WE are fortunate to live in a town with such distinctive character, great architecture and wonderful surrounding countryside. Yet, if planners get their way (see 'Our Plan Consultation', Times, March 5), we are in danger of killing the golden goose. Tavistock's charm is that it is a market town built on a human scale which fosters a close and active community. However, the rapacious appetite of builders, combined with weak local authorities seduced by the bribe of new building premiums, could easily see rapid growth that would threaten this unique character. This would not only worsen the lives of residents but also deter tourists who are drawn by its current charm. The council's past record on housing is not encouraging. In the last decade, the rate of new housing in West Devon Borough Council (WDBC) has been twice that of neighbouring authorities. It seems that the likes of the South Hams are far better at resisting developers' greed and protecting the environment. In contrast, WDBC pushed through 750 homes at Callington Road which immediately abut the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As for the future, the forecast increase of 950 houses by 2031 is based upon heroic assumptions about a booming Plymouth economy – something not borne out by past performance — and is further inflated to meet the wish of incomers to settle in the South-West. If you want to avoid Tavistock becoming another Ivybridge have your say at http://www.westdevon.gov/ourplan">www.westdevon.gov/ourplan Leigh Hackel Tavistock