Damian Corbett, of Well Park Place, Stoke Fleming, writes:

Recently letters correspondent Mary Wrigley wrote that she is concerned at the lack of debate regarding affordable housing in the area. She makes a very good point.

Millwood Homes had its master plan to build homes for local people turned down.

I lobbied local district councillors and urged them to support the development, on the grounds that many families are in need of good quality affordable housing and wish to stay in the area, alas to no avail.

Stoke Fleming and Dartmouth councils sent letters opposing the development.

It would appear that the nimbys won the day – or did they?

Last week's Dartmouth Chronicle contained an article stating that the developer has not given up hope of getting a revised plan through planning.

Worryingly, Cllr Julian Brazil's recently highlighted changes to planning rules which would allow developers to obtain planning permission with much-reduced percentages of affordable housing.

The result of these changes could mean that the proposed development by Millwood will go ahead but without the chance for local people on low incomes to live their lives in the area they grew up in quality affordable housing.

If this scenario does come to pass – and I fear it will – it will surely represent a catastrophic failure on the part of local councillors to represent the people they were elected to serve.

Now I will shut up and let everyone debate parking for the next 50 years.