In literature from the Campaign to Protect Rural England, I read, with the greatest concern, that the Government is pressing to weaken current planning laws, with a view to loosening permission for developers to use what are now protected green field sites.

I would urge you to write to our MP, the Rt Hon Hugo Swire, at The House of Commons, London, asking him to use his influence with other MPs, before the parliamentary debate on this issue in the New Year, with regard to the possible outcome of freely allowing “sustainable” development on currently protected land.

Consider: Green field land, once gone is gone forever.

I quote from CPRE: Between 1995 and 2007, 117 square miles of brown field land were redeveloped for housing. If this had been on green field land instead, an area of countryside at least six times the size of Southampton would have been lost.

Christine Duncan

24 Raleigh Road Exmouth.