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Battle continues to save under-threat Devon hospital

Campaigners aiming to save a Devon community hospital have been given a boost. Seaton Community Hospital has been granted the status of an ‘Asset of Community Value’.

Devon Live www.devonlive.com

Being listed as an ‘Asset of Community Value’ means the facility provides a positive benefit for the local community and should be protected. Once listed, the local community will be informed if they are listed for sale or removal – and the community can then enact the Community Right to Bid, which gives a six month pause in the selling process.

This decision represents a big win for campaigners, who are opposed to plans to turn a whole wing of the facility – that was built using money raised by the local community – over to NHS Property Services, for onward disposal. Seaton’s MP Richard Foord and the Seaton Hospital League of Friends charity are calling on NHS Property Services not to appeal this decision.

Now, in a leader column in our sister print title the Express and Echo, the editor writes that some 9,000 people backed a campaign to save it and there were packed houses at meetings about its future, so there is certainly the will to see it survive. How that happens is the question.

Read the full leader column below:

Local residents have won an important battle in the fight to save a wing at Seaton Community Hospital.

Although the war with the NHS is far from over, having the hospital now registered as an asset of community value, (ACV) now gives campaigners more breathing space in their campaign to retain the wing – built with money raised by the local community, let’s not forget – as some sort of health hub that will benefit the local community. This could include services to support dementia patients, for example.

Leaseholder Devon Integrated Care Board (ICB) is trying to hand it back to its landlord, NHS Property Services to save money. Devon ICB is currently in special measures because of its financial deficit, but pays more than £300,000 a year in rent and other costs.

The ICB is attempting to plug a £42 million budget deficit by offloading the wing at Seaton Hospital and vacant space at Okehampton Hospital and also by shutting Teignmouth Hospital.

But by gaining ACV status here, there is now a reprieve, of sorts, for the two-storey building, for the time being.

If NHS Property Services goes ahead with its plans, either to sell the wing or demolish it, having ACV status means that something called the community right to bid clause can be enacted, which offers a six-month stay of execution on those plans.

In that time campaigners, the local council – and even the NHS – can try to agree a way forward to find a future purpose for the building.

In response to the ACV decision, Seaton’s MP Richard Foord and the Seaton Hospital League of Friends charity are calling on NHS Property Services not to appeal and instead to work constructively with the community to bring the space back into use as a new care hub.

Some 9,000 people backed a campaign to save it and there were packed houses at meetings about its future, so there is certainly the will to see it survive. How that happens is the question.

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We’re more determined than ever to finish the job

Feargal Sharkey mentions Jo Batemen in his latest comment in The Times today

Feargal Sharkey 

All I wanted to do was go fishing and yet here I was standing on the steps of a courthouse in Cardiff. It had actually come to this.

Britain, I’m afraid, must face the humiliating reality that not only is every river in England polluted but also the UK’s entire population of Atlantic salmon has been placed on the endangered species list.

Our magnificent salmon has joined the black rhino, mountain gorilla and tiger — animals whose futures are threatened by the very existence of man. It’s no longer some fuzzy issue of indifference perpetrated in a distant, misty foreign land. It is happening right here, today, in our own backyard. As a nation we are committing ecocide.

Whether it be agriculture or the water industry, chicken farms or sewage, the political oversight and regulation of the environment, especially of our rivers, has failed. Those responsible must be held accountable, must be made to atone, must be made to put things right. It is all of those reasons that make the Clean It Up campaign so important.

As we celebrate the first anniversary of the campaign, we can look back with enormous pride at what has been achieved, what has been delivered. Yet there is still so much more to do. We must continue to drive forward towards success. And that is what brought me to the courthouse in Cardiff this past week.

River Action, a charity of which I am vice-chairman, has decided that enough is enough. We are not prepared to allow the mediocrity and incompetence of bureaucracy to dictate this country’s future. To create a world in which the retired NHS worker Jo Bateman feels that she personally has to take legal action against a water company to get it to stop dumping sewage on to the beach where she swims; to force the regulator to act, to do its job, to uphold the law. That is why River Action is taking the government and the Environment Agency to court.

To be clear, this is not just about trying to protect today’s environment. It’s bigger than that, more powerful than that. As a nation we should be compelled to safeguard the future of our children’s children, the world they will inherit, and I for one am utterly determined to ensure that we provide them with a legacy that is befitting of our own existence.

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Planning applications validated by EDDC for week beginning 29 January

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Tide turning in ‘God’s waiting room’  – are the Dinosaurs in retreat in Budleigh?

