IT is of great concern to Ely residents, who have always had free access to Roswell Pits, that they are for sale on the open market. The greatest worry is that we are at the mercy of bodies made up of people who are not, in the main, local and who will, i

IT is of great concern to Ely residents, who have always had free access to Roswell Pits, that they are for sale on the open market.

The greatest worry is that we are at the mercy of bodies made up of people who are not, in the main, local and who will, in all probability, move elsewhere.

As your paper stated, it is preferable for the site to be sold to somebody local, like Ron Bradney, who would have the interests of the locality at heart, and retain the essential unspoilt beauty and wildlife.

Why is there a veil of secrecy over the name of the purchaser? One developer was quoted as saying he'd only have to sell one house at the lakes to get his money back! Thomas Parsons Charity states that the sale has not been finalised, so it must have been ongoing and the prospective purchaser known, if undisclosed.

David Archer, ECDC's planning officer, says they "want" to retain public access and he "hopes" to secure the future of the sailing club and fishing rights. Don't "want" and "hope" to secure the future - be robust, just do it, grow some teeth and claws.

The only way to protect this site from over-development is to allow none at all and it's a vain hope that a £20,000 fine would prevent any reckless damage to the fossil content of the clay and harm an area of natural beauty.

To sum up - we are not happy to let the trustees of the Thomas Parsons Charity make this most important decision, principally because few of them, it seems, are truly local and we residents do not wish to see somewhere we always considered to be 'common land' turned into a rich man's paradise.

JAN LANE

Annesdale, Ely