MY FAMILY on my father’s side come from the village of Aston just south of Witney and I have had a lifelong love for Oxfordshire.

I am aghast at the new development plans following the Government’s relaxation of the planning rules that used to prevent building on open countryside. One hundred thousand new homes in the county between now and 2030 means 200,000 more cars on the roads and the wholesale desecration of greenfield sites.

The people who want to build a housing estate next door to Blenheim Palace seem to be adopting an Islamic State type approach to a world heritage site – trash it.

I commend all the local residents including those in places like Milton-under-Wychwood who are fighting back against the developers. I believe passionately that we must protect our God-given heritage of the beautiful English countryside and not sacrifice it on the altar of economic growth.

The Conservative MP for Stratford-upon-Avon Nadhim Zahawi warned a while back that the ‘enduring legacy’ of David Cameron’s Government could be the development of the English countryside.

Unfortunately, Government ministers do not share his concern. Let’s all stand together and protect our precious heritage.

HOWARD CURTIN
Salisbury, Wiltshire