I HAVE today written to the Secretary of State regarding the structural review of Devon, and would ask that local people also make their views known by January 19 when all representations must be in, as follows.

I am writing to repeat the concern of many older people who are not able to email, or present their thoughts well in writing.

We have lived through two structural changes in Devon, the last being the most coherent and effective in the management of a large sparsely populated rural area. It is clear from this charity's efforts to support older people in North West Devon that most of their problems relate to the lack of ability to effectively communicate and noticeably change the way in which they are governed.

The proposal to make the countryside in Devon a unitary authority, when the major areas of population and governing expertise in the county, namely Torbay and Plymouth, are already unitary authorities, with Exeter possibly joining as well, will leave a large number of people under-represented and poorly served and unable to contact a headquarters in, say, Exeter at distances exceeding 65 miles.

With the current decline in local services: health, social, environmental, local transport and roads, the aim to decrease overall administrative costs will inevitably decrease the opportunities for rural residents to receive the same levels of service as in a unitary council in the urban areas of Devon.

The current proposals can only penalise those unable to adequately represent their concerns. We note that existing council officials have been unable to so present our concerns that their validity is even acknowledged let alone used to influence the blunt proposal to impose a unitary authority upon us.

We therefore propose that the Secretary of State take no action in the light of overall falling levels of income in rural Devon, especially amongst those relying on invested income until the whole of the country emerges from the current recession when a more equitable decision on the structures can be made.

Contact can be made via email: [email protected]">[email protected] or in writing to: Unitary Structures Team, Department for Communities and Local Government, Zone3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU.

Barrie Duke

Chief Officer

Age Concern NW Devon

2 Crediton Road

Okehampton