The Gazette's article on dormitory homes in Devizes (April 21) was timely. When the Government planning inspector made the disastrous decision to allow housing development on the Kverneland site, he mentioned that under new Government rules, any brownfield development could be offset against retention of greenfield sites.

This could only mean de-allocation of the proposed Quakers Walk build, a development which is set to ruin an essential green space, as well as adding further to the possibility of total road gridlock in the future.

I am concerned that Kennet is lacking in enthusiasm for such a move, despite the fact that it would conform to the local plan, which has had a coach and horses driven through it by the results of recent planning appeals on Kverneland and Spitalcroft.

However, even if Kennet were to adopt the idea, they can expect little support from County, who are getting a new school very cheaply on the site as a result.

Kennet allocates new houses to Devizes without having total control over the infrastructure, or health provision, that have to go along with such expansion. County then degrades or ignores the traffic problems this will create; the PCT is still trying to close the hospital and maternity unit, and the employment base has no chance of expanding, especially as neither Kennet nor County have any concrete business development plans to encourage employers to the town.

With all the commuting to Swindon and elsewhere by new residents, yet another Government target bites the dust as more cars take to the roads; so you have the ridiculous spectacle of a national government putting pressure on local government to be environmentally aware, and urge people to leave their cars at home, meanwhile encouraging large numbers of them to live some distance away from their place of employment!

National government is making a rod for our backs, and when local government does try to stick to the local plan, they are unable to do so because a government planning inspector insists that more housing is the only objective worth considering.

All the more reason that Kennet should be courageous, and look again at Quakers Walk plans, de-allocate the area, and review the options for school provision, rather than end up with yet more housing in Devizes.

J Rose

Secretary

Devizes Guardians