WEST Devon Borough Council wants to impose large single urban extensions on Tavistock and Okehampton. Devon County Council wants to impose parking meters. Both of these have caused the raising of considerable hackles, but we are told that it is in our best interests, as they know best. True consultation has never taken place, and both are classic cases of top-down decision making.
Your correspondent Charles Letchford (December 23) writes to complain of poor democratic practise, John Leonard supports him, but retired chief executive of West Devon Borough Council David Incoll writes to say decision making is difficult, and West Devon Borough Councillor Robin Musgrave refers to those opposing the core strategy.
What an excellent thing it is, therefore, that before long we all are set to benefit from the pending Localism Bill, designed to facilitate and encourage neighbourhood involvement in decision making, to confront this lack of true representational voice. (Readers might also like to know that a proportion of the money raised from developments in the future, through the new Communicty Infrastructure Levy, will have to be retained for the benefit of the affected neighbourhood — and its exact application will have to be determined in consultation with that neighbourhood).
But there is also another benefit from the new legislation. A change is being implemented to allow councillors to vote according to their consciences, without fear of being accused of bias. This should also weaken the party political pressurising that has created such contentious voting situations as we have seen in the recent past.
Councils have had it too easy for too long. Resentment throughout the UK has resulted in the current legislation, to allow more meaningful neighbourhood representation. And it is specifically designed to free up the planning process It will be up to all of us now to take advantage of it. Then we will only have ouselves to blame, or, hopefully, praise, with the results.
Jeremy Davies
Tavistock