Cllr Ken tuckett, of Kingsteignton Town Council, writes:

Teignbridge district councillors express concern over the provision of affordable housing and highways infrastructure in the Newton Abbot area (MDA 22/01) but it was TDC that adopted the Kingsteignton Northern Urban Extension (NUE) as its development policy for that area, a development that was independently assessed and found at a public inquiry not to be financially deliverable.

On March 20, 2007, County Cllr Hart, now the leader of Devon County Council, told DCC Executive that the NUE was part of the discussions that brought forward the Sherford and Cranbrook new towns.

The NUE should have been up and running some time ago, he said, and accused TDC of not knowing what they were doing.

The Executive was also told a new road bridging the River Teign river, Stover Canal and the railway line was a DCC priority. That road is not included in the NUE planning applications soon to be determined by TDC.

The Newton Road Relief Road, previously agreed as necessary to release new housing, is now deemed to be unnecessary. A Newton Road bus lane is substituted.

Affordable housing, with the added benefit of a £3.4 million housing grant, is reduced to ten per cent from the 30 pr cent previously guaranteed 'with or without a housing grant'. There is still a funding gap for educational requirements.

DCC also writes the much vaunted flood alleviation scheme that was to remove 2000 homes from the threat of flooding will not be carried out until the completion of future clay extraction at Rackerhayes ponds which is not planned to start for another 25 years.

The Secretary of State found the development does not meet local needs and does not provide for a sustainable community in accordance with government policy.

District councillors are concerned. how do they think their communities feel ?

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