CPRE, (Campaign to Protect Rural England) West Devon branch, has grave reservations concerning the proposal for housing on land north east of Redmoor Close at Butcher Park Hill. This saga has rumbled on and off since the end of 2008, when 3H Investments applied to build 52 timber clad cabins on the site, a proposal with which the council, for various and well qualified reasons, was not in favour. Following a final appeal permission was reluctantly granted for the development, although nothing further happened about the site until the council was recently approached by local developers, Trand. This application is far too late to be included within the agreed core strategy, allowing for 750 houses on land off the Callington Road and should therefore be discounted as the numbers are beyond the required limit for the immediate future growth of the area. It was generally understood, not only by CPRE, but by the wider public, that by having a core strategy in place, Tavistock was safeguarded from just this kind of speculative development. If this is not the case, then the core strategy, together with the much vaunted Localism Bill, are two pieces of totally useless legislation on which a great deal of council and government time must have been wasted. Trand has stated that should it not get the go-ahead to build, the owners of the site will erect the cabins. If the land is still in the ownership of 3H Investments, who were in no hurry to provide the holiday park in 2009, I don't understand why they should hasten to do so now. Either way, the elevated position of the land, near a constantly busy road, is not an appropriate situation for any large scale development and will do little to enhance the attractive visual aspects of the town. CPRE does appreciate that, thanks to the findings of the Planning Inspectorate in 2009, the site was officially designated for some form of development. However, that decision pre-dated the core strategy and there was no mention of housing ever made during the planning inquiry. Surly a relevant point to argue? Jill Stewart-Rattray, Secretary, CPRE, West Devon Branch I REFER to your article in the Times on June 12 regarding the town council's backing of the proposed development on Butcher Park Hill. It makes me question as to who some of both the town and borough councillors are actually working for — for their electorate or those with other agendas? It is therefore with amazement that I also read on the borough council's website that Cllr Ewings has called this planning application into council when she doesn't even represent this ward and against the recommendation of planning officers and elected ward members. I would appreciate her explanation as to why this occurred and whose interests she is promoting — it must be the developers as the application, outside the existing planning boundary, is being heavily opposed by local people. Returning to the town council, surely they notice the congestion outside their offices in Drake Road and the near gridlock when the traffic reaches the Square? The proposed development will make matters worse with approximately 700 additional vehicle movements per day up and down the hill. Neither Drake Road or Butcher Park Hill can be widened to take this volume of traffic. It is already a busy road and to think that narrowing it further will calm the traffic is just absurd. Also requiring pedestrians to walk up and down a narrowed pavement and cross an even busier road above Redmoor Close is a fatality waiting to happen, probably to a child. Who will these councillors then represent at the first funeral? Mrs A Cheetham Tavistock I WAS born and have lived in Tavistock all my life. I feel it is being spoiled quite rapidly. There is far too much in the way of building houses here and there willy nilly. We now have a proposed development at Butcher Park to build yet again on green fields in an area where the infrastructure will play havoc with all who live in this area. Everyone who uses Butcher's Park road will understand where I am coming from. To place 110 dwellings at the top of the allotment is in my mind a step too far. The inconvenience and length of time for the infrastructure to be put in place from a highway point of view is not what we want to endure because it is not necessary to build all these houses in this particular location, build them somewhere else sensible. Enough is enough. C Stephens Redmoor Close Tavistock I ÅM writing in absolute fury at the Tavistock Town Council planning committee's 'approval' of the plan to build 110 houses to the north of Tavistock. Given Cllr Roger's comment that the planning committee was 'between a rock and a hard place', I would appreciate a complete explanation in plain English as to what produced this decision? The planning committee opposed the original holiday park yet it was given consent on appeal. Why was it so difficult, therefore, to refuse the application outright? Provision of affordable homes for 'local people' is a nonsense. Current housing developments are doing just that, bearing in mind that these dwellings can be sought by anyone across the UK. The demand is therefore way beyond what the town of Tavistock can provide for the UK. There is a Local Plan/Core Strategy produced by WDBC designed to cover plans through to 2026. Have you read it? The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment and Annual Monitoring Report demonstrates that the housing requirement for West Devon can be met up to 2016 through sites already in the planning process. Can I remind Cllr Rogers that Mike Robins, inspector for the appeal on the holiday lodges, stated that 'residential dwellings would not be appropriate here'. Ms M Stokes Tavistock I WOULD like to answer and inform the authors of the letters sent in last week regarding the planning application for Butcher Park Hill. 1. The planning committee of Tavistock Town Council was not put under any pressure by the developer or any other person or body. All meetings in the council chamber are public meetings and members of the public have attended these meetings covering Butcher Park, and would verify this. 2. Meetings that take place within the town council are displayed on notice boards for the full term of the council, until May 2015 in the council offices and in Bedford Square. It is in the public's interest to read these notices. 3. The planning committee do have concerns over the road that passes the site, and many other roads relative to projects that may start soon, however, this falls outside of the town council and borough council's remit. Devon County Council highways control and legislate over all roads. Questions need to be directed to the highways officers, who are professional qualified staff, apparently. 4. The application provides for a foot path inside of the development with lighting, averting people walking down the road. 5. The application will be decided on its own merit, regardless of what has been granted before. This becomes irrelevant should the owner change their mind and decide to apply a complete new development, which is their perogative. On a personal point, I find myself between a rock and a hard place, because I am there to represent the people of Tavistock and the best interest of Tavistock the town. As a business person, would I develop 52 holiday lodges? Yes I would, and if it succeeds, I would just replicate and replicate again. That site could fit 160 lodges, the impact would be no inner foot path, no entrance set back further up the hill, with a club house which would probably cater for 200 people. This may suit some of Tavistock, however, many people would be horrified. What will 110 houses bring; an inner safer foot path, an entrance extended up the hill with street lighting. Most importantly, which no one made a comment on, there will be 55 affordable homes, which would enable local key workers and young people to buy and live in Tavistock, and who am I to deny these young people an opportunity to own a property and live in Tavistock? The developer will have to make what is called a section 106 payment this would amount to £185,000 which is utilised by the county and borough councils, and will be used to benefit Tavistock. When I became a councillor I had to put aside my own personal preferences and think of the good of the people of Tavistock. Personally I would be in a field with just a few people, and 'saying close the gates it's a full house'. However, others require growth and development. I see myself representing the people in trying to control the development and expansion of our wonderful town. The public planning meeting for this application will be at West Devon Borough Council offices on July 1, where a council planning officer will make a recommendation for a panel of ten council members to consider. Should the decision go against the developer, they have the right of appeal to the Secretary of State, which I understand they will do. Cllr Colin Rogers Tavistock South West Ward