IT is disappointing that the planning application by the Weir Quay Community Watersports Hub Club for facilities at Weir Quay has caused such a rift in the local community as reported in your recent front page article.

Such emotive phrases as 'bulldozers ripping through an area of outstanding natural beauty' are hardly helpful in the debate.

Weir Quay is a special area and a key feature that makes it special is that it provides the only place in West Devon where people with boats can access open water at all stages of the tide.

There has been ongoing development at Weir Quay in recent years with the development of holiday-lets, extensions to existing houses, barn conversions, some development of commercial enterprises and even a recent application by a local resident for sailing club facilities, so this planning application for a low profile development is hardly setting a precedent.

What is not disputed is that the sailing club and the gig rowing club have lost their shore-based facilities which in the case of the sailing club have existed for the past 40 years.

The Hub Club planning application is simply to provide equivalent facilities namely boat storage for the existing 40 dinghies, 30 tenders, two safety boats and three pilot gigs with the intention at a later stage to provide a simple clubhouse with changing facilities, loos and a place to sit down and have a 'brew'.

Anyone who has had to wade ashore and land their boat on a cold wet day may be able to appreciate the necessity for such facilities.

Local residents' concerns that the planned facilities will lead to a significant expansion of either clubs' membership are simply unfounded.

There may be a minor 2012 Olympic impact but those who have worked over the past years to increase the clubs' membership numbers will laugh at the thought of a surge in new members simply because there is improved boat storage and a clubhouse.

Concerns over the required ground levelling are more understandable but the work will provide an opportunity to address the overall environmental impact with the creation of 80m of new Devon bank with a hedge and trees, the planned planting of discrete groups of locally native flowering shrubs, some specimen trees, and the establishment of around 1.5 acres of species rich grassland on the restored area.

Together, these will guarantee a significant improvement in wildlife habitats.

It should not be forgotten that both the gig club and sailing club offer traditional and very healthy activities; both clubs are very inclusive with memberships ranging from eight years to members in their eighties including a balance of girls, boys, men and women — who want nothing more than to pursue their rowing and sailing activities on the wonderful Tamar estuary.

Robin Musgrave,

West Devon Borough Council Ward Member for the Bere Peninsula

I WOULD firstly like to say thank you to the Times for the front page report concerning Weir Quay on September 1. It was a very fair and accurate account of the parish council meeting.

The concerns regarding the planning application at Weir Quay are not just between the Hub Club and Friends of Weir Quay the residents of Bere Alston, of which I am one, are also expressing their own opinions.

I would like to further comment in response to the letter from Mr Brooks to the Times on September 1.

Mr Brooks is mistaken concerning the total budget for the proposed development, as the development proposals are expected in two phases, this is one of many planning issues.

How can anybody be expected to make an informed decision about this planning application when all the cards have yet to be put on the table?

Mr Brooks is also a Whitchurch resident and therefore is not 'local' like the rest of us.

I can therefore assure Mr Brooks that this proposed development is far from popular in an area of outstanding natural beauty and a World Heritage site.

Mr Brooks seems to have developed a nasty habit of name-calling, when residents objct, they are suddenly labelled NIMBYs. How grown up of you Mr Brooks. Sadly for you we are not all NIMBYs, we are merely custodians of our heritage. Weir Quay is offically an area of outstanding natural beauty, a World Heritage Site with sites of special scientific interest just down the road, which we are willing to help preserve for future generations.

So Mr Brooks, if you would like to find another site or another club, please feel free.

M Patterson

Johnson Close

Bere Alston