[This vote was pulled because of the emergency debate on the Post Office Horizon scandal. It is likely to be rescheduled in a couple of weeks time]

This week, Parliament is voting on the Conservative Government’s new push to expand oil and gas extraction from the North Sea.

Richard Foord, MP for Tiverton & Honiton www.midweekherald.co.uk

This is a retrograde step, which has been attacked by experts, but also by several of the more sensible Tory MPs. We have already seen former COP26 President Alok Sharma come out against the move, and environmental heavyweight Chris Skidmore has triggered a by-election in protest at the plans.

It is incompatible to talk about tackling climate change, while also moving to issue new oil and gas licences every year. It would do nothing at all to reduce energy prices here in the UK, because 80 per cent of the oil and gas extracted would be sold overseas.

It would do nothing at all to increase the UK’s energy security, because we would not import any less oil and gas from overseas. All it would mean is that super-rich oil and gas giants get to drill for more polluting fossil fuels and sell them around the world. For example, Russian energy giant Gazprom made £39m from extracting gas in the North Sea last year – including in UK waters – and returned some of the profits to fund Russia’s barbaric war in Ukraine.

This is the exact opposite of what we need to be doing. Climate change presents a threat, but also an opportunity – an opportunity to pioneer the economy of the future. Investing in renewables not only produces more homegrown, cleaner, cheaper energy. It also creates a new wave of well-paid jobs that will last for decades and will support British innovation. You need look no further than renewable energy research at the University of Exeter to see that great British ideas exist – if only the Government would get behind them.

Back in 1911, the young Winston Churchill became First Lord of the Admiralty in a Liberal Government. Churchill took the fateful decision to shift the Royal Navy away from coal-powered ships. He embraced new oil-powered vessels, despite coal being plentiful here at home, whilst oil had to be imported. But Churchill didn’t see this as negative; he embraced innovation and new technology, rather than clinging on to the old. The equivalent today is seeking to lead the race to renewables, rather than clinging on in fear to the fuel of the last century.

I will be voting against this reckless Bill. Conservative Party managers need to stop seeking to appeal to the climate change sceptics on their benches and take the serious, long-term decisions that will prepare the UK to embrace the future – just as this great country has done in the past. I hope MPs from all parties will do the right thing for our planet, our children and our grandchildren.

Still featuring in the National News. – Owl

Swimmers say they feel “frustrated” and “anxious” after being warned to avoid their local beach following an incident that saw up to 240 tankers of sewage per day being dumped at an overflowing pumping station nearby.

Lucie Heath, David Parsley inews.co.uk

One swimming group said there had been a notable decline in the number of people attending its weekly sessions, as locals fear that millions of litres of raw sewage may have been pumped into the water at the popular Devon beach resort.

Water companies are permitted to spill sewage into beaches, lakes and rivers during times of exceptional rainfall to prevent their pipe networks from becoming overwhelmed and sewage backing up into peoples homes.

But locals in Exmouth say that they are being forced to contend with this issue more than most, as South West Water regularly transports sewage from other parts of Devon to the town.

The issue has come to a head over the past few weeks after two major pipe bursts resulted in even more sewage being dumped in the seaside town.

On Friday i revealed that up to 240 tankers per day of sewage had been transported to a pumping station in town, with some of the waste overflowing into the sea.

South West Water publishes real-time data showing when sewage is spilling from one of its pumping stations. The data show waste has overflowed from its infrastructure in Exmouth for several days at a time since New Year.

On Saturday, the Environment Agency warned bathers against going into the sea at Exmouth due to sewage pollution. The warning remained in place until Monday.

Sewage has overflowed from hundreds of points in Britain’s network over the past week as Storm Henk brought heavy rainfall, but locals fear the situation in Exmouth has worsened due to the amount of waste being transported to the town.

Nicola Birtchnell, who started a weekly women’s swim group during the pandemic, said many of the group’s members have been avoiding the sea since the New Year.

“We’ve definitely had a reduced turnout of members coming to swim. So when we may have had maybe 40 at this time of year, we’ve only had 10,” she said.

Ms Birtchnell said there have not been reports of anyone getting sick after going into the water, but said many of the women are still “more apprehensive understandably”.

“It’s a big shame, especially, as it’s something that a lot of women look forward to every Sunday,” she said.

“It’s really sad. It should be something really lovely to do. It’s a great beach and people aren’t experiencing the health benefits which they could be doing,” she said.

One member of the swimming group, Mary Culhane, told i she has avoided swimming for the past two weeks because of the sewage spills.

She started swimming during the pandemic for “mental health” reasons, but said the “anxiety” of getting ill while in the water “negates the effect of doing it”.

“I feel really frustrated. I’m thinking I’m paying South West Water to keep my water clean and to treat the effluent properly,” she said.

While some swimmers have avoided the water, campaigners have raised concerns that not enough is being done to make locals aware of the sewage pollution.

South West Water publishes real-time information on its website that shows when beaches are impacted by sewage spills and the Environment Agency also published its warning on its website and on social media.

But locals say signs should be put up at the beach to warn locals of the risk.

“When the Environment Agency were notified, what did they do about telling people?” said local campaigner Andy Tyerman.

“I went down to the beach yesterday and talked to a few dog walkers and people who were on the beach. Very few were aware of it, if any, and most didn’t realise the water was unsafe.”

The Surfers Against Sewage website, which tracks sewage discharge and pollution risks, is also recommending that people don’t swim at Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton beaches in east Devon.

Several local dog owners have reported their pets getting seriously ill since the incident.

South West Water said it was the responsibility of beach managers to put up signage.

A spokesperson for the firm said they are no longer using tankers to transport waste from the burst sewer.

They said: “We would like to again thank local residents for their continued patience whilst the works are taking place and we are sorry for an inconvenience this has caused.”

If Pennon can find the millions to buy one of the most heavily indebted water companies then surely they don’t need to turn to SWW consumers to foot the catch-up costs of bringing our local sewage infrastructure up to date. – Owl  

[The Guardian reports this story under the headline: Owner of firm fined for sewage dumping buys Sutton and East Surrey Water]

Sutton and East Surrey Water, the privatised supplier to some of the wealthiest addresses in England, has been bailed out by Pennon, the owner of South West Water.

Robert Lea www.thetimes.co.uk

One of the most financially distressed water companies in the country, Sutton and East Surrey Water (SES) has been on an “at-risk” regulatory watchlist and has in recent months been forced to tap its Japanese owners for a cash injection.

Pennon, a FTSE 250 company, is raising £180 million from investors to help fund the takeover, valuing SES at £380 million. Sumitomo Corporation and Osaka Gas, SES’s owners, are to receive £89 million for their shares and the rest of Pennon’s money will go to reducing SES’s spiralling debts.

SES is one of the most heavily indebted of all England’s water companies, leveraged at more than 80 per cent of its asset base with net borrowings of £291 million on a regulatory capital value of £351 million. Ofwat, the regulator, says that water companies should not be leveraged at more than 65 per cent of their net assets.

The company is a peculiar hangover from water privatisation, in which it only supplies water to its stockbroker belt customers of 750,000 homes and businesses, from Sutton in the north to Gatwick in the south and from Cobham in the west along the M25 through Dorking and Reigate to Caterham and as far as Edenbridge in Kent. Households in the region have their sewage and wastewater looked after mainly by Thames Water.

Last year the company lost £31 million and announced it was going through a “strategic review” and attempting to find a buyer.

Despite demands from Ofwat that financially strapped water companies stop paying dividends, SES paid out more than £8 million last year. In the regulator’s latest report on the finances of the country’s water companies, SES was bracketed with the neighbouring troubled water giants Thames Water and Southern Water as among the least financially resilient.

Ofwat said of SES: “High inflation and operational issues have continued to put pressure on its reported financial metrics, with the company recognising further funding will be required to support its capital programme … and to strengthen financial resilience.”

S&P, the rating agency, recently gave SES a lowly credit rating of BBB (negative outlook), saying its “credit metrics were substantially below our expectations, largely owing to accretion on the company’s inflation-linked debt and a deterioration of operating margins”.

Sumitomo and Osaka Gas committed themselves last year to injecting £22 million into SES before the end of this financial year in March. It is understood that £14 million of that had already been pumped in and that is included within Pennon’s £89 million consideration.

