Letter: Falling into a 'cultural trough'

Sir: I could contradict most of the points raised by David James in his article ('Every home needs its moat', 8 April), particularly the one that modern building materials such as plastic windows and concrete roof tiles have a longer life than their traditional equivalents (they most certainly do not).

But the main weakness running through the article is Mr James's failure to put the new legislative changes into any sort of context. Less than 5 per cent of the nation's building stock is included in a conservation area. If we cannot protect the finest 5 per cent of the nation's building stock from vandalism by the DIY crown, we have really sunk into a cultural trough, and a potentially irreversible one at that.

Yours faithfully,

JONATHAN PHIPPS

Project Officer

Moorlands Towns Partnership

Leek, Staffordshire

8 April