I READ with dismay (but not surprise) that a few of the residents of Highampton, led by Mr Richard Phillips, are campaigning against the relocation of C-FAR to Burden Grange in Highampton (Times May 3)
Instead of having a public meeting to get behind the rhetoric to the actual facts of the case they used the meeting to shout down the C-FAR staff and did not listen to anything the speakers had to say.
On the surface Mr Phillips and his neighbours have genuine concerns. However, as their treatment of C-FAR staff shows, they have no intention of allowing their concerns to be addressed.
Why? I suspect it is because they don't actually want to get to know the trainees — rather just tar them all with the same brush despite not knowing why any of the trainees are there and how much they want to, and are, changing their lives for the better by being there.
Lets take one instance, reoffending whilst at the centre. As reported by Sgt Brookshaw there has been one incidence since C-FAR has been in Okehampton.
But of course Mr Phillips doesn't want to know about facts, he's just concerned that his house will fall in value. But thankfully more and more people these days are a little more open minded than that.
Perhaps Highampton could be declared a 'caring human' free zone and we could fill it with all the NIMBYs and leave them to get on and moan about everything without disturbing the rest of us who back up our pretensions to be caring individuals with action based on fact, not obstructive rhetoric.
Dave Goodwin
Cleave Cottage
Sticklepath