FURTHER to the letter by A Burge (Courier December 11) I would make comments on the following points:
1. "Road designers say the Valley route would be very difficult because of the flood plain"
Modern developments on flood plains incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Schemes. No doubt the new Tesco site has a SUDS system in place and no doubt one could be devised for the Valley Route.
2. English Heritage has indicated that it would be opposed to the Valley Route.
This is probably because it affects the setting of a listed building. However, this does not preclude development. Conditions can be included to ensure soft landscaping (planting schemes) minimises the impact on the listed building and its setting. This may modify the setting, but not be detrimental.
3. English Heritage and the Environment Agency are Statutory Consultees so must automatically be involved.
4. The planning process has to take into consideration the views of all parties. It is a matter of how much weight is afforded to these views in trying to reconcile diverse interests.
5. Prima facie it would appear that there are no objections to the Valley Route that cannot be overcome - it is merely a matter of hard cash.
S. Andrews
Morchard Bishop