Perhaps they are following Simon Jupp to Sidmouth? – Owl

It’s certainly no secret that East Devon has got a bit of a reputation for being a magnet for retirees. But locals say things are changing in one seaside town that was once dubbed ‘God’s waiting room’.

Mary Stenson www.devonlive.com

Like many places along the Jurassic Coast, Budleigh Salterton is perhaps best loved for its beautiful long beach. Many people dream of living in such a place but many don’t live out that reality until they reach retirement and can finally afford to buy what are some of the most desirable properties on the market.

The 2021 census would back this up as it revealed that the Budleigh and Raleigh area has a higher percentage of residents over 60 than the average for all of East Devon. Meanwhile, the town’s age demographics are below the regional average for almost every age group, with the exception of those aged 15 to 19.

However, the town has also been named as the area of Devon where house prices are falling the fastest, having dropped by 4.33 per cent from the year to August 2023, according data from the Land Registry. That being said, homes in the area were still selling for over £500k on average.

While the number of older people in the area remains high, some locals say they have definitely noticed a change in recent years, with a variety of factors drawing in younger families.

“We’ve been here 20 years and in that time, we’ve seen a massive change in the town,” said Jen Mills, owner of The Treasury gift shop. “The school is bursting at the seams and I think that demonstrates that the demographic of the town is changing.

“It’s classically known as ‘God’s waiting room’ and Sidmouth is the same but there has been some new housing built so we see a lot of younger people. I think a lot of people discovered Budleigh during lockdown as well, a lot of people come here for the beach and you see a lot of paddleboarders now which you never used to see.”

She described Budleigh Salterton as a “vibrant” place as the High Street is lined with an array of independent shops and cafes. If there’s one thing she would change, Jen says she wants to see more people making use of their local businesses.

She said: “There’s a really good community here, there’s a buzzing school, we’ve got the seafront, it’s a fantastic High Street with loads of really nice independent shops and cafes. I think the High Street, like any other town, would benefit from being used more.

“We started a campaign called Shop Budleigh in September last year to try and encourage the Budleigh massive to use their High Street and to try and elevate the reputation of the town as a place to visit.

“It is seasonal and we’ve got the new estuary opening which has brought some people to the area. We tend to see a lot of visitors on the beach. Whether that translates to business on the High Street, I don’t know.”

Clelia Gwynne-Evans, who co-owns Orchard Wholefoods, shares this view and says there is real drive among traders to keep the town thriving. When she and her business partner Ian Hepburn took over the shop three years ago, she says locals breathed a sigh of relief that they wouldn’t be losing a High Street business.

She said: “I told my business partner it would mean relocating and he said ‘relocating? Where to?’ and I said Devon and he said ‘oh I love Devon. Is it by the sea?’

“It was really lovely because all the regular customers were coming by and greeting us and thanking us because a lot of people were really worried that the shop was going to close. It’s a great community. I think a lot of people on the High Street want to keep the High Street alive.”

When we visited the town this week, we couldn’t have picked a worse day for a trip to the seaside. Rain and blustery winds had left the pebble beach completely empty and the town centre did feel a little quiet too.

Amanda Bigwood, who owns Budleigh Unwrapped, painted a much brighter picture, saying that on a clearer day, local tourists fill their High Street. She said: “It’s a nice, safe place, you’ve got the nice beach. On a sunnier day you’d have lots of local tourists.

“It’s lovely, it’s got a very nice friendly, local vibe. We’re looking forward to the summer because I think a lot of the shops are struggling through January and February. There’s a year-round base layer of shoppers but when the summer comes, it’s much more exciting.”

She believes that Budleigh’s reputation for attracting over 60s is very much in its past now. Once again, she mentioned a thriving local primary school being one of the main selling points for its changing demographic.

She said: “A lot of my customers are older but equally I have loads of younger ones. I think it’s more people with money might be attracted here because homes can be expensive.

“It used to be ‘God’s waiting room’. There is an element of the older generation but I think the school is very good and a lot of young families have been attracted in.”

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Water bosses in England and Wales face bonus bans for illegal sewage discharges

The government is to ban bonuses for water company bosses in England and Wales who fail to prevent illegal sewage spills that pollute rivers, lakes and seas.

When? – Owl

Donna Ferguson www.theguardian.com 

The policy, which many campaigners – including Labour and the Liberal Democrats – have been lobbying the government to implement, follows public outrage over the impact and scale of recent illegal raw sewage discharges.

The environment secretary, Steve Barclay, is proposing to block payouts to executives of firms that commit criminal acts of water pollution, starting with bonuses in the 2024-25 financial year from April.

