Sir – Dick Brown of Wantage (Letters, June 23) is wise to be sceptical about localism, its application to housing requirements and the nature of the putative housing need as defined by council representatives.

The Vale of White Horse District Council’s Core Strategy involves the building of 11,560 dwellings in the Vale area by 2026. Combined with those planned by South Oxfordshire District Council, this means an influx of at least 60,000 people into the area covered by the two councils.

This number is equivalent to a new town, so where are the roads, schools and a hospital for the newcomers? Is it sensible to build on farmland when we already have to import 40 per cent of our food?

Understandably, residents object to the huge estates planned, for example, in Wantage, Grove and Wallingford. People are dismayed by the prospect of extensive housebuilding altering the character of their areas.

Has any thought been given to the provision of bus services for increased village populations, especially those in affordable housing? Or to the ‘rat-runs’ along country roads caused by increasing car journeys?

The UK is becoming increasingly congested and urbanised. Official figures predict that the population will reach 70m by 2030. Most of this projected population increase will result from immigration and births to immigrants.

Until politicians grasp the nettle of controlling our borders regarding both non-EU and EU immigration, localism will be irrelevant and the housing ‘need’ will continue to be stimulated artificially.

Jacqueline Jones, Chairman, Wantage UK Independence Party Constituency Association, Cumnor