CONGRATULATIONS to all those who contributed to last week's letter page. An excellent reflection of strongly held views on current issues — together with some very interesting informative comments. As always the issue of planning applications appear high in the list of such issues. I would take the opportunity of pointing out that the planning process involves two significant stages. It is the submission and consideration of specific applications which so often creates passionate opinion as to the impact of the proposed development. Before we get to this stage there is however the important phase of agreeing and establishing our planning policies on which all subsequent applications will be based. Such policies need to be comprehensive and will hopefully reflect public opinion. The Core Strategy was originally prepared to provide borough-wide planning policies through to 2026 but central government have decided that a new strategic document is required and the borough council is consequently preparing 'Our Plan' which will include all our planning policies on which future planning applications will be based through till 2031. This exercise will involve two separate public consultation stages enabling local residents to have their say and genuinely influence future developments in the borough. It would be much better to have the open and robust debates as part of the preparation of this plan and to fully recognise the importance of this phase. Robin Musgrave, WDBC Ward Member for Bere Ferrers