Bosses took home more than £26m in bonuses, benefits and incentives over the last four years, despite illegally dumping vast amounts of sewage in waterways.

Senior executives from five of the 11 water companies that deal with sewage pocketed bonuses last year. Executives at the other six firms declined bonuses after public anger.

At the same time, companies have announced plans to increase consumers’ bills by about £156 a year to pay for investment that is aimed at preventing 140,000 annual sewage overflow spills.

Regulator Ofwat will consult on details of the proposed ban later this year but Barclay said the sanction should apply to any company that had committed “serious criminal breaches”.

A bonus could be banned when there has been a successful prosecution for the two most serious categories of pollution, such as causing significant pollution at a bathing site or conservation area, or where a company has been found guilty of serious management failings, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

It could apply to chief executives and all executive board members.

If taken forward, Ofwat would implement the measures by changing the conditions of water company licences.

Barclay said: “No one should profit from illegal behaviour and it’s time that water company bosses took responsibility for that.

“Tougher action is needed to address poor performance by water companies, which is why I am pleased Ofwat is going further today on bonus payments.

“In cases where companies have committed criminal breaches there is no justification whatsoever for paying out bonuses. It needs to stop now.

“I will shortly be setting out more detail on further steps to clean up our waters, including reducing the reliance on water company self-monitoring in order to hold them to account and drive the improvements we all need to see.”

The shadow environment secretary, Steve Reed, said: “Once again Labour leads, the Conservatives follow.

“Labour called for the water regulator to be given new powers to block bonuses for polluting water bosses last year. After doing nothing for 14 years, the Conservatives have now been shamed into adopting Labour’s plan.

“But they must go further and back Labour’s whole plan to clean up our rivers, and ensure that executives who are responsible for repeated illegal sewage dumping face criminal charges.”

Labour has said that under its plans Ofwat could have blocked six out of nine water bosses’ bonuses last year.

An Ofwat spokesperson said: “We introduced new measures last year to ensure that executive bonuses are linked to delivering better outcomes for customers and the environment.

“Today’s announcement builds on that approach but takes it even further. We will consult on the detail of the proposals later in the year.”

The Lib Dem environment spokesperson, Tim Farron, said: “Finally, ministers have buckled to a campaign led by the Liberal Democrats over two years ago but, even now, this attempt to ban bonuses sounds too weak and feeble.

“The public has looked on in fury as Conservative MPs defended these disgraced water firms and refused to crack down on insulting bonuses.

“Every day, these polluting and profiteering firms get away with environmental vandalism. The bonuses should be banned today, regardless of criminal conviction.”

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“Out in Force” adoring crowds meet Sunak, Jupp & Hernandez in Sidbury (see photo)

According to one of Jupp’s aides they had an “energetic conversation” with farmers on rural crime, livestock worrying etc. 

Did they promise to transport sheep stealers to Rwanda?

Spot the crowds in Sidbury

Last October farmers in Somerset attempted to block a Morrisons distribution centre in Bridgwater under a banner that said “Proud to Farm”. Then last week about 3,000 farmers gathered in Carmarthen, Wales, to protest, with some carrying a mock coffin with a plaque reading “In memory of Welsh farming”.

Around 40 tractors and other farm vehicles blocked roads around the Kent port for several hours on Friday evening by driving slowly and carrying signs with slogans such as “No More Cheap Imports”.

Farmers say there will be further French-style blockades following a slow tractor protest at Dover against low supermarket prices and cheap food imports from post-Brexit trade deals.

So not a happy bunch amongst what used to be core conservative supporters. – Owl

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Devon SEND Parents and Carers for Change protest in Exeter

Parents have protested against the quality of services for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Devon’s schools.

Where’s Rishi? – Owl

By Bradley Gerrard & Will Goddard www.bbc.co.uk

Parents shared their experiences, with one calling the services “not fit for purpose”

The Devon SEND Parents and Carers for Change group gathered outside Exeter’s County Hall on Thursday.

Parents shared their experiences, with one calling the services “not fit for purpose”.

The council said it would introduce a new framework for support for those pupils in the coming months.

An inspection by education regulator Ofsted in 2022 said the county had “not made sufficient progress in addressing any of the significant weaknesses”.

It added that, despite a new strategy launched in 2020, it “fundamentally fails to address the significant weaknesses that were apparent at the previous inspection and are still evident now”.

‘Not fit for purpose’

Lee Farrell, from Upottery, has been fighting for the past two years to secure his 10-year-old daughter support from Devon’s SEND service.

