HERE we go again, another 300-plus houses given the go ahead in Okehampton. It all sounded very nice on the front page of Okehampton Times last week, with all the trees and large green open spaces. But, the people who will be buying these houses will have jobs out of town, such as Exeter or further afield.

I don't like to say it, but it's a fact of life: not too many of these home-buyers will ever inter-mingle with local people, or prop up a bar in a local pub to find out what makes Okehampton tick! I'm sorry, but it's true.

So, what will our little town on Dartmoor gain out of this? Well, we know one thing for sure, the council is going to be quids in when it comes to collecting council tax. We are also told that West Devon Borough Council will receive £2-million and Devon County Council over £500,000, which brings me to affordable housing.

With low wages in Okehampton, there is no such thing as affordable housing! With the high numbers on council waiting lists for rentable houses, wouldn't it make sense to put this £2.5-millions towards building good old fashioned council houses for local people? Or is this a vision too far for out councillors?

David Luckhurst

Okehampton

I AM so glad that certain West Devon Borough Councillors are happy with the Linden homes application. James McInnes of Lew Valley, Terry Pearce represents Mary Tavy and Alison Clish-Green is member for Tavistock South West. No quote from an Okehampton-based councillor.

I see West Devon Borough Council is to get more than £2-million from this deal.

Yet Okehampton centre remains gridlocked because we are still waiting for a road round via Oaklands to North Street to link up with the trading estate. Oh, silly me, West Devon sold off the old depot site that would have allowed vehicles to turn from the bridge by Waitrose into Oaklands Drive. I think that was the excuse I was given when I raised this question.

Surely there's room for a one-way system which would help the town centre enormously?

No doubt another decision made by councillors unconnected with Okehampton.

Linden Homes will pay another half million towards 'local education'. How local? West Devon Borough Council have just agreed to build more houses on the land set aside for the new primary school!

So what will this be used for? How about it going for a community centre up in the new estates in Okehampton Hamlets?

Jan Goffey