I AM writing to express my agreement with the story New Town Campaigners: We can t be complacent by Lesley Innes in the Ely Standard on August 2 where the plight of campaigners fighting the massive Mereham new town project rests with the Government. Wi

I AM writing to express my agreement with the story 'New Town Campaigners: We can't be complacent' by Lesley Innes in the Ely Standard on August 2 where the plight of campaigners fighting the massive Mereham new town project rests with the Government.

With just three months to go before Multiplex takes its fight to appeal, the Government has unveiled a green paper, which could rapidly increase house building to meet demand. It warns they will deliver three million new homes by 2020. Campaigners fear this could lead to the Government over-ruling local opposition in the area by building 5,000 new homes on an area that will be called Mereham and pushing ahead with the scheme.

By this system, they could over-rule town planners. They consider the scheme will merge the villages of Wilburton and Stretham.

I would suggest Cambridgeshire County Council and East Cambs District Council look again at this scheme because Haddenham, Wilburton and Stretham have been linked for years by road, through the Fens, apart from the roundabout at Stretham A10.

It's one road leading straight through any huge building scheme such as Mereham would make these villages too big to compete with the roads. Twenty Pence Road, Wilburton and the already flagging A10, which is staggering uphill under overwhelming traffic, will end up in yet another bypass coming out either on a new roundabout at Chittering or Landbeach.

I hope this provokes further thought with both the councils and readers.

R LAWS

Link Lane

Sutton

# I WRITE with reference to the Ely Standard article in your edition on August 9 entitled Villagers Step Up New Town Battle.

While I sympathise with the NIMBYism feelings, before complaining about essential new home projects like Mereham, spare a thought for the millions of immigrants that are sharing appallingly over-crowded accommodation, many living in new back garden shed houses. If we insist on inviting them here, the least we can do is build new homes for them and the displaced indigenous population who also increasingly find that they have nowhere affordable to live either.

CHRIS ASHLEY

Chapel Street

Ely