Roy G Phillips, of St Joseph's Court, Carlton Place, Teignmouth, writes:The article on page 2 of the Teignmouth Post last week headed District to sell off facilities will surprise and shock your readers, especially those who still believe councils were elected to provide services to their community.However, Teignbridge's elected leader and his all-powerful executive committee must, like their central government colleagues and leader, similarly regard their area councils as milch cows – good only for continual depletion.The leader and his committee need to be reminded that Teignbridge's so-called assets were assets given to them by local councils like Teignmouth, Dawlish and Newton Abbot when Michael Heseltine established district councils in l974.I know that Teignmouth was stripped of all its assets, including Bitton House. In later years, Teignbridge has often quietly 'disposed' of these assets, and gained many, many millions – most recently through the sale of Broadmeadow for £10m plus.So the astute acquisition and careful husbandry by truly local councillors over many generations have been and are now increasingly sacrificed by subservient district councils to accord with the wishes of their central government masters.For Teignmouth, will that include the car park and land at Brunswick Street? We in Teignmouth have had to wait more than 30 years for this area to be redeveloped.This site, in the heart of Teignmouth, was supposedly earmarked for some high-quality retail outlets, enhanced car parking and possibly low-cost housing. For many years the excuse given was the need first for a flood prevention scheme, yet nothing has been done since the scheme's completion.The district just ignored the need for more car parking in Teignmouth after the site next to the car park was cleared. They fenced it off and we now have a run-down builders' yard there.The little house next to the Salvation Army Centre has been owned by Teignbridge for many years and was to have been part of the redevelopment. No effort was ever made to turn it into an affordable home for some of the many in need of such in Teignmouth. Is this building also up for grabs?As Teignbridge is failing to deliver the services it was elected to provide, when then is there a continuing need for a district council? Why not disband Teignbridge and sell off their buildings? They can then return to parish and town councils what remains of those councils' original assets plus a proportionate part of the Teignbridge buildings' sale.Then once again let local councillors deal with local services. Need I remind councillors that Quality Councils like Newton Abbot and Dawlish are already, if they so wish, able to carry out these functions.At least then, residents would have local councillors directly responsible to them, their electors. No need then to continue selling off valuable assets.Asset stripping is not, and never should be, any part or function of local government. We can safely leave that to the London boys.

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