BISHOPSTEIGNTON residents are fighting back against the inclusion of the proposed Forder Lane housing site in the Teignbridge Local Plan. 

A parish council meeting was held in the village’s Community Centre on Monday evening to give residents the opportunity to air their views. 

More than 100 people attended and all of them expressed their opposition to the plan. 

Let's see what some of those living in Bishopsteignton have to say.

Conrad Peter, of Teign Close, Bishopsteignton, said: 

‘We do not want this area or specifically our village to become a glorified housing complex

‘Our concerns here are not just about us, but for future residents from generations that will replace us. 

‘Local development plans, therefore, need to consider the people that live here and endeavour to keep the area as something special. To this end, we we need to have a proper and appropriate discussion or dialogue with our Councillors and those selected to represent us.’

Eddie Stephenson, of Bishopsteignton, said: 

‘We are a village community, where we work together. What is being proposed is a total nightmare as far the residents of the village are concerned. It will ruin the character of the village. Plus, the infrastructure affecting not just the village but around about is not capable of supporting it. 

‘This proposal wouldn’t be in keeping with the rest of the village. Access from the main road is limited anyway, you’ve only got to walk up and down the main street to see the problems now. But there’s no plans to improve the roads.

'Plans have already been turned down by Devon County Council. Sewage is going to be a big problem, as will water. As for education, the school is already over subscribed. Among other things, all this will be made worse.’

Councillor Henry Merritt, Chair of Bishopsteignton Parish Council, said: 

‘The issue is that we’ve got the undeveloped coast, we’ve got the Teign Estuary. It’s so important to protect that piece of land from development, for wildlife, for climate change and for the beauty of this area. 

‘Once the development spreads, we have the issue with maintaining this village as a separate entity from Teignmouth and Newton Abbot, it’s so important to stop that. 

‘The other reason is that for those two sites, there’s so much infrastructure required. For Forder Lane, it’s definitely a no from the community.

'For Bakers Yard, that is a brownfield site would be more suitable for development with the right infrastructure. But, what we all want is a decent mix of housing, that younger people can aspire to and at an affordable price.'