devon and Exeter, 48 are at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, 24 are in Torbay and 14 are being cared for in North Devon. Eighteen people are on mechanical ventilation beds.

DEATHS

Eight people died in Devon within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 in the seven-day period up to and including Sunday, August.15

Six were in the Devon County Council area, one in Plymouth and one in Torbay.

A total of 1,079 people in Devon have died within 28 days of a positive test since the pandemic began.

This includes 216 in Plymouth and 165 in Torbay. Across the UK, 131,487 people have died within four weeks of testing positive.

VACCINATIONS

The number of adults aged 18 or over who have received at least one dose of a Cover vaccine is now 87 per cent in the Devon County Council area, 86 per cent in Torbay, and 84 per cent in Plymouth.

The proportion of people who are now fully vaccinated with both jabs is now 77 per cent in Devon, 77 per cent in Torbay and 72 per cent in Plymouth.

Could the Beautiful Days festival at Escot Park become our very own local superspreading event?

Festival Goers disgusted by state of toilets

Molly Dowrick www.devonlive.com 

People attending Devon’s long-awaited Beautiful Days music festival have slammed its less-than-beautiful toilet facilities at the site.

Whilst the music and atmosphere has been praised, attendees say they’ve been “let down” by the “horrendous” portable toilets that are “totally unsanitary”.

Staff at the festival say they are aware of people’s complaints and are currently working their way around the site to empty and clean the toilets – while bringing in extra loos to help improve the situation.

But some festival-goers, say there has been “no improvement” since they initially complained hours ago.

One festival-goer told DevonLive: “It’s such a great festival but this year it’s being let down by horrendous toilet facilities.

“The condition of nearly all the toilets is totally unsanitary but festival goers on Twitter and Facebook are constantly being told the sanitation teams are working on it, but there is little to no improvement!

“I fear this situation could jeopardise any licence for future events.”

Another said: “It’s such a shame because this festival is always known for having nicer loos. It’s been pretty disgusting this year!”

DevonLive understands extra toilets have been delivered this evening – but some people say there is still a “strong smell” from the loos.

A spokesperson for Beautiful Days Festival said: “We are responding to complaints and feedback on site as quickly as we can about the toilets.

“Our team, and the contractor, have brought in extra resources to ensure all toilets are emptied and cleaned and can be maintained throughout the rest of the weekend.

“They are actively working their way around site and will continue to do so – cleaning and emptying the toilets. The situation is very frustrating and we can only apologise for any delays reaching certain areas of site.”

Festival goers say the state of the loos at Beautiful Days festival is ‘horrendous’ (Image: submitted)

The news comes amid festival-goers being asked to prove they do not have Covid-19 in order to be let into the site.

Last month, organisers confirmed people would be asked to proof they have had a recent negative NHS lateral flow test if they want to attend the festival.

A spokesperson for the festival said: “Everyone – working, performing or attending – will be required to prove their Covid-19 status to gain access to the festival site to reduce risk to you and others around you.

“This is not a Covid passport. If you have not had the vaccine then you can take a free test.”

Acts confirmed for this year’s sold out festival include Frank Turner and The Sleeping Souls, James, The Orb, Gary Numan and, of course, festival founders the Levellers.

A notorious stretch of cliffs on the East Devon coast has seen five massive falls in one morning.

Ami Wyllie www.devonlive.com

Crumbling clay tumbled from the cliffs between Sidmouth and Salcombe Mouth on Sunday morning.

Local resident Katy Hancock managed to capture huge plumes of red dust kicked up by the landslides.

Beer Coastguard Rescue Team shared a photo from Jurassic Paddle Sports and posted a warning on Facebook.

They wrote: “Cliff falls this morning, please stay away from the base of cliffs and take note of the signs, they are there for a reason.”

(Image: Katy Hancock)

While it was supposed to serve as a caution about the dangers of the location, some Facebook users were excited at the prospect of finding fossils.

In 1823 renowned fossil hunter, Mary Anning, discovered the Plesiosaurus at a nearby beach further along the Jurassic Coast.

Since then, the area has become a hotspot for dinosaur enthusiasts.

One person commented: “Time to go fossil hunting!!!”

Another said: “Fossil hunters will be out in force!”

Others were concerned at the accessibility of the location and the lack of knowledge for tourists visiting the area.

One person said: “Sadly people will always think they know better or are immune to the dangers, especially if the are not local to the area and have knowledge of the falls.”

Another was worried people will use it as a vantage point for upcoming air shows.

They said: “Hope too many people don’t go up on the cliffs to watch the air show this week!”

The area is infamous for dangerous cliff falls and signage at along the edge and on the beach advise visitors to keep well away from the area.

In three weeks at the end of May and into June, there were four separate cliff falls prompting safety warnings from the local coastguard.