SIR – I write regarding This Building is an Eyesore and Better than Flats , in response to the recent letters in The Comet on September 7 and 14 regarding the hideous building nearing completion at 43 The Avenue, Hitchin. I find it extremely hard to be

SIR - I write regarding 'This Building is an Eyesore' and 'Better than Flats', in response to the recent letters in The Comet on September 7 and 14 regarding the hideous building nearing completion at 43 The Avenue, Hitchin.

I find it extremely hard to believe that the Residents' Association for The Avenue, Chiltern Road and The Finches, who I am certain had access to professional and experienced town planners and watchdogs locally allowed a monstrosity such as this to be built in a conservation area. Why did they not seek professional advice, speak to their local councillors or ask for this planning application to be determined by the Hitchin Committee?

Advice sought from the head of planning at North Hertfordshire District Council should have confirmed that this unsightly building would be inappropriate in a conservation area. Similarly to have demolished the two buildings and construct a block of flats on this site would also be totally inappropriate.

Did the residents association meet with the ward councillors? They appear to have been very quiet, had they done so then these councillors could have called this application before the Hitchin Committee. The letter in The Comet last week September 14 stated that the owner considered the planning officers to be unhelpful and uncooperative. Were the councillors aware of this and did they have a meeting with the planning officers in question?

Now that the Residents' Association have taken the route to accept dwellings such as this on their doorstep they have opened the door for other like minded individuals who may wish to build other monstrosities like this in a conservation area and created a precedent which the local authority, councillors and residents in Hitchin may find difficult to object to in the future.

I sincerely hope that the individuals locally who allowed this development to be agreed do not have any influence on any other aspect of Hitchin's future to do so would be extremely detrimental to the Historic future of our beloved town.

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SUPPLIED