I ATTENDED the West Devon Borough Council meeting last Monday in the Charter Hall, and note the planning permission granted by WDBC for the 'business park' last week. Even the public statement by WDBC published by the Times does not give any confidence of the outcome of this 'plan'. Descriptions including the words like 'hopeful', 'phases', 'relying on private money', 'steep slopes' and 'potential future development' do not instill any assurances to the population of Okehampton. On past record, Okehampton has failed miserably in correct and sustainable (a popular word with planners) development of the town. Recent major housing development has not contributed to any­ visible improvements in infrastructure or jobs and I see no reason for this to change in the current climate. Therefore it should be a principle adopted by WDBC that major housing development can only go ahead after the business development has been progressed sufficiently to provide the 400 jobs the planners hope for. This number of jobs would go some little way to mitigating against the potential 1,500 plus jobs needed to employ occupants of the 900 houses 'planned' by WDBC and Devon County Council. Please, no further housing development until the business park and those jobs come to fruition. The 900 houses must not be built until the business park is completed and running successfully. Bob Rush Okehampton