I am appalled that due to the structure of local government, some borough councillors who have little association with Okehampton are able to make major decisions which will adversely affect the future prosperity of our town.
Last week, those borough councillors who represent us were defeated by one vote in their opposition to a further supermarket in School Way. Cogent arguments were presented, not against the supermarket per se, but that it is in the wrong place.
The case against was presented on the grounds of ecology, a seriously flawed 'traffic impact survey', which ignored the effect of 880 new houses, numbers of parking spaces, noise blight from freezer and air filtration units, claims of serious breaches of planning procedures and most important to the town's economy, the site will no longer be available as a coach park.
The case for approval seemed to rest on West Devon's fear of the cost of an appeal, even though their planning committee had previously recommended refusal.
Whatever your views, make them known either in these pages, or by writing direct to Mr D Incoll, Chief Executive, West Devon Borough Council.
David Terry
Klondyke House
Okehampton