Cllr Ken Tuckett, of Kingsteignton, writes:
Mr Williams, chief executive of AWE, should accept a large part of the responsibility for Teignbridge Council having what he claims is one of the worst records among English authorities for delivering new homes. (MDA December 11).
In 2003 he persuaded the council to abandon its area development plan in favour of a development he claimed would deliver the area's housing needs and give Kingsteignton a 'heart' with new roads, shops, schools, health centre, sports facilities, employment and open space.
Six years on, after rejection at two public inquiries and by the Secretary of State on grounds of not delivering a sustainable development through an inability to meet local needs and provide essential infrastructure, only a small number of new homes have been built.
Some responsibility does, however, rest with the council.
In 2006 it commissioned an independent viability assessment of Mr Williams' development, which found it was not viable to meet the local need for affordable housing, educational requirements and all of the essential support infrastructure, but still the council adopted the development as its strategic policy and still retains it as such today, although to date it has refused every planning application that has been submitted in respect of the development.
Some people attempt to lay responsibility with Kingsteignton Residents Environmental Awareness Group, but KREAG has only ever made representations in the due planning process, opposing the scale of development and seeking to ensure that whatever development is approved includes all the essential support infrastructure.
That surely is a sensible way for any community to approach large scale development plans for its town.MORE LETTERS IN OUR ONLINE EDITION