SOME of your correspondents are confusing large scale development with the need for a new university.

There need not be factories, warehouses and thousands of houses next to Coate Water just to allow the landowners to give a small area to Bath University free of charge for its own use.

The two projects should be separated and planning permission be granted for the university alone, without any other buildings.

MP Michael Wills can then persuade his Government to wholly fund the purchase of land and all building work.

After years in planning and estates committees I remain astounded by the bare-faced greed of developers and the inability of local representatives to distinguish between the trees and the wood.

Do not forget that Bath could still fail to build if planning permission is granted and we could end up with just a factory estate.

KEITH RATCLIFFE

Priory Green, Highworth