I am writing in response to Wrotham Park estate's plans to develop housing on Green Belt land between Bentley Heath and Ganwick Corner.

The area is very rural with a number of listed buildings and has hardly changed since Victorian times. A housing estate would be totally out of place and radically change the character of the whole area. Local people do not feel the need to bring the existing houses together into one large settlement by building on Green Belt land; and leaving a village green in the middle of a housing development in no way makes up for the destruction of the natural landscape.

The issue is that agriculture is not generating enough profit, and building on Green Belt land would obviously bring the estate considerable financial benefit. As a compensatory feature for development on Green Belt, a country park is being offered. The area already has a number of footpaths as well as protected wildlife habitats and is frequently used by walkers and easily accessed from Potters Bar. We do not need this wild, natural countryside replaced by a landscaped park.

A survey was recently taken on the proposals, using a sample of households in the area, including my own. The information given regarding the proposal focused very heavily on the provision of a country park, bridleways and footpaths, without disclosing vital information on the proposals for a housing development, and I do not feel that the questions allowed me to express my true views.

Some freehold residents were invited to a briefing last year and were alarmed at the scale of development proposed (plans showed roughly 128 houses with gardens and garages). Tenants and leaseholders are restricted from expressing a view owing to the terms of their leases. The residents who were able to comment made their views very clear, but to date these do not appear to have been taken into consideration at all.

There is only a narrow strip of Green Belt between Barnet and Potters Bar, and it has played a crucial part as a wildlife corridor, preventing urban sprawl and the relentless spread of Greater London. The development on Green Belt land in this area would be a major departure from any current local plans and residents are concerned that this will have set a dangerous precedent which could have far-reaching consequences.

Pembe Wright, Bentley Heath