Your columns seem to be the only way to communicate with the anonymous backers of ‘Keep Marlborough Special’ who are opposed to the building of some 200 houses on the Crown Estate field opposite Tesco. Many people would prefer there to be no more building. But sadly there need to be more houses as longer lifespans, family breakdowns and a rising population increase the number of households. Marlborough cannot escape this trend. Many young Marlburians are having to move away because of the lack of affordable housing The opponents are also dismayed that the Crown Estate will make money from the project. This is the case with all successful developments.

In the People’s Budget of 1910 the Liberals planned to start moving local rates towards a tax on land values; had that been followed through (it was fiercely opposed by the Conservatives) it would have captured for the public benefit part of the increase in land values caused by planning decisions and infrastructure investment.

But the good news in the case of this development is that all Crown Estate profits go directly to the Exchequer for the public good and so benefit the whole country.

Even with this necessary development I am confident that Marlborough will stay very special.

Alexander Kirk Wilson, Purlyn Acre, Marlborough.