Dianne Conduit, of Howton Road, Newton Abbot, writes:

as a resident living to the west of Newton Abbot and in the area proposed for development in the core strategy (NA1) I reply to Cllr Neil Wilson's letter.

I agree with his view that there is a need to plan for the future but this should not be at the expense of future sustainability and damage to the key assets, attributes and character of Newton Abbot.

In my opinion, Cllr Wilson has never to my knowledge spoken with any of the residents in this area, does not understand the community, how it works or what is needed. We have never been a community against development: we only ask that it is evidence based, proportionate to need, in the right place and sustainable for future generations.

While there is a planning application for part of NA1 at Hele Park with the council, it seems both absurd and scandalous that a decision is likely to be made regarding this site only weeks before the future housing numbers are agreed and before the themes of the 7,000 responses to the core strategy consultation are known.

Depending on the core strategy outcome, Hele Park could be sitting at the centre of a huge development in this area or it could be the urban edge of Newton Abbot, if it's needed at all.

The planning and design for Hele Park should be very different depending on its location within the overall NA1 plan. If sitting at the centre it may still be the best location for a new primary school, community amenity and open space.

I would urge common sense to prevail and the Hele Park decision to be deferred or refused until the housing numbers are agreed and the core strategy amended. This would allow the council, developer and landowner to maintain their integrity given recent procedural flaws and silence those who are suspicious about the real reason behind the sudden haste to make this decision; it can't be current housing supply – new homes are appearing every day at Mile End.

I would like to thank Cllrs Jackie Brodie, Kelvyn Shantry, Anne Fry and Gordon Hook for their continued support in working through the significant issues for residents in both the core strategy proposals for NA1 and the particular application related to Hele Park.

While I am sure Cllr Wilson has Newton Abbot's residents' best interests at heart I think he should come out and talk to residents and really understand the issues instead of pontificating to make headlines.

I always judge people by their intentions and actions not what they say. Cllr Wilson, please come and see us.THIS AND OTHER LETTERS IN OUR DIGITAL EDITION