It's a bit rich of Vincent Pearce, Colchester Council’s planning service manager (Gazette, January 22) to tell Mile End residents what is good for them.

Mr Pearce is a council employee, we pay his salary and he should be following our wishes.

And what residents want is a halt to the continual development of every scrap of green space in the borough.

The council’s plans are a vague list of “community benefits” dangled in front of us, but with no clear view about how they might be paid for.

Past experience tells us what that means – they never materialise.

However, the most important issue is mentioned only in passing – 4,000 new houses will generate about 8,000 more vehicles that somehow have to negotiate the North Station and Westway bottlenecks.

This road network is unable to cope with current traffic volumes, so we can expect permanent gridlock.

Colchester residents had better support the Essex Air Ambulance, because that’s the only way they’ll get to the general hospital.

So, Mr Pearce, don’t sit there telling us about “massive expansion” as though you’re proud of it.

Instead, tell the East of England Assembly and the central Government planners that Colchester Council is not agreeing to any more development, at least until major infrastructure improvements have been completed.

Ken Aldred
Peto Avenue
Colchester