REFERENCE the article in the Okehampton Times (May 11) about the protest of the new housing in Hatherleigh and that the infrastructure is not in place. The school is at present down in numbers and will welcome another 60 children. The shops in the town are like all corner shops and pubs in small country towns, struggling to survive and will grab any trade coming their way. There are good sports facilities of high quality (for the town?s size) and a credit to those people who run them, and new members will always be given a warm welcome. A 54-bed nursing home is under construction and will be finished before the new houses. A (grand) brand new community centre is nearing completion by the roundabout. The primary care trust raised no objection when consulted about the medical facilities. The Tuesday market buzzes as does the Sunday market. All in all, I fail to see the problem with any of the infrastructure, we are unique I suppose. I keep a close eye on the town?s working and do my best for the whole community to see a balance kept. Dennis Bater Member of West Devon Borough Council for Hatherleigh, Meeth and Highampton