The deal represents a poor return for the Japanese owners, who paid £164 million for the company in 2013, though they would have already recovered some of that money through past dividends.

SES has been led since 2020 by Iain Cain, the chief executive who is a former managing director of retail water and customer services at Thames Water. Cain was paid £544,000 last year, including bonuses of £235,000. That is marginally more than Susan Davy, the chief executive of Pennon, who forewent a £450,000 bonus.

Though on a much smaller scale, water industry sources confirmed the rescue of SES should be seen in the context of the financial crises at Thames and Southern. The shareholders of Thames have committed to pumping in £3.75 billion by 2030 to turn around its finances while Southern was saved from administration through a £1.65 billion deal with the Australian finance house Macquarie.

Multiple dog owners have reported their pets becoming seriously ill after playing in the sea at a popular Devon beach, days after South West Water confirmed it had sent hundreds of tankers of sewage to an overflowing pumping station nearby.

liveapp.inews.co.uk 

On Friday i revealed that the water firm had been transporting up to 240 tankers full of sewage per day to a pumping station in Exmouth for several days around New Year’s Day.

According to locals, much of the waste that was being transported to the pumping station has ended up directly in the sea as they say the site does not have capacity to deal with the additional sewage.

During times of exceptional rainfall, water companies are allowed to discharge untreated sewage into bodies of water through points known as combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to prevent the system from becoming overwhelmed and sewage backing up in peoples’ homes.

Real-time data provided by South West Water showed that the Exmouth pumping station was already overflowing into the sea when the additional sewage was being transported to it.

Now several dog owners who spent time on the beach in the days leading up to January 1 say their pets have fallen ill after playing in the water, with some having to fork out more than £1,000 in vet bills.

South West Water said there are many reasons why people or animals can become sick by swimming in the sea, including agricultural run-off, animal faeces or simply swallowing too much seawater.

While the bathing water quality in Exmouth has been rated as “Excellent” by the Environment Agency, the water is not tested all year round. On Saturday, the agency warned swimmers not to enter the water due to pollution.

Edward Thomas, who walks his dog Rusty on the beach at Exmouth most days, told i his pet started “vomiting bile” on the night of 30 December.

“I’ve had loads of ill dogs throughout my life. This wasn’t an ordinary dog illness,” he said.

Mr Thomas was advised by his vet to take Rusty to the veterinary hospital in Exeter where he received an emergency injection of probiotics. The visit cost Mr Thomas £255.

“It’s without a shadow of a doubt from the beach. We didn’t take him anywhere else between Christmas and New Year. There is nowhere else he could have picked it up from,” he said.

Mr Thomas said his vet told him they had seen “a lot” of these incidents over the past week and that it was most likely the beach where Rusty had picked up his illness.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. Quite frankly it should be illegal for any water company to discharge untreated sewage into the sea,” he said.

Keith Hilton, who moved to Exmouth at the start of last month, also noticed his dog falling ill after spending time on the beach on December 31.

“On New Year’s Eve I took Alaska, who was until now a healthy six year old German Shepherd, for a walk on the beach near the Lifeboat Station,” he told i.

Mr Hilton said Alaska started showing signs of being ill a few days later and by Friday last week had “stopped eating and was having diarrhoea”.

He took Alaska to the vet and she was given an injection, which helped her over the weekend.

But she has fallen ill again this week and is currently being kept in by the vet as they run tests. He has spent £1,850 on vet bills to date.

Mr Hilton said he is “very concerned” about his dog and will never walk her on the beach again.

Several other locals have reported their dogs becoming ill after swimming in the sea over the festive period on a local Facebook group.

South West Water regularly transports sewage from other parts of Devon to a treatment centre in Exmouth.

However, on 30 December, the firm began temporarily dumping waste at a pumping station in the town, which does not treat the sewage, after a sewer burst in Exmouth.

The water company said flooding prevented it from taking the waste from the burst sewer to the treatment centre. But i has seen video evidence filmed at the same time the sewage was being transported that suggests the roads were clear.

South West Water is no longer transporting waste to the pumping station, but locals are still concerned about the amount of sewage being brought to the town’s treatment plant.

When the local sewage network is over capacity, sewage can end up being spillt directly into the sea. Data provided by South West Water shows sewage overflowed from one pumping station in the town for four days between 4 and 8 January this year.

On Saturday the Environment Agency issued a pollution alert warning bathers not to enter the sea at Exmouth due to sewage. The warning remained in place until Monday.

Mr Thomas said South West Water should have done more to make locals aware of the incident.

“There should be some way of them saying: ‘we’ve had to do it and these are the reasons why we’ve done it’. At least the public wouldn’t feel lied to and betrayed. It would then give the public the opportunity to avoid the beach or not let their dog swim in the water,” he said.

South West Water said it was the responsibility of beach managers to put up signage.

In an update on Tuesday, a spokesperson said the firm is no longer using tankers to transport waste from the burst sewer.

He said: “We understand that this is an important and sensitive matter for residents in and around Exmouth. As part of our ongoing programme of work under WaterFit, we are investing £38m in Exmouth up to 2030 to help make the improvements we all want to see.”

Increased sewage pollution, urban flooding and water supply interruptions are the result of a decade of failures by the Conservative ministers, according to water experts who are demanding an independent inquiry into water be set up by the next government.

Sandra Laville www.theguardian.com 

The repeated failure of the Tories to implement rules to create “sponge cities” has led to much more visible sewage pollution, more flooding and increasing instances of water being cut off for householders and businesses, they say.

Alastair Chisholm, the director of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management, said: “These rules should have come in in 2011. They were canned by Eric Pickles in 2015 and we have had 13 years of delays. This has been kicked down the road and what is going on now is the result of that.”

He spoke as the institute published a comprehensive report at Westminster, which calls for the next government to order an independent investigation into water companies, who stand accused of widespread pollution and profiteering, and the regulators, who have failed to robustly control the privatised industry.

“Over 30 years on from water privatisation, with widespread urbanisation and agricultural intensification, a fresh approach – including potential reform of water regulators – is needed,” the report says.

“With levels of trust in water companies impacted by repeated reports of pollution and profiteering, both public and water practitioners want more transparency and assurance that companies are acting in the interest of society and the environment.”

The authors of the report interviewed professionals working in the water and environmental industries. Overwhelmingly, they expressed widespread dissatisfaction over water company ownership and operations. Just 6% of the experts questioned were supportive of a continuation of the current approach to ownership, corporate governance and regulation.

The report calls for the Conservative government to finally implement rules to create sponge cities after a decade in which ministers have delayed and attempted to scrap the plans. Sponge cities are urban zones with multiple areas of greenery, trees, ponds, soakaways, pocket parks and permeable paving to allow water to drain away. They also include measures to store rainwater and runoff, such as widespread use of water butts.

Increased runoff from rainfall overwhelms water company sewage systems, which have not been maintained and improved by water companies as a result of under-investment. The extra water increases the likelihood of raw sewage being discharged, while hard surfaces in towns and cities increase the risk of flooding.

In its latest business plan, Thames Water says by 2015 London had seen the biggest decrease in plant cover in front gardens of anywhere in the UK, with five times as many front gardens with no plants compared with the preceding 10 years.

This increased the burden on sewers and the risk of pollution, the company said.

But the Conservative government has repeatedly failed to implement rules under schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, which mandated developers to install sustainable drainage systems in new developments. Conservative ministers have argued the requirements will be too costly for developers.

The Guardian revealed last year that at least 10% of donations received by the Conservative party since 2010 came from property developers, real estate tycoons and others connected with the construction industry.

Public outcry over sewage pollution, and revelations about water companies’ abuse of storm overflows to dump raw sewage into rivers, which should only take place in exceptional circumstances, have forced the government to look again at schedule 3. But as yet it has not been made mandatory for developers.

“Sponge cities are not a new concept and are being delivered internationally to manage demands for growth amidst water – typically flood and drought – crises,” the report said.

“In the UK we have our own water crises spanning these same challenges of either too much or too little water, as well as pollution.

“Greening our urban spaces is a win-win approach on all these fronts. We must flip the mindset that treats rainwater as a waste product to be got rid of in the urban environment, into one where it is a treasured resource.”

The report, which polled 4,000 members of the public, found 71% of people in England believed water company profits should be restricted because of performance concerns. Two-thirds said companies made too much profit.

Simon Jupp supports the latest proposals.

