Letter: An appealing right

Sir: I was appalled by your leading article (24 November) which claimed that for third parties to have the right of appeal against a planning decision could not be justified. We were a 'third party' two years ago when our neighbours decided they would like to build two houses in their back garden. Because of the layout, the houses would have had windows overlooking our garden and their drives would have run alongside our fence.

The planning officers recommended this for approval but timely letters from us to the district councillors resulted in their making a site visit and subsequently voting against the application. The neighbour appealed and the inspector from the DoE quashed the appeal on the grounds of the devastating effect it would have on our garden. Had it not been for the vigilant district councillors we would have had no redress at all.

Yours faithfully,

S. A. DOWN

Chalfont St Peter,

Buckinghamshire

25 November