Simon Jupp

Talking East Devon with MP Simon Jupp

Talking East Devon with MP Simon Jupp

Christmas is back on the horizon and as we all start to work out what to buy and for whom, I think considering where we buy our presents from has never been more important. That’s why this Christmas, I urge you to shop locally. East Devon District Council has launched its #EastDevonly campaign using government funding to help encourage us all to shop locally and I am fully behind it. I know from conversations I’ve had with small, independent retailers throughout the pandemic just how tough it has been. Now the vast majority of tourists have left, it’s never been more important to support our local businesses to protect jobs. There are also solid environmental reasons to shop locally compared to buying online or further afield. Less fossil fuel is used if you buy your gifts locally and less packaging is needed to get your gift to you. It’s a little grating how if you buy an item online, it often comes surrounded by mountains of plastic, cardboard, or paper that seem wildly excessive and mostly unnecessary. As a Sidmouth resident, I plan to do my Christmas shopping locally. We’re not short of independent businesses across East Devon brimming with brilliant gifts. They aren’t all found on the high street either, we’re lucky to have many superb farm shops too. Last week, I visited Knights Farm Shop in Fluxton which sells plenty of local produce and Christmas gift ideas, including a selection of festive hampers. I went to meet Emily from the shop following concerns about the impact of a road closure in Tipton St John on her business. I got in touch with the utility company digging up part of the road and Devon County Council. They’ve decided to limit the closure to just one day and night, a welcome relief for local businesses in the run-up to Christmas who thought the road would be out of action for a fortnight. Shopping local has never mattered so much. We owe it to all our local retailers after a very uncertain time. Let’s support our local shops this Christmas!

Christmas is back on the horizon and as we all start to work out what to buy and for whom, I think considering where we buy our presents from has never been more important. That’s why this Christmas, I urge you to shop locally. East Devon District Council has launched its #EastDevonly campaign using government funding to help encourage us all to shop locally and I am fully behind it. I know from conversations I’ve had with small, independent retailers throughout the pandemic just how tough it has been. Now the vast majority of tourists have left, it’s never been more important to support our local businesses to protect jobs. There are also solid environmental reasons to shop locally compared to buying online or further afield. Less fossil fuel is used if you buy your gifts locally and less packaging is needed to get your gift to you. It’s a little grating how if you buy an item online, it often comes surrounded by mountains of plastic, cardboard, or paper that seem wildly excessive and mostly unnecessary. As a Sidmouth resident, I plan to do my Christmas shopping locally. We’re not short of independent businesses across East Devon brimming with brilliant gifts. They aren’t all found on the high street either, we’re lucky to have many superb farm shops too. Last week, I visited Knights Farm Shop in Fluxton which sells plenty of local produce and Christmas gift ideas, including a selection of festive hampers. I went to meet Emily from the shop following concerns about the impact of a road closure in Tipton St John on her business. I got in touch with the utility company digging up part of the road and Devon County Council. They’ve decided to limit the closure to just one day and night, a welcome relief for local businesses in the run-up to Christmas who thought the road would be out of action for a fortnight. Shopping local has never mattered so much. We owe it to all our local retailers after a very uncertain time. Let’s support our local shops this Christmas!

Christmas is back on the horizon and as we all start to work out what to buy and for whom, I think considering where we buy our presents from has never been more important. That’s why this Christmas, I urge you to shop locally. East Devon District Council has launched its #EastDevonly campaign using government funding to help encourage us all to shop locally and I am fully behind it. I know from conversations I’ve had with small, independent retailers throughout the pandemic just how tough it has been. Now the vast majority of tourists have left, it’s never been more important to support our local businesses to protect jobs. There are also solid environmental reasons to shop locally compared to buying online or further afield. Less fossil fuel is used if you buy your gifts locally and less packaging is needed to get your gift to you. It’s a little grating how if you buy an item online, it often comes surrounded by mountains of plastic, cardboard, or paper that seem wildly excessive and mostly unnecessary. As a Sidmouth resident, I plan to do my Christmas shopping locally. We’re not short of independent businesses across East Devon brimming with brilliant gifts. They aren’t all found on the high street either, we’re lucky to have many superb farm shops too. Last week, I visited Knights Farm Shop in Fluxton which sells plenty of local produce and Christmas gift ideas, including a selection of festive hampers. I went to meet Emily from the shop following concerns about the impact of a road closure in Tipton St John on her business. I got in touch with the utility company digging up part of the road and Devon County Council. They’ve decided to limit the closure to just one day and night, a welcome relief for local businesses in the run-up to Christmas who thought the road would be out of action for a fortnight. Shopping local has never mattered so much. We owe it to all our local retailers after a very uncertain time. Let’s support our local shops this Christmas!

