I would like to thank your correspondent G Fitzgerald for giving me the opportunity to explain my decision to support the roundhouse at the High Nature Centre.

Perhaps I should start with my experience on my visit to the centre last Tuesday.

I arrived to find a group of young people with learning difficulties being introduced to their activities for the day. These activities included forest school, yoga, mindfulness and cooking. It was a delight to see the joy on their faces. Being a local councillor can be very frustrating at times, but on these occasions – seeing young people who may never have experienced anything like this in their tough lives, laughing and playing, enjoying themselves – makes it all worth it.

As a planning committee we balance the social, economic and environmental benefits with any negative effects there may be on the AONB. At committee, I compared the effect of an authentic roundhouse, made of straw and wood with a grass covered roof, visible to the public only as a grassy mound in the distance with the huge benefits to the wider community. Most councillors supported my position.

I respect that not everyone shares my view. For some the AONB should be completely sacrosanct but for me it is still a living and working environment – not all change needs to be detrimental.

It is ironic that I am having to defend my decision for a single roundhouse with all its undoubted social and environmental benefits, while at the same time central government is forcing us to build thousands of houses in and around the AONB. These houses have neither the infrastructure nor the jobs to support them and are certainly not affordable for local young working families.

In time I hope even the fiercest critics of the High Nature Centre will see the benefits it can bring. I am proud and feel privileged to have been able to support such a wonderful project. Perhaps in the future G Fitzgerald would like to come and visit.

Cllr Julian Brazil

East Prawle