Should neighbours vote on home extensions?

AT LAST, a sensible approach to planning permission for new-builds and extensions with residents rather than the council having more influence. Last year, my neighbours and I spent many sleepless nights over a property being sold to developers. The plan put forward was for the existing house on a large plot of land to be demolished and replaced with nine flats. It was obvious that the council was going to agree to the plan. The only reason it did not progress was because the developers withdrew at the last minute. This whole business caused much upset and bad feeling between the property seller and their neighbours. The way it was handled was unacceptable. Had the decision been down to the residents and not the council, it would not have been considered for a second.

Mrs H. BLUNDEN, London E4. STREET votes is a ludicrous idea. Decisions will be based on emotion rather than facts and it has the potential to set neighbour against neighbour. If the council refuses your planning application, you don’t have to see them every day. If your neighbours prevent your application being passed, at the very least it would make life uncomfortable. There has to be a middle way that prevents people from building extensions that negatively affect neighbouring properties yet allows them to enhance their home.

Name supplied, Oxford. BEFORE we start to amend the requirements for planning permission, we should look at the number of outstanding applications and the inordinate length of time it takes councils to make decisions.

JUDITH TAYLOR, address supplied.