Leslie Pengelly, of Buckwell Road, Kingsbridge, writes:

In the article ‘Housing plan fears backed by council’, Gazette, November 11, Jonathan Stilwell, one of the potential developers, stated that ‘the town council is representing the views of the people who live right next to the development, but not those of the rest of the town’.

This was not an honest ­assessment and the failure to get the town council’s support is because of the developer’s failure to have suitable plans submitted for drainage, access, public open space and parking provision.

The drainage plan was not accepted by South West Water or the lead local flood authority, in a town where large areas are designated as having critical drainage status due to the flooding history of Kingsbridge.

The design had received complaints from the Police Alliance prevention department with regards to the positioning of the proposed public open space and the lack of parking. The lack of parking is a concern shared by Highways, with the threat of a Traffic Regulation Order to be implemented if parking did become an issue that would inevitably push parking issues further afield.

The access to the site is presently inadequate, with a sharp, 180-degree bend.

The councillors would not have been representing the rest of the town if they had ignored these fundamental issues with the developer’s plans and had given support to the plans by giving either a statement of no comment or recommending approval.

In particular, they would not have been supporting those people who live in Duncombe Street, Church Close and the businesses of Bridge Street, which suffer from flooding.