Babak Belurs

Rabu, 03 Agustus 2022

Kent and Sussex hosepipe ban announced from 12 August - BBC

A hosepipe and sprinkler ban is being imposed on people across Kent and Sussex, South East Water has confirmed.

The firm said it "had no choice" following the driest July on record.

The measure, which comes into force on 12 August, affects at least one million people, and rule-breakers could be hit with a £1,000 fine.

It follows pleas from the water company for people to only use water for essential purposes during hot weather warnings and shortages last month.

The firm said it would be "relying on people's goodwill" to observe the ban, but urged people to contact them if a neighbour is ignoring the restrictions in place.

The ban will prohibit people from using a hosepipe to water plants, wash the car or fill a paddling pool or pond.

Anything designed, adapted or used to serve the same purpose as a hosepipe cannot be used, like sprinklers and irrigation systems or pressure washers.

Analysis

By Yvette Austin, environment correspondent, BBC South East

This hosepipe ban should come as no surprise. South East Water's supply has clearly been under strain.

We've had serious interruptions to supply, with record temperatures and the driest July since 1935, so demand for water has rocketed.

On the other hand, water companies generally say hosepipe bans will come in after two dry winters. We've only had one dry winter.

Their two reservoirs in Arlington and Ardingly aren't at the lowest levels that we've ever seen, but clearly South East Water is extremely worried about the coming months.

There's much pressure on the water companies to reduce their leakage rates. South East Water loses about a sixth of all the water it supplies, and so this isn't going to go down well with their customers.

Last week, Southern Water announced a hosepipe ban for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. London is also facing the possibility of a ban.

A spokesman for South East Water said the record-breaking hot weather in July exacerbated what had been the driest eight months since 1976.

July only had 8% of the month's average rainfall, and the long-term forecast for August and September is for similar weather, he said.

Map showing rainfall in the UK during July 2022

The water company spokesman added: "We have been producing an additional 120 million litres of water a day to supply our customers, which is the equivalent of supplying a further four towns the size of Maidstone or Eastbourne, daily.

"We have been left with no choice but to restrict the use of hosepipes and sprinklers."

The ban follows weeks of disruption to water supplies across the counties amid the heatwave, due to a number of burst pipes.

Thousands of properties on the Isle of Sheppey were without fresh water supplies for three days, while in Challock and Molash supplies were disrupted for at least five days.

Will there be a hosepipe ban in my area?

Thames Water said their reservoirs were below their normal levels and that "if we do not receive around or above average rainfall in the coming months this will increase pressure on our resources and may indeed result in the need for more water saving measures including restrictions"
South West Water said that "if the exceptional levels of demand and sustained dry weather continues we may have to make the difficult decision to introduce formal restrictions over the coming weeks"
SES Water said they were keeping the need for restrictions under close review but working to "minimise the need for any restrictions in the coming weeks and months"
Affinity Water said they shouldn't need to introduce any restrictions, but added that they were dependent on rainfall in the coming months
Anglian Water said they continued to monitor water levels but had no plans for any restrictions
Wessex Water said they were not facing any supply issues but added that they "always encourage our customers to use water responsibly"
Portsmouth Water has told customers they are "not considering applying for a hosepipe ban at this point in time"
Severn Trent Water said their region had experienced a dry start to the year but added that it hadn't seen a hosepipe ban since 1995, and that they continue to monitor reservoir levels closely
Bristol Water, Northumbrian Water, and South Staffordshire Water have been contacted for comment

David Hinton, CEO of the firm, said the dry ground conditions and the resulting earth movement had caused a 50% rise in the number of burst pipes.

Last month, South East Water's director of operations, Douglas Whitfield, said he was concerned about water levels and pleaded for customers to "really think carefully about their water use... and use water for essential use only".

However, at the time he expected water concerns to be a "short-term" issue.

The reason the ban is not being enforced immediately, Mr Whitfield said on Wednesday, is because there are processes and a "drought plan" the firm must follow, including a week of consultation and discussion.

Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk.