At the end of October, Clyst St Mary residents woke up to some rather unpleasant sights and smells. The local drainage system had been unable to cope with torrential rainfall. The worst affected villagers had to wade through sewage and some have been left without usable toilet facilities. Immediately, I asked the chief executive of South West Water to urgently get a grip on the situation and liaise directly with the local parish council who were gathering information on the ground. South West Water’s engineering director met with the community to explain the short and long-term actions they are now taking. It will include new piping for properties and increasing capacity at nearby pumping stations. Yet action over weeks and months is not of comfort to families with young children who are currently having to use portable toilets in their gardens as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop. I met with South West Water and asked them to set out a clear timetable of actions and communicate with residents as often as possible to provide updates on work being done. I will receive these updates too, as will local councillors of all political stripes as we set politics aside to work together for our communities. I have also asked South West Water to provide financial compensation to those most badly affected. The failure of water companies to adequately reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows is unacceptable. The good news is that regulators and the government are stepping in. The Environment Agency watchdog has just launched an investigation into more than 2,000 sewage treatment works. And recently, both the Commons and the Lords agreed to the landmark Environment Act that introduces tougher penalties on water companies, new reporting duties, industry action plans to clean up our waterways, and a strict legal framework to ensure these new measures are properly enforced. I’ll continue to have regular meetings with South West Water about sewage infrastructure in East Devon. Clyst St Mary residents were unfortunate enough to experience foul flooding. It’s only right that they should get compensation, not just an apology.

At the end of October, Clyst St Mary residents woke up to some rather unpleasant sights and smells. The local drainage system had been unable to cope with torrential rainfall. The worst affected villagers had to wade through sewage and some have been left without usable toilet facilities. Immediately, I asked the chief executive of South West Water to urgently get a grip on the situation and liaise directly with the local parish council who were gathering information on the ground. South West Water’s engineering director met with the community to explain the short and long-term actions they are now taking. It will include new piping for properties and increasing capacity at nearby pumping stations. Yet action over weeks and months is not of comfort to families with young children who are currently having to use portable toilets in their gardens as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop. I met with South West Water and asked them to set out a clear timetable of actions and communicate with residents as often as possible to provide updates on work being done. I will receive these updates too, as will local councillors of all political stripes as we set politics aside to work together for our communities. I have also asked South West Water to provide financial compensation to those most badly affected. The failure of water companies to adequately reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows is unacceptable. The good news is that regulators and the government are stepping in. The Environment Agency watchdog has just launched an investigation into more than 2,000 sewage treatment works. And recently, both the Commons and the Lords agreed to the landmark Environment Act that introduces tougher penalties on water companies, new reporting duties, industry action plans to clean up our waterways, and a strict legal framework to ensure these new measures are properly enforced. I’ll continue to have regular meetings with South West Water about sewage infrastructure in East Devon. Clyst St Mary residents were unfortunate enough to experience foul flooding. It’s only right that they should get compensation, not just an apology.

