I must take issue with the comments made by John Acres, Director of Planning for the Catesby Property Group regarding their plans for the development of Binhamy Farm (the 'Post', February 12).

Mr Acres claims that the proposed massive development of the Binhamy Farm site represents a "potential multi-million pound investment in Bude." His attitude suggests that Catesby has singled-out Bude for some wonderful act of benevolence, with the development being delivered as a social benefit to the people of the area. What utter nonsense!

Catesby, like all property developers, are motivated by nothing other than greed — the same greed which saw banks overstretch themselves precipitating the current recession. A recession, I might add, which sadly saw the demise of the last multi-million pound investment in Bude — Tripos Receptor Research.

Mr Acres then tells us that any development, if approved, will be phased over 10 to 15 years. Think about that for a moment — 10 to 15 years of disruption on Stratton Road. Ten to 15 years of large lorries carrying building materials, scaffolding and other freight through Stratton, rounding the corner at the A39/ A3027. Ten to 15 years of dust blowing into the gardens of Minster Avenue and Treleven Road. Ten to 15 years of mud, noise, congestion and in all likelihood, flooding.

Mr Acres then states that "if Bude is to thrive, development must occur." Perhaps, but not on the scale proposed by Catesby, which would take, in one fell swoop, all of the remaining land earmarked for development in this area. What happens if this development is approved, the economy starts to improve and further land is needed for new businesses? Where then? Which will be the next patch of green concreted over? The golf course? The downs? No Mr Acres, if Bude is to thrive it must do what it has done best for over 100 years, retain the things which bring thousands of visitors (and new residents) here year on year.

Ask the German and Dutch visitors why they come to Bude. Ask the folks from London, Liverpool, Newcas­tle, Manchester — they will tell you they come because Bude is unspoiled — Bude is not the urban sprawl from which they are escaping for a week in the summer.

If the Catesby development proceeds, Bude will lose much of what makes it different from other parts of the country, and indeed other Cornish resorts. The development proposed by Catesby is simply too big and does not give consideration to the infrastructure that is needed to cater for such a large amount of new dwellings — doctors, school places, parking, dentists, sewage.

I urge all those who feel the same to write to North Cornwall District Council stating your views. Address your letters to Development Control, 3/5 Barn Lane, Bodmin Cornwall PL31 1LZ, or email [email protected]">[email protected] quoting reference 2008/02281.

As a final point, it would pay Mr Acres to research the land which Catesby now wishes to develop. Binhamy was once owned by the Blanchminster family, which built the castle on the site. For over 500 years, the people of Stratton and Bude have benefited from the generosity of the Blanchminsters through the Blanchminster Trust — one of Britain's oldest charities, endowed with a large legacy from that family. That, Mr Acres, is true benevolence, not the profit-driven destruction you seek to disguise as 'investment'.

Stratton.