Latest news with #Martyn
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Nightmare 'smelly' village where locals clog toilets so sewage doesn't bubble up
One resident in a nightmare Devon village has had condoms wash up in her garden as furious locals live with sewage and foul smells all while battling against plans for more homes in the area People living in one countryside village have claimed they are forced to live with a constant stench and have been urged to stuff duvets down the toilet to stop sewage bubbling up. Parish councillors in the village of Feniton in Devon have launched a scathing attack on plans to build a new housing development as they warn the village's crumbling infrastructure can't take any more. The controversial plans for up to 60 new homes, submitted by South West Strategic Developments Ltd, have led to sharp criticism from Feniton Parish Council. Chairman Martyn Smith said the proposals fly in the face of concerns over the village's sewer and traffic chaos. He said: 'We've got sewage coming up in people's toilets, it's bubbling out onto the roads — and there were even condoms hanging over the edge of a pipe discharging into a flood alleviation ditch. That's how bad it is.' The village, he told DevonLive, has been battling speculative development for over a decade. A 2014 public inquiry, dubbed a 'super-inquiry', saw multiple large-scale housing proposals refused by a planning inspector who deemed Feniton an 'unsustainable location'. 'Since then, we've tried to rebuild some normality,' said Martyn. 'But even the one small scheme that was approved — 34 houses — ended in disaster. The builder went bust, the homes were left half-finished, and the site turned into a rat-infested eyesore for years.' The council's strongest objections now centre on the overloaded Victorian sewage system, which they say was never upgraded to cope with the rapid housebuilding around the station. The main treatment facility — known as the Feniton sewage treatment works but located at Buckerell — is one of the worst polluters on the River Otter, councillors say. ' South West Water have admitted they've had 14 reports of sewage backing up,' said Martyn. 'But we believe it's more than that. Residents are being told to shove old duvets down the toilet to stop sewage coming back up. That's not a solution — it's madness.' Cllr Chris Wilkins, who lives in the Burlands, an area already affected by the issue, said the situation was often dire during heavy rain. 'The lady at number one has had sewage, condoms — all sorts — come up in her garden. She has to knock on doors begging neighbours not to flush their loos. And of course, the smell is horrendous.' Cllr Pam Rink added simply: 'It smells all the time. Even when it hasn't rained. With any more building, it just isn't going to cope.' According to councillors, the problem has reached far beyond homes and into the environment. A flood alleviation scheme — intended to help with surface water — is now reportedly receiving sewage too. 'There's a pipe pouring foul water into the stream,' Martyn said. 'We saw condoms hanging off it. South West Water say it's not their fault — they claim someone's illegally connected into the surface drain. But that's just deflection. They don't want to take responsibility.' He described meetings with senior South West Water officials — arranged by local MP Richard Foord — as fruitless. 'They might as well be MPs themselves, the way they dodged every question. We asked what they'd done about the sewage being reported repeatedly. They admitted the reports but gave no answers. Nothing.' The council said the water company had even blamed agricultural run-off for pollution in the River Otter. 'That's utter nonsense,' Martyn added. 'They've no evidence. It's just Teflon-coated spin.' Beyond sewage, traffic and transport were also major sticking points. Green Lane — where the proposed development would connect — was described as 'incredibly narrow', with two tight railway bridges and a single-lane bottleneck into the old village. 'You can only get one car down there,' Martyn said. 'When you reach the bottom, it's a blind junction and you just edge out hoping no one's coming. Add another 100 cars — because the average is 1.6 cars per household here — and it's going to be a nightmare.' Cllr Wilkins agreed: 'It's not just cars — it's delivery vans, Amazon drivers, everything. The roads can't take it.' While the council has accepted that some future development may be necessary, it insists the Burlands Mead area — already approved for 35 new homes — was always seen as the most viable location. But even that has now exposed critical infrastructure weaknesses. 'There's no school space. The train only stops every two hours. The bus to Ottery runs once a day. And all the shops, GPs and services are outside the village,' said Martyn. 'People move here for the rural setting, not because it's well connected.' In a statement, South West Water said: 'We recognise the concerns raised by Feniton residents and parish councillors and have met with them to discuss these issues in detail. 'We have investigated reports of sewage problems in the village and carried out maintenance to address blockages. 'We continue to work closely with local authorities and developers to ensure the sewerage system can support future housing, with infrastructure improvements planned as required. We remain committed to protecting the environment and supporting the Feniton community.' SWSD said: 'The application has made in line with the draft allocation of the emerging East Devon Local Plan. South West Water is a consultee in this process and have raised no objections to the proposals. They outline that improvements are already being progressed to address the community concerns around the existing systems and increase its capacity.'
