Geoffrey Osborn, of Blackawton, writes:

This is to draw readers’ ­attention to an extension of time that district council ­planners have granted for the receipt of public comments on the planning application for an external lift shaft for the Boathouse at South Town.

Because there have been extensive problems accessing the council’s website in recent weeks, an extension of time has been granted to Friday, March 17.

This is an inappropriate ­proposal for an obtrusive ­structure within Dartmouth’s Conservation Area and within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It will spoil the view from South Town, from the Coast Path, from the river, from Manor Gardens and from the adjacent viewpoint, as well as being overbearing in relation to many nearby properties.

Why did the applicants not follow the advice of the ­planners to keep the structure as low as possible by using a platform lift instead of one that needs headgear?

So please look up all the details on the South Hams ­planning website, reference 0096/17/HHO, and either write a letter or send an email with your objection. The more individual objections that are received, the more the council will take note. A petition is a good thing, but individual objections count for a lot more.

Interestingly, Manor Gardens, through which the applicants are planning a new access and a bridge to the lift shaft, may be a public space, but it does belong, of course, to South Hams District Council, and the applicants do not have an automatic right of access. Will the council benefit from granting such an access? At least its ownership will mean that the application must go before the development management committee for a decision in due course.

Let’s hope that common sense will prevail and our ­elected ­representatives will

take notice of local objections and stand up and defend the AONB against inappropriate development.