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2022-08-03 15:05:43Z
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Voting for new Tory leader and UK prime minister delayed over security fears - Financial Times

The voting process to decide the UK’s next prime minister has been delayed after a branch of Britain’s signals intelligence agency raised concerns over its security.

Under the original plans, all voting ballots were to be sent this week to Conservative party members, with the option to recast their vote for the next Tory leader and successor to outgoing premier Boris Johnson before the deadline of September 2.

But following advice from the National Cyber Security Centre, which forms part of GCHQ, the UK’s signals intelligence body, the Conservative party has warned members that they may not receive their ballots until next week, citing the need to “add some additional security” to the process.

According to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which first revealed the delay, the decision came after the NCSC voiced fears that nefarious actors could interfere with the process and alter votes. The Telegraph reported that, as part of the updated security arrangements, Tory members would no longer be able to change their vote after it had been submitted.

In correspondence published by the Telegraph, the Conservative party told members: “Your ballot is now on the way — but it will arrive with you a little later than we originally said. Please do not worry. This is because we have taken some time to add some additional security to our ballot process, which has delayed us slightly.”

Former Tory party treasurer Lord Peter Cruddas on Wednesday called for the leadership campaign to be suspended in light of the NCSC’s warning, adding that the Conservatives should “allow . . . members to decide on a simple yes/no ballot to accept the prime minister’s resignation going forward”.

A Conservative party spokesperson said: “We have consulted with the NCSC throughout this process and have decided to enhance security around the ballot process. Eligible members will start receiving ballot packs this week.”

Former chancellor Rishi Sunak and foreign secretary Liz Truss are expected to take part in hustings in Cardiff later on Wednesday.

Truss, who is widely regarded as the frontrunner, received a boost to her campaign after YouGov polling on Tuesday revealed that 60 per cent of Tory members backed her, compared with just 26 per cent who were supporting Sunak.

The polling came after Truss was forced to backtrack on her pledge to introduce regional public sector pay boards, which she had said would save £8.8bn.

Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis defended Truss’s decision.

“You do see during leadership campaigns obviously people putting out ideas — we’ve seen Rishi Sunak’s team have put out eight or nine different things that they’ve changed around,” he told Times Radio on Wednesday.

“The reality of yesterday is what Liz was outlining was part of a package of dealing with Whitehall waste. We all want to see that dealt with, it’s part of a programme of work actually to get the civil service . . . back down to levels where we’re using taxpayers’ money efficiently and effectively.”

However, former cabinet minister David Davis, who is backing Sunak, argued that the Truss campaign “didn’t think through” the policy.

“They started by accusing journalists of misrepresenting it and the journalists then quite properly read back their press statement — it was very, very obvious,” he told Sky News. “And now they are accusing us of misrepresenting it.”

The National Cyber Security Centre said: “Defending UK democratic and electoral processes is a priority for the NCSC and we work closely with all parliamentary political parties, local authorities and MPs to provide cyber security guidance and support.

“As you would expect from the UK’s national cyber security authority we provided advice to the Conservative party on security considerations for online leadership voting.”

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2022-08-03 12:48:40Z
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Archie Battersbee: Parents take case to European Court of Human Rights - BBC

Archie Battersbee's parents have submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in a bid to postpone the withdrawal of his life support.

Life-sustaining treatment for the 12-year-old has been in place since April and was due to be withdrawn earlier.

It will continue while the ECHR considers the case.

An appeal against the decision to end treatment was refused by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Archie's mother, Hollie Dance, said she was "relieved" the new application was made.

Archie was found unconscious at home in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, on 7 April - his mother believes he may have been taking part in an online challenge at the time.

Barts NHS Health Trust, which runs the Royal London Hospital where Archie has been cared for since April, said changes to his treatment would not be made until legal issues were resolved.

Doctors say it is "highly likely" he is brain-stem dead with no chance of recovery and it is in his best interest for life support to end. A High Court judge previously said that continuing treatment was "futile".

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On the ECHR application, Ms Dance said: "We are very relieved, we are having to battle every decision with the hospital.

"We now hope and pray that the ECHR will look favourably on the application. We will not give up on Archie until the end."

