I READ with interest the item in your December 27 edition which announced the approval by Taunton Deane Borough Council of the Quantock Gate Development in Bishops Lydeard.

I have subsequently read the letters of Dr Sherlock and Henry Davenport on the development in last week’s edition (Postbag, January 17).

Of particular interest was the intended provision of a public open space, a play area and landscaping and the statement by Ian Menham, MD of David Wilson Homes, that expressed his delight at being able to proceed with this scheme.

I live on the DWH Willow Mead development in Wiveliscombe, along with 51 other households, and we purchased our properties with the promise of similar facilities.

READ MORE: Work to begin on 173 new homes in Bishops Lydeard in the spring

Crucially the Section 106 Agreement for the site states that those facilities should be available prior to the occupation of the 15th dwelling.

It is now more than two years since that event took place and they are still not sufficiently completed to be used by the residents, even though the play equipment was partially installed over a year ago!

Although there are penalties to be applied where developers fail to meet their Section 106 responsibilities, no enforcement has yet taken place and it was not until residents actively complained, that the planning department showed any interest in asserting its powers of enforcement.

So much for developers’ promises and equally, those of planners who insist on facilities being provided and then fail to ensure that their instructions are properly carried out.

RICHARD NEWBY
Wiveliscombe