Cllr Struan Coupar, of Bowden, Dartmouth, writes:

Mr Willison in his letter is under more than one misapprehension regarding the proposed West Dart development, Chronicle, September 4.

First, responsibility for that lies with South Hams Council, which is the local planning authority, and not with Stoke Fleming Parish Council, of which I am a member.

South Hams approved the development in principle a ­considerable time ago in order to meet national targets and the perceived housing needs of Dartmouth, although the land in question lies within our parish boundary.

The parish council can do nothing about that, although its representations did lead to the scale of the development being restricted from around 400 houses to 240.

Second, there has been no referendum on the proposed Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan, a plan that should give the parish more control over future development than has been possible in the past.

All that has taken place is

a consultation initiative, the ­feedback from which is helping shape the plan, which will be about future development.

It will not be about West Dart, as the basic decision on that lies in the past and was beyond our control.

A referendum, giving all parishioners a vote, will take place, but only once the plan has been finalised and approved by an independent examiner.