Speaking outside the hospital, she said: "I am hoping that they will step in and give Archie a right to live. I think that he deserves that."

Ms Dance said she had received offers to care for her son from health providers in two other countries - Japan and Italy.

"If this country can't treat him or they're not willing to treat him, where is the harm in allowing him to go to another country?" she said.

The Christian Legal Centre, which has been supporting the action taken by Archie's parents, said the application submitted to the ECHR is asking it to impose interim measures to postpone life-support being withdrawn, while the UN considers the case.

In a statement, the ECHR confirmed it had received an application, which was being processed.

Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer for Barts Health NHS Trust, said: "Our deepest sympathies remain with Archie's family and we aim to provide the best possible support to everyone at this difficult time.

"As directed by the courts, we will work with the family to prepare for the withdrawal of treatment, but we will make no changes to Archie's care until the outstanding legal issues are resolved."

Court of Appeal judges had previously ruled his life-sustaining treatment should not continue beyond 12:00 on Tuesday.

But this was delayed while the Supreme Court heard an appeal application from Archie's parents Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee.

The family had asked that court to assess whether more time should be given for the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to look at the case.

But it said the Court of Appeal had "made the correct decision".

A previous High Court ruling heard "every bodily function [of Archie's] is now maintained by artificial means", while another heard he had not "regained awareness at any time".

Timeline: How the story unfolded

7 April 2022

Archie is found unconscious by his mother after an incident at their home in Essex. He is taken to Southend Hospital.

8 April

Archie is transferred to The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel where he has been treated ever since.

26 April

The NHS trust that runs the Royal London starts High Court proceedings asking for Archie to undergo brain stem testing.

13 May

Mrs Justice Arbuthnot rules that brain stem testing should be carried out.

16 May

Two specialists try to administer brain stem function tests, but they are unable to as Archie did not respond to a peripheral nerve stimulation test, a precursor to the brain stem test.

25 May

A hearing is held to decide if further MRI scans should be conducted. Archie's parents did not consent on the basis that moving Archie could harm him.

27 May

The court approves further MRI scans, which are carried out on 31 May.

6-8 June

A final hearing is held to hear evidence on whether Archie's life-support treatment should continue.

13 June

The High Court judge rules that Archie is "dead" based on MRI scan results and that treatment could be withdrawn.

Hollie Dance, Archie’s mother, outside the High Court

20 June

The family ask the Court of Appeal to reconsider the case.

29 June

The Court of Appeal says that a new hearing to determine Archie's best interests should take place.

11 July

A new hearing is held in the High Court with evidence given before Mr Justice Hayden.

15 July

Mr Justice Hayden rules that life-support treatment should end, saying continuing it is "futile".

25 July

Three Court of Appeal judges support the High Court ruling that treatment can end.

28 July

The Supreme Court rules out intervening in the case and supports the Court of Appeal ruling.

29 July

The family make an application to the United Nations.

Archie’s mother and father, Paul Battersbee, outside the Royal London Hospital

30 July

A UN Committee writes to the UK government asking for a delay in withdrawing treatment while they consider the case.

31 July

The government asks for an urgent hearing to review the case.

1 August

The Court of Appeal refuses to postpone withdrawal of treatment until the UN can hear the case.

2 August

The Supreme Court refuse the family's application for permission to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling.

3 August

The family submit an application to the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to postpone the withdrawal of Archie’s life support.

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

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2022-08-03 14:26:30Z
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Archie Battersbee: Parents take case to European Court of Human Rights - BBC

Archie Battersbee's parents have submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in a bid to postpone the withdrawal of his life support.

Life-sustaining treatment for the 12-year-old has been in place since April and was due to be withdrawn later.

An appeal against the decision to end treatment was refused by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

Archie's mother said she was "relieved" the new application was made.

Hollie Dance said: "We are very relieved, we are having to battle every decision with the hospital.

"We now hope and pray that the ECHR will look favourably on the application. We will not give up on Archie until the end."

Archie was found unconscious at home in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, on 7 April.

