MR Sergeant accuses me and fellow borough councillors of 'vandalism' in his letter in last week's edition of the Times.

I wonder whether he would have considered it an act of vandalism when his house was originally built; or is it only the building of houses for other people that he categories in this way.

It is noticeable that the majority of people who object to the plans for the future development of Tavistock and the surrounding area do not offer any alternative proposals. Would Mr Sergeant and his fellow objectors prefer to see Tavistock 'mothballed' and frozen in a 2009 time-warp?

The core strategy is a comprehensive document providing details of all aspects of development in the borough through to 2026. The additional housing being proposed reflects a lower development rate that any of our neighbouring districts and less than the rate of development that we have seen in our own borough over the past ten years.

Central government stipulates a level of new housing that we are forced to provide in the core strategy but with an ageing population and smaller family units it is important to recognise that we will actually need the new houses that are being proposed It would be irresponsible to ignore this need or pretend that it doesn't exist.

The core strategy will shortly be going out for public consultation and it would be good to see a strong response to the document with a constructive and positive dialogue.

Robin Musgrave

Bere Peninsula

Ward member

West Devon Borough Council

THE revelation in Mr Sergeant's letter of the enthusiasm of West Devon Borough councillors for the core strategy should surprise no-one.

The prospect of 750 more properties to pay council tax for the council to spend (? waste) inevitably takes precedence over environmental, social and economic matters, as well as the widely held reluctance of existing residents to see the further destruction of Tavistock's unique character. Only the landowners and the developers are likely to gain from such development.

My previously voiced concern about the offer of Kilbride to pay £18.5-million towards the restoration of a rail link to Bere Alston and Plymouth is reinforced by their latest document, setting out more specific proposals.

It is not only that the basic cost of such restoration cannot be met by the construction of 750 houses etc but the unsubsidised cost of running even the limited 'new' timetable suggested would make the price of using the 'service' unacceptably high.

Rail travel is becoming ever more expensive in comparison with the car, especially if more than one person is in the car and persistence with the pretence that trains can displace motors simply shows the unrealistic cloud cuckoo-land thinking that infects the transport debate. Will Kilbride put up an irrevocable bond for £18.5-million as a condition for getting planning consent? Ah! I thought not

Geoffrey M Stowell

The Laurels

The Down

Bere Alston

I write in response to Guy Sergeant's letter.  Am I in favour of a suburb on the edge of Tavistock including a railway station and 750 houses? No I am not!   

What I voted for was for public consultation on the core strategy. It would be irresponsible not to have a core strategy document. That situation would allow any developer to build anything anywhere. West Devon would not have any policies in place to oppose the developments, as was the case in a neighbouring district, with dire consequences.

The people of this area now have another opportunity to agree, challenge or oppose the core strategy. I would urge everyone who feels strongly about any aspect of this to email or write to the council.

Had Mr Sergeant been at the meeting, he would have heard my questions and comments challenging the content of the strategy. These included:

Environmentally it is simply not strong enough, including a lack of joined up green corridors and allocated allotment sites; my clear preference for brownfield development and housing above shops; the distribution of houses across the borough, specifically, 'Why do we have to have so many houses in Tavistock, when apparently North Tawton would like 200 more?

I also suggested we write to Central Government, challenging the housing numbers allocated.

Perhaps Mr Sergeant should have named the councillors who didn't vote to have a strategy document, thus leaving all areas of the borough open to uncontrolled development.

Cllr Alison Clish-Green

West Devon Borough Council