SO, having watched West Devon's future planning and housing committee finally hustle through the amendments to its core strategy on Monday, this ill conceived scheme marches on.

It was telling to see the county council transport officers flailing when quizzed on what measures the strategy included to alleviate the regular congestion we see along Plymouth Road and through Bedford Square. Despite blithely endorsing the addition of these 750 homes there seems to be no plan in place to address the existing traffic problems in the town, never mind the pressure that will be added by 2 to 3,000 new residents. That's right, nothing at all in the plan to relieve the town centre.

Not content with unnecessarily desecrating the western outlook of the town, WDBC are doing nothing to resolve the pressing congestion issues we already face.

Again, they repeated the line that they offered the dispersed development option but that the people rejected it. Of course they did, they'd always reject proposals for new housing. However if offered the choice between that dispersed development and the proposed Crowndale ghetto, I'm not sure the reaction would have been quite so negative. Few people dispute the need for more (particularly affordable) housing both in the town and throughout the borough, they just object to these particular proposals.

I do hope Cllr Moyse and her fellow councillors are prepared to stand proudly behind their actions at the next round of elections.

When West Devon residents finally wake up to the damage they are planning to wreak here, they may find their re-election plans are less straightforward. Sadly by then it may be too late.

Guy Sergeant

Whitchurch Road

Tavistock