I am writing in response to the negative comments made by Richard Rendle regarding the proposed development at New Barn Farm, on the outskirts of Dartmouth.

The facts are as follows: in January a planning consultant, acting on behalf of the developer, made a detailed presentation to the town council’s planning committee, which I chair.

Mr Rendle, who is no longer a councillor, was not at that meeting, although it was open to the public.

At the town council meeting in February, I gave a brief summary of the main points of the presentation – from memory, this was no more than five minutes. Mr Rendle was in the public gallery on that occasion.

Now, some weeks later, he has given us the benefit of his wisdom: the development will never be built and should never be built.

It must be comforting for him to be able to see into the future like this, and I am sure his views will be appreciated by the many Dartmouth families looking for decent and affordable housing.

The planning committee has not yet seen a formal planning application, but when we do, we will consider it on the basis of facts, not prejudice.

David Gent

Chairman of Planning, Dartmouth Town Council