Local campaigners are back at square one. – Owl

Philippa Davies www.sidmouthherald.co.uk 

A fresh debate has opened over the location of Tipton St John’s new primary school, after a site in Ottery St Mary was put forward as the preferred option.

The Department for Education (DfE) has assessed sites in Tipton and outside it, and recommended the Thorne Farm site off Exeter Road, near The King’s School. This site was rejected by East Devon District Council in 2021 because that plan also included a large housing development to help finance the school rebuild. Now that Tipton Primary is on the priority list for the Government’s School Rebuilding Programme, with a promise of funding, the housing is no longer needed.

The proposal to rebuild Tipton Primary in Ottery St Mary is being supported by the school governors, the Executive Headteacher of the Otter Valley Federation and the local MP Simon Jupp. They all agree that if the DfE didn’t think any sites in Tipton were suitable, it’s vital to go ahead with the Ottery recommendation so that the safe new school can be built as soon as possible.

But local councillors, who have also campaigned for the rebuild for many years, argue that Tipton Primary School should remain in Tipton as it is part of the community, and they’re asking for the DfE report to be made available to the public.

The recommendation for the Ottery site was announced by Simon Jupp MP on social media at the end of last week. He published a letter to Devon County Council’s Cabinet member for Schools, Cllr Andrew Leadbetter, urging the council to ‘progress decision making without delay’. The county council is responsible for providing a suitable site for the school.

His letter said: “As MP I must support the option that will achieve the earliest possible of a new safe school. While it is regrettable that the DfE did not recommend sites in Tipton St John to be suitable, the priority must be the safety and security of the school and its children and hard-working staff.”

The school’s Chair of Governors Sarah Walls and Executive Headteacher Amanda Fulford have also published a letter in support of the Ottery site. They point out that the DfE report is not a decision-making document, and ‘aims to focus on issues of project deliverability rather than to consider any local policy or strategy priorities of each site’. With the funding in place and a ‘slot’ in the School Rebuilding Programme, they are keen to move forward with the plans for a ‘deliverable’ site.

The county councillor for the Otter Valley, Cllr Jess Bailey, doesn’t agree. In a social media post she said: “This change in position by our MP came as a huge shock to me, and I would imagine to many residents of Tipton and the surrounding area.

“Of course the primary function of the school is education, but the school also lies at the heart of the Tipton community and has done for generations.

“As the Devon County Councillor for Tipton St John I have always believed that all avenues must be explored to try to retain the school in the village. I have arranged to meet with DCC senior officials and Cllr Andrew Leadbetter to discuss the contents of the DfE report later this week.

“As far as I am concerned it is essential that the DfE report is put in the public domain as a matter of urgency. I feel this is vital so that residents, parents and town councillors can consider its contents.”

South West Water says they have finished installing a temporary pipe that will divert flows around a damaged section of sewage pipe in Maer Lane.

Adam Manning www.exmouthjournal.co.uk 

They say they will now focus on making a full repair at the sewage treatment plant on Maer Lane. Tankers which was transporting sewage from the site over the weekend have now been stood down. 

Exmouth beach is now also back open to swimmers, after being closed for four days following an Environment Agency ‘bathing not advised’ notice as tankers transported sewage from the Maer Lane site to the storm overflows on Exmouth seafront. The re-opening is partly down to tankers have now stopped transporting.

A full statement from South West Water said: “We have successfully finished installing the temporary pipe which will divert flows around the damaged section, so we can turn our attention to making a full repair.

“This progress means we no longer need to use tankers to transport flows from the pipe and these have been stood down. As a precaution, we will have some tankers remain on standby in case we experience further issues. As a small amount of tanker transport is part of the day-to-day running of the site, this will continue as normal but that is always the case.

“We would like to again thank residents for their continued patience whilst the works are taking place and we are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.

A burst pipe on December 30 caused South West Water to transport sewage in tankers so the burst area is clear for its teams to focus on repairing. 

South West Water says it initially had to tanker to Maer Road Pumping Station because of flooding on the route to Maer Lane Sewage Treatment Works but since this route has become clear they have been transporting the waste to Maer Lane.

A power outage at Maer Lane Sewage Treatment Works earlier in December resulted in what the Environment Agency called “non-compliant spills,” and another burst pipe in Exmouth on December 12 which also required tankers to transport sewage.

The Environment Agency also confirmed their investigation has started with a full team planning to visit the site of the damaged pipe as a matter of urgency.

It said: “We are aware of the issue at Exmouth pumping station. We are investigating what has happened. Officers have attended site and are closely monitoring activity, as well as working with South West Water to ensure the pumping station is back in operation as quickly as possible.”

‘2024 has been particularly poor for South West Water’ Simon Jupp writes in this week’s press.

[He has been “monitoring their progress closely” since last June, obviously not closely enough as he now tries to “cover his back”]

Owl deconstructs his article which rehashes arguments he has published before.

He continues:

We all want healthy seas and rivers. Across our part of Devon, people I talk to are rightly angry at South West Water’s lack of investment. It’s an anger that I share.

The start of the year has been particularly poor for South West Water.

Exmouth has faced three major incidents in a month resulting from failures in South West Water’s infrastructure and lack of investment in the town. They’ve been using tankers to take sewage from damaged pipes to a recently overflowing pumping station. The situation has been completely unacceptable.

Following South West Water’s continued failures in Exmouth, I met with South West Water’s Chief Operating Officer, John Halsall, and the Environment Agency’s Area Director for Devon, Mark Rice, in Exmouth to challenge the water company on their handling of the ongoing incident in the town. I visited Maer Lane Sewage Treatment Works and the site of a damaged pipe in a nearby field. I also met with residents. Despite South West Water’s failures, I want to thank their ground teams and contractors who’ve faced unacceptable abuse.

[Last May Simon chaired a meeting of the region’s MPs with South West Water’s Chief Executive. They were updated on what the company is doing to get a grip on sewage spills. Simon reported: “things are moving in the right direction, and not before time.” Source here.]

[Rearrange these words to form a phrase: “Pulled, your, eyes, wool, over” ]

South West Water previously indicated to customers that the use of tankers would stop on 3rd January as they planned to complete the installation of a replacement temporary sewer pipe. At the time of writing on Monday 8th January, the temporary pipe is finally in action and tankering has stopped. This has undoubtedly taken too long and local residents are fed up, angry and disappointed in South West Water.

During my visit last week, I challenged South West Water on the timescales for a permanent solution and repeated my calls to speed up plans for £38m investment in Exmouth. They can’t take our town for granted again.

As investigations continue into this sorry state of affairs, I am continuing to work with the Environment Agency, Ofwat, and the Water Minister. Every option must be on the table in response, including hefty fines.

This is the first government in history to crack down on sewage spills. As your MP, I have never voted to legalise or allow more sewage to go into our waters. Why would I? I live by the sea in Sidmouth. My constituency office is by the sea in Exmouth. I love where we live.

[Fact check alert Well Simon it is true that you didn’t actually vote to pollute our water, but you did vote against imposing a legal duty to stop it, instead voting for something very much more “light touch”. Described as “Too little, too late” from the Rivers Trust below.]

In a perfect world, we would stop all sewage spills immediately. Sadly, stopping storm overflows – relief valves which are meant to only be used when the sewerage system is at risk of being overwhelmed – tomorrow would lead to sewage backing up into people’s homes and streets. People who tell you otherwise and claim your bills wouldn’t rise astronomically to fix it, are not being straight with you.

 [Note this is pretty much what he said in March.]

I voted for a proper plan – paid for by the water companies. I voted for legally binding duties on water companies through the Conservative government’s Environment Act 2021 to reduce discharges from every single storm overflow and eliminate all ecological harm.

[Note this is the scheme the rivers trust describe as Too little, too late : “ Far from revolutionising the sewer system, as the plan claims, this plan aims to claw its way back to what should have already been ‘business as usual’ by 2050 – with sewer overflows operating only during exceptional rainfall events by that time. This should be the current situation, and yet we are living with 2.6 million hours of overspills in England.”]

We also now have the data to hold water companies to account. In 2016, the proportion of storm overflows monitored across the network was 5%. This government required all water companies to fit monitors to storm overflows by the end of 2023, which was achieved. Now, Ministers are forcing water companies to make data about spills from storm overflows available to the public as they happen. I voted for that, too.

