D P Boxall, of Abbotskerswell, writes:

Following the letters from Mr Young ( March 14) and Mr Mitchell (March 21), your readers might like to be made aware of information known by Teignbridge Council on the likely traffic congestion that would be caused by the scale of development proposed, prior to sending the Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Examination. 

After the Preferred Core Strategy announcement in December 2012, a Freedom of Information request revealed that DCC representatives had meetings with TDC and advised them that traffic congestion would increase despite the road improvement schemes proposed in their plan.

In February 2013, after the consultation on the Local Plan but before the public hearings on the plan starting in September 2013, DCC produced a detailed analysis of the traffic situation taking account of the development contained in the TDC Plan. This analysis concluded that delays due to congestion would double from what they are now, after a considerable increase in parking charges.

Reducing carbon emissions was said to be one of the main reasons for the policy of concentrating development in the heart of Teignbridge (Newton Abbot) but unfortunately it appears that the thinking behind this policy did not go deep enough. In terms of reducing carbon emissions, increasing traffic congestion and delays as a result of this policy does nothing towards this aim.

I leave your readers to conclude whether having so much development situated immediately around Newton Abbot would be a wise move or not?MORE LETTERS IN OUR DIGITAL EDITION