THE residents of Tavistock should be aware of decisions being made by West Devon Borough Council planning committee which could affect all of those who would have concern with planning applications in the future.

In the past with planning applications, objectors with different concerns would have had the opportunity to attend the relevant planning committee meeting and have three minutes each to voice those concerns direct to the members and answer any questions.

A move was made last week by the planning committee to restrict the number of objectors able to speak to one, and for three minutes. This was done by asking the objectors to one planning application to get together and for one speaker to represent them, although each of their concerns were different. They were also reminded that this would only be at the chairman's discretion. This ignores the more open and fairer interpretation of procedures in the past.

If you were to consider a major and controversial planning application and where the maximum debate needs to take place in order to consider the views of all interested parties with differing concerns, it would be impossible for the planning committee to come to a balanced decision if only one person was allowed to speak for three minutes. Remember, developers would have the services of a planning expert to speak on their behalf.

We have a Government who are now in trouble for ignoring the views of others, and not listening to people. If West Devon Borough Council continue with the practice of restricting members of the public speaking at planning meetings, thereby stifling local democracy, they will be viewed in the same manner.

Roy Connelly

19 Manor Road

Saxon Heights , Tavistock