Which of our green spaces will be next?

SIR - The 'Garden City' concept that is supposed to be so important to Welwyn Hatfield Council (WHC) is under threat by the proposed development of Panshanger Airfield.

In an age where protecting the environment is paramount, clearly this development (and that of other green areas) is politically driven and all talk of saving the planet is merely lip service.

Personally, I like the airfield.

It gives me the feeling of being in remote spaces, of being out in the country.

The aircraft noise is small at best - it's hardly Heathrow!

Instead, we are to have up to 1,000 new homes - that's up to 3,000 people.

This puts additional strain on the town's infrastructure. We have water shortages more summers than not: this development will further exacerbate that problem.

Then there's things like schools (primary and secondary), QE2 Hospital, increase in traffic levels, the list goes on.

Suppose the airfield is developed, then what?

Will Moneyhole Park be next, either whole or in part? The green spaces on Mundells? The open space in Little Rivers?

WHC will insist not, but as we all know, money talks.

Every spare plot of green land is being swallowed up and built on.

Houses are being shoe-horned into every spare corner big enough.

There is a plot of land big enough outside my house - can I expect that to be built on?

What is more, the plans were only available to view in person at the exhibitions, and are not available on the internet.

Is this a sign of under-handedness by Mariposa Investments Ltd., the airfields owners? It will claim that public consultations were held, but the reality is that these were poorly advertised and easy to miss.

Green spaces are like school playing fields - disappearing fast under government pressure to build new homes, and I strongly oppose the proposed development.

Peter Coles, Panshanger.