Cllr Kevin Lake, of Lime Grove, Exminster, writes:

As one of three councillors, one of two local ward councillors, I feel I must respond to the article covering Heritage Homes in your recent edition to put your readers straight in this unsavoury matter.               

First, myself and fellow ward councillor John Goodey have been involved with the housing issue in Kennford for some years. The old parish council initially approached the landowner  in response to an old outdated perceived need for local affordable housing without consulting the residents.                                          

Thus the residents have been and still are vehemently against any development in their village other than a very small affordable housing scheme to keep young local people there.    

Up until now South west water has had an embargo against any development because the sewerage/water facility could not cope. this has prevented small affordable social housing schemes from proceeding.

Heritage Homes has poorly consulted with Kennford's residents, showing little regard to their wishes in the search for profit.

They fail to comprehend that the residents do not want their development and they attack Teignbridge councillors for representing their residents  and threaten costs if refused .  

In the notable absence of their county councillor Alan Connett in an issue that was and is the most important to affect their community John and I will continue to fight for our residents whatever costs are threatened against us as democratically elected representatives.  

Last,  the development is not in Teignbridge's Local Plan before the inspector now (brought to fruition by a Conservative led administration in under three years – the Lib Dems failed twice in their attempts in many years). It is in an area surrounded by LGV land, and will affect the surrounding landscape and  village landscape – good sound reasons to refuse.MORE LETTERS IN OUR DIGITAL EDITION