Month: May 2023
NHS crisis hurting RD&E: services ‘require improvement’
Via East Devon Watch:
Medical care and surgical services at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital (RD&E) and North Devon District Hospital (NDDH) have been rated as ‘requires improvement’ following an unannounced inspection instigated by 16 ‘never events’ being reported at the sites between March 2021 and November 2022. Anita Merritt http://www.devonlive.com Never events are serious, largely preventable patient…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2023/05/26/major-devon-hospitals-told-medical-services-require-improvement/
South West Water’s apology for sewage dumping deemed “too little, too late” | East Devon Watch
MP Richard Foord has called for South West Water to be overhauled following an overdue apology for sewage dumping. In a statement issued through Water UK, water and sewage companies admitted to dragging their heels on taking action to stop sewage discharges into our coastlines, rivers and lakes. Lewis Clarke http://www.devonlive.com In the wake of…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2023/05/25/south-west-waters-apology-for-sewage-dumping-deemed-too-little-too-late/
Breaking: No surprises as EDDC continues as an inclusive, progressive, council | East Devon Watch
EDDC chooses continuity in leader, deputy leader and most cabinet appointments At this evening’s annual meeting the following were elected unanimously as: Chair, Cllr. Eleanor Rylance (LibDem) Vice Chair Cllr Sam Hawkins (Cranbrook Independent) Leader Cllr Paul Arnott (LibDem) Having been elected he then chose Cllr Paul Hayward (Independent) to continue as his deputy. In…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2023/05/24/breaking-no-surprises-as-eddc-continues-as-an-inclusive-progressive-council/
Welcome to new readers from the local press
A warm welcome to everyone who’s come here following the cancellation of my column in the Midweek Herald, Sidmouth Herald and Exmouth Journal. I’ll be writing columns as well as making as hoc posts, so please sign up for emails telling you when something new goes up. Good to see you here!
Will Tory candidate Simon Jupp follow his former boss into retirement?
Tory MP Simon Jupp has abandoned the new Exmouth & East Exeter constituency, which he fears the Tories will lose in 2024, for what he hopes is the safer Honiton & Sidmouth seat which includes Seaton. Perhaps he’ll reconsider now that his mentor Dominic Raab is quitting as an MP?
After all, with people in our area getting acquainted with Jupp’s shabby response to the sewage scandal, and Richard Foord shaping up well as our Lib Dem MP, he is likely to be wasting his time.
(From East Devon Watch:)
Simon Jupp’s political master to stand down at the election. Simon was a SpAd (special adviser) to Dominic Raab (reporting to Dominic Cummings as well) for six months before being selected as the Conservative candidate for East Devon in 2019. Time to remove this from his CV? – Owl The Surrey constituency, which Mr Raab…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2023/05/23/dominic-raab-to-stand-down-as-mp-in-next-election-after-resigning-over-bullying-scandal/
Stop Line Way overlooked again as Devon gets more money for cycling projects
When will Seaton and Axminster county councillors, Marcus Hartnell and Ian Hall, do something about the extension of the multiuser trail from Colyford to Axminster, planned from 2011 and buried by the ruling Tory group on the County Council?
(From Devon Live):
Walking and cycling schemes across Devon have received millions of pounds of cash to help them come to life. A number of priority active travel projects in Exeter, Newton Abbot, North Devon and Torridge will be supported with the funding to enable and encourage more people to walk and cycle. Daniel Clark http://www.devonlive.com Devon County…
— Read on eastdevonwatch.org/2023/05/23/devon-gets-millions-of-pounds-to-help-new-cycling-projects/
My column in the local press has been cancelled
My fortnightly column in the Midweek Herald, Sidmouth Herald and Exmouth Journal has been discontinued. The editors have told me that they have too many political columns – but regular contributions by three Conservative politicians, Simon Jupp MP, Cllr John Hart and police commissioner Alison Hernandez, will continue, while on the other side only Cllr Paul Arnott and occasionally Richard Foord MP remain.
I’m not complaining, but it seems to me that with a General Election approaching where the East Devon seats will be more closely fought than they have been for a generation, the press should be scrupulously maintaining political balance.
I’d like to thank all the readers who’ve given me such positive feedback over the last three years – it’s made it all worthwhile. My apologies to those who thought I wasn’t outspoken enough, and to the gentleman who told me last year that I was too anti-Tory – perhaps now you understand why!
Green Wedge developer, Baker Estates, ditches affordable housing in another development
We said all along you can’t trust developers‘ promises about affordable housing – perhaps Cllr Hartnell will now join the Seaton residents opposing the proposal?
Developer Baker Estates says last year it realised it wouldn’t make financial sense to deliver the project with affordable housing
— Read on http://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/developer-ditches-affordable-housing-south-8397192
Seaton & Colyton MATTERS 