I WRITE on behalf of the Highampton Action Committee in response to Lt. Colonel T. Phillpott's letter of September 6.
I quote from his letter: 'sadly, owing to perceived feelings of fear and lack of understanding, some people within the parish are vehemently resisting the move' to Highampton.
May I remind everybody, and as Col. Phillpott well knows, it is not 'some people' resisting the move, it is the overwhelming majority of the parish and surrounding community, as was again demonstrated at the last public meeting on Thursday, August 30.
The 'feelings of fear' are very real and have not, and apparently will not, be addressed by Col. Phillpott and his business.
He is proposing to set up an unsecured centre for offenders whose only restriction will be their words of honour, not to break the rules!
Figures given to me by Mr Richard White, C-FAR's public relations manager, show that half of the intake of persistent criminal offenders at the Okehampton camp do not complete their courses; and even when they do, three committed crimes in Tiverton and Exeter.
The failures who are sent back to prison or home are the reasons for the 'feelings of fear' in this community, when these inmates show by their actions that they are not prepared to 'go straight' and become model citizens.
C-FAR's own chairman, Mr. Ian Courtney, at the presentation to our community, publicly stated that Cfar would give 'no assurances' with regard to our people's personal safety or the security of our property and possessions.
With this attitude towards this community, and the way Col Phillpott tried to take over our parish council's annual meeting with his entourage, which gave us an indication of what he wishes to do, namely to take over our village entirely, is it any wonder that almost the whole of the Highampton community is dead set against the Colonel's takeover of Burdon Grange?
Col. Phillpott's assertion of 'considerable economic and employment benefits' to Highampton is absolute piffle.
As he well knows, his staff would be brought in from outside the area, the only local person who might be employed would be the current groundsman/handyman.
Most purchases would be from a wholesaler, not from our local shop. Cfar has nothing to offer this community except the casting of a massive blight over it if West Devon Borough Council award planning permission.
David Richards,
pp The Highampton Action Committee.