I AM writing in response to the letter of November 29 from Rosemary Bell, chairman of the Friends of Weir Quay, and to your article of November 22. The over-riding purpose of the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is to work in partnership to conserve and enhance the landscape of the Tamar Valley. The partnership is drawn from landowners, farmers, employers, West Devon Borough Council, boat club members, residents and others with an interest in preserving and enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the Tamar Valley. The landscape of the valley is essentially a man-made landscape created by the human activities of farming, market gardening, boat building and sailing, mining, fishing and residential enjoyment of people?s homes and gardens. When the TVAONB partership?s attention was drawn to some potential threats to the enjoyment of the area around Weir Quay, arising from increased traffic and leisure activities on and around the river, we decided, in my opinion quite rightly, to investigate these problems, to identify possible solutions and to present these solutions for public consultation. One mistake, which I have freely and frequently acknowledged, was that we did not involve all the residents of Weir Quay sufficiently early in the process. But that mistake has been rectified by electing representatives of the Friends of Weir Quay to our working party. We have been accused of wasting public money on this investigation, an accusation which I totally refute. Just as we take our medical or legal problems to professional doctors or lawyers, so the TVAONB appointd consultants, and we have also taken on board the results of surveys carried out by the Friends of Weir Quay and by Plymouth University. Where mistakes in the consultants? reports have been noticed, the meetings of the working party have addressed them. I was asked to chair the working party which I regard as a great honour, privilege and responsibility. In my youth I spent many happy hours sailing on the River Tamar and learned to love and respect the beauty of the river and its wildlife. At meetings of the Weir Quay working party we have reiterated our commitment to protecting the peace and tranquillity of the area and I am determined to honour that pledge. I am grateful to Rosemary Bell for urging everybody with an interest in the future of this beautiful place to attend the public consultation in the parish hall, Bere Alston, on Friday or Saturday, December 7 or 8. I shall look forward to meeting as many as possible on either of those days. Alan Hosking Devon County Councillor, Yelverton Rural Division Vice-chairman, TVAONB and Chairman, Weir Quay working party