“This council has been classed as inadequate for five years,” he said. “I would like to see the Department of Education remove educational services from this council and take them over themselves.

“They’re not fit for purpose.”

Another protester, Helen, has two children with special educational needs.

She said: “My oldest son is 15 now and ever since he started school I’ve spent the whole time trying to get support in place and trying to make Devon County Council fulfil their legal obligations,” she said.

“They blatantly break the law and nobody holds them to account.”

Councillor Lois Samuel, responsible for the service since last summer, said the “improvement journey that we’re on in Devon will take time”.

“We understand and recognise that many parents and carers remain frustrated at the pace of improvement, but the changes required involve whole system changes, along with the need for our responsibilities as a council to improve,” she added.

Devon County Council said it had hired a new director of SEND improvement and educational psychologists are working in 100 schools to support children with special educational needs and disabilities.

It said it was seeking more financial support from the government and was engaging with Essex County Council, its improvement partner.

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A Correspondent writes on Sunak’s visit

It makes me ask the question: If Jupp is so proud to be an MP why didn’t he bring Sunak to the largest town in his present constituency? Why didn’t he take them to other towns in his present constituency? Why only Sidmouth and a town outside his constituency – Cullompton. Jupp is not a local MP at all. MP of nowhere in particular. 

Exmouth – Sewage capital – Libdems have the most town councillors on their town council – sewage tankers and one woman taking SWW to court. People claim they go past the office and never see anyone there. He couldn’t even be bothered to lay a wreath last year at the largest constituency town in his constituency with a large number of service personnel and veterans. Instead he chose to go to Sidmouth which doesn’t have a large number of military personnel or veterans.

Budleigh Salterton – school featured on Panorama. Sewage tankers on seafront.

Topsham – when was the last time Jupp went there?  Are they aware he is their MP? Maybe they think it’s Ben Bradshaw.

Cranbrook – when was the last time he went there? According to Paul Arnott at the scrutiny committee Cranbrook has sewage issues. Maybe they also think their MP is Ben Bradshaw.

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“Residents” who secretly met Sunak in East Devon revealed: Tory councillors, farmers and Alison Hernandez!

Again an eagle-eyed correspondent has noticed that amongst the rapturous crowds at Cullompton’s Fordmore Farm Shop were: Sophie Ricards, Tory Councillor for Sidmouth Town and  Jenny Brown – Tory Councillor EDDC for Honiton St Michael’s. And, of course, Simon Jupp, MP for Everywhere and Nowhere.

Later, at Jupp’s Sidbury “farmers roundtable” press reports say farmers from Broadclyst, Talaton, Venn Ottery, Seaton, Sidbury, Sidmouth and Cullompton raised the challenges and opportunities facing the sector with Mr Sunak.

[The farmer’s lobby didn’t stop Richard Foord winning Tiverton and Tory “cheap food” Brexit policy has done them no favours.]

Devon and Cornwall’s Police and Crime Commissioner Alison Hernandez was also in attendance, joined by local officers including from the Devon and Cornwall Police Rural Affairs Team and NFU representatives such as the Devon NFU County Chair, Paul Glanvill.

No wonder “poor value for money” Devon and Cornwall Police are in special measures.

A couple of social media post are worth highlighting:

Sophie Richards gushing about the ££ investment to fix potholes compared to County Leader John Hart “drop in the ocean” criticism!

And from Cllr John Louden

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PM defends pothole plan after Devon council leader “drop in the ocean” criticism

Too little too late from a millionaire PM who doesn’t seem to understand what Tory austerity has done to the regions over the years; and who makes “secret” visits to controlled audiences to avoid uncomfortable questioning. – Owl

Devon County Council leader John Hart said the authority had a growing pothole problem.

By Brodie Owen www.bbc.co.uk

The Prime Minister has promised more cash for potholes after the Tory leader of a Devon council criticised current funding as a “drop in the ocean”.

Speaking to BBC Radio Devon, Mr Sunak said the county would receive millions in extra funding to fix potholes in the next financial year.

But Devon County Council leader John Hart said the problem was growing.

He said: “We’ve got a backlog that’s getting bigger and bigger because we cannot cope with what we’ve got.”

On the second day of his visit to Devon and Cornwall, Mr Sunak said Devon would receive more money to fix potholes from the government’s savings on HS2.

“A chunk of that money has gone on highway maintenance, road resurfacing, pothole funds,” he said.

“Devon is actually going to get more funding starting this forthcoming financial year as a result of that HS2 decision to go into fixing potholes.”