He has never regained consciousness and his mother believes he may have been taking part in an online challenge when he suffered brain damage.

Court of Appeal judges had previously ruled his life-sustaining treatment should not continue beyond 12:00 on Tuesday.

But this was delayed while the Supreme Court heard an appeal application from Archie's parents.

The family had asked that court to assess whether more time should be given for the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to look at the case.

But it said the Court of Appeal had "made the correct decision".

Doctors treating Archie have said they believe it is "highly likely" he is brain-stem dead and argued it is in his best interest for life support to end.

A previous High Court ruling heard "every bodily function [of Archie's] is now maintained by artificial means", while another heard he had not "regained awareness at any time".

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk

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South East Water announces hosepipe and sprinkler ban for customers in Kent and Sussex - Sky News

South East Water has announced a ban on hosepipe and sprinkler use for its customers in Kent and Sussex.

The ban will start on 12 August, with an end date that has yet to be decided.

It comes just days after Southern Water announced the first hosepipe ban of the year for customers in Hampshire and Isle of Wight. That ban starts on Friday.

South East Water said its ban is necessary to make sure there is enough water for essential use and to protect the environment, adding that the ban would reduce the amount of water taken from "already stressed local water sources".

It said: "This has been a time of extreme weather conditions across the UK.

"Official figures show this is the driest July on record since 1935 and the period between November 2021 and July 2022 has been the driest eight-month stint since 1976.

"During July in the South East, we have only seen 8% of average rainfall for the month, and the long term forecast for August and September is for similar weather."

It added: "The demand for water this summer has broken all previous records, including the COVID lockdown heatwave.

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"We have been producing an additional 120 million litres of water a day to supply our customers, which is the equivalent of supplying a further four towns the size of Maidstone or Eastbourne, daily."

South East Water supplies 520 million litres of water every day to 2.2 million customers.

The water is drawn from more than 250 boreholes, six rivers, and six reservoirs.

The company's website said that all customers in Kent and Sussex will be affected by the ban except those on the priority service register.

Customers in Berkshire and Hampshire will not be affected, it said, adding: "Whilst demand in our supply areas in Berkshire and Hampshire has also increased considerably, we have not suffered from the same water supply issues as experienced in Kent and Sussex.

"For the time being, we are in a position that we can continue to ask our customers to apply voluntary restraint on the amount of water they use at home.

"We are continuing to monitor the situation, and will advise customers if circumstances change."

The ban means it is forbidden to use a hosepipe that is connected to a mains water supply, including garden sprinklers.

Breaking the rules could result in a fine of up to £1,000.

Shuja Khan, chief executive of data company Arqiva, said having a water smart meter can help people control their use.

He said: "Most people have no idea how much water they use every day because it can be really hard to conceptualise.

"For example, for every 10 minutes of use, the average hosepipe uses 170 litres of water, or almost 19 flushes of a toilet in the same timeframe.

"If people knew that just one hour of hosepipe use was equivalent to the same amount of water that the average family of four consumes over two days, they might reconsider their gardening patterns."

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2022-08-03 07:35:46Z
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Tory leadership ballot papers delayed due to security fears - Sky News

Security fears have led to delays in Conservative members receiving their postal ballots for the party's leadership contest.

In a letter sent to Tory members - seen by Sky News - the Conservative Party's head of membership confirmed postal ballots will arrive "a little later than we originally said" as "we have taken some time to add some additional security" to the process.

Members were previously due to receive their postal ballots to vote for their next leader - and new UK prime minister - this week, but the email says they should now receive their ballot by Thursday 11 August.

Politics Hub: Sunak allies attack Truss public sector pay plan

The party's headquarters described it as a slight delay and were unable to give any further guidance.

A spokesperson added: "We have consulted with the NCSC [National Cyber Security Centre] throughout this process and have decided to enhance security around the ballot process. Eligible members will start receiving ballot packs this week."

An NCSC spokesperson said: "Defending UK democratic and electoral processes is a priority for the NCSC and we work closely with all parliamentary political parties, local authorities and MPs to provide cyber security guidance and support.