[But see: Water Companies Break Promise on Sewage Spill Maps]

Following a debate I secured in Parliament last year, South West Water announced a new multi-million-pound package to upgrade Sidmouth and Tipton St John’s sewer system, and reduce phosphorus pollution at Axminster Kilmington waste water treatment works. I’m trying to secure another debate in Parliament to continue my calls for investment across East Devon, and push for Sidmouth and Tipton’s investment to be sped up.

[Note: These are the local “oven ready” schemes cobbled together in the Ofwat/Defra “accelerated infrastructure delivery project for English Water companies”. Owl has already discussed the lack of clarity of who foots the bills under the heading: This raises the $64,000 question, who is paying for this: SWW; the consumer or the Tax Payer? ]

East Devon residents in our beautiful coastal communities including Exmouth, Sidmouth, Seaton, Budleigh Salterton and Beer pay the highest sewerage bills in the country. We deserve better from South West Water.

Remember Margaret Thatcher privatised water companies in 1989 and the government wrote off all debts amounting to £5bn and granted the water companies a further £1.5bn of public money, known as a “green dowry”. – Owl

Somerset Council must hike council tax by 10% and be granted special financial flexibilities by the Government to avoid effective bankruptcy, according to a proposal set to be considered by the authority’s leadership.

How near the edge is Devon? – Owl

Jonathan Bunn www.standard.co.uk 

A report published on Monday gives the council’s executive options for plugging a huge funding gap or face joining a growing number of authorities that have issued a section 114 notice declaring their inability to balance the books.

Details set to be considered on January 15 show Somerset Council, which declared a “financial emergency” last year, is facing cost pressures of £108.5 million in 2024-25, an annual increase of 20%.

Among saving measures which the council’s Liberal Democrat leader Bill Revans described as “heartbreaking”, the council could end funding for discretionary services such as theatres, leisure facilities and five recycling sites.

In addition, Somerset plans to use £36.8 million of reserves and surpluses from local taxes to reduce the funding gap to £37.9 million.

The report gives the council’s leadership three options for covering the remaining shortfall.

These are increasing council tax by 10%, which is double the percentage currently permitted annually without a local referendum and requires dispensation from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

This council tax hike would generate £17.1 million and must be combined with securing a “capitalisation direction” for £20.8 million from the department, which allows receipts from the sale of assets to be used for everyday spending on services.

If the council tax rise is rejected by the Government, Somerset Council must request a capitalisation direction to cover the full £37.9 million.

If either request is rejected, the report says “this will force the section 151 officer to use his statutory powers and issue a section 114 notice”.

Somerset would then become the eighth council since 2020 to declare effective bankruptcy, and the sixth since the beginning of 2022.

Somerset Council was established as a unitary authority in April 2023 after the district councils in the southern part of the ceremonial county were abolished, largely in a bid to cut costs.

Councillor Revans echoed warnings from other local government leaders in insisting the model of local government finance is “broken” and said Somerset had also been hampered by a “historically low” council tax rate.

He added: “This is what a financial emergency looks like. No decision has been made, but all of these savings and the 10% council tax increase are unprecedented actions that have to be considered if we are to steer this authority through a period of extreme pressure.

“Officers have done as we have asked and left no stone unturned. The result is a set of options, many of which are unpalatable – some heartbreaking – that no-one would want to take forward.”

The Government has come under pressure over the state of local government finances after a prolonged funding squeeze and has been criticised by Tory council leaders.

The local government finance settlement made £565.3 million available to Somerset Council in 2024/25, a 6% increase on £533 million in 2023/24.

A spokesperson for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: “Councils are ultimately responsible for their own finances and for setting their own council tax, but we remain ready to talk to any concerned about its financial position.

“We recognise they are facing challenges and that is why we have announced a £64 billion funding package to ensure they can continue making a difference, alongside our combined efforts to level up.”

Because the commons at last got around to debating the Post Office scandal, there was insufficient time left for the second reading of the “Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill” last night.

It will now be “rescheduled”.

Awkward moment for the government (and Simon Jupp) kicked down the road. – Owl

Petition reaches 1.2 million.

you.38degrees.org.uk

Remove the CBE granted to Paula Vennells due to her role in the wrongful prosecution of 550 Post Office staff as part of the Horizon computer scandal.

Evidence has been produced that the Post Office engaged in a mass cover up which led to the wrongful prosecution of 550 Post Office Staff many of whom were subsequently jailed, bankrupted and in some cases, sadly took their own lives.

The initial Post Office investigation in 2012 failed to find any issues and as a result in 2012, Second Sight, an independent investigative firm were brought in to investigate complaints that the Horizon system used in post offices was inaccurate, buggy and could ‘lose money’. Despite pledging full co-operation initially, Post Office subsequently withheld documents from the investigation and Paula Vennells later failed to answer a select committee when challenged on why this documents had not been produced as requested. The damning report, marked as ‘confidential’ stated that the Horizon system was ‘not fit for purpose’ and among their discoveries were 12,000 communication failures every year, software defects at 76 branches and that the system was failing to track money from lottery terminal, tax disc sales and cash machines properly. It concluded that rather than investigate the cause of such errors, Post Office instead accused sub-postmasters of theft. The Post Office dismissed the report which was subsequently leaked to the BBC in 2014.

Despite Paula Vennells assertion that Post Office “have been working with Second Sight over the last few weeks on what we agreed at the outset. We have been provided the information” to Parliament at her select committee appearance in 2015, the lead investigator for Second Sight, Adrian Bailey, when asked if this was the case said categorically, “No, it is not” which meant that he could not access files to back up his suspicions that Post Office Ltd had brought cases against sub-postmasters with ‘inadequate investigation and inadequate evidence’. The requested files had still not been handed over to Second Sight 18 months later.

In March 2015, on the eve of the Second Sight report publication, Private Eye reported that the Post Office had instructed Second Sight to end their investigation, destroy all paperwork and scrapped the independent committee that had been convened.

In 2019, a class action case, Bates & Ors v Post Office Ltd, was settled by the Post Office in favour of the 550 sub-postmasters for over £58 million.

Mr Justice Fraser, the judge in the case concluded that the approach of the Post Office: “amounted, in reality, to bare assertions and denials that ignore what has actually occurred, at least so far as the witnesses called before me in the Horizon Issues trial are concerned. It amounts to the 21st century equivalent of maintaining that the earth is flat.”

Mr Justice Fraser, so concerned by what he had seen in the case, has passed a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions. In the Lords, Baron Arbuthnot of Edrom said in November 2019: “My own suggestion is that the government should clear out the entirety of the board and senior management of the Post Office and start again, perhaps with the assistance of consultancy services from Second Sight, who know where the bodies are buried.”.

Having been handed a CBE for services to the Post Office, and moved out into other senior positions in government and healthcare, it is only right that this award is now withdrawn through the process of forfeiture.

Paula Vennells has subsequently refused to answer questions from these staff as well as the media and has refused to apologise for the cover-up, misery and trauma caused which has brought not only herself but the Post Office, the honours system and government into disrepute.

Link to sign here

The Marsh Family sing about the New Year’s honours in their parody of: “There is nothing like a dame”

Older homeowners who downsize should be exempt from paying stamp duty while those who own a second home should be financially penalised in an overhaul to tackle Britain’s housing crisis, a study has concluded.

Oliver Wright www.thetimes.co.uk

The report, backed by Lord Heseltine and Lord Mandelson, also urged the government to review greenbelt boun­daries to free up land for development and force local authorities to plan for their future housing needs.

Academics at the London School of Economics and University of Sheffield also recommended a revaluation of council tax bands so that the bene­ficiaries of higher-priced properties would pay more to support social house­building.

Their conclusions are likely to be examined closely by senior figures in the Labour and the Conservative parties as housing moves up the political agenda before this year’s election.

The report, commissioned by the Family Building Society, said that tackling the housing shortage could not be dealt with by building more homes alone, pointing out that even a pro-development government would find it hard to add more than 1 per cent a year to the existing stock.

It said the UK had a vacancy rate of only 3 per cent — one of the lowest levels in the developed world — which was “inadequate” to allow normal turnover and mobility. This situation is likely to get worse with latest household projections for England suggesting that the number of households is set to increase by about 1.6 million over the next ten years.

That would mean even if the national target of 300,000 new homes being built each year was achieved, more than half of these additions would go to meet this increase, leaving relatively few to help reduce the backlog of the present unmet need.

