JOHN BOWES, of Galmpton Cross, Kingsbridge, writes:
I was pleased to read of the resolution of the long-running saga of the relocation the potato processing plant from Galmpton to a new site adjacent to the A379 near Churchstow.
It was a no brainer from the beginning and the near three-year controversy reflects very badly on the state of our planning procedures.
How much time and money of both local authority and applicant has been wasted at a time when monies to local authorities from central Government have been harshly cut and when the final permission granted differs very little in material terms from the initial discussions between the applicant and the local planning officer?
The business has grown from a one-man, part-time horticultural enterprise established 44 years ago by the present owners’ father on a small site where every approach road is incompatible with modern agricultural vehicles and halts traffic frequently – especially in the tourist season.
It is now a substantial agricultural enterprise offering much needed employment to local people in an area where job opportunities are scarce and often seasonal, and young people are forced to leave their home area to seek employment.
Such entrepreneurial initiatives need support and encouragement from officialdom and should not have to battle through 34 months of expensive, contentious planning application.
While I appreciate that we live in a democracy, there must surely be a simpler and more effective way to accelerate planning procedures and avoid the present discouraging and protracted system.