I WAS pleased to read the front page of your December 22 edition (Mal- don is Marvellous), as I too think that Maldon is a marvellous place in which to live.

However, having looked through the rest of the paper, I do wonder what on Earth is happening at Mal- don District Council.

Page four had a report regarding a mystery man who infers that something is amiss the various planning committees, whilst page six informs us that the head of planning has quit after only 16 months in the job – just weeks prior to the public hearings regarding the council’s Local Development Plan.

Also on page four we learn that, despite years of planning, the cost of works to demolish St Cedd’s House has gone way over budget.

Lastly, and most significantly, the council has approved the greater part of Heybridge Garden Suburb with only 15 per cent of affordable housing, and refused to release details of the “viability” assessment – what nonsense is this!

I realise that the majority of councillors think they know what is best for the town (as opposed to what the residents that elected them require).

But it is now only too obvious from the above that they, and some of their senior officers, do not have the necessary experience or competency to deal with these matters, especially when it comes to major developments.

Having made green belt land available to them, it is surely up to the council to dictate what is required, and not for them just to accept what the developers propose.

George Lake, Stock Terrace, Heybridge

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