In 2000 more than 70 per cent of households in England owned their home. In 2022, the figure was just over 64 per cent. That year fewer than 25 per cent of households aged under 35 were owner-occupiers compared with more than 50 per cent in 2001.

The report’s ­authors argued that much more needed to be done to use the UK’s existing housing stock more efficiently. They pointed out the discrepancy between older homeowners — sometimes living alone — in houses that are both too large and unsuitable to their needs.

But they said that at present there was too little to incentivise these people to downsize as they would incur both the cost of moving and paying stamp duty on their new home.

To remedy this, the report recommended that stamp duty should be waived for downsizing older homeowners, combining it with an emphasis on creating “retirement communities”, which could ease the moving process and help keep people healthier and connected.

It recommended a crackdown on second homeowners and the short-term Airbnb rental market, which it said distorted housing mar­kets, making it harder for local people to get on the ladder. It pointed to Wales where second homeowners faced paying up to three times the normal rate of council tax for a second property.

Mandelson said that facilitating downsizing would be a “far swifter way of easing some of the existing housing problems” than “headline-grabbing newbuild targets”.

He continued: “It can be done quite readily. Stamp duty land tax can be changed easily and its impact, as seen during the pandemic holiday, can be enormously beneficial in overall economic terms. It just requires a little ­creative thinking from the Treasury.”

Heseltine said the report should be “required reading” not only “for those with their hands on the levers of political power but also anyone interested in building a civilised society”.

Christine Whitehead, emeritus ­professor of housing economics at the London School of Economics, said the UK’s housing policy had suffered from a “mishmash” of initiatives. She said that successive governments’ focus on newbuilds would not on its own be enough to tackle the problem, which could be solved only through a range of ideas such as stamp duty reform and a crackdown on second homes.

Two different parking schemes from two different councils are clashing in Exmouth and “were brought in without full consideration of the effects on each other,” according to an East Devon councillor.

Parking in Exmouth just became a problem

Guy Henderson www.devonlive.com 

Cllr Ben Ingham (Conservative, Woodbury and Lympstone) told East Devon District Council’s cabinet this week that EDDC’s all-day £2 winter car park deal and a new Devon County Council resident permit holders’ scheme “are laudable but together are causing a problem.”

The county council’s new permit parking zones in parts of Exmouth came into effect in August. The district council’s all-day £2 winter car park offer, which has also been available in previous years, began in November and will run until the end of March.

Cllr Ingham said: “Whilst the Exmouth residential parking scheme is working for residents within the town, the introduction of the £2 per day parking charge in EDDC car parks has raised an unexpected issue for shoppers and those wishing to use the sports facility at the Exmouth LED.

“As soon as residents’ parking came in, commuters filled the long-stay car park behind the station and therefore residents wanting to go to Exeter for leisure could not park.

“The £2 fee has now meant the short-term car park by the leisure centre is now jammed for all day but not by shoppers.

“The repercussions of this are shoppers cannot park so go elsewhere, gym users cannot park, and annual permit holders cannot park which negates the purpose of having a permit, meanwhile the coach and lorry park remains a largely empty space.”

In response, leader of EDDC Cllr Paul Arnott (Lib Dem, Coly Valley) said the matter will be raised at the next cabinet meeting.

He replied: “I think a difficulty has been created with Devon County Council pushing ahead with their own changes and that was done with very little consultation with us as a council.

“However, we’ve been very aware throughout December, I’ve been personally aware of this as well, that we need to look at what the law of unintended consequences is around the £2 offer.

“Now obviously it’s been welcomed hugely by businesses across the district, but we don’t want it to have any negative effects.

“So therefore, I’m able to advise that our parking officer will be bringing a report to the next cabinet [meeting] in February.”

EDDC also apologised for the situation last month.

A spokesperson for Devon County Council said: “Residents’ parking in the Colonies area and parts of St Andrews Road was introduced following a consultation and concerns raised by local residents who were experiencing difficulties with the current on-street parking arrangements.

“The scheme aims to remove all-day commuter parking in residential areas and ensures that residents have priority to park within their own area.”

Exmouth residents and visiting tourists are at risk of penalty notices if they buy parking tickets on the wrong side of the road along the seafront on Queen’s Drive. The road closest to the beach is operated by Devon County Council; the opposite side is run by East Devon. Charges are different on each side of the road, and anyone crossing over to pay their fee on the other side is at risk of a traffic warden’s wrath.

Some years ago, a whole line of vehicles was ticketed when some parking meters on one side of the road were out of order.

Owl always posts planning applications with at  least a two week lag. Experience has shown that these lists can, occasionally, be amended within such a time.

Over Christmas and New Year Owl has a bit of catching up to do but will keep each week separate.

