I WAS very interested to read the letter from an Exbourne resident in the Times (May 27) regarding the proposed Exbourne shop project. However, I was disappointed to hear that some of our fellow community members thought that the project had been shelved or forgotten.

In January this year, the committee gave a presentation to the Exbourne and Jacobstowe Parish Council, which resulted in a welcome letter of support endorsing the project. The presentation also included the unveiling of a model of the proposed new building, which has since been displayed in the village hall, alongside the large-scale plans.

Our most recent newsletter also explained progress to date, outlined our development plans and announced the establishment of the Industrial and Provident Society (the legal structure needed to run the new venture).

In May, we were invited by the Hatherleigh Area Market and Coastal Towns initiative to present our project at the ?brokering table? ? a forum of funders and public sector support agencies. This has resulted in very positive feedback and support from the Countryside Agency. Community Council of Devon and CoActive, all of whom are now actively supporting the project to move forwards.

We have also now submitted or full application to the Vital Villages Scheme and, I am pleased to announce, have just been awarded a grant from the Norman Family Charitable Trust.

As I am sure many of your readers are aware, the shop project is much more than just a place where you hand over money for groceries ? it?s about the kind of small community that Exbourne wants to be.

The temporary facility in the village hall has already had a very positive impact on the life of the village, the new project will enable the whole community to benefit, not just one sector. It will also provide an important opportunity for young and old, and those of us in between, to take an active role in the economic future of our villages.

The project has never aimed to ?replace? the role played by the bigger supermarkets but to supplement that facility locally, and to offer goods and services currently unavailable in our community. This is particularly important given the recent and significant cut to local bus services, which directly affects Exbourne.

I understand and appreciate your correspondent?s concern at the cost of the project. However, at the recent ?Brokering Table? event. the total cost was seen as entirely realistic by the main funding agencies present. In addition, it measures well against the recently reported costs of new village hall facilities, given that it also includes regular revenue generation.

I would encourage all Exbourne and Jacobstowe residents to share their views at the ?drop in? events being organised as part of the parish plan consultation process. These will provide residents with an opportunity to share their ideas, hopes and aspirations on all aspects of our community, not just this project.

Claire Kelly

Chairman

Exbourne and Jacobstowe Community Association Ltd

I WRITE concerning the letter from an anonymous Exbourne resident about the proposed shop and post office development in the village.

A number of residents have assumed I am the writer and I may now set their tiny minds at rest ? I am not.

However, I do applaud the writer and fully agree with and support his comments one hundred per cent, having publicly taken this line on many occasions and feel strongly that this misguided, financially unsound and traffic-hazardous project be dropped.

Norman H Sutton

Jubilee Cottage

Exbourne