‘We cannot cope’

Mr Hart said “the government knows they have a problem” with potholes.

“They’ve given us an extra £6.6m this year but that is a drop in the ocean,” he said.

“Last year they gave us £9.5m and, I hate to say it, but £7m of that went in inflation.

“We’ve got a backlog that’s getting bigger because we cannot cope with what we’ve got.”

Responding, Mr Sunak said: “The numbers I’ve got show that it’s growing next year – and that’s why we have to make priorities and decisions right.

“Obviously, I think everyone knows there isn’t a bottomless pit for these things.”

‘Important’ region

The PM also brushed off criticism of his dental plan from the British Dental Association, saying: “Everyone will have their views.

“I’m confident that it will make a difference.

“It’s a significant amount of money. It’s 2.5m appointments which will take us back to pre-Covid levels.”

He added that dentistry was a “big priority” for the South West and he said the region would be “important” at the next general election.

[Anyone likely to fix 8+ years of dental neglect for a mere £50? This is less than an annual MOT inspection which doesn’t fix anything. ]

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Breaking: Sunak secretly visits Cullompton with “lap poodle” Jupp off the leash again

Rishi Sunak visits Cullompton to talk railway stations with Transport Secretary Harper’s PPS Simon Jupp tagging along for the ride.

Did the PM have the courtesy to follow the Speaker’s guidelines and inform Cullompton’s MP, Richard Foord of his visit? Doesn’t look like it – are the Tories running “frit”. – Owl

Rishi Sunak’s secret visit sparks railway row

Cullompton’s MP Richard Foord has challenged the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on plans for a new railway station and a school when Mr Sunak visited the town.

Lewis Clarke www.devonlive.com

Mr Sunak was reportedly visiting Cullompton off the back of a tour of Cornwall and Plymouth on Friday, February 9. The visit to Cullompton was shrouded in secrecy as no press was invited to attend.

It is believed he met with Mr Foord’s Conservative opponent Simon Jupp, who is hoping to win Cullompton back from the Lib Dems following the by-election defeat in 2022 in which Neil Parish quit after looking pornography in the House of Commons.

Mr Jupp is currently the MP for East Devon, but will be fighting for Cullompton in the newly formed Honiton and Sidmouth seat in the 2024 General Election.

Lib Dem MP for Tiverton and Honiton Richard Foord, the day before the visit, posted on X, wrote: “I’ve heard that a senior Govt minister might visit Cullompton tomorrow. No doubt they will repeat the usual election promises of opening a railway station, as they do in Cullompton ahead of every election. People in the town want action, not more warm words. Show us the money.

Richard Foord MP for Tiverton & Honiton

“I will welcome funding to re-open the station when we see it. It will be a response to a campaign that’s been running for years, and one I’ve been proud to support through my work as Devon’s Chair of the Metro Board, whose members have put together a strong business case.

“It’s a real community effort; it is the tenacity of people in the town that has got us this far. We wouldn’t want to see a current Conservative Devon MP credited, though Neil Parish pushed this agenda as my predecessor.

“Let’s hope that the senior Cabinet member puts in a visit to Tiverton High School while they are in Devon. That’s another promise that gets wheeled out ahead of each election. Deeds, not words please.”

As no press were able to attend, Mr Foord’s questions could not be put to the Prime Minister.

Mr Sunak had visited Cornwall earlier in the week, in a visit where photographers were banned, and each outlet was only allowed to ask one question in a twelve-minute press huddle described by Cornwall Live as ‘A party political broadcast, basically, with interruptions ignored or replied to with a “I respectfully disagree with your characterisation of what we’ve been doing’.

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Seaton Hospital latest

NHS Devon rectifies procedural error, confirms intention to hand back whole wing of Hospital

Martin Shaw 7 February

When NHS Devon’s Integrated Care Board (ICB) decided last autumn to hand back part of Seaton Hospital to NHS Property Services for disposal, the report it approved referred only to the former ward accommodation on the ground floor of the 1991 wing, although verbally they claimed to be handing back the wing as a whole, i.e. also including first floor offices being used by the Community Team (who visit patients in their homes) and the League of Friends Hospice at Home team. Thus although they claimed to only handing back unused space, they were in fact disposing of space that is still in use.

When we finally saw the report in late December, I wrote to the ICB pointing out that they did not have the authority to hand back the whole wing. This week, they put forward a new paper rectifying their error, and indicating that the Community Team offices would be moved to other rooms on the ground floor, including the area recently used as a vaccination suite.

