IT appears to be open house on house building in Tavistock. The large companies such as Persimmon and Redrow feel they have been given a green light to decide where they wish to build rather than where local communities (often after considerable heated debate) have decided to do so.

There are now four large building projects proposed for Tavistock, only one of which is an 'approved' one, ie, within the West Devon Core Strategy — the Bovis application to build in Crowndale.

If all received the go ahead that could lead to 1,000 new houses for Tavistock, 3,000 to 4,000 people!

I believe very few readers would consider this a good idea for the locality with all the concomitant pressures on amenities including schools and roads. I therefore urge them to write in to oppose the St Andrew's Road, Whitchurch, development proposed by Persimmon where although they initially mention 25 houses, the adjacent field means that if successful they will immediately apply for 75 or more extra as they have previously.

The application number is 00959/2013.?Email [email protected]">[email protected] or write to West Devon Borough Council, Kilworthy Park, Drake Road, Tavistock, PL19 OBZ.

Ian Gasper

via email

I WOULD like to draw attention to the growing pressure from property developers for housing outside the agreed development strategy for Tavistock.

The borough council has an approved plan for housing growth centred around the area on the Callington Road, but speculative proposals are being launched by national housing developers for other areas around Tavistock.

Persimmon's new application to build 25 houses in Whitchurch on a green field site outside the council's housing development area is the thin end of a wedge, inevitably leading to another 100 or more dwellings on adjacent fields as it did the last time an application was made over ten years ago when an identical proposal was rejected by the council and the planning inspector. Redrow has started consultations about extending their estate behind Whitchurch.

Persimmon's new estate is classed as a 'major' development and public comment is called for before October 24.

I would urge anyone who supports local democracy to press our councillors to stick to their agreed housing plan and not allow developers, such as Persimmon and Redrow to walk-over our town's agreed strategy. 'Localisation' was one of catch-words of this government: please comment on the Persimmon application before October 24 and make localisation work!

Alan Johnson

Whitchurch