The second draft of the Borough's Local Plan is on show and available for the next few weeks in Tavistock (see report of April 11). Comments are invited on it up to 21 May. After that the draft goes up to the Government and eventually an Inspector will hear evidence on the controversial bits and give his final ruling. Thereafter the text will be writ in stone for planners, builders and developers to follow for the next ten years.
So here is positively our last chance to offer comments and try to get the plan changed.
Comments may be made only on amendments to the first draft but key sections for Tavistock, like the proposed 140 houses to be built at the Manor, 215 houses beyond Bishopsmead and 250 beyond Monksmead have been changed and may be the subject of comment.
Two years ago, we persuaded fellow councillors to agree to send a letter of protest to the Deputy Prime Minister protesting that the additional 1,500 dwellings his Government required the Borough to find in the next 10 years was excessive, bearing in mind the virtual ban of building in the National Park and Tamar Valley.
The Council told Mr Prescott that his housing requirements would destroy many beautiful greenfield sites, would overload our outdated sewage and water systems, greatly increase the use of private cars causing pollution and congestion, force Tavistock and surrounding villages to become dormitories for Plymouth workers, and change the character of our market town.
So the Council asked the Government to modify its demands on us. The district certainly needs more homes for residents, especially young people and the less well off, but we argued that we should be allowed to decide the pace and nature of new house-building for ourselves, not have it imposed on us by London.
Sadly, the Government has given nothing away; all it has done so far is to oblige the Council to increase the number of dwellings that must be built on each parcel of land.
You may feel angry and worried for Tavistock, as we are, over these impositions. If you are, you have every right to check out the Plan and write in your comments. They will go to the Inspector; he will have to stick to the official rules but he may yet be persuaded by the weight of objection on one point or another.
So if you feel strongly it's worth writing in.
Cllrs Dick Eberlie , leader, Conservative Group
Pat Warne, Independent, Tavistock South
David Stapleton, Liberal Democrat, Tavistock South
Ted Sherrell, Independent, Tavistock South