IN response to the letter from Jill McMullon of Middleton Tyas (D&S Times, July 10), I fail to understand her reference to the house at Dixholme in the village. It is factually accurate to place the three-plot site as up from the council houses, but it also happens to be directly across the road from Jill McMullon’s own property – may this be the reason for her self-confessed “sour grapes”?

I take exception to her phrase that one house has “grown expansively”. The house that is currently under construction is being built as per the plans submitted to Richmondshire District Council in April 2014, and which were approved by the planning committee in October 2014 – the same committee that originally granted outline planning permission, so there was approximately six months for people to examine the drawings of the proposed residence.

The house has not grown expansively but is under construction.

A planning application has since been submitted for a detached garage on this site, but the original outline planning permission did include for a detached garage, so no further expansive growth there either.

The two other plots which were refused permission have now gone to appeal where the decision-making of the previous committee will be examined. This has nothing to do with the new committee nor new ward member, so I don’t understand its relevance.

As regards the proposed development for 35 houses in Middleton Tyas, I also attended the consultation meeting in the village hall. There was a very mixed response from the community, and many residents supported the proposals. I do not deny that affordable housing was a concern but residents also felt that carefully considered development was important to help secure the future of the village shop, pub and school.

Middleton Tyas is fortunate enough to have all three but they need to be protected so a negative response to all developments in the village, whether infill sites or not, is not necessarily caring for the community.

Andrew Robinson, Middleton Tyas, Richmond.