WE wish to express our utter dismay and disbelief following yet another reversal of a planning application decision by the Planning Inspectorate in their ivory tower in Bristol, backed by Wychavon planning officers, who seem completely out of touch with residents' wishes and concerns.

This particular application is the fifth to be given the go-ahead in Honeybourne, and collectively they will result in about 200 extra homes, an increase of about 30 per cent!

This application, off High Street, was described last August by one Wychavon district councillor as "bonkers".

It was rejected by 13 votes with one abstention.

The access to the site will be close to the busy crossroads with Buckle Street, in a flood plain and will destroy part of the raised footpath.

Various "experts" claim that the new access road will help to alleviate the flood risk - only time will tell!

Furthermore, the site is outside the parish plan, was rejected by the South

Worcestershire Development Plan as being unacceptable, and is agricultural land - but this doesn't seem to matter these days.

The proposal is for up to 15 two-storey houses backing onto a row of bungalows.

This is another example of landowners, planning officers, developers and the planning inspectorate running roughshod over parish and district councillors' decisions and recommendations and the concerns of existing residents.

Nick and Sue Smith

Honeybourne