At the end of October, Clyst St Mary residents woke up to some rather unpleasant sights and smells. The local drainage system had been unable to cope with torrential rainfall. The worst affected villagers had to wade through sewage and some have been left without usable toilet facilities. Immediately, I asked the chief executive of South West Water to urgently get a grip on the situation and liaise directly with the local parish council who were gathering information on the ground. South West Water’s engineering director met with the community to explain the short and long-term actions they are now taking. It will include new piping for properties and increasing capacity at nearby pumping stations. Yet action over weeks and months is not of comfort to families with young children who are currently having to use portable toilets in their gardens as the nights draw in and the temperatures drop. I met with South West Water and asked them to set out a clear timetable of actions and communicate with residents as often as possible to provide updates on work being done. I will receive these updates too, as will local councillors of all political stripes as we set politics aside to work together for our communities. I have also asked South West Water to provide financial compensation to those most badly affected. The failure of water companies to adequately reduce sewage discharges from storm overflows is unacceptable. The good news is that regulators and the government are stepping in. The Environment Agency watchdog has just launched an investigation into more than 2,000 sewage treatment works. And recently, both the Commons and the Lords agreed to the landmark Environment Act that introduces tougher penalties on water companies, new reporting duties, industry action plans to clean up our waterways, and a strict legal framework to ensure these new measures are properly enforced. I’ll continue to have regular meetings with South West Water about sewage infrastructure in East Devon. Clyst St Mary residents were unfortunate enough to experience foul flooding. It’s only right that they should get compensation, not just an apology.

Doing my weekly shop last week in Sidmouth, it struck me that nearly 20 years ago I was working behind the till in my local supermarket. It was my first proper part-time job after being a paperboy and it gave me such invaluable experience. It helped build my confidence as I dealt with customers’ queries, managed stock, stacked the shelves and served on the till whilst also studying at college. For some, it took the pandemic to recognise that shop staff are essential workers who deserve our respect and recognition for the vital work they do. If, like me, you’ve worked on a shop floor, you know this already. I worked in a former Somerfield store and will be forever grateful for what it taught me. It brought a relatively shy boy out of his shell and gave me a solid grounding in life. Without this experience, I’m not sure I could do the job I do today. Taking on a part-time job as a youngster not only has the benefit of making you appreciate the money you’ve earnt through hard graft, but also shows future employers that you can take on responsibility and be reliable – both great and necessary qualities for the future. In our part of East Devon, the backbone of our local economy is tourism and hospitality. I meet with local employers in these sectors frequently and we often talk about staff recruitment and retention. I recently visited the Manor Hotel in Exmouth where I was heartened to discover that owners Harry and Andrea Tucker always make a point of meeting the local teenagers that have taken the time to drop in their CV looking for work. If they can’t employ them for whatever reason they will still offer them support and a chat. It’s this kind of attitude that meant someone gave me my first part-time job and I will always be grateful. If you’re a local employer with the same approach, then I thank you as I know first-hand how it helped me to get a solid start in life.

As a society, I believe we’re now further down the track of “appearance = validation = success” than we ever have been before. There’s certainly a growing concern about the impact it’s having on our nation’s mental health, especially amongst younger people. A person’s physique can propel fame overnight, aided by reality TV programmes along with social media. In turn, we know heavy social media use is linked to negative wellbeing and low self-esteem, regardless of a young person's mental state, with more girls experiencing feelings of depression and hopelessness. On the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee in Parliament that I recently joined, we’re analysing this as part of an inquiry into influencer culture to come up with a series of fit-for-purpose recommendations to the government. In our inquiry, we are examining the power of influencers on social media and how influencer culture operates. We are also exploring the grey areas of regulation on the promotion of products or services by influencers. Of course, popular personalities online can be a force for good too. That might be by raising awareness for a campaign promoting healthy eating, for example. Sadly, people are altogether more confident making horrific comments about others whilst hiding behind a screen than in real life. We’re now at a point where the calls for social media companies to do more to prevent hate speech and online abuse are deafening. That’s why the Online Harms Bill will set out that tech platforms will need to do far more to protect children and vulnerable people from being exposed to harmful content. For example, social media sites would have to proactively remove content that validates self-harm for vulnerable users. The online world can be dangerous and unpleasant. I know that for parents, online safety might be a challenging conversation to have with children. Nobody is suggesting that teenagers should throw away their phones, but there needs to be more awareness of the damaging content that exists. The internet is amazing, we just need to clampdown on dangerous and vile sites and vicious trolls for everyone’s sake.