Nationwide reports that average UK house prices are currently rising at 12 per cent per annum (the average value of a UK property is now £188,903).

These price rises are not sustainable and in the past have ended in a crash. Meanwhile, those trying to get onto the housing ladder are finding it increasingly difficult.

We are told the only answer is to build more housing, hence market towns are faced with rapid expansion that will concrete over more of our countryside and productive farm land. For example, Chippenham is faced with a Core Strategy where “at least” 2,625 new houses need to be built.

But the price of goods is determined by supply and demand.

The ONS reports that net migration contributed just under 200,000 to an increase in the UK population last year – which was nearly half the increase for that year. Previous years have seen higher levels of net migration – initiated in part from the mistake made in 2004 when the UK decided not to apply transitional arrangements to the new EU countries from Eastern Europe.

We are now signed up to the free movement of labour with the EU. The government needs to withdraw from this policy so that we can control economic migration into the UK from EU countries in the best interests of the whole UK population – both indigenous and migrant.

Jonathan Seymour, Chippenham.