BBC News
21 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'Five thousand extra seats is a start' - your views on expansion plans
We asked for your views on the expansion plans for the City are some of your comments:Kevin: Mixed thoughts. Location is iconic so really want to stay. But parking and travel is already a nightmare. Is it worth it for £120+ million for only 5,000 extra seats?Martyn: There's always a struggle to get tickets since Forest moved up to the Premier League. Five thousand extra seats is a start, but they could have tried to extend it beyond 5,000 extra seatsLuke: Great news that it's going ahead, but I can't help but think that if we're doing it, why not go bigger and add more than 5,000 seats?Steve: Good news about the new stand but this time it needs to happen. We have thousands on the waiting list for season tickets who want to support the club. Let's get on with The stand does need upgrading I agree, but just 5,000 more seats. I don't know, it's a lot of money for what seems like little return for it. I am normally wrong so my opinions carry very little Stumbling blocks have been put up for years. It will drag on for years. Could and should have built a new stadium elsewhere. Love our ground but it's out-dated.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Martyn, Esther win SEA triathlon sprint titles in Pangkor
KUALA LUMPUR: National triathletes Martyn Lim and Esther Joy Chen proved their mettle by winning the elite sprint titles at the Southeast Asia Triathlon Federation Championship, held in conjunction with the Perak Multisport Festival on Pangkor Island, Perak, today. Martyn clocked 1 hour 3 minutes 57 seconds (1:03:57) to top the men's elite category, which comprised a 750m swim, 20km bike ride and 5km run. He had finished fifth in last year's race. He outperformed compatriot and 2015 SEA Games silver medallist Rikigoro Shinozuka, who finished second with a time of 1:05:25, while Singapore's Russel Lee came in third at 1:06:10. Martyn said his prior experience competing at the same location gave him a strategic edge. 'That definitely helped a lot. I knew when to attack, when to conserve energy, and the right moment to sprint to the finish line. 'I'm very satisfied with what I achieved today,' he said in a statement. He hopes the victory will be enough to secure him a spot in the SEA Games in Thailand this December, as this championship served as the final qualifying event. 'Today's race marked my fourth and final qualifying event. 'We'll now wait for the official decision. I gave it everything today ... hopefully, it's enough,' he added. In the women's elite category, Esther completed the race in 1:10:25, well ahead of Singapore's Lim Wan Ting (1:12:48) and Regine Goh (1:15:07). The win was especially sweet for Esther, who had to settle for second place last year. 'This victory wasn't just about speed; it was more about race management. 'I really pushed myself, especially during the swim and bike segments. It's not about who's the fastest, but who's the smartest with strategy,' said Esther, who also hopes to qualify for the SEA Games in Thailand.
