Dorothy Dawson, of Belgrave Terrace, Teignmouth, writes:

In a recent article in the Daily Telegraph, MP Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (the department responsible for the National Planning Policies Framework), said: '...our reforms safeguard our glorious green spaces and countryside . . .And they defend Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and other important environmental designations. Nothing will change that today. Nothing will change that tomorrow'.

The River Teign estuary, which includes the river, the surrounding hills, and the salt marshes at its head, has been designated an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) since Devon County Council established the principle in the early 1950s. Ministerial approval was received in 1959. An important feature of this landscape type is 'cross-estuary views', and the AGLV designation is still technically in force.

Now before anybody says spoiling the view isn't a valid objection to a development, we are not talking about a few aggrieved residents' sitting room windows here.

The views around an AGLV, all of which will be spoiled if the current contentious planning applications are approved, are part of the defining characteristics of such an area – I refer readers to the DCC Landscape Character Assessments of 2001, which have been inherited wholesale by Teignbridge Council and can be found on the TDC website under Planning and Building Control/Landscape/Landscape Character Assessment 2009; the Teign Estuary is type 4C – Estuaries.

I have heard talk about a perceived threat that the Planning Inspectorate may not recognise the AGLV designation, but have never seen any documentary evidence to this effect, and if Mr Pickles can succeed in carrying through his promise, this means of preserving our unspoiled surroundings will continue to override the kind of speculative planning applications that are being quite illegally approved at the moment.

However, just in case he experiences some opposition, an online petition to the DCLG to retain the AGLV designation has been set up on their e-petition web area – if you would like to add your vote, search online for 'Government e-petitions' and then 'Retain AGLV designation for Teign Estuary'. Voters' names are not made public.

I would suggest there is a measure of urgency about this as the council are now 'working' on revising landscape assessments.MORE LETTERS IN OUR DIGITAL EDITION