THE core strategy document issued by West Devon Borough Council will cause many hearts to sink.
Who was responsible for deciding that a new hospital and primary school should be placed next to a sewage facility?
Was a public health expert asked to comment on the advisability of these two structures being in close proximity? If not, why weren't they?
There is no explanation of what the diagonal orange bars on the Tavistock plan mean. Who was responsible for proof-reading it, and why didn't that person notice that a key was needed?
What did it cost council-tax payers to put a copy of this plan in every issue of the Times? The so-called 'new transport line', which is pompous officialese for a road, will inevitably entail the destruction of numerous mature trees. Is this what we want?
Are the council not aware that Tavistock is full of unsold houses and flats? Who is going to buy the 60% of the 750 new houses which are not 'affordable housing'? Is there an assumption that the economy will return to previous levels of prosperity, and is that a correct assumption?
There are 25,000 empty properties in Devon and Cornwall alone (source: BBC local news). Would it be sensible for these to be occupied before large scale building on yet more green fields?
Judith Davies
Parkwood Road, Tavistock
NO-ONE who loves Tavistock is in favour of the 'preferred' Core Strategy. It will destroy the beautiful Tavy Valley. It will result in a satellite ghetto of 750 houses far from the town centre with the crime and vandalism that accompanies ghettos. A monstrous road will obliterate Brook. The environmental damage will far outweigh any possible benefit.
Mel Holt-Martyn, Tavistock