The Seaton Hospital Steering Committee objected to this on the grounds that the suite in the Hospital had been very successful and it is important for vaccinations to be available locally. My question about this was read out by the chair, Dr Sarah Wollaston, at their Board meeting today, but they rejected our request to restrict the handback to the former ward area. She said that emptying the wing ‘facilitates the handback’, and that while they understand the concerns about the vaccination suite, they have an excellent track record of using all relevant spaces for vaccinations (thus she ignored our point that we need this facility locally). You can watch at NHS Devon board meetings – YouTube – it’s right at the end of today’s meeting.

The Steering Committee continues its discussions about uses of spaces in the Hospital and will meet representatives of the ICB and Property Services in the Hospital a week today.

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“I won’t settle’’: Ms Bateman vs SWW (She is also prepared to go to prison over withholding sewage charge)

A sea swimmer is set for a showdown with South West Water (SWW) bosses after taking the company to court over sewage spills on the Devon coast.

David Parsley inews.co.uk

Jo Bateman, who is claiming compensation for sewage spills that prevented her taking her daily sea swims, has been invited by an SWW director to meet with her and an “operational colleague” ahead of the court case.

In her invitation to meet with Ms Bateman, an executive from the water company, Laura Flowerdew wrote: “I wanted to reach out to you to see if you would be willing to meet with myself and possibly one of my operational colleagues, to discuss the issues you were highlighting and for us to share more information about the water quality at Exmouth in particular, as well as share the work we’re doing to reduce the need for storm overflows to operate.”

While Ms Flowerdew, who is chief customer and digital officer at the water firm’s parent company Pennon Group, added that the Small Claims Court action was being “dealt with separately by our legal team”, Ms Bateman is concerned that the company may be preparing to make her an offer to settle her case in return for withdrawing her legal action.

“Even if she does make me an offer to settle, I’m not accepting it,” Ms Bateman told i.

“It’s really not about the money. It’s about the principal of South West Water illegally dumping sewage into the sea in Exmouth and all around the cost of Devon and Cornwall.

“I’m only seeking compensation of £379.50, so it’s not about the money either. It’s about holding the company to account.”

Ms Bateman, 62, is also refusing to pay the sewage element of her South West Water and is prepared to go to prison if the company takes enforcement action (Photo: Abbie Trayler-Smith)

Ms Bateman, who tries to swim at Exmouth beach every day throughout the year, is also withholding payment of the sewage part of her water bill in protest at SWW’s ongoing spills.

On Thursday morning, SWW issued alerts for sewage spills in Exmouth and more than 30 other beaches in Devon and Cornwall, despite only a small amount of rainfall on Wednesday evening following a prolonged period of dry weather.

Water companies are permitted to pump sewage into seas and rivers during periods of heavy rainfall to avoid inland flooding and sewage backing up into people’s homes.

However, Ms Bateman added: “It’s been dry here in Exmouth and around the south west for a couple of weeks. Why has a little bit of rain cause yet more sewage being pumped into the sea today. It should not be happening and SWW has failed to invest in preventing it from happening for years. In the meantime, it has paid its shareholders dividends worth hundreds of millions of pounds.”

SWW’s Ms Flowerdew told i her invitation to Ms Bateman was “the right thing to do” and that she hoped she could “help Ms Bateman understand more about the work we have done and are continuing to do in Exmouth”.

Ms Flowerdew added: “We genuinely take these claims seriously and we want to show Ms Bateman and all our customers that we are a team made up of local residents who also care deeply about the beautiful region we live in and bathing waters that surround us.”

SWW is investing £38m into Exmouth’s sewage network by 2030.

The water company is about to launch a roadshow in Exmouth over the coming weeks to let local residents know its investment plans to improve the sewage infrastructure in.

The company is pledging to invest £38m in its pipe and pumping station network in the popular tourist town by 2030.

“That’s still six years away,” said Ms Bateman. “Why have they not invested this money in the network before instead of paying out all those millions to investors. Last year alone they paid out £122m to shareholders while continuing to dump sewage into the sea.”

Last year, the water company was fined £2.15m for illegally dumping sewage into rivers and the sea in Devon and Cornwall.

“That’s peanuts to them,” added Ms Bateman. “Sometimes you have to wonder if South West Water just doesn’t mind paying the fines as they’re a lot less that the money they need to spend fixing the problems.”

In her claim, Ms Bateman details 54 instances when she believes the company illegally dumped sewage into the sea during 2023.

The retired NHS physiotherapist is claiming SWW’s pollution of the Exmouth sea has led to what is legally known as a loss of amenity, which mean she must prove she has been injured.

