BELOW is a copy of a letter sent to the Chief Executive of Torridge District Council Mr John van de Laarschot with reference to the proposed gypsy and traveller site at Derriton Depot in Pyworthy.

The council are writing to express their concerns over the way in which this proposal has been developed. From the outset, when the first report of the proposed development was received (via a conversation with a TDC officer, not through official channels) it has become increasingly difficult to obtain reliable information about the plans for the site.

Whilst the council will obviously make no decision on the proposals until such time as a planning application has been submitted, it does have a duty to gather reliable information about the proposals and activities at the site, if only to answer the questions put to the council by anxious residents in the parish.

There seems to be a lack of co-ordination around the project, to the extent that the chairman receives different information from TDC officers to that which our ward member, Cllr Ken James, is able to provide. For example, the council had been assured that a pre-planning consultation would be held. The chairman witnessed a meeting at the site on Monday, March 27 at around 4.30pm, and has since learnt that this was an architect visiting the site carrying out design work. This would seem to be a waste of money if planning permission is not granted.

The council would like to have a full timetable for the project, including which meetings the proposals will be discussed at, when and where the consultations will be held, and the date on which a planning application will be submitted (if indeed one is submitted at all).

I am sure you will agree, it is impossible to make any decision on any planning application without being fully informed of the facts surrounding the proposal, and so I am sure you will be anxious to provide this council with complete information so that when the time comes they can make just such a decision.

Chairman of Pyworthy Parish Council.