New Straits Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Martyn, Esther claim Sea Triathlon titles, eye Sea Games next
KUALA LUMPUR: National triathletes Martyn Lim and Esther Joy rose to the occasion with commanding victories in the elite Sprint races at the Southeast Asia (Sea) Triathlon Federation Championships, held as part of the Perak Multisport Festival in Lumut on Saturday. Martyn, who finished fifth overall and was the fastest Malaysian last year, went one better this time by clocking 1:03:57s to clinch the men's title, which featured a 750m swim, 20km bike, and 5km run. He held off compatriot and former Sea Games silver medallist Rikigoro Shinozuka (1:05:25), with Singapore's Rusell Lee (1:06:10) completing the podium. "I didn't come in with big expectations — just focused on going hard in the swim and seeing who came up with me on the bike," said Martyn. "I think I had a pretty good swim by managing to latch onto some feet, which made it quite comfortable. The bike felt really good — the speed was there — and on the run I was out there alone but able to hold a strong pace and finish well." Martyn credited his familiarity with the course as an advantage, having raced here in the past few editions. "That definitely gave me an edge. I knew when to attack, when to hold back, and when to start pushing for the finish," he added. With the championships serving as the final selection race for the Sea Games, Martyn is hopeful his performance sealed the deal. In the women's race, Esther crossed the line in 1:10:25 to finish well ahead of Singaporeans Lim Wan Ting (1:12:48) and Regine Goh (1:15:07), marking a step up from her runner-up finish last year. "This was a good win — not necessarily for how fast I went, but for how I executed it," said Esther. "I really challenged myself, especially in the swim and bike. It wasn't about outright speed today — it was about racing smart, and I'm quite proud of that." Fresh off her win at the national championships in Putrajaya, Esther is also vying for a Sea Games return. "I'm not too sure what the coaches will decide, but based on the results, I hope I get in." Esther, who made her debut at the 2021 Sea Games in Hanoi just six months into competitive triathlon, brings an unlikely background to the sport. "I actually come from wushu," she revealed. "I was in the national team for Nanquan discipline for a half years before COVID-19 struck. I was losing interest after a while as we could not train and there wasn't any competition. "I eventually picked up triathlon. Interestingly, I never cycled before triathlon, but the leg strength from wushu helped a lot, especially on the bike. "Power wasn't the issue — it was just learning the skills." RESULTS *Malaysia unless stated Men's elite sprint: 1. Martyn Lim 1:03:57s, 2. Rikigoro Shinozuka 1:05:25, 3. Rusell Lee (SGP) 1:06:10. Women's elite Sprint: 1. Esther Joy Chen 1:10:25. 2. Lim Wan Ting (SGP) 1:12:48. 3. Regine Goh (SGP) 1:15:07. Men's Olympic distance: 1. Khairil Azhar 2:16:10, 2. Timotius Justin 2:27:27, 3. Mohd Azmir Abdullah Sani 2:32:02. Women's Olympic distance: 1. Serena Yang 2:49:08. 2. Chang Wei Ying 2:56:50, 3. Nursya Jusoh 3:05:44. Men's 113: 1. Hakim Che Sharuji 4:33:08, 2. Muhamad Rabani Hashim 4:46:51, 3. Thong Wing Yew 4:56:17. Women's 113: 1. Wong Ee Va 5:02:57, 2. Nuur Syafyka Shafie 5:37:07, 3. Mimi Ruslan 5:43:18.
