You may be aware that St John’s College, via the agents, Savills, have applied to Fenland District Council to develop land north of Estover Road, March.

Their proposal consists of a three phase housing development of approximately 300 dwellings and they are currently seeking outline planning permission to build the first phase of 95 homes.

This proposal represents a major new development on a green-field site in the northern area of March and one that should be carefully considered by all concerned. My concern is that the proposal has been submitted at a time when many local people are taking their annual holidays or are otherwise occupied with summer holiday childcare etc.

Given the public outcry when the last major proposal in this area was submitted (the well-publicised Estover playing field development) I am surprised by the lack of ‘buzz’ in the community regarding it. May I therefore use your newspaper to urge people to visit the Fenland District Council website and see for themselves what is being proposed?

The consultation period for the first phase of this significant development expires on September 7 so, by the time your readers this, there will only be a few days left for people to comment. So, whatever your readers’ views on such matters, I feel they should at least have the opportunity to weigh up the pros and cons of the proposal, before irreversible decisions are made on their behalf.

The planning application can be found at www.fenland.gov.uk/publicaccess (enter reference F/YR15/0660/0) or at the Fenland @Your Service shop at 8 Broad Street, March.

KEN WHITEHOUSE

Estover Road,

March