• Proposal to place an additional conductor to an existing overhead High Voltage line. The route will not deviate from its current position. The alterations start at pole 31ULF2 to 31UL32. Land North Of Moorcox Lane WilmingtonRef. No: 23/2700/OHL | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawful development for construction of attic room with rear facing dormer window10 Hawksdown View Seaton Devon EX12 2BJRef. No: 23/2711/CPL | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• First floor bedroom partition; raising height of both chimneys by four courses of brickwork and the provision of a 600mm high, clay chimney pot for each chimney. Jessamine Cottage The Green Whimple Devon EX5 2TYRef. No: 23/2710/LBC | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Raising height of both chimneys by four courses of brickwork and the provision of a 600mm high, clay chimney pot for each chimney. Jessamine Cottage The Green Whimple Devon EX5 2TYRef. No: 23/2709/FUL | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a livestock dung storage building Shapwick Grange Uplyme DT7 3SPRef. No: 23/2702/FUL | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed replacement windows, change of render colour and new rear dormer Musgrove Farm Lane Past Musgrove Farm House Dunkeswell Devon EX14 4RRRef. No: 23/2705/FUL | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed raising lower roof on western elevation with construction of rear first floor dormer. Removal of existing rear single storey extension to be replaced with larger single storey extension and proposed raised rear terrace. 36 Livonia Road Sidmouth Devon EX10 9JBRef. No: 23/2704/FUL | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Prior approval for change of use of the second floor of 114-116 High Street Honiton to two residential flats. No external changes are proposed to the building as these are not required (though nor are they allowed under Class MA permitted development rights). A proposed floor plan has been prepared in order to demonstrate that this floor can be converted to two flats while providing natural light to all habitable rooms. 114-116 High Street Honiton Devon EX14 1JPRef. No: 23/2703/PDMA | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed replacement windows, change of render colour and new rear dormer Musgrove Farm Lane Past Musgrove Farm House Dunkeswell Devon EX14 4RRRef. No: 23/2706/LBC | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of existing lawfulness for use of building and associated land for indoor sport and recreation. 1 Diamond House Reme Drive Heathpark Industrial Estate Honiton EX14 1SERef. No: 23/2691/CPE | Validated: Thu 14 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Alterations to existing annexe to create a granny annexe Orchard Lea Church Road Whimple Devon EX5 2TFRef. No: 23/2699/FUL | Validated: Thu 14 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of condition 2 (occupancy condition) on permission 96/P1631 following the securing of a Lawful Development Certificate (23/1590/CPE) for occupation of the dwelling without complying with the condition. Four Valleys Colyton EX24 6DURef. No: 23/2694/VAR | Validated: Thu 14 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a single-storey side extension. Construction of brick paver parking bay. Part replacement of the existing fence, forming new entrance to rear garden. 40 Summer Meadow Cranbrook Devon EX5 7DFRef. No: 23/2681/FUL | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Maple: fell. Tulip tree: fell. The White Cottage Cotmaton Road Sidmouth EX10 8QXRef. No: 23/2690/TCA | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T3, Cedar of Lebanon: install 2×3 way wire rope cable braces at approx. 8 and 12m above ground. Brace to be installed on belts or via invasive bolts. Reduce lateral spread of canopy to south, west and north by 2-3m by a combination of thinning and reduction. Works to specifically target longest branches to reduce risk of branch failure. T1, Western Red Cedar: Crown raise lower foliage over graveyard in order to give approx. 1.5-2 metres clearance over headstones. St Andrews Church ChardstockRef. No: 23/2689/TCA | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two-storey extension, porch and alterations including replacement garden terrace. 11 Meadow Close Lympstone Exmouth EX8 5LQRef. No: 23/2688/FUL | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Take down and rebuild section of garden wall 3 Sunnyside South Street Colyton EX24 6EPRef. No: 23/2687/LBC | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Take down and rebuild section of garden wall 3 Sunnyside South Street Colyton EX24 6EPRef. No: 23/2686/FUL | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Holm Oak: lift aspect of crown of tree above road to approximately 5.5m above ground level. Archbrook Lodge 1A Station Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6RHRef. No: 23/2685/TRE | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 22/2680/FUL : Condition 4 (materials), Condition 5 (landscaping)Caravan Littledown Farm Yarcombe Honiton EX14 9LZRef. No: 23/2683/DOC | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Two storey rear extension Stanbury Lyme Road Uplyme Devon DT7 3UYRef. No: 23/2682/FUL | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 22/1045/FUL: Condition 6 ( Landscaping) , Condition 8 (Finished Floor Levels), Condition 17 (LEMP), Condition 18 (CTMP), Condition 19 (CEMP) Cowley Barton Farm Cowley EX5 5EJRef. No: 23/2677/DOC | Validated: Tue 12 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 23/0346/FUL : Condition 4 (Arboricultural Method Statement / Tree Protection Plan) Lower Mead West Hill Road West Hill Devon EX11 1TYRef. No: 23/2680/DOC | Validated: Tue 12 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 23/1637/LBC : Condition 4 (window and door schedule)Dirks Garden Birchill Devon EX13 7LFRef. No: 23/2673/DOC | Validated: Mon 11 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Large Turkey Oak: remove deadwood throughout the crown; reduce radial spread over Hillside House driveway and garage by up to 2m radial spread; remove lateral branch growing over the garage roof; reduce radial spread of remaining corwn by up to 2m branch length. T2, Turkey Oak: remove primary stems. The Old Rectory Plymtree Cullompton EX15 2JPRef. No: 23/2653/TRE | Validated: Mon 11 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1, Oak tree: reduce the crown height by 2-3m. removing branch lengths of up to 2-3m. and making natural target pruning cuts up to 10cm in diameter. Remaining tree will be 17m in height with canopy spread of 3m (N, E and W) and 2m (S). T2, Horse Chestnut: reduce the crown height and spread removing branch lengths up to 1m, making natural target pruning cuts up 5cm. in diameter, stripping all Ivy from this tree. Remaining tree will be 17m in height with canopy spread of 3m (N, S and W) and 4m (E). T3, Ash tree: crown reduce the height and spread removing branch lengths 2-3m. making natural target pruning cuts up to 5cm in diameter, stripping the Ivy from this tree to enable future tree assessments. Remaining tree will be 17m in height with canopy spread of 3m. T4 and T5, Horse Chestnut: to reduce back all branches to give a half metre clearance from the street lighting which the trees surround, removing branch lengths up to 2m in length making natural target pruning cuts up to 5cm in diameter. Height will remain at 5m with a canopy spread of 2m (N, S and E) and 0.5m (W). 21 Old Manor Gardens Colyford Devon EX24 6TZRef. No: 23/2657/TCA | Validated: Sun 17 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed conservatory to rear of property.25 Jocelyn Road Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6SFRef. No: 23/2651/FUL | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Erection of a rear orangery, and replacement of the flat roof (over the existing side extension) with a tiled duo-pitched roof (re submission of 23/1204/FUL). 3 Broadoak Close West Hill Ottery St Mary EX11 1XWRef. No: 23/2670/FUL | Validated: Thu 14 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of a new dwelling Land Adjacent Fieldside Rhode Lane UplymeRef. No: 23/2644/FUL | Validated: Thu 14 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use of the first floor, currently in use as a dental repair shop, to a residential flat (C3) with separate access95A Exeter Road Exmouth Devon EX8 1QDRef. No: 23/2616/COU | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Conversion and extension to existing garage into a studio bedroom with kitchenette and shower room. 19 Richmond Road Exmouth Devon EX8 2NARef. No: 23/2614/FUL | Validated: Thu 14 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of an annexe. Saxons Cotleigh EX14 9JDRef. No: 23/2621/FUL | Validated: Thu 14 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of brick wall to be replaced with a glazed front and re-roofing of a single story lean-to and construction of open-fronted oak framed porch on the side elevation. Wayside Causeway Beer EX12 3JURef. No: 23/2591/LBC | Validated: Mon 11 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed agricultural building for the storage of machinery and fodder Farm Yard And Buildings To The North Of Green Lane RousdonRef. No: 23/2586/AGR | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed removal of a 4m section of hedgerow to create a new access.Horriford Farm Holyford Lane Colyford Devon EX24 6HWRef. No: 23/2595/HRN | Validated: Thu 14 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of raised decking to existing outbuilding Dunscombe Cottage Salcombe Regis Sidmouth EX10 0PNRef. No: 23/2588/FUL | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Removal of brick wall to be replaced with a glazed front and re-roofing of a single story lean-to and construction of open-fronted oak framed porch on the side elevation. Wayside Causeway Beer EX12 3JURef. No: 23/2590/FUL | Validated: Mon 11 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of conditions for 23/1637/LBC: Condition 1 – Works commencement within 3 years; Condition 3 – Materials; Condition 6 – Wall refurbishment.Dirks Garden Birchill Axminster EX13 7LFRef. No: 23/2579/DOC | Validated: Tue 12 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Alterations to the Shopfront, removal of the entrance from New Street to Fore Street, and a new DDA Access. H S B C Fore Street Sidmouth EX10 8AARef. No: 23/2513/FUL | Validated: Thu 14 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Construction of single storey lobby to the existing Annex “Wisteria Cottage” on the north elevation 253A Exeter Road Exmouth Devon EX8 3NQRef. No: 23/2441/FUL | Validated: Fri 15 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

• Proposed dwelling and off-road parking and double garage within the garden. (Revision of 23/0847 to add a basement level to the dwelling).
  Meadowgate Church Road Lympstone Devon EX8 5JU
  Ref. No: 23/2386/FUL | Validated: Wed 13 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Application to vary the section 106 agreement to amend the tenure split of affordable housing from 7% social rent to 30% social rent and from 63% affordable rent to 40% affordable rent.
  Tithebarn Green Clyst Honiton
  Ref. No: 23/2344/V106 | Validated: Tue 12 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

