THE public consultation meetings on the re-opening of the line to Bere Alston showed that Devon County Council is in favour of the project. However, in view of traffic congestion and the increase in popularity of rail travel, it is astonishing, to learn that it is now likely to take at least five years to reinstate nine miles of track on an existing track-bed! Why?

Let us remind ourselves that the Victorians built the whole Exeter to Plymouth line — from scratch — in only four years. Our ineptitude would make us a laughing stock to them. They would relay the track for us in a few weeks. Whatever is the matter with us that we can no longer get on and get things done in this country? Shame on us!

Once the line is reinstated it could trigger demand for restoration of the Okehampton link and the much needed return of main line services. On present showing that would be 30 to 40 years away! Even the cycle-way is still some time away.

The 750 houses remain on the plans. With no bypass and several hundred more cars there will be serious congestion. Callington Road to the Drake statue has tailbacks now at peak times; horrendous when there are road works. The railway is only likely to make a small impact on that.

Terence Scarborough

Uplands

Tavistock

DESPITE just five days' notice of this railway consultation I attended from 2pm on January 30 when there were four representatives present from Devon County Council. Having spoken to three of them it was very clear that nothing new was being presented since 12 months ago and, worse, the representatives were very ill-informed about both costs and infrastructure, apart from saying 'discussions are on-going'.

This is an appalling way to carry out a 'so-called' consultation which, again, appears to have been undertaken simply to 'tick a box' and again seems to confirm what many think, ie that 'they' have made up their minds that tavistock will get a railway, despite contrary views of many members of the public.

If Devon County Council really wishes to undertake fruitful consultation it should get its act together and truly try and consult, not just turn out the same old information in apparent ignorance of, for example, cost implications, both financial and environmental, for those of us who live in Tavistock and the surrounding area — it is we who will have to pay for this 'Mickey Mouse line' (if it ever happens, which I increasingly doubt).

This whole exercise is a joke, but what is worse is that it is an expensive joke as Devon County Council has already spent hundreds of thousands of pounds of new money on this, plus many hours of employee time when we are repeatedly told that councils have no money.

Alex Mettler

Courtenay Road

Tavistock