You are right to draw attention to the need for housing for young people in Marlborough (Marlborough Gazette & Herald, February 12). Whether building more houses will solve the problem is uncertain as prices are likely to remain high in the Marlborough area even if more are built.

Nevertheless, we must do our bit to help meet the local and national housing shortage.

There is probably room for up to 100 new houses in the valley bottom on the west side of the Salisbury Road. This is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty so house building there would breach an important principle but needs must. There must, however, be concern about the plan by Crown Estates for 220 houses stretching up the valley sides.

Their proposals are excessive. They tried to get planning permission for an industrial estate on this site in 1990 and the inspector at the public inquiry, having heard all the evidence, said the land should ‘probably never be built on’.

The scale of the Crown Estates’ proposal fails to take account of traffic on the Salisbury Road, parking in the town, the limited amount of water in the River Kennet, the demand for school places and pressure on our medical practice. The general good of the town is ignored.

In considering their proposals will our elected representatives consider these issues and speak out in favour of common sense, even if it upsets the accountants at Crown Estates?

Jonathan Hinks, Upper Churchfields, Marlborough.