I have the honour to present the petition of 1,500 of the townspeople of Okehampton in my constituency. The petition has been collected by Mr. Mel Stride and an indefatigable band of helpers from all parties. It is their heartfelt conviction that their town is being expected to absorb massive housing development, amounting to many hundreds of new homes without adequate investment and planning for the schools, medical facilities, roads and other infrastructure to support them.

The petition states:

The Humble Petition of the people of Okehampton and its surrounding area,

Sheweth

That Okehampton is a market town that already suffers from significant traffic congestion and associated pollution, notes that there exists a high level of local demand for primary school places and local healthcare, and is concerned that the current infrastructure is overwhelmed.

Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House impresses upon the Government and the Department for Communities and Local Government the acute strain on Okehampton’s schools, hospital, and roads, and the need for any further development, particularly of housing, to be supported by adequate provision of new infrastructure, so that its problems are resolved, not exacerbated.

And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.

[P000048]