FOLLOWING the presentation at the Bedford Hotel by Bovis Homes for the proposed 750 new homes off the Callington Road we are most concerned that the key questions for a successful outcome to this venture remain unanswered, seven plus years since the original core strategy proposals.

These unanswered questions are:

Provision of sufficient schools?

Provision of sufficient medical services (doctors, dentists, hospitals etc)?

Provision of sufficient parking in Tavistock for existing/new residents and rail visitors?

Employment for new residents?

Ingress and egress of traffic to/from proposed development?

Convenient and regular transportation of passengers from proposed railway station to/from Tavistock?

Which body will run the proposed railway, what will the ongoing costs be and who will fund them?

It is imperative that these questions are answered in full (and to the public) before any further plans are made

If these issues remain unresolved prior to this new development taking place, Tavistock will ultimately go the way of other dead country towns and Devon County Council will be responsible for the demise of Tavistock.

Elizabeth Challis

Gulworthy

NOW that we have seen in public the latest proposals from Bovis and Devon County Council regarding the  new housing and rail re-instatement, surely it is time to add a little clarity to the situation with regards to the development.

This scheme was largely approved as part of the core strategy on the proviso that the new homes would fund the railway, as outlined by Kilbride when they first announced the scheme.

West Devon Borough Council has told us that the railway was essential to the development and that the infrastructure should be in place before development, as outlined in their submission in support of the strategy. It now appears that funding for the railway will not come from the new homes as originally published on Kilbride's website, and that the railway might not be built if funding cannot be found. 

It also seems that Bovis Homes have no commitment to the railway other than providing the land for the station and car parking, as the section 106 levy will be shared with the railway and other as yet unnamed infrastructure commitments.

I'm sure the public would benefit from  a joint statement from all the relevant parties, West Devon Borough Council, Bovis, Devon County Council and Kilbride as to just exactly what we are going to see delivered, with detailed  information on funding the railway, before Bovis submit the planning application this year.

It appears promise of the railway has obviously been nothing more than a sweetener to get the core strategy and the Bovis development through planning.

Chris Saville

Bere Alston

via email