Pembrokeshire Herald
29-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Plea to lift agricultural occupancy condition rejected
A NEW co-operative formed between West Wales pig farmers and a meat supplier is allowing pork from herds born and reared within the region to be transported for processing just a short distance in a low-throughput abattoir – reducing stress on the animals, providing low food miles meat for consumers and improving producer margins. The eight Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire-based farmers were brought together by the Farming Connect Agrisgôp initiative after the idea was discussed by Fishguard meat supplier and butcher Martyn Lloyd and Agrisgôp leader Lilwen Joynson. Martyn had been a member of another Agrisgôp group where Lilwen had helped him to develop his idea for a new processing facility and later, at a Farming Connect mentoring meeting, the idea for the Red Dragon Porc Cyf co-operative was established. Martyn and his wife, Danielle, had been unable to source low food miles pork for their customers. 'We could get beef and lamb and we have our own poultry but what we were missing was pork, we did our best to find Welsh pork for customers but that pork came with a lot of food miles and that doesn't fit with our business ethos,'' Martyn explains. Developing an abattoir on their farm at Cilshafe presented a solution. 'We wanted to get some pork producers on board, to help them advance their businesses,'' says Martyn. 'There are a lot of small pig producers in west Wales and many were struggling to work out how best to get their meat to the market but with an existing customer base we could help. We looked to Agrisgôp to help to bring that to life.'' After the first Agrisgôp meeting, facilitated by Lilwen, the idea took shape. Agrisgôp is a fully-funded management development programme that encourages eligible farmers to get together to not only develop their businesses, but to personally gain confidence and skills through action learning. And this is what happened for the Red Dragon Porc Cyf members. Farmers had been receiving inconsistent prices for their pigs when they marketed as individual businesses and their ability to supply a butcher directly was constrained as meeting supply volume requirements was tricky. 'The farmers shared a mission and were guided on putting their ideas into action,'' Lilwen explains. Building trust and confidence was crucial to the process of forming a cooperative. 'Collaboration and open sharing are definitely key,'' says Lilwen. 'Differences of opinion and thinking had to be overcome and a set of rules and values adopted with individuals accepting that it had to work for the majority since they were no longer operating as individual businesses.'' For some it even meant changing breeding patterns and breed type to accommodate market demands. At the end of 2024, Red Dragon Porc Cyf had already marketed £43,000 worth of pork, including sausages which captured awards at last year's Royal Welsh Winter Fair. In April, the missing part of the local pork jigsaw slotted into position when the Lloyds started processing pork at their own Food Standards Agency-approved abattoir. Until then, co-operative members including Will Kerr had to transport their pigs further to be processed. 'We didn't have any control over prices, the margins were very small,'' Will admits. 'Martyn opening the abattoir in Fishguard has been the catalyst we needed.'' Will has six Welsh pig breeding sows, which he runs alongside suckler beef and sheep enterprises at his family's farm, Blaenawen, at Glanrhyd. He had long been frustrated at the perception of pork being, in his words 'the cheap cousin'' of beef and lamb. While it has become commonplace for butchers to display the full history of the beef and lamb they are selling, Will points out that this is rarely applied to pork because it is largely sourced wholesale or has been imported. 'We too are now in a position to tell the exciting story of our pork,'' says Will, who farms with his parents, Mark and Kip. He sees a major advantage in being part of a co-operative. 'As a group we are more powerful, it gives us many advantages, we are already getting a better price for our pigs. 'Without Agrisgôp we would never have come together so we are grateful to Martyn for initiating it with Farming Connect and to Lilwen for pulling us all together.'' Another member of the group, Ed Walker, also sees big value in collective marketing, that 'strength in numbers''. 'As eight producers we are on a par with commercial farmers as we can offer consistency of supply but we are still individual small producers too.'' The businessman-turned-farmer produces around 600 pigs a year on an outdoor system at 46-acre Model Farm near Tenby. His 22 breeding sows are a mixture of Large Whites crossed with a Welsh boar and Oxford Sandy and Blacks which he crosses to a Large White. Keeping pigs started as hobby, alongside running his own civil engineering business, but it is now more or less a full-time job, with a part-time helper too. Almost all his sales are through Red Dragon Porc Cyf although he is also licenced to sell meat from the farm as Tenby Woodland Pork. Before the abattoir was established at Cilshafe, he would need to make a 150-mile round trip to the facility at Maesteg. The next stage for the co-operative could be to establish a meat box scheme. The throughput of pigs through the Lloyds' abattoir, which also processes other livestock, will be small initially but that is projected to increase as sales gain momentum. The facility has so far has created four full-time jobs and more could follow. Picture caption: Collaborating on pork marketing: Pictured from the left are Tom Young, Nic Caine, Martyn Lloyd, Ed Walker, Will Kerr and Lilwen Joynson
