I have grave concerns over the role of the East Devon District Council planners over the way in which they have handled the planning application to build 81 houses on the Hillcrest School site. This site is adjacent to the watercourse of Withycombe Brook

I have grave concerns over the role of the East Devon District Council planners over the way in which they have handled the planning application to build 81 houses on the Hillcrest School site.

This site is adjacent to the watercourse of Withycombe Brook and has a slope gradient of 1:11, yet EDDC did not see the need to consult the Environment Agency until January 14, 2010, despite receiving the planning application on November 18, 2009. Why was that?

I imagine that many of the EDDC planners were not born in 1960 when the Withycombe Brook flooded, affecting 700 households, and will have no idea of the misery the residents of the affected area had to endure, yet they appear to want to 'rubber stamp' an application which could add to the possibility of a further disaster.

I think Tom Earl's letter (February 4) and that of Ann Prior previously (January 28) should act as a 'wake up call' for the residents of Exmouth and that we should hold our planners to closer scrutiny.

Roger H Thomas,

164A Hulham Road, Exmouth