Wayland Van Hildyck-Smith, of Forde Park, Newton Abbot, writes:

I cannot believe that any local authority would pass plans for any supermarket or other building without stipulating that the town’s iconic signal gantry must remain. How many people say: ‘Keep on the road until you reach the signal gantry then you are in Newton.’

it is a specific part of ‘directions’ now, as given to those not familiar with the town.

But wait, was not the gantry given to the town by the family of David and Charles, whose grounds it has graced for more years than I can remember.

Who is ‘The Town’? As an inanimate object it means the people thereof, so any suggestion of moving it, or selling it must surely be decided by them, not the one or two bods on the council. it is not theirs for disposal.

I think there should be a ballot of those people who want to keep it and those who do not – majority vote having, as is usual, the last word.

Just for once, I suggest the money-grabbers give a little thought to the word ‘heritage’ before destroying yet one more irreplaceable piece of our surroundings.

May I remind them of the biblical story of Esau, who sold his birthright for a mess of potage. do they want to do the same?