QUESTIONS about the siting of 550 new houses in Tavistock can be directed to the people who drew up the plans next month.

Tavistock mayor Judith Williams has called a town meeting, when representatives from West Devon Borough Council, who produced the 'local plan', will be present to answer questions and listen to comments.

The plan details the face of development in West Devon for the next decade and is a response to the Government's requirement for 4,100 homes in the borough before 2011.

The council said its main aim was to site the bulk of the new housing in the towns to put people near to jobs, shops and schools. Sites have already been found for more than 2,000, but land is still needed for a further 1,900.

Okehampton will be getting the bulk of the new homes, but Tavistock is to get more than 550, Bere Alston 60, Lifton 90 and Lewdown 25.

In Tavistock 190 new homes will go next to the Monksmead estate, 110 at Bishopsmead, 120 at the Manor, Old Launceston Road, 100 at Brook, Plymouth Road and 35 east of the Priory.

There are to be no new industrial sites in Tavistock and though there are plans for the former gas holder site at Westbridge, there is no intention to dispose of Tavistock's livestock market.

Land at Monksmead is reserved for a railway station and car park and land at Crowndale is to be safeguarded for sport and recreational purposes.

The local plan will be on display in the Pannier Market on Saturday September 23 between 10am and 4pm, before the public meeting which will take place at 7.30pm in the town hall on October 2.

The exhibition will move to Bere Alston Village Hall today, September 14, from 2pm to 8pm.

The plan is also available for inspection at the borough council offices and at Tavistock and Okehampton libraries. Copies are also available for purchase.

Forms for objection can be obtained at all venues where the plans can be viewed and must be submitted by October 23.

Only people submitting these forms on time will have the right to appear at the public enquiry.

For more information contact the council's Forward Planning team.

l There are fewer than six weeks for people to make their views known in the consultation period — not six months as stated in an article last week.