County Cllr John Smith, of Teignmouth, writes:

The proposed health, sports and leisure facilities in Kingsteignton will satisfy the needs of several groups.

1) Teign School has no sports centre; 2) people of all ages – ie the community of Kingsteignton – have limited local facilities; 3) Abbrook Sports and Social Club want improvements to their existing complex; 4) Devonians are hungry for sports provision at national competition standards.

The development's first phase will include a Teign School sports centre providing sports and a fitness suite. These facilities will be available for joint use/hire, by community groups, Abbrook in particular. The budget will initially be managed by the school – the same as every other school/community sports centre in Devon.

All other developments will be dependent on a full feasibility study done by business analysts.

The first 'extra' facility given a 'green light' by the analysts is a cycling complex, including a banked velodrome. Cycling facilities like this, in other parts of the country, are well used and are certainly commercially viable. The nearest similar complex is in Newport, south Wales.

I worked hard to try to prevent the closure of the indoor bowls centre. Poor health costs money and we know that physical exercise helps to maintain better health for people of all ages. All health professionals believe it would be smarter to invest in better facilities than pay huge bills for health problems.

Devon County Council is not 'incurring debts of £1m per week.' All councils borrow to prudent limits, to provide facilities, but Liberal Democrat Devon's borrowing is much less than that of our Conservative neighbours.

This low level of debt is one of the reasons why Liberal Democrat Devon was recently given a maximum four stars, 'excellent' grade, by Audit Commission inspectors.