• T5: Oak – reduce main southerly limb by appropximately 6m back to growth point distal of potential roost feature. Maximum diameter of cut (MDC) approximately 200mm. T1: Oak – reduce branches from around corner of the house to give 2m clearance. MDC approximately 50mm. Brockhill 23 Thomas Bassett Drive Colyford Devon EX24 6PNRef. No: 23/2753/TRE | Validated: Thu 21 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of Condition for 23/1398/FUL: Condition 6 (Construction Managment Plan) 9 West Hill Lane Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6AARef. No: 23/2750/DOC | Validated: Wed 20 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Row1: x12 Leyland cypress – fell to as near ground level as possible. Springfield House West Hill Road West Hill EX11 1UZRef. No: 23/2747/TRE | Validated: Wed 20 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1: Oak – dismantle in stages to near ground level. Flat 6 2 West Checkstone Douglas Avenue Exmouth EX8 2AURef. No: 23/2748/TCA | Validated: Wed 20 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Outline permission for the construction of up to six dwellings sought with all matters reserved other than access Land South Of Courtlands Lane ExmouthRef. No: 23/2740/OUT | Validated: Wed 20 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retrospective new agricultural building for storage and workshop Rosamondford Farm Perkins Village EX5 2JGRef. No: 23/2743/FUL | Validated: Wed 20 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Agricultural livestock building Lane End Farm Broadhembury Honiton EX14 3LURef. No: 23/2731/FUL | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over existing livestock yard area phase 3 Cockhayes Farm Upottery EX14 9RBRef. No: 23/2735/FUL | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over existing livestock yard area phase 2 Cockhayes Farm Upottery EX14 9RBRef. No: 23/2734/FUL | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over existing livestock yard area phase 1 Cockhayes Farm Road Past Cookhayes Farm Upottery Devon EX14 9RBRef. No: 23/2733/FUL | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• T1) English oak – removal of lowest primary limb which grows roughly northwards. The diameter of limb is estimated 250x400mm. T2) Holly – crown reduce – height to 4.8m so down to near top of main trunk, skirt lifted to 1.8m and leggy side branches shortened to approx. 1.8m. 1 Moorlands Road Budleigh Salterton Devon EX9 6AGRef. No: 23/2729/TRE | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Upgrading the current supply to Stedcombe House, Axmouth. The supply currently comes from an 11KV spur overhead which is split phase, proposal to add a third conductor to make this spur three phase. Also the line is currently terminated with a single pole and transformer, the transformer will also need to upgrading and in order to do this an additional support pole will need to be added making an “H” pole configuration. From this transformer it is proposed to install a single overhead span of LV conductors crossing the river towards Stedcombe house. This will be terminated with a single pole and stay wire the remainder of the supply will continue underground. Stedcombe House Axmouth Seaton EX12 4BJRef. No: 23/2727/OHL | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposal for a new building to house an energy substation with associated vehicle access, boundary fencing, external works, infrastructure and landscaping Exeter Science Park Clyst HonitonRef. No: 23/2722/FUL | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Roofing over existing livestock yard area Court Place Farm Wilmington Devon EX14 9LARef. No: 23/2720/FUL | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Change of use to form 2 dwellings, 1 x 3 bedrooms and 1 x 4 bedrooms. The Railway Queen Street Honiton Devon EX14 1HERef. No: 23/2716/PDMA | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Certificate of lawfulness for the proposed use of the premises as a Dental practice including consultancy and treatment (Use Class E(e))5 Dart Business Park Clyst St George Devon EX3 0QHRef. No: 23/2715/CPL | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed alterations and repairs to an existing agricultural shed Mosshayne Church Pass Road ShuteRef. No: 23/2712/FUL | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Single storey rear extension and rendering of brickwork. 8 Nurseries Close Exton Devon EX3 0PGRef. No: 23/2697/FUL | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Discharge of condition for 23/1917/FUL: Condition 3 (Tree Protection). 36 East Budleigh Road Budleigh Salterton EX9 6EJRef. No: 23/2693/DOC | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Proposed revised single storey side extension, to replace approved front and side extension, under Householder application 23/0793/FUL. 20 Snowdrop Close Honiton Devon EX14 2UHRef. No: 23/2675/FUL | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Agricultural farm building, to store and receive deliveries Land East Of Gosford Road Gosford Road Ottery St MaryRef. No: 23/2672/FUL | Validated: Thu 21 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of cottage and erection of new dwelling Lily Cottage Goldsmith Lane All Saints Axminster EX13 7LURef. No: 23/2663/FUL | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of exg outbuildings and construction of 4 chalet bungalows. Bedgales Nursery Manstone Avenue Sidmouth EX10 9XARef. No: 23/2628/FUL | Validated: Fri 22 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Tulip Tree : reduce crown to previous pruning points including reductions over the public highway to maintain statutory clearance. Ernespie Longdogs Lane Ottery St Mary EX11 1HXRef. No: 23/2608/TRE | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Variation of Condition 2 (approved plans) on application number 22/2305/FUL (Replacement of community centre with 4no. residential flats (almshouses) with associated development to include access, landscaping and drainage) – request for revised design and internal layout. Ottery Feoffee Day Centre Brook Street Ottery St Mary Devon EX11 1EZRef. No: 23/2594/VAR | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Retention of loft conversion to create bedroom, study and bathroom with new staircase from first floor to loft with supporting beam; 4no. rooflights on north elevation and pipework and external flue in bathroom. Springfield Farm Sidbury EX10 0QJRef. No: 23/2543/LBC | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replace 2no. windows at first floor and 1no. window at ground floor on front south east elevation. 17 Bicton Street Exmouth EX8 2RURef. No: 23/2534/LBC | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Agricultural storage building and workshop Great Trill Farm Musbury Axminster EX13 8TURef. No: 23/2526/AGR | Validated: Tue 19 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of additional air source heat pump and associated outbuilding. Change material of front doors for new 3 no. dwellings to be timber stable style front doors Ley Farm Yarcombe Devon EX14 9LWRef. No: 23/2491/FUL | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Installation of additional air source heat pump and associated outbuilding. Change material of front doors for new 3 no. dwellings to be timber stable style front doors Ley Farm Yarcombe Devon EX14 9LWRef. No: 23/2492/LBC | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Demolition of the existing dwelling and redevelopment of the site to provide four dwellings and a new vehicular access 87 Sidford High Street Sidford EX10 9SARef. No: 23/2385/FUL | Validated: Mon 18 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision
• Replacement ball stop netting to north eastern boundary of cricket field adjacent to Luxtons Park Ottery St Mary Cricket Club Strawberry Lane Salston Ottery St Mary EX11 1RGRef. No: 23/2372/FUL | Validated: Fri 22 Dec 2023 | Status: Awaiting decision

“I have written to Ofwat’s chief executive to call on the regulator to open enforcement action and consider criminal actions and fines against South West Water for this failure.” Simon Jupp.

Pollution alert after ‘catastrophic’ sewage pipe failure as MP calls for probe

A Devon MP has called on the water regulator to open a criminal investigation into South West Water after i revealed the water company had discharged millions of litres of untreated sewage into the sea.

David Parsley inews.co.uk

The demand from Simon Jupp, the Conservative MP for East Devon, came as the Environment Agency (EA) urged bathers not to enter the sea in Exmouth after it was alerted to a failed pumping station just 200 metres from the two-mile stretch of sandy beach.

Since 11 December, the water firm has been dealing with two major pipe bursts in the town, which has led to untreated sewage being taken by a convoy of trucks to the Maer Road Sewage Pumping Station, just 200 metres from Exmouth’s two miles of sandy beach.

Despite initially denying its Maer Road Pumping Station had failed, a spokesman for South West Water subsequently confirmed one pump at the site had failed only after being presented with photo evidence by i. However, it denied untreated sewage was being discharged into the sea.

On Friday i revealed that South West Water had been accused of dumping millions of litres of raw sewage into the popular Devon beach resort.

A spokesman for the water firm said: “At Maer Road, we have a duty pump with sufficient capacity to pump storm flows. We also have a permanently installed second standby pump should the duty pump fail.

“Because this is a critical site, we have a third pump (a standby for the standby) which we keep on site for emergencies.

“The operational pump was running normally but there was an issue with the standby and it was this standby that was being replaced. At no time was the pumping station unable to pump to full capacity.”

Despite South West Water’s insistence that the pumping station was working at “full capacity” the Environment Agency later confirmed that the site had failed.

A spokeswoman for the EA told i: “We are aware of this issue and currently investigating what has happened.

“Officers have attended the site in question and are closely monitoring activity, as well as working with South West Water to ensure their failed pumping station is back in operation as quickly as possible.”

As late as Friday evening South West Water continued to insist its emergency works were not causing a pollution incident.

In video posted on social media, John Halsall, South West Water’s chief operating officer, told residents that the firm was not pumping raw sewage into the sea.

He said: “So there’s been a lot of suggestion in social media that we are polluting, you’re on a sort of an ongoing basis. The tanking operation is making the situation worse. That is incorrect.

“On no occasion have we have we created additional environmental impact as a result of the tankering.”

However, on Saturday morning the EA urged people not to enter the waters in Exmouth due to sewage pollution the following morning.

Mr Jupp said: “South West Water have failed the people of Exmouth with more potentially illegal sewage discharges into our beautiful East Devon coastline.

“South West Water’s infrastructure suffered a catastrophic failure this week due to their lack of proper investment into the town.

“I have written to Ofwat’s chief executive to call on the regulator to open enforcement action and consider criminal actions and fines against South West Water for this failure.”

Geoff Crawford, the founder of Escape – End Sewage Convoys And Pollution Exmouth – claims that South West Water should have taken the sewage to a treatment works less than a mile away and its decision not to “indicates that they knew the sewage would go almost straight into the sea and didn’t care”.

Mr Crawford said: “They appear to have willfully polluted the sea with millions of litres of untreated sewage.”

Also on Saturday, South West Water delivered more bad news to local residents as it posted a letter through their doors.

The letter said that that while repairs to the pipes in a local park had been successfully completed there had been another failure around 600 metres away from the original burst. Local campaigners attributed this failure to South West Water’s decision to increase the pressure in the pipe that the old network could not withstand.

The letter, which apologised for the inconvenience to locals, added: “Yesterday, we successfully fitted the overland pipe which would take flows around the bursts, and allow the removal of tankers and clearing of the site ready for repair.

