LEDBURY Group of the CPRE applauds Mr Hogan's stout defence of Ledbury (Your Letters, June 27). We would agree with all he says in praise of this town.

His criticism of the CPRE is unfortunately based on a misunderstanding.

What the CPRE survey actually said was, that a recent development in the town was described by a Design Award Committee as, "it could be anywhere from Milton Keynes to Welwyn Garden City". We suggest that is fair comment.

And the survey did not say one is unable to walk or cycle in or around the town, as Mr Hogan thought. It referred to walking or cycling with children from the town centre to the countryside.

The CPRE aims to alert people who love their market towns to the menace from unsympathetic development.

Ledbury is indeed in danger of losing its character. Houses in spacious gardens are being targeted for replacement with crammed in, off- the-peg, suburban-type houses. Ledbury has had its fair share of housing in the last decade. Any further development should be on appropriate sites with suitable design and layout in keeping with the character of the older town. We hope your readers in Ledbury would agree.

C E STONE, Chairman, Ledbury Group of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Horse Lane Orchard, Ledbury.