I read with interest the recent correspondence about North Site and Halfkey housing and the general development of the area. I feel many other areas in the country manage their economic affairs more successfully. Have we, in Malvern Hills area, taken our eye off the ball?

An article in the Estates Gazette recently discussed the replacement of section 106 agreements with a 'roof tax'. This, it was claimed, had the support of the Deputy Prime Minister's office. The suggested level for Milton Keynes was £20,000 per roof. At this rate, the pot coming to MHDC from North Site would be about £8m, a sum that would have sorted many of MHDC's problems and eight times what we are to expect from Defence Estates.

It would appear that those who hold power in the area have not so much shot themselves in the foot, but rather machine-gunned their lower legs by settling so cheaply.

Our new Draft Local Plan has, under clause 2:1:8 entitled Development Strategy Objectives, as aim number one: "Seek the location of development in areas which will minimise the need to travel." Is this really our prime objective? Would it not have been better if the first stated ambition of the area had been about attracting investment and improving the prosperity of its residents?

We sit at the end of the Advantage West Midlands technology corridor and our attempts to attract high-tech, well- paid jobs to the Enigma Business Park from outside the Three Counties area have been a dismal failure. It has taken 16 years and Enigma Business Park is still not full - a situation of which we should be deeply ashamed.

The Malvern Hills area must decide either to shake itself out of the complacent attitude that prevails and try to join the 21st Century, or to continue to stagnate by the continuance of current policies. It has crying needs for housing, high-paid jobs and a better infrastructure, but little is done about any of them.

We do not have to implement change, but we will pay very heavily if we do not.

Martin Ham, Cradley.