Sir.-The potential loss of a new school site at Sherfield Park is something that should concern every Basingstoke resident because it is symptomatic of a deeper problem.

Plans for housing development are approved by Basingstoke council only when services and facilities have been properly planned and funded.

At Sherfield Park, a development of 700 homes, much has been promised to existing residents, and those moving into the new houses, to sweeten the pill of increased congestion, loss of green fields and further pressure on local services.

Yet, we now understand that it is "questionable" as to whether everything promised at Sherfield Park will be delivered. This sounds similar to the situation in Beggarwood, where the approved plans for development included youth and sports facilities, for which there is now no funding.

Why would it be any different with the proposed developments at Kite Hill, Manydown and Popley Fields?

I will agree to differ with Cllr Biermann, following his letter of last week, as to how we tackle this issue. There are many residents who feel this approach to planning is unacceptable.

There are implications for the whole town and the issues need to be discussed widely and openly.

-Maria Miller, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Basingstoke.