Cllr Ken Dennis, of Broadway Avenue, writes:

As a west ward councillor born and bred in Kingsteignton. I obviously know a large number of people and the area well.

In the past, most questions I have been asked involved the desecration of Newcross. now there has been a sudden surge of questions from those living in the St Michaels/Slanns Meadow /Homers Lane area.

I think it is very poor that at no time has there been a meeting by Teignbridge regarding the plans at Rackerhayes/Zitherixon (the large area of lakes behind Tesco).

It is a fact that the water table is very high in the areas mentioned above. So much so that much of the area intended for 140 new dwellings is, and always has been, swamp land. I am informed by residents that gardens in the lower part of St Michaels Road, Slanns Meadow, Homers Lane and Close are often waterlogged in winter and that locals presumed that most of this excess water eventually drained into the slightly lower ground at Rackerhayes.

All this area is on the Environmental Flood Risk Map. If Rackerhayes becomes an overflow flood plain and the flood bank (at its highest 14ft 7ins above existing land levels and carrying a two-lane road and footpaths) is built between the lakes and the existing housing residents are wondering where their excess water will drain to. All it will need is for one house (old or new) to flood and the cost of housing insurance will rocket. Remember Cumbria last winter.

DCC highways predict this new road will carry much of the traffic that uses Gestridge/Exeter Road at present. So the people in Andor Avenue and Broadway Road would like to know what is being done to protect their homes from continual noise. Those in Andor also wish to know whether their road will stay a cul-de-sac or will a road and/or a pedestrians-cyclist pathway be built.

These are just three of the concerns raised and they should be answered before the final desision is made by Teignbridge Council on June 21 as to the fate of all these residents.

The expensive LDF procedure was adopted in 2004 with a promise – it would be open and transparent throughout. Yet many are still unaware of the full plans. Why? Because Teignbridge and Sibelco have held too few public meetings and the very little information released has been through articles in the Advertiser and the Herald Express. We all know there are thousands of householders that buy neither.

I feel Kingsteignton ratepayers have been short changed by Teignbridge.THIS AND OTHER LETTERS IN OUR ONLINE EDITION