I WONDER if I may be allowed some space to defend our local politicians (for a change)? I read Monty Lerer?s letter (October 30) with mixed feelings.
Whilst agreeing wholeheartedly with Monty that it seems madness to be building so many more houses in Okehampton, especially on top of the current crop, I feel I must speak out in defence of West Devon Borough Council.
The decision to build these houses is out of our representatives? hands. The targets have been summarily imposed by central Government. The only thing WDBC can do is make the best of a bad situation and try to find a way of fitting them in with the least disruption possible.
Bearing in mind the restrictions of being (mostly) in a National Park there is little choice of where to put these new developments, with pro and anti arguments galore for every possible site.
Added to that, our local authorities simply do not have the financial resources, like that fact or not, to provide the appropriate infrastructure these developments should get.
It is a problem, but society?s demographics are rapidly changing. More and more people want to move down here, adult children are quicker to move out from their family homes, there are more people living alone than ever before.
The demands for more housing, for the time being at least, are outweighing the many valid arguments against such expansion, unfortunately.
Dave Goodwin
2 Cleave Cottage
Sticklepath