THE amount and quality of genuine local consultation is likely to be reduced if South Hams executive okays plans for a joint local plan with West Devon, according to the South Hams Society.

John Chalmers from the society said: 'The council has to produce a new plan which conforms to the National Planning Policy Frame-work and the Localism Act.

Its importance to the future of the South Hams and its environment cannot be overstated – we need to get it right. The outgoing Local Development Framework has produced fewer affordable houses than we were led to expect, while legitimising the loss of greenfield countryside.

'This Thursday, the Executive will be considering a paper purporting to set out the way ahead. We think it inadequate.

'Firstly, it reveals how little SHDC has actually done so far to develop its plan, and how fast it now has to go to get it adopted within a reasonable time.

'Secondly, the proposal seeks to save money by combining the local plans of the South Hams and West Devon. Whatever pro-mises to the contrary may be made, this is bound to reduce the ability of councillors to influence the result.

'For both reasons, the amount and quality of genuine local consultation is likely to be reduced.'

Mr Chalmers added: 'SHDC should have been at this stage a year ago when the NPPF was adopted.

They have frittered away the year allowed by the NPPF to develop a local plan and by doing so have opened the door to developers to propose and expect approval of any 'sustainable' development.'