‘CONCERNED’ members of a parish council held their own consultation on the Teignbridge Local Plan last week as some have raised concerns over how the district council was going about collecting feedback.

Residents were invited last Tuesday to comment on potential housing sites for the district by Kingskerswell Parish Council.

A frustrated councillor, Jane Taylor, said: ‘It was clear that everyone there felt that they had been failed by the district council.’

She added that the ‘warm evening’ had given residents a ‘ravenous appetite’ for when district councillors Mike Haines, and Alistair Dewhirst arrived at the meeting.

Cllr Taylor claims that councillor Dewhirst said all his Ipplepen ward members wanted as many ‘houses as possible built in their village’.

But Cllr Dewhirst insists this is not what was said.

He explained: ‘One lady sat in front of me asked what would happen if every village rejected all the sites, I simply explained that villagers in Ipplepen generally understood that there “is” a desperate need for housing in the area.’

Concerns were also raised by Cllr Jane Taylor that the Local Plan had a number of inaccuracies such as out of date aerial shots and maps.

Cllr Dewhirst offered an explanation, he said: ‘The Local Plan is a vast document produced by a small team... It’s understandable that some things will be slightly out of date.

He added: ‘The plan takes a long time to produce.

‘In a perfect world we would have a huge team of people working on it – but we don’t, It doesn’t necessarily invalidate the picture.’

‘Have Your Say’ [on the Local Plan] urged Cllr Taylor. ‘Ask questions of your elected members and contact your MP.’

She added: ‘Do not let this happen. Complain about what is being served up, we have swallowed it before.’

A spokesperson for Teignbridge Council said: ‘Throughout its preparation, we update the draft local plan documentation as new information becomes available.

‘We are grateful to residents who share their local knowledge and help us by drawing attention to any inaccuracies.

‘By responding to the consultation survey, residents increase our knowledge and as a result information is updated for future stages of the Local Plan’s preparation.’