Phil and Chris Pearce, of Bradley Road, Bovey Tracey, write:

With reference to the planning application at Bradley Bends, we applaud those members of the planning committee who voted to refuse this application based upon the facts presented and discussed.

Clearly they were not influenced by the fact that the applicant may go to appeal.

It is unreasonable to let internal pressure regarding the possible outcome of an appeal sway decision making in such an important case.

It is also unreasonable for the applicant's agent Mr Langworthy to suggest that the outcome of an appeal is 'a foregone conclusion' and 'it will cost the residents of Teignbridge an awful lot of money'. Don't worry, this will not happen.

The headline on the front page of last week's MDA 'Tax payers may foot bill for lost development' is just scare mongering. Why print that? it's not true.

There are no guarantees at an appeal. So the headline could just as easily read 'it will cost the applicant an awful lot of money'. That will obviously be in addition to what he has already invested in the planning process so far.

Buying up a piece of the countryside with a view to getting planning permission and selling on to a developer with no regard to the effect on the community is bad news.

Property speculation like this is no different from trading on the equity markets, so the value of such an investment can just as easily go down.

Developing at this location does not fit with the vision for Bovey Tracey. Bovey Tracey is a small market town of great character and it has an important role to play in tourism as a gateway to Dartmoor National Park.

Nobody wants to see Bovey Tracey develop into a sprawling mass of houses and become just another dormitory town.MORE LETTERS IN OUR DIGITAL EDITION