Build in Midlands, not the South East

Yes, we do constantly need new housing, especially affordable, but why always in the South East?

If someone objects via the parish council they will say that the borough has imposed requirements. Then the borough will say that they are conforming to government targets. But what about Midlands regeneration, the “Northern Powerhouse” and other areas that would welcome developments? We know about the inability of the infrastructure here to cope, ie medical facilities, schools, roads, water supply, waste disposal.

And why decades of indecision on a new runway at Heathrow or Gatwick? No, make it at Birmingham, with a vast catchment area. Just drive on the M6 around our “second city” and see the hundreds (thousands?) of brownfield sites crying out for regeneration.

It is time for the south eastern councils to stand up and be counted and say “No, we are not accepting tens of thousands of new homes”. Probably the majority will be bought by people fleeing London and the suburbs. The KM recently headlined Maidstone developments being purchased off-plan by London boroughs.

Grasp the nettle. What are ‘they’ going to do – send in the Army? Alan Witt The Hill, Charing