SIR – On reading your recent article about the water pumping station being built at the Vineyard, WGC, I was amazed at how the wheels of local government and privately-owned utilities could move so fast and so far, without even informing local residents o

SIR - On reading your recent article about the water pumping station being built at the Vineyard, WGC, I was amazed at how the wheels of local government and privately-owned utilities could move so fast and so far, without even informing local residents of what was happening.

The apparent right of such companies to by-pass planning procedures, stands in stark contrast to the regulations that our citizens become subject to if they wish to build an extension on the side or their house, or even a garden shed.

It seems also that the land, which includes a public right of way that could be invaluable for emergency access, was sold to Three Valleys by the council 18 months ago; again the residents were not informed of the loss of this publically-owned land.

More seriously, there seems to be no minuited record of the transaction of a meeting that included elected members of the council at that time.

The whole thing seems to have been slipped through on the quiet, raising obvious fears of collusion.

This impression is only heightened by the fact that, according to some local residents, the workmen initially gave the impression that they were only carrying out minor repairs.

I realise that planning permission is not required for utility services, yet I find the whole business to have been badly handled by both the council and Three Valleys.

It has, understandably, caused distress to residents of the Vineyard.

Berenice Dowlen,

Green Party member.