Robin and Rhona Griffin, residents all year of Hope Cove, write:

I first came to Hope Cove thirty years ago, when I brought school children from my various schools to the then youth hostel at Bigbury on Sea and also Overbecks.

Few people knew the South Hams unless they bought expensive AA/RAC 'secret ways' driving manuals. I began to plan to live here one day.

Working for Hope Cove Weekend over the last seven years, we met so many big-hearted people, including three committed families from Hope and Anchor, Port Light, and Sun Bay, who each put the village charity effort ahead of their respective businesses.

When we moved in before Christmas, we found a village in turmoil, with an organised campaign to achieve planning block by Gazette letter-writing, while the hostile behaviour at meetings I attended was a real shock.

I attended a seminar for councillors last autumn at SHDC.

Very firm guidance was given to advise town and parish planning committees that they are not a planning authority but are consultees contributing to the officer's final deliberations.

The speakers advised planning members that they should not lead village/town opinion nor predetermine their eventual vote, but should listen and keep their counsel until the appropriate meeting, then vote based on planning issues only. District councillors should not promote reactions but wait and vote at SHDC planning, which makes the final decision guided by the officer.

The chair of that seminar was councillor John Carter.

The most common reaction I have heard from the fair-minded majority, including Johnny Gibb last week, is one of sadness [which I share] that the village has seen such strife.

I look forward to the return of the legendary fun, warmth and tolerance to our wonderful village – you could very much say I live in Hope.