Mr H B Evans, of Coach Road, Newton Abbot, writes:

It was interesting to read that TDC has formally adopted Plan Teignbridge – a vision for the future. Perhaps the councillors were persuaded that if they failed to adopt the plan then developers and builders would have no restrictions placed upon them?

During the 20 full TDC meetings since February 23, 2009, there is no mention in the minutes of the start of the process or development of Plan Teignbridge. There appears no update was given to the councillors by the council officers or the executive until the plan was near to completion when it was discussed and its submission to the planning inspector agreed at the council meeting on September 21, 2012. However, in the Local Plan Statement of Consultation it states 'The Gypsy and Traveller Forum has been continuously informed about the development and progress of the Local Plan'.

It would therefore seem reasonable to expect TDC officers and the executive to inform and consult the full council at regular intervals (ie members elected to serve our best interests). Does TDC understand the difference between inform and consult?

In June 2013, 18,000 pages of documents were submitted to the planning inspector by TDC in evidence supporting Plan Teignbridge. It would be totally unreasonable to expect councillors to read all this information.

A precis of key issues on the proposed plan should have been given to the full council at regular intervals by council officers and/or the executive.

On such an important issue, TDC did not think it necessary to have a budget or separate cost centre to monitor and control expenditure.

However, a TDC 'guesstimate' of nearly £1 million of tax payers' money has been spent; not exactly petty cash.

TDC had a meeting with representatives of Newton Abbot Town Councill in June 2008 to discuss the effects of the plan on the town centre.

Their next meeting was in February 2012 at the request of the town council. This left them very little time to respond to the plan. However, the town council did respond, raising many significant points.

At a town council meeting in November 2012 it was resolved to respond to the Local Plan Proposed Submission that three very significant areas they recommended had been completely ignored.

TDC has made no attempt to have any face to face discussions with representative bodies such as Abbotskerswell Parish Council or Wolborough Residents' Association; an area where at least 1,500 houses and a new road are proposed.

Despite widespread concern at the proposals, the leader of TDC publically stated that the 3,000 objectors to this aspect of the Plan were a 'vociferous minority'.

It is interesting to note that no councillor representing Newton Abbot serves on TDC executive, but the leader, deputy leader and the housing portfolio holder who represent Haytor, Ashburton and Buckfastleigh, happen to live where no development is planned.

So this is democracy.

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