TWO weeks ago, the Okehampton Times front page was about a West Devon Borough Council planning officer objecting to 200 local youngsters practising rugby on an area of land near Brightley, Okehampton.

If the area is near the Brightley-Exbourne Road, this road only has about eight bungalows along its length. I do not know the area in the report and have been unable to identify it. But, what a revelation to read that some 200-plus youngsters want to be involved in local sporting activities! What does this say about the spirit of so many of our young men here in town, and the trainers who inspire them?

How can a council employee and a local objection condemn 200-plus young men to potentially give up sport in our town, where success is weekly portrayed in the sports pages?

In the Times of December 8, the rugby U16s won 62-10, the U14s won 41-5, the U13s won 15-5, the U12s won 78-0 and the U11s won 28-0.

Come on, West Devon Council, support our youth — they are our future — get behind them and support the community which may well produce an England international player one day.

Michael Bennett

Okehampton