She previously told i: “I make no secret of the fact that I am on anti-depressants. But since I have been swimming in the sea every day, my doctor has reduced my dose by half.

“The swimming helps me in all sorts of ways, and I believe the sea is an amenity to anyone that wants to enjoy it.”

Earlier this month, i revealed that millions of litres of sewage had been transported to what the Environment Agency called a “failed pumping station” just 200m from Exmouth’s sandy beach.

One campaigner described it as “willful pollution” by SWW. The company confirmed one pump at the site had failed but denied untreated sewage was being discharged into the sea.

Commenting  on the Thursday morning’s sewage spill in Exmouth, a spokeswoman for SWW said: “Rainfall over the past 48 hours has caused our storm overflow at Maer Road to activate in line with its permit.

“Our storm overflows in Exmouth and across the region are operating as intended, to protect homes and businesses from flooding.

“We are continuing to deliver improvements in Exmouth by September 2024, to help reduce spills to an average of 10 per year in 2025.”

See also Owl’s post on EDDC councillors’ frustration at SWW stonewalling at last week’s scrutiny meeting.

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The battle for our sea starts here. Jo Bateman interviewed on “This Morning”

This 13 min interview reveals how well briefed and determined Jo Bateman is.

Formidable! – Owl

See also Owl’s post on EDDC councillors’ frustration at SWW stonewalling at last week’s scrutiny meeting.

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8 Feb 2024

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Will £50 solve the dental crisis?

Devon and Cornwall are NHS dental deserts – Owl

Dentists are to get cash for new patients under plans to boost dentistry across England.

Around a million people who have not seen a dentist for two or more years are expected to benefit as officials offer a “new patient payment” of £15 to £50.

Ella Pickover www.independent.co.uk 

The plans, which are expected to boost dental appointments across the country by 2.5 million next year, will also see patients able to view which local dentists are accepting new NHS patients at the touch of a button.

On Monday and Tuesday, hundreds of people were seen queuing in Bristol after an dentist opened up its books for NHS patients.

A video posted on social media on Monday appears to show police community support officers telling patients the queue had “finished” as they urged prospective patients try their luck another day.

Dentists will be paid more for their NHS work under the NHS Dental Recovery Plan.

Officials also hope to incentivise 240 dentists to work in communities where there is less access with one-off so-called “golden hello” payments of £20,000 for working in “under-served” areas for up to three years.

And NHS England said that “dental vans” would be rolled out in rural and coastal areas so people in the most isolated communities will still be able to access help.

Link to video here.

Under the plans, set out by NHS England and the Department for Health and Social Care, people will be able to use the NHS app to see which practices in their local area are accepting new patients.

Access to NHS dentistry has been one of the main concerns highlighted to Healthwatch England.

People have told the patient champion organisation that they have struggled to find up-to-date information about practices taking on new NHS patients.

Healthwatch said that as a result patients have lived with ongoing pain and in extreme cases, patients have resorted to “DIY dentistry” such as pulling out their own teeth.

The government also announced plans to roll out a “Smile for Life” programme to give advice to new and prospective parents.

Ministers will also launch a consultation on a potential water fluoridation programme to help prevent tooth decay.

The dental recovery plan was to be launched on Wednesday but many of the details were accidentally leaked after health officials sent an early version of the dental recovery plan to MPs of all parties on Tuesday afternoon.

But leading dentists said the plan will not be enough to help people struggling to access dental care.

Shawn Charlwood, chairman of the British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee, said: “This recovery plan is not worthy of the title. It won’t halt the exodus from the workforce or offer hope to millions struggling to access care.

“Nothing here meets Government’s stated ambitions, or makes this service fit for the future.

“Ministers wanted to stop dentistry becoming an election issue. By rearranging the deckchairs they’ve achieved the exact opposite.

“The crisis will remain a burning issue in communities across this country until we get real change.”

Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive, said: “The health service will now introduce a wide range of practical measures to help make it easier for people to see a dentist, from incentivising dentists to take on new patients to supporting dentists to be part of the NHS in areas where access is challenging.

“Recovering dentistry is a priority for the NHS and this plan is a significant step towards transforming NHS dental services for the better.”

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said: “NHS dentistry was hit hard by the pandemic and while services are improving – with 23% more treatments delivered last year compared to the previous year – we know that for too many people, accessing a dentist isn’t as easy as it should be.

“That’s why we’re taking action today to boost the number of NHS dentists, help cut waiting lists and put NHS dentistry on a sustainable footing for the long-term.

