News story: Torcross sea defence repaired after Devon storms
Fixing the sea wall cost £2.4 million and will prevent a repeat of the damage from last year’s storms. read more
Politics
News story: Torcross sea defence repaired after Devon storms
The Environment Agency has finished repairing Torcross sea defence after damage caused by the storms of February 2016.
Those storms saw large waves hit the sea defence when beach levels were low, causing cracks to appear along the promenade.
The repaired wall cost £2.4 million and reduces the risk of flooding to 51 properties. It is designed to withstand a severe storm, even when beach levels are low. Steel sheet piles have been installed directly in front of the existing line of piles with a new reinforced concrete capping beam. These double-length piles give the wall extra stability.
Steel sheet piles have been driven in front of existing piles and topped with concrete beamsThe Environment Agency’s Becky Richards said:
A huge thank you to all the residents of Torcross who have supported our repair work.
The project team worked hard to complete this repair quickly as possible, and our contractor, BMM JV, has done well to complete the works in time for the Easter holidays.
Local MP Dr Sarah Wollaston said:
Thank you so much to all those who have worked hard to restore the sea defences at Torcross, and to the community and agencies which came together during the anxious weeks following last year’s storms to get things done.
The Environment Agency will inspect the defence every 24 months and monitor the repair during periods of bad weather.
A complementary project is underway to identify the best beach management options for Torcross. South Hams District Council is creating a Torcoss and Slapton Beach Management Plan on behalf of The Slapton Line Partnership, to which the Environment Agency will contribute.
Alan Denbigh, Chair of the Slapton Line Partnership, said:
Together we hope to identify the best long-term beach management options to reduce the impact of storms at Torcoss.
We are planning events in summer 2017 for residents and businesses in and around Torcross to talk about the plan. Visit www.slaptonline.org to find out more.
Even with this sea defence, parts of Torcross remain at a high risk of flooding from the sea. High risk means that each year this area is at significant risk of flooding during storms due to waves.
Everyone has a part to play to protect themselves from the risk of flooding. There are some simple steps you can take now:
To report an emergency flood incident in Torcross call our 24-hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
read moreAmazon has raked in millions in taxpayer grants from the SNP
5th April 2017
The SNP government has channelled millions of pounds of taxpayers’ cash to Amazon since 2007.
Now figures released by Scottish Enterprise, Scotland’s economic development agency, show that Amazon has benefited from more that £3.6million of taxpayer grants since the nationalists came to power.
Amazon has hit the headlines in recent months for poor working conditions.
Despite this – these taxpayer grants were not conditional on paying the living wage.
Why does this matter?
Low pay is growing in Scotland. The number of Scots paid less than the real living wage has increased by 70,000 since 2013.
70 per cent of workers in the accommodation and food service sectors earn less than the real living wage, with 45 per cent in the wholesale and retail trade sector earning less than the real living wage.
People across Scotland urgently need a payrise, but instead their taxes are supporting companies who deliver fair pay.
What would Labour do differently?
We would extend the living wage to more jobs, especially to low pay sectors like retail and hospitality.
We wouldn’t give companies taxpayer funded grants or contracts unless they delivered a living wage guarantee.
We tried to change the law on this a few years ago – but the SNP voted against.
Agree with our plan? Then help spread our message
read moreGovernment must publish their post-Brexit strategy to protect jobs in the finance sector – McDonnell
John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on reports that 100,000 jobs in the City of London are at risk due to the failure of the Tories’ Brexit negotiations, said:
“This threat to 100,000 jobs was all too predictable given the Tories’ extreme approach to the Brexit negotiations. This is yet another major concern facing our country since Theresa May triggered Article 50, and yet Tory ministers appear stunned and unprepared when obvious issues arise.
“We need to know immediately from the Government what its strategy is to protect jobs in the finance sector, because all we have witnessed so far is silent bewilderment.
“Labour will fight for a Brexit that works for everyone, unlike the hard right Tory elite who want a low-wage, tax-haven bargain basement economy. Our six tests, including preserving existing benefits of membership, must be met before Labour will support any Brexit deal.”
Ends
read morePress release: Foreign Secretary comments on reports of chemical weapons attack in Syria
On reports of a chemical weapons attack near Idlib in Syria, the Foreign Secretary said:
I am horrified by the reports of an attack near Idlib in Syria. The reports we are receiving strongly suggest the use of chemical weapons. And although we cannot yet be certain about what has happened, this bears all the hallmarks of an attack by the regime which has repeatedly used chemical weapons.
The UK condemns the use of chemical weapons wherever and by whomever they are used and we will continue to lead international efforts to hold perpetrators to account. We continue to support the work of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and will work closely with them as they seek to investigate this latest incident.
If this is shown to be the work of the regime, it is further evidence of the atrocities perpetrated against the Syrian people over six years of appalling conflict.
Commenting on the UK co-hosted Syria conference in Brussels tomorrow the Foreign Secretary said:
It is vital that the international community continues to support the Syrian people. I am determined that the conference which the UK is co-hosting in Brussels steps up international assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by the conflict. The UK is playing a leading role, with the Prime Minister’s announcement of a £1 billion package the latest element of our vital support.