Firstly I believe that the need for the expansion due to rising UK population over the next decade has been considerably overestimated.

The combination of falling demand for property and hence house prices, with growing unemployment which is very likely to lead to a rapid slow down of economic immigration to the UK and the East Midlands, will reduce the growing demand for housing.

Falling house prices in Oakham, whilst less extreme than other areas of the Midlands, are a clear indicator of less fruitful times over the next decade, not just the next couple of years.

I agree that some development will still be needed on the old industrial 'brown field' sites in and around Oakham, as well as areas adjacent to the infrastructure of industrial areas with the bypass.

However, the expansion of the town beyond the bypass to the north and east, between Burley and Stamford Roads, as well as to the south between Brooke Road and the railway track, seems both unnecessary and inappropriate.

Firstly the town's infrastructure, parking, traffic, primary schools, shopping provision, public transport, is at or near capacity at present.

A potential 50 per cent population increase in the town will surely cause immense strains, reducing the quality of life and environment which so many local people value so highly.

Secondly, the access to the proposed development adjacent to the railway in the south of 1,035 new dwellings, with 835 of them only accessible by the already overcrowded Brooke Road level crossing or Brooke village, will cause huge traffic problems to the south of the town.

Additionally the loss of green space and associated use as leisure space by many local people will reduce the environmental quality of the town.

Peter Chamen
Oakham