THE letter from Mr Peter Smith (Oxford Mail, February 8) on the proposed relaxation of planning rules is, alas, ill-researched.

The Vale of White Horse District Council is proposing an Interim Housing Supply Policy which does not advocate a careful survey of possible building sites, prioritised according to suitability.

It threatens to introduce development on a first-come-first-served basis, which could well result in severe permanent damage to the landscape and rural environment.

In particular, it could encroach on our local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, specifically categorised as such in order to make sure that it would always have a very high degree of protection, as has been emphasised by the Prime Minister in recent speeches.

The CPRE, rather than being NIMBY, as suggested by your correspondent, well accepts the need to consider appropriate development.

Affordable housing and building in the larger settlements, where there is infrastructure already in place and where work is more likely to be found, are foremost in CPRE thinking.

This was also the view of the planning inspector when he was looking at the Vale’s current Local Plan, finding that spreading housing around the villages would “result in a less sustainable pattern of development across the district and should not be considered”.

In our view, a proper survey of the available land is required, in particular of currently available brownfield sites and possible greenfield sites in the smaller Vale villages, before a blanket, untried, far-reaching and potentially very damaging proposal is accepted.

PETER COLLINS Chairman CPRE Vale of White Horse District Committee