IN the Courier dated March 4 there were several letters relating to the proposed developments on the site known as Pedlarspool .

They included concerns about its relationship to the flood plain of the River Creedy, as well as the need for infrastructure before the housing developments put even more pressure on the primary schools and GPs surgeries in Crediton.

On the same page was the letter from Mr Ford about the traffic problems which the recent diversion away from the High Street created at the top and bottom of Jockey Hill and at the top of St Martin’s Lane.

Devon County Council Highways have been unable to suggest an alternative route for traffic using the High Street for many years although this issue was discussed before the route for a Relief Road was selected and designed.

The air quality in the High Street was not expected to improve when the Relief Road was open. There is increasing evidence that poor air quality, as measured by particulate and Nitrogen dioxide concentrations is responsible for increasing numbers of people dying before their time from heart and lung diseases.

The Mid Devon plan has put an emphasis on sustainability. The Pedlarspool development including 300 homes is a challenging opportunity for the developers to satisfy the planners and the people of Crediton, that the homes are built to minimise energy use and that low impact transport facilities do not worsen the traffic problems in and around the town.

I have looked at the Gleesons’ website and it seems that most of their activity has been in the north of England.

As a Yorkshireman who moved to Devon, I cannot hold that against them. However I am surprised that I was not able to find anything on their site about design for sustainability which would be important if they are given the go-ahead for the Pedlarspool site.

I hope that our Town and District Councillors will insist that Mid Devon’s good intentions are translated into a sustainable development on the outskirts of Crediton.

John Boyle

Fordton

Crediton