Cllr Pearce accuses me of “playing with statistics” in my letter of April 21, when all I have done is point out how the proposed housing numbers have been arrived at as explained in the joint local plan background papers.

She has denied that the South Hams is taking some of west Devon’s need and west Devon has insufficient allocations for its own need. Yet both these facts are in the published background paper on housing. Why hasn’t she checked the facts before rushing to print?

She also claimed she wants to see more affordable housing, yet the JLP is suggesting that only 30 per cent of larger developments should be affordable, when in the South Hams the background paper suggests that the need is for 58 per cent and the previous South Hams policy, adopted in 2008, was for 50 per cent. Admittedly, this was before Cllr Pearce was elected, so maybe she was not aware of it.

Finally, she said she supports neighbourhood plans, prepared by local communities, and implied that they will have autonomy. I hope so. The Modbury Neighbourhood Plan has recommended housing ­allocations different from those proposed by South Hams in the JLP following public meetings attended by hundreds of residents. Ivybridge Town Council wants a different strategy for Ivybridge, as explained on the front page of the Gazette last week. Chillington does not want the 65 houses Cllr Pearce supported at the recent development management committee meeting. Dartington certainly does not want to be “swamped” by a 35 per cent increase in housing numbers. Etc.

As someone who worked for 15-plus years in strategic ­planning in a county council, I believe in forward planning and I want a JLP to succeed. But it must be based on sound evidence and the wishes of its communities. When are our councillors going to start listening to us?

Mark Lawrence

Poundwell Street

Modbury