IN whose back yard does Cllr Chris Jenkins suggest that

the thousands of homes desperately needed in the West

Country should be built (Letters, July 2)?

Indeed, where would Tavistock be today, had his forbears

similarly objected to the 7th Duke of Bedford's plans to

create homes for the locals in the mid 19th century;

replacing the workers' charming traditional hovels and

stinking midden heaps with affordable modern new-

builds?

Cllr Jenkins intimates that other UK market towns are

blighted by housing estates around their perimeters. Yet

he appears to offer no alternative solution to the pressing

housing crisis faced by locals in West Devon, nor to

address how sensitive development might generate new

business and employment opportunities.

Perhaps a Victorian-style workhouse would be in keeping

with the view? And how can the region's growth be

regarded as 'sustainable' as Cllr Jenkins states, if it

depends upon the migration of locals 'up-country' in

search of work and homes, to maintain the balance?

I grew up in Hexham, in beautiful rural Northumberland,

judged not long ago to be England's favourite market

town by Country Life magazine. Its residential outskirts

still continue to grow and (despite initial objections) it has

seen a Tesco and Waitrose established not far from its

historic market. Yet it has maintained the balance between

being a thriving tourist destination with independent and

artisan shops and a functional 21st Century town

with modern amenities for its locals. Like West Devon,

local wages are on average, 'significantly lower' than the

rest of the UK. 

Perhaps noting examples such as Hexham, rather than

holding nameless 'market towns up-country' as worst-

case scenario examples, might be a more productive way

of exploring how the proposed new homes would not only

benefit the area, but play a part in its future history, as

did the Bedford cottages of the 1800s.

Miss C Barnes

Tavistock

CLLR Jenkins's letter casts doubt on the evidence base for

the West Devon Core Strategy.

I understand that the community has strong views but this

document, which plans for the future of our borough up

to 2026, was democratically approved by a large cross-

party majority of West Devon Councillors. Votes took place

at both committee and full council after considerable

discussion, consultation and development.

The draft of this strategy has been in the planning for

four years and the council has accepted the validity of

extensive evidence researched and drawn from various

sources of expertise to support the Core Strategy aims.

Is he seriously suggesting that so many long serving

councillors of all parties - we are also residents of West

Devon - would simply nod through without challenge, a

strategy that he claims will do 'irreversible damage' to the

borough?

The area identified for development on the outskirts of

Tavistock is not going to be 'choked' (or even 'chocked'!)

by housing estates. We have set extremely high standards

for the development of the site, with the inclusion of large

areas of green space, high quality building design,

effective landscaping, and protection of the precious

World Heritage Site and the Area of Outstanding Natural

Beauty. Does this sound like Tescoville?

Concentrating development in one location allows the

council to enable infrastructure which benefits the town,

and subsequently, the whole of West Devon.

I am dismayed that Cllr Jenkins has chosen to identify an

individual officer in expressing doubts on this evidence

and associated processes, especially now that the

document has been formally approved by the borough for

the next stage of consultation. With the broad principles

approved, the next stage of the consultation is about fine

tuning the policies before submission to the Government

office.

I am saddened that Cllr Jenkins has preferred to represent

his views through the pages of your newspaper, as

councillors might have benefited from hearing about his

alternative proposals for meeting local affordable housing

need and regenerating our economy. Alas, his letter is

somewhat silent on these points!

Cllr Diana Moyse, Chairman

Future planning and housing committee

West Devon Borough Council

I WONDER whether the people of Tavistock are fully aware

of the implications of the recently published West Devon

Borough Council's Core Strategy document which sets out

its plan for the growth of the town from now until 2026.

The development planned will irrevocably alter the

appearance and character of our town and its environs.

It should be pointed out that the plan/map provided is

misleading in that it does not convey the topography of

the area. For instance, it is not made clear that the

proposed 750 houses are to be situated on the skyline

overlooking Tavistock and Whitchurch.

This vast estate will form a long finger-shape

development stretching out into open countryside high up

one side of the Tavy Valley.

Of course, people need to have somewhere to live, but are

the current proposals the best that can be done?

Will young families and 'extra-care' residents want to live

so far from the town centre? Will the doctors and dentists

(one NHS dentist) and police force be able to cope

satisfactorily with the increased numbers? Is a massive

estate on an exposed periphery of the town next to an

intended railway a desirable option, not only for the

existing residents of the town, but also for the people

who will be living there?

Is not another option to build small developments of new

homes (including affordable) in each reasonable size

village in the region, which would have the advantage of

helping to keep rural communities sustainable in terms of

schools, pubs, village shops and other local services?

The Core Strategy document also states that 'development

will be guided by several overarching principles',

including 'protecting and enhancing the countryside,

biodiversity . . . protecting historic and cultural features,

and natural assets . . .' — how can this be claimed when

the proposed link road will ruin the natural beauty of the

area as it cuts its way through ancient hedgerows and

necessitates the destruction of numerous magnificent

mature trees in Crowndale area, once home of Sir Francis

Drake himself?

Time is running out for our comments and suggestions

regarding this Development Plan.

Please give the matter serious consideration and put

forward your views otherwise it could be adopted by

default. The deadline is 5pm on Friday July 17 2009.

Annette Carr

Rix Hill, Tavistock