“Unfortunately, after setting it up, when we put flows back into the sewer, the build-up of pressure caused another burst further up the sewer.

“Our teams worked through the night yesterday and repaired this related burst. We have laid concrete around it today which will help further secure it.

“This concrete needs 2-3 days to dry fully. Once the concrete is dry, we will be able to introduce flows back into the sewer. Unfortunately, we will have to continue tankering until this is complete.”

A spokesman for South West Water said: “If an investigation is opened, we will work collaboratively with Ofwat and provide necessary information as requested by the regulator.”

Regarding the pollution highlighted by the EA the water company claimed this was due to “permitted storm overflow activation because of extensive rainfall”.

Work to fix a burst sewer in a Devon town has been delayed again, South West Water (SWW) has said.

Jonathan Morris BBC News South West

The utility company had been expected to fix the problem in Exmouth by Saturday, but said work was continuing after another burst.

The sewer burst on 30 December and sewage tankers have been passing through the town to a pumping station while repairs continue.

The Environment Agency has advised swimmers against going in the sea at Exmouth due to sewage pollution since the incident started.

A SWW spokesperson thanked local people for their patience.

“We successfully fitted the overland pipe which would take flows around the bursts, and allow the removal of tankers and clearing of the site ready for repair,” they said.

“Unfortunately, after setting it up, when we put flows back into the sewer, the build-up of pressure caused another burst further up the sewer.”

The repair had been fixed but would take two to three days for the concrete to dry.

“Once the concrete is dry, we will be able to introduce flows back into the sewer,” they said.

“Unfortunately, we will have to continue tankering until this is complete.”

Accountancy firm Grant Thornton has been cut from the industry watchdog’s top tier of audit supervision after removing a number of high-profile clients.

Lars Mucklejohn www.cityam.com 

The Financial Reporting Council demoted the firm from “tier one” to “tier two” status last year, according to regulatory filings from July, which were first reported by the Financial Times today.

Firms in the lower tier are subject to inspections of their “public interest entity” (PIE) audits every three years, rather than annually.

Grant Thornton, the UK’s sixth-largest accountancy firm, removed more than 70 per cent of “public interest” clients between 2016 and 2022, including listed companies and insurers.

It audited 20 PIEs in 2022, while rival BDO had 217 PIE clients in the same period.

Grant Thornton has received several regulatory fines for audit failings in recent years, including £2.34m over collapsed café chain Patisserie Valerie.

Sarah Rapson, the FRC’s executive director for supervision, told the Financial Times that the firm’s demotion did not reflect audit quality but rather a “smaller share of the PIE market”. The regulator’s most recent audit quality report for Grant Thornton noted improvements.

Grant Thornton told the paper: “We are extremely proud of our quality results over the last three years and respect the regulator’s decision to include our firm in its ‘Tier 2’ category of supervision.

“The decision by the FRC has no impact on our audit strategy and our continual investment in audit quality.”

Big Four firms Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC, as well as plus BDO and Mazars remain the only “tier one” firms after Grant Thornton’s demotion.

Raising challenger firms’ share of PIEs is a major part of the government’s long-delayed promises to boost competition in the industry.

City A.M. contacted Grant Thornton for comment.

From an East Devon Correspondent:-

‘The Only One’!

This is a recommendation for East Devon Watch readers who have not yet viewed the ITV drama, ‘Mr. Bates –vs- The Post Office’, to add this 4-part series and the accompanying 1-hour factual documentary (…The Real Story) to their ‘must watch’ list for 2024.

This series aims to, again, draw public attention to one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British history, by focusing on the lives of a handful of sub-postmasters who were key players in bringing the ongoing Post Office Horizon IT scandal to light.

Alan Bates, a north Wales sub-postmaster, established the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance after being repeatedly told by Post Office officials/regulators that he was ‘The Only One’ having problems with a newly installed Post Office Fujitsu IT system. Despite this, a handful of sub-postmasters throughout the country contacted each other and quickly found that they were NOT ‘the only ones’! Witness statements presented to the public enquiry (not due to be the finalised until 2025!) repeat the same phrases over and over again – i.e. ‘I was told that I was the only one that had this problem with the Post Office IT system!’

This persisted for almost two decades, from 1999 to 2015, engulfing the lives of over 700 sub-postmasters, who were prosecuted for theft, false accounting and fraud, resulting in unjust losses of their livelihoods, termination of their contracts and businesses, bankruptcy, wrongful imprisonment, suicide and serious mental health issues at the hands of an organisation who, seemingly, paid no attention to their voices, professional opinions or pleas for assistance, preferring to continuously endorse and favour a faulty Fujitsu IT system.

Many sub-postmasters were so traumatised that they remained anonymous and some, (around 50) having now seen this week’s mass media reaction, are coming forward to add to the numbers whose lives were ruined by this shocking injustice. Such miscarriages of justice seem to take a lifetime to be fully rectified and many sub-postmasters have died never having ‘cleared their names’ or been proved not guilty.

By insisting that these Post Office employees were ‘the only ones’ to have IT problems created feelings of isolation, shame, loneliness and hopelessness for these victims, making them reluctant to publicly speak out, which contributed to the prolonged torment of this scandal for so many years. Some were stigmatised within their local communities, labelled as criminals being afraid to venture out and be confronted by finger-pointing and abuse. Those who attempted to defend themselves and fight the false accusations found it impossible to access information and evidence that could prove their innocence, leaving them with no choice but to plead guilty to ‘soften the blow’!

The public believed that The Post Office was a national trusted brand, being a prestigious company with a high reputation – but within its senior management teams there was a flawed culture that the Post Office systems were infallible, making any criticism unwelcome. In 2021 when the Court of Appeal cleared some former sub-postmasters, the Lord Justice stated that the Post Office “effectively steamrolled over any sub-postmaster who sought to challenge its accuracy”.

It seems disrespectful (even offensive) to liken or compare such a massive miscarriage of justice to any other failures experienced by the general public – but sadly too many ordinary people regularly encounter similar arrogance and lack of empathy when communicating with management teams within large powerful corporations or national and local government regulatory authorities, who, like the Post Office, are organisations that are (rightly or wrongly) nationally trusted and revered by the public.

The lessons that must be learned from this dreadful Post Office scandal are that those who hold the power to make decisions do not always get everything correct and professionals and politicians alike would do well to listen to the people in their communities who can offer sound judgments. There are volumes of community associations throughout our country who have formed to offer well-founded counsel and advice for the benefit of local communities – but too often they are rebuffed by those purporting to represent their views.

Many hundreds of local residents have lost count of the times that they have heard the phrase “You are the only one objecting to this matter”, when they have contacted organisations like their local authority environmental and planning professionals, local politicians of varying colours, the Environment Agency and South West Water regarding serious planning and environmental issues that if not addressed could have serious detrimental effects on their communities.

However, despite warnings from local communities of the consequences of building on permeable green fields in the light of future climate change, local businesses and homes are suffering devastating flooding, wading through raw sewage in their streets and homes. The privatised water authorities have failed to invest adequately in vital infrastructure to protect our homes, our communities, our beaches and our waterways, preferring to pay excessive salaries to senior managements and shareholders! Electricity power outages halt the effectiveness of the critical pumps that can barely control the flooding from excessive over-development that was granted planning permission for economic benefits, whilst disregarding the voices of the people who pointed out the fallacy of ignoring the environmental warnings.

Over a 10 year period many local environmentalists have been repeatedly ignored by regulatory authorities looking to flatter their own green credentials. When locals have recommended caution in controlling the excessive development of massive, industrial bio-digester facilities near to residential homes, they are met with the phrase ‘You are the only one who has complained’ whilst the stinking odours and intolerable noises that have blighted hundreds of residents’ lives continue unabated – but apparently decision-makers concur that the economic gains and benefits for a few local landed- gentry outweigh the detrimental social and environmental effects on the communities.

This ITV drama has certainly created a vehicle to channel public outrage, which might, hopefully, bring this dreadful sub-postmaster scandal to a hasty resolution for so many victims.

The final words are dedicated to Alan Bates and the hundreds of sub-postmasters affected by this despicable scandal and there is no doubt that local communities up and down this entire country will want to send their support, in the hope that all the victims will find comfort in knowing that they are NOT ‘The Only One’!