TAVISTOCK has recently won an award for being one of the best towns in England, with which I heartily agree. Strongly contributing to this is that there are some very attractive residential areas with well laid out housing and spacious gardens. The environment of surrounding similar properties is the attraction to owners. It worries me greatly that there are growing numbers of planning applications for second or third properties to be built in these gardens presumably for financial gain of the owner at the expense of the amenities of the neighbours. In the main our local planning authority, West Devon Borough Council, does a creditable job in sifting out many or most of these, but any applicant can (and most do) appeal if the plans are rejected. The appeal is heard by the Department of the Environment, a Government department whose leadership actively supports infilling. Thus, the decision making is taken out of local hands and becomes a political one where targets are to be met. Am I alone in thinking this makes a mockery of the system? My sincere hope is that our planning department stands strong at such appeals and doesn?t cave into political or financial pressures. C S Dicker Abbotsford 14 Watts Road Tavistock
