I WON’T be signing Stuart F Elton’s petition for High Street (Colchester) parking (Letters, December 16).

If the petition called for less High Street traffic I would be the first to sign.

Mike Pearson in a letter to (December 15) contends, rather unfairly I feel, we are way behind Chelmsford, Ipswich, Norwich and even Bury St Edmunds.

I agree with Mr Pearson in one respect in that all of these towns/cities have traffic free centres.

This does make for a more pleasant shopping experience.

Take the case of Culver Street West. This is a busy pedestrian area yet traffic is allowed up to midday on Fridays and Saturdays.

Vehicles in fact use the area during designated pedestrian hours without, it seems censure.

Surely the emphasis should be on cheap and convenient car parks and the park and ride.

So far as the latter is concerned Chelmsford’s seems to work exceptionally well.

On a recent visit the service was so popular that squabbles broke out because people were alleged to be jumping the queue.

There is too much traffic in our town centre and the first priority of both our councils should be to find ways to reduce this as soon as possible.

This, coupled with affordable parking, is the best way to attract shoppers from the surrounding area.

Norman Bailey Cambridge Road, Colchester

  • What is so wonderful about destroying wild habitats?

Your poetic photograph of a cyclist enjoying the countryside in Mistley, shows why controversial plans to build homes on green spaces is horrific, in every sense of the word, and why it is time for the media to take more responsibility for highlighting the concrete quagmire and the problems of over-population.

Gazette:

There needs to be limit to the population that the UK can sustain. Without such a measure, all is meaningless.

Tendring Council leader, Neil Stock, claims houses are not just for our grandchildren, but for children yet unborn.

These are embalming words to disguise the truth behind the exploitative housing racket we have today.

How small and selfish is this mode of thinking, because to paraphrase a Cat Stevens line: ‘So tell me Sir, where will the children play?’ I know there are decent and good politicians, but it’s not enough to be good.

You need to be good for something, and the developers’ interests skew any good intentions of the council.

They are disrespecting our countryside and all that live in it.

Sorry Mr Stock,with office comes responsibility, and that includes our precious and shrinking countryside.

Will someone please tell me what is so wonderful about the destructive world of humans that overcrowding offers an answer to anything, except future mayhem and the extinction of much of our wildlife.

Collin Rossini Main Road, Dovercourt

  • Setting the record straight on ruling

As your readers know, the High Court recently considered the case of East Bergholt Parish Council v Babergh Council and on December 9 the court delivered its judgement.

Having had time to consider the ruling, we at Babergh will begin applying the court’s interpretation of local housing need in our determination of planning applications and what circumstances justify development outside built up areas.

However, given the intricacies of this case I wanted to set the record straight on some of the complexities.

For instance, I am pleased the High Court rejected three of four claims.

The court upheld only the claim relating to our policies outlined above, while ruling Babergh had: 1. Been correct in judging the impact of the proposals on heritage assets and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, 2. Given due weight to the emerging, but neither completed nor adopted, Neighbourhood Development Plan, and 3. Not been unduly influenced by the Government’s New Homes Bonus That said, following the court’s ruling we will be considering what this means for those other planning applications that come before us for determination.

Our officers will also be ensuring all the reports submitted to our committee take due account of this ruling.

As this was a Judicial Review, the High Court delivered its verdict on how Babergh had reached its decision on the application. It was not a verdict on the application itself nor on the suitability of the site for retirement bungalows.

We will be looking at how the application was determined in March and bring it back before the committee in due course.

Peter Beer Chairman of Babergh Council’s Planning Committee

  • 'Funny how police can park where they like but anyone else would get moved'

THIS police car and van were parked what I would call a very dangerous place, on the junction of Normandy Avenue and Mersea Road.

Gazette:

It is hard enough for drivers to get out onto Mersea Road due to the fact it is just off a blind corner but to have this car and van parked here makes it even more dangerous.

Funny how they car park where they like yet if anyone else did they would soon be moved on or booked.

The photo was taken on December 9.

David Mills, Horrocks Close, Colchester,