Mrs S ROBERTS, of Kingsteignton, writes: Why, I wonder, are Kingsteignton parish and Teignbridge councillors so surprised that many residents living around Chudleigh Road, Badgers Close and Broadway areas of Kingsteignton have lost confidence in them? after all, we can only go by what we see and hear or read about concerning the destruction of Newcross Pond and the surrounding land. First, we saw a beautiful green wildlife site turned into an arid wasteland. then, as the pond was drained, some residents had to put up with rats on their properties looking for alternative homes. Those who had this problem dealt with it privately, as calling in the professionals would mean a vermin problem would go on record (not a good selling point for the future). Then, after the outcry when so many mature trees were felled, we read an apology from WBB Minerals stating that it was an error on the part of the contractor and a large fine was mentioned. I am presuming that this same contractor is the one which cut down the remaining trees once the fuss had died down, leaving only a sparse hedge which will be almost non-existent when autumn comes. As we in the area have to put up with machinery noise from 7am to 7pm, six days a week, I feel that if the perimeter trees had been left they would have been a blanket against the continuous racket and dust problem we are suffering. Why did no-one in authority step in when the first complaints were heard? If, as we read last week, WBB Minerals and Fox want to put something back into the village, then couldn't the fine – which I believe would be quite substantial – go towards the fund to keep the library open? It's more than three years since the Highways Department at Forde House stated that Broadway Road was too dangerous to allow any more access openings on to it. Since then, the traffic that uses it has trebled, with people taking shortcuts to avoid jams on the Kingsteignton-Newton Abbot road, and the increase of industrial units in Broadway Park. The speed and weight restrictions are ignored by most. So why has WBB Minerals been allowed to open a roadway wide enough for lorries to use beside the scaffolding company? It is two weeks since my husband phoned Forde House to ask this question. We are still waiting for someone to return the call. We feel as if we are being kept in the dark about so much that is happening around us. Meetings with councillors, WBB representatives etc. have left us feeling even more disgruntled as we are never given any direct answers, so is it any wonder we all feel disgruntled and let down?
