IN your recent article concerning street lighting at Church Road, Highampton, Mr Dumpleton appears to have missed my point.
Devon County Council informed me the parish council requested the lighting scheme in November of last year. The county council believed the parish council had sought the residents' approval of the lighting scheme and adequate opportunity was given for objections to be made.
This was not the case. I have ascertained from the residents of Church Road they were not aware of the proposal. My first indication of the scheme was on April 4 this year when they were installed.
Mr Dumpleton says that these lights were requested 30 years ago. Very few of the current residents were here at that time.
I accept that some of the current residents may well be delighted that the lighting has been installed for their occasional visits to the school, church and village hall. But almost all of them drive, not walk or cycle.
The issue here, as I see it, is not whether I am alone in disliking the lights, but whether there was authority for installing them without the opportunity for any objections. For the lights do not shine night after night all night long in the bedroom windows of the other residents who are purported to have requested them.
It is reported that at a recent meeting the residents requested both street lighting and pavements. If pavements were placed outside my cottage and those of my neighbours, the farmers wouldn't be able to drive their tractors without mounting the pavements.
The dates and subjects of meetings are not published on the parish noticeboard nor distributed to households. So there was no way I or the other residents could have known of the parish council's intentions.
I trust this clarifies the situation and as I have still not received from Mr Dumpleton the courtesy of a reply to my various letters, I am now seeking advice on whether the position can be addressed by a higher authority.
Linda Slade
Beacon Down
Highampton