I RESPOND to Dave Goodwin, Cleave Cottage, Sticklepath, (Times, June 21) who will be many miles from the camp at Highampton when the trouble starts. I will be right next door to it.

How dare he so belittle the very real concerns of this small community at Highampton? If he is so keen for us to quietly accept what is being foisted upon us, I challenge him here and now to sell up and buy a property in Burdon Lane, Highampton; there is one for sale right now, the current owner will be delighted to escape.

Dave Goodwin states that we should deal with 'facts not obstructive rhetoric'.

Fact: over half of the intake at Okehampton Camp do not complete the course, and some of these are sent back to prison for breaking the rules and re-offending.

Fact: unlike the site at Okehampton Camp, Burdon Grange is effectively right in the middle of the community with eight households immediately adjacent to it, and first in line for house-breaking or car theft. The rest of Burdon Lane will be second in line for the same, followed by the rest of the village.

Fact: of the few who have completed C-FAR's courses, three individuals went on to commit crimes in Tiverton and Exeter, so they won't show up on Sgt Brookshaw's incident for Okehampton.

Fact: over half of the intake at Okehampton Camp failed to complete C-FAR courses, with some being sent back to prison. 44% failed to complete the first 10-week course, thereby showing that they really couldn't care less about becoming a reformed 'model citizen'. They have been pretending to wish to change in order to have a break from prison.

Fact: Ian Courtney, chairman for C-FAR, stated at their presentation to the villagers of Highampton that C-FAR could give 'no assurances' with regard to people's safety and security of property.

Fact: after being at the epicentre of foot and mouth, Highampton is in danger of becoming the epicentre of crime for this part of Devon.

Fact: being unable to sell to move away from here, we the villagers will be the prisoners, whilst the C-FAR inmates will be able to move on freely.

Come on, Dave Goodwin, take up my challenge and move here to Highampton; C-FAR will be delighted to have one ally here.

David Richards

Lower Odham Farm

Burdon Lane

Highampton