MRS A J THOMAS, of Cumber Close, Malborough, writes: Having read the Gazette dated June 5, I see that Alston Gate development is to stay, despite being built in the wrong place and much too near the road. Allegedly the builders realised they were in the wrong place when the buildings were up a few feet but they said they would get retrospective planning permission. They didn't but after a lengthy appeal the houses are to stay. What a mockery this makes of planning decisions. I presume from now on anyone can build anything anywhere. The houses are completely out of scale with the village. A few are already sold to outsiders. So much for local housing for local people! That's another myth. Have we got planners in the South Hams? The problem of houses for the young persists, prices are generally much too high for local people on local wages – even buy-half, rent-half is too expensive. We need more low-cost starter homes for local people, not outsiders. And as for the Bloor Homes on the approach to Salcombe, they are ugly monstrosities. I could go on all day.