“Backed by £200m, this new recovery plan will deliver millions more NHS dental appointments and provide easier and faster access to care for people right across the country.”

Wes Streeting, Labour’s shadow health secretary, said: “After 14 years of Conservative neglect, patients are desperately queuing around the block to see a dentist, literally pulling their own teeth out, and tooth decay is the number one reason for six to 10-year-olds being admitted to hospital.

“The Conservatives are only promising to do something about it now there’s an election coming. It will be left to the next Labour government to rescue NHS dentistry and get patients seen on time once again.”

Louise Ansari, chief executive at Healthwatch England, added: “Across England, we have seen major access issues in NHS dentistry. The dentistry recovery plan is a good start in addressing these serious problems.

“However, in the long run more radical solutions are needed to get NHS dentistry back on track.”

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8 Feb 2024

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Kwarsi Kwarteng to step down as MP – who “warmly welcomed” his mini-budget that broke the country?

Why, none other than Simon Jupp, a couple of weeks before he joined “Team Truss” as PPS to to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities under right wing Secretary of State, Simon Clarke, who lasted 49 days in office.

[Clarke was excluded from the Liz Truss’ “Pop Con” (or should that be “Pop Corn”) launch because he recently called for Sunak to be ousted – see “Clarke told to lie down in a dark room”]

As a greenhorn SpAd, Simon’s first political mentor, Dominic Raab, is also stepping down after resigning over bullying scandal.

Makes you wonder how sound our Simon’s judgement is, on politics and the economy.

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8 Feb 2024

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More deliberately misleading advertising from Jupp

More desperation from our MP for “everywhere and nowhere”. – Owl

Martin Shaw

Simon Jupp, the MP for the constituency centred on Exmouth, but who is standing as a candidate for our area in the election, is putting out this brochure in Colyton (sent to me by a resident) claiming to be the ‘local MP’, although in fact that is Richard Foord.

Inside, he also claims to be ‘working with health bosses’ to save Seaton Hospital, although of course it is Richard Foord who is doing that, it is Richard who is on our hospital steering committee, and it is Richard who is repeatedly raising it in Parliament.

This is deliberately misleading material, although not a surprise from Jupp, who likes to claim he lives locally but only moved into the area to stand as MP.

What is a surprise is that the Gateway in Seaton has allowed Jupp a second slot presenting a quiz night. You’d have really thought that any local community enterprise would think twice before hitching itself so clearly to one side in the election, and especially to the party that caused the dismembering of Seaton Hospital in the first place.

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7 Feb 2024

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‘Shock’ at plans to redevelop West Hill village shop site

A public meeting convened by West Hill Parish Council will take place in the village hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday, February 20.

Philippa Davies www.sidmouthherald.co.uk

Residents of West Hill are up in arms at proposals to demolish their village supermarket/Post Office, replacing it with homes and a smaller retail space.

Plans have been submitted to East Devon District Council for the building known as Potters Country Market, currently occupied by Morrisons with an in-store Post Office counter.

The applicant proposes to build six houses and three flats on the site, and states that ‘the proposal includes the provision of a retail unit that can be subdivided if required for flexibility and is a more suitable size to suit the requirements of the site’. The planning statement says the proposals ‘also provide some new public realm around the new retail provision to try to create a sense of place in the heart of the settlement’.

Residents of West Hill are worried about the future viability of the shop when it has to operate from a much smaller space, and are also concerned about the reduction in parking at the site. There is currently a large parking area; the plans indicate 14 parking spaces for the residential properties and nine for staff/customers of the retail units.

The district councillor for West Hill, Jess Bailey, is urging people to make their views known by submitting comments on their application to East Devon District Council’s website.

West Hill Parish Council is also holding a special meeting on February 20 where residents can share their opinions on the proposal with councillors.

Cllr Bailey said: “This awful application has sent shock waves through the community. It threatens the future of our shop and Post Office, slashing retail space by more than two thirds just so that the developer can attempt to squeeze in six houses and three flats onto the site. This is a key site at the heart of West Hill and that factor has been completely ignored by the developer.

“As far as I can see this application is all about maximising developer profit with absolutely no consideration for the community. I am a formal consultee on the application and I certainly will be objecting in the strongest terms. It is important that as many residents as possible submit comments to EDDC on the application too.”

The existing Potters Country Market building is listed as an Asset of Community Value. Objectors to the proposals say this ‘value’ will be diminished if the retail floor space is reduced.

The public meeting convened by West Hill Parish Council will take place in the village hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday, February 20.