Economics did not confuse me

I did not intend to enter into an argument with our MP Julian Brazier, but I have to protect my professional integrity (It’s Not Xenophobic To See The Problems, Letters and Opinion, September 22).

Prof Christopher Rootes has commented on the matter of overstaying graduates.

I am not confused on economics. The interest rate on Gilts, or UK government bonds, did indeed fall after the referendum due to an inflow of funds looking for a safe haven at a time of market uncertainty.

LIBOR, the rate at which banks lend to each other and which is one of the main benchmarks for mortgage interest rates, was one gauge of market stress that remained conspicuously stable immediately after the referendum result mainly due to high international liquidity resulting from quantitative easing, printing money to buy bonds, and other technical matters.

LIBOR decreased when the Bank of England monetary policy committee reduced the base rate to 0.25% at its meeting on August 3 as measures of economic confidence tumbled.

I am not sure where Marine Le Pen or Donald Trump come into the argument, let alone an “establishment view”. Is our MP no longer a member of the “establishment”? Peter Gerrard Cherry Garden Road, Canterbury he only wanted to develop the site for housing and the idea of a micro-pub or shop on the site was very much his idea in order to try and win round local opinion; it certainly wasn’t something that the parish council suggested or felt was viable for the village.

At our parish council meeting Mr Noel heard a number of strong objections from residents.

The parish council felt at the time, and still does, that the site has a future as a pub/restaurant/ accommodation and should not be lost to housing.

The marketing of the site, referred to in the article, was carried out at a vastly inflated price which put the site out of reach from anyone apart from housing developers and therefore it is inevitable that we have come to this conclusion.

The housing being proposed for the site is very much high end and for Mr Noel to claim that properties starting at £200,000 are ‘affordable’ is somewhat incredulous.

The feedback given to Mr Noel by the parish council was to consider a percentage of affordable housing on the site.

A recently completed housing needs analysis for the village shows that there is a clear and unequivocal need for starter homes in the village, something we feel Mr Noel should have taken on board.

The parish council is certainly not against development in the village, having recently supported the proposed development of three houses just up the road from the Three Tuns. However Mr Noel’s proposal is too large, not in keeping with the Grade Ii-listed building and village environment, and would represent the loss of green field land as well as a valuable village amenity. Laura Fidler Clerk to the council, Staple Parish Council

It’s all very well to say students bring so much to Canterbury and I agree. However what about us, the older owner-occupier resident, who contributes so much?

When we have become extinct, will we be missed? Bernice Smith Hackington Place, Canterbury