Pauline Whatmough, of St Joseph's Court, Carlton Place, Teignmouth, writes:

In Letters to the Editor last week, you published a letter from my neighbour, Roy Phillips, in which he listed some of the terrible things a developer has allegedly done to the apartment of my friend and neighbour, Athlene O'Connell, while she is in a residential care home.

I live next door to her and for many months have been subjected to and forced to endure construction noises – drilling, hammering, etc – often before 8am and after 6pm. Not only that, but it is often after hours and on Saturdays and Sundays.

Like many other people, I have repeatedly complained to Teignridge Council, the planning department in particular, as well as the environmental health department, in addition to the developer himself. No-one has done anything to help and seemingly they do not give a damn.

For many months, my life has been made a living hell. It has adversely affected my health and made my working life very difficult through the never-ending stress and loss of sleep etc.

On many occasions I?have been forced to stay away from my home for many hours at a time. Even my visitors have found the noise intolerable and unbearable.

There has been no help from anyone, apart from some false promises by the council. Nothing practical was or is being done.

That this developer has been allowed to seemingly damage Athlene's apartment, especially when her son is trying to sell it to help pay for her residential care costs, is beyond any decent person's belief.

I used to vote at local elections, believing that those elected to our district and county councils would help look after our interests and especially those of the vulnerable and elderly. I know now that I was mistaken and so will not bother to vote locally again. In this I am far from being alone.