Claire Stoyle, of Topcliff Road, Shaldon, writes:

Reference the Turner Centre plan, Mr Mears seems very happy to call the residents of Shaldon nimbys but he has failed to notice that Shaldon seems to be the place of choice for the people of Teignmouth and neighbouring villages and towns. Is this proposed centre really being built for the benefit of the villagers or for those living elsewhere?

Take, for example, Shaldon Primary School: it has a capacity of more than 200, with only about one third of the children actually living in the village. It admits the majority (two-thirds) of the children from Teignmouth, whilst Inverteign School only has 180 out of its 280 capacity, and takes children unable to get a place in Shaldon, although they live in the village.

Shaldon Pre-school also takes children from all areas in Victoria Hall four days a week, as it has a very good reputation. Victoria Hall desperately needs more bookings to keep it from closing.

Mr Mears fails to see that the population of the village is bolstered by holiday homes, and a mere ten per cent of its population are actually school age children.

He is now suggesting that this proposed 'new hall' is a much needed facility – for whom?

Surely with the larger percentage coming from outside the village, its position would be better suited to where the majority is.

He also fails to acknowledge the fact that the Sea Scouts already have facilities at Coombe Cellars, with boat parking, car parking and use of the clubhouse owned by TCYC. Does he suggest that the meetings be held at King George V field and then reconvened up there?

He appears to have forgotten that the footballers and the cricketers were given changing facilities on the field which were vandalised by graffiti, as was the play park, and the end result was that the building was set on fire.

Another point he mentions is that there is a perfectly good car park at Shoreside – if this is the case, then why do the parents of children at the school find it necessary to park elsewhere as the car park is insufficient for their needs? just ask the residents of Shoreside, Oystercatcher Court, the local policeman and traffic warden. People are not going to walk the distance around Shoreside to the other end of King George V field with youngsters when they could attempt to block Ringmore Road and be so much closer.MORE LETTERS IN OUR ONLINE EDITION