A SECOND public exhibition by builders Redrow in connection with their proposed Anderton Lane development had a bizarre dimension.

It was put on, local residents were told, because Redrow had 'collated the feedback' from the first exhibition in July.

Somehow the 'collation of feedback' totally disregarded the most striking element of the first exhibition, namely the strongly felt, forcibly expressed and virtually unanimous opposition of the local public to this proposed development. 

The follow-up exhibition merely set out possible adjustments relating to roads, drainage and school facilities (each, in any case, the province of responsible  agencies other than house builders), as if the general public, in return for these minor adjustments, would be prepared to forgo the green fields and accept an increased number of houses (now up to 130) with probably about 200 more cars!

A relentless Redrow, motivated solely by potentially huge profit, seems determined to press on with plans to develop a manifestly unsuitable site regardless of the wishes of the public. Moreover, I'm told that a Redrow representative remarked that the company has 'control' of fields further up the valley with a view to future housing development.

If that is indeed the case, the prospect of Redrow housing stretching from Bishopsmead via Grenofen towards Horrabridge is not a happy one.

Given this potential 'domino' effect, Redrow's plans for the Anderton Lane site should be opposed now with the utmost vigour.

Dr Ian Goodfellow Whitchurch