MY support for the Weir Quay Watersports facilities is considered 'inappropriate' by the Bere Action Group in their letter in last week's edition. This is despite my open support for this proposal over the past two years as detailed in your (July 8) front page article and various letters stating my position on this issue.

In my election leaflets in the borough elections in May of this year I declared I was 'supporting and campaigning for facilities at Weir Quay for the local gig and sailing clubs', so how on earth my current support is considered 'inappropriate' is truly difficult to understand. It really would be much easier for me to keep my head down and when asked, just make conciliatory comments!

The suggestion that I am not representing the majority of local residents' views is equally absurd as local opinion is clearly divided and there are many local residents who are still undecided or who have a neutral view on the hub club planning application. The repeated reference to 'bulldozers ripping though' the area will not help people's decision making but hopefully many people will accept that there will be no bulldozers — and no ripping — should this development go ahead. This statement is unhelpful and totally misleading.

As for the Bere Action Group's proposal that the original sailing club barn could continue to be used as a base for the two clubs, despite the emphatic statement by the landowner at the open parish council meeting, that this building is not for sale, would suggest an almost ostrich-like stance with this idea. I'm also very unclear as to how you can see a rabbit hole behind a 12ft hedge!

I do accept that local residents have real concerns about this proposed planning application but equally recognise that there is a real need for these facilities.

Robin Musgrave

WDBC ward member for the Bere Peninsula

REFERENCE Mr Stowell's letter (September 22) in which he points out that the Bere Alston Action Group has no connection with Bere Action Group.

I quite see his point regarding similarity of names and the name Bere Action Group would not have been chosen if I had ever heard of the Bere Alston Action Group before.

Maybe this fact is testament of their achievements although the group, I'm sure, is based on good intentions. I have not heard any comment from this group regarding the Weir Quay issue or their presence at the Pentillie Road traffic junction public meeting.

The Bere Action Group has been set up by necessity to voice the feelings of local residents of the Bere Peninsula and will fight issues which the majority consider unjust. Bere Alston in particular has suffered from over-development and bad decision making at times. To this end we will fight to correct these injustices and mistakes. It is the only way to achieve truly democratic solutions. No more whitewash will be tolerated on the Bere Peninsula! 

John Hillson

Co-ordinator

Bere Action Group

Bere Action Group (BAG) have really not done any research on junior usage of Weir Quay (Letters,?September 22). They seem to be unaware that the gig club is open for local juniors, and have no ties with schools or county initiatives.

We hold the Clubmark accreditation with two British rowing accredited coaches, we have run a successful learn to row course from Tavistock College over a three-month period. Our club cost for juniors is £13 per annum and  a local junior from Bere Alston holds our junior rower of the year trophy!

We even have one rower who is training with the British rowing training camp for 2012. We have over 35 regular under 16s that have been rowing on Friday nights for the last five years that have had results well published in this paper!

Later in their letter BAG go on about two sailing clubs? I seem to remember that a very good informative presentation In Bere Alston explaining all had been held - maybe BAG missed that too. 

Bill Stacey-Norris (rowing coach)