I often wonder what goes through the minds of the people responsible for granting planning consent in Devizes.

Firstly, we had the case of the infamous silver shed (sorry, I mean penthouse) at the top of the keep in the Le Marchant Barracks, which, although entirely at odds with the existing mature red brickwork of the rest of the building, was given the green light by the planning authorities.

Now, still on the subject of brickwork being undermined, a bricklayer friend of mine is near to apoplexy because the builders undertaking the refurbishment of the Moonrakers pub in Nursteed Road have been allowed to paint over the beautiful Flemish bond brickwork around the lower walls of the building.

My friend is convinced the planning officers must have taken leave of their senses to agree to what he considers to be an act of urban vandalism.

Robert Hayter, Chantry Court, Devizes.