"As you would expect from the UK's national cyber security authority, we provided advice to the Conservative Party on security considerations for online leadership voting."

The correspondence from the party also warns voting more than once in the ongoing leadership contest will be treated as "an offence", saying any member found to have voted multiple times will "have their party membership withdrawn".

Tory members can either vote by post or online, but the party confirmed the security fears have forced it to abandon plans to allow members to change their vote for the next leader later in the contest.

The rules of the leadership contest, set by the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs and the Conservative Party board, stated members should only vote once but if a "duplicate" vote is recorded, the second one will be counted.

Allies of leadership hopeful Liz Truss were believed to have been concerned this rule would work to her rival Rishi Sunak's advantage, so may be pleased at the change - though the ballot paper delay could aid Team Sunak by giving him more time to make his case.

Earlier on Tuesday, a new poll suggested Ms Truss has extended her lead over Mr Sunak in the leadership race as he battles to make up ground during a key week in the contest for the keys to Number 10.

The latest YouGov survey of Conservative members for The Times newspaper shows the foreign secretary's lead has stretched to 34 points in the leadership race, with 60% of party members now saying they will vote for Ms Truss to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister.

This is compared to just 26% for former chancellor Mr Sunak.

But the poll was carried out over the last five days, ahead of a major U-turn by Ms Truss on a public sector pay policy that sparked fury in the party.

On Monday night, the frontrunner said she would save £8.8bn by introducing regional pay boards instead of national ones to set salaries for civil servants, reflecting where they lived.

But experts warned that to reach the sum, the plan would have to branch out further than government departments, with the likes of teachers, nurses, and police officers also receiving lower pay than workers in the South.

After outrage from Conservative MPs, opposition parties and unions - and less than 24 hours later - Ms Truss' team released a statement saying the policy would not be taken forward.

Tory MP David Davis said Team Truss announced the policy "without thinking it through".

A former leadership candidate himself, he told Sky News he "didn't make a big deal of U-turning", adding: "If you make a mistake, back off, don't do it…. that's a good thing."

But Mr David said: "This is a dress rehearsal for being a prime minister, you can't afford to make those sorts of judgemental errors.

"When you are prime minister… you don't have time to deliberate, your instincts and judgements are incredibly important. And that is what is being judged in this process."

Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, who is backing Ms Truss, disagreed yesterday's events were damaging to his candidate, and insisted she had proved in her cabinet roles she is "determined to do the right thing".

He told Sky News: "[She is] someone who is looking at how do we improve our country, how do we grow our economy, create more jobs, improve our education, level up across the country.

"And she is somebody who, even when things are difficult, will get on and get things done."

Other figures in the YouGov polling showed Ms Truss is now ahead of Mr Sunak among all age groups, across different parts of the country and with men and women.

The only category where he beats Ms Truss is among Tory Remain supporters.

It also found almost nine in 10 Conservative members have now made up their minds how they will vote ahead of ballot papers going out this week.

But it will concern both potential leaders that more than 50% of party members believed whoever was elected to succeed Mr Johnson would lose the party its majority at the next election.

Just 19% of members thought Mr Sunak could lead the Tories to victory, while 39% thought Ms Truss could see off a challenge from Labour.

Voting will close on 2 September, with the winner expected to be announced on 5 September and to replace Mr Johnson the following day.

Battle for Number 10

As the leadership race continues to heat up, Mr Sunak and Ms Truss will once again face the cameras this week on Sky News.

Taking place on Thursday 4 August at 8pm at Sky Studios in west London, The Battle for Number 10 will see the candidates take part in back-to-back questioning from the live studio audience made up of Conservative Party members who remain largely undecided on who to vote for.

This will then be followed by an in-depth interview with Kay Burley.

The programme will be broadcast live for 90 minutes and for free on Sky News channel 501, on Freeview 233, on Sky Showcase channel 106, and across Sky News' digital channels.

The pair also continue to face hustings across the country, with the latest set to take place in Cardiff tonight.

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2022-08-03 07:18:12Z
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Archie Battersbee: Parents to take case to European Court of Human Rights - BBC