AS an active member of Tavistock Forward I am concerned that you may have unintentionally misled your readers with your headline to the letter by Iain Andrews (Times, June15). Mr Andrews correctly stated that the 'Hoppa Bus . . .was a project . . .to be totally delivered by Tavistock Forward in partnership with local business'.
However, as far as I am aware, the idea for the Hoppa Bus, including a figure of eight route around the retail areas of the town, was suggested by borough councillor Nicholas Waterhouse. The idea was put in the public domain in September 1997 in his document 'Public transport; a view from the grass-roots' (see section 10, page 19).
Tavistock Forward takes good ideas offered by many individuals and tries to turn them into reality.
It is encouraging that the Hoppa Bus has such widespread support throughout the local community. Tavistock Forward is continuing in its efforts to make it a more permanent feature of the Tavistock scene.
Peter Donkin
9 Chestnut Close
Bishopsmead
I feel it appropriate to comment on the letter published from Iain Andrews last week. All councillors of differing political persuasions work in tandem on many diverse and important projects for the benefit of the community.
The suggested non-political group to work alongside the ten-year local plan and the town and borough council and others would fill an identifiable gap which has resulted in difficult consequences, particularly relating to old outline planning permissions in Tavistock.
We feel that a non-political advisory team of interested citizens who do not necessarily have the time nor inclination for local government would help address this gap between council and residents. It really is a matter of grasping the straw and making our part of the local plan work in our town for all of us to move forward in a positive way.
We need to protect our cultural heritage alongside quality projects with everybody's full participation as well as the statutary agencies.
Cllr Caroline Keane
Parkwood Road
Tavistock