I AM totally against the planned country park. I ve heard the arguments for it but don t agree with them as they re all financially motivated. I m motivated only by love and respect for the area I ve grown up in. Voicing my concerns at the public consulta

I AM totally against the planned country park.

I've heard the arguments for it but don't agree with them as they're all financially motivated. I'm motivated only by love and respect for the area I've grown up in.

Voicing my concerns at the public consultation, I couldn't believe one of the ideas: building three viewing huts along the top of the cliff at the edge of the common, and cutting down all the trees at a width of each hut from the hut, right down to the edge of the pit. Why?

The architect reasoned that he had stood atop the cliff and, it being winter, could see through the leafless trees, across the Fen to Stuntney. He thought the sight so beautiful it warranted the destruction of all the trees - many more than 50 years-old.

I've lived here in Ely most of my life and I know for a fact that the same view can be obtained by either walking right to the edge of the cliff and looking over the tree tops or standing on the hillock at pocket park. Same view, same 'wow' factor at dawn yet no destruction or damage to the local ecosystem.

Of course the real reason for all the viewing huts around the pit and the clearing of all the trees so you can see down onto the pit, is to watch national sporting events taking place on 'East Anglia's uber marina'.

No moorings, no development, keep the natural beauty.

RUSS MALSTER

Ramsey Road

Ely