Andy Cook, of Long Lane, Shaldon, has sent us a copy of his letter to Teignbridge Council planning department:

I would like to register my support for the Turner Centre application.

First, I need to notify you that I am on the steering committee for this project so have helped in the compilation of the application submitted, but I'd like to explain my reasons for joining the committee and supporting this project. It may also be relevant to highlight that I have no affiliation with the potential user groups, with the exception of my daughter attending pre-school once a week.

I grew up in Shaldon [1967 to 1985] and enjoyed the facilities that were available in the village to occupy my time. I was involved in many sporting and youth activities both through the school and outside of it. This included football, rounders, cubs, scouts, chess and youth club to name a few.

On my return to live in the village I don't feel that the children now growing up in the village have these same opportunities to partake in sport and benefit from the doing so, physically and mentally.

Hopefully this is illustrated below:

l Shaldon School pool and changing tooms – these facilities have been removed to accommodate the increasing number of children at the school.

l Teignhaven pool – we were often given access to use this pool in the summer, but it has been demolished prior to the Shoreside development being built.

l Shaldon Kestrels track – this area of the park has been grassed over and there is no racing now.

l Scout Hut – this facility adjacent to the park was removed with the clean sweep works.

l Shaldon Villa – Shaldon Villa now only operate an adult Sunday side, previously this had been an under-18 team.

l Shaldon School pitch and playground – the amount of play and recreational area in the school has been significantly reduced to house three additional classrooms.

l Ringmore Village Hall – this was the base for the Brownies and Guides and the facility was sold off and a house built on the site

Objectively, I note that the United Reformed Church in Bridge Road became an additional school hall, Shaldon Optimist Cricket Club was formed and that there a large amount of people rowing in the village, which were all positive steps.

I see that the Turner Centre will help redress the diminishing opportunities within the village for the youth, and adult population, for sport and outdoor activities. Once built it will be a base for the scouting and pre-school groups that can be easily accessed by all people in the village on foot. It will also open the park up to use by these groups and enhance the offer to the children by these groups.

For Shaldon Villa it means that they have a modern changing facilities and a base. Furthermore, the Turner Centre will facilitate Shaldon Villa growing and giving all the youth in the village the opportunity to play football.

Finally the Turner Centre will become a focal point for other land based sporting groups. For example that could take the form of indoor training for the rowing club based at Archibrook, a meeting point for running or cycling groups, a changing facility for groups who want to use the field to play touch rugby in the summer.

The alternative option if the Turner Centre is not provided is that we give people somewhere for their dogs to poo, as they do now.

I trust you understand my reasoning for supporting this application and I look forward to the decision on December 13.MORE LETTERS ON LINE