IT was with a certain amount of surprise that we read Peter Hughes' letter (Postbag, April 13) about the land that was the Lower Howsell Road allotments.

Surely the message given at the meeting was a clear one. The fact that 300 plus people were unanimous in their opposition to building development on the site is a major indication of the depth of opinion that exists.

Perhaps it is a good idea to reiterate why there is such a depth of opposition to this site.

1. If more houses were to be built in the area there would need to be provision for more open space anyway since there is an existing shortfall. A point made very emphatically in the Malvern Hills District Plan, Recreation Policy.

2. The district council has said that, even if it were suitable, there is no present need for houses to be built on this land.

3. Up until the death of the late Lady Beauchamp the land had been enjoyed by the Link community for use as allotments. At this point it was effectively taken away, now to be offered back, in part, as a gift.

4. Of course, we all understand that it is the 'duty' of the executors to procure as high a return as possible from their assets. But what of the responsibilities of the Estate? Are they representing the 'wishes' of the Trustees or merely advising? Do the Trustees themselves have a view? Perhaps the Trustees (whoever and wherever they are) should be presented with all the facts and asked to decide for themselves about an alternative option.

The opening slides of the Bovis presentation showed one or two areas where rubbish had been dumped. Of course, it should not have been tipped there. But why are there no signs and why does the Estate not make it their duty to keep the land tidy? While in no way wishing to condone the depositing of rubbish, it is fairly obvious that unkempt land is going to attract such action. The grass is cut, rather crudely, once a year after dandelion and other seeds have dispersed themselves and brambles taken a hold on neighbouring boundaries.

5. Over the many years since the eviction of the allotment holders, several attempts have been made to obtain planning permission. It has been turned down or withdrawn each time. Why? Because the site was unsuitable, especially with regard to access and traffic congestion. Not only has nothing changed but it has become increasingly worse. The Bovis solution? A roundabout on Lower Howsell Road, almost opposite the playing fields; calming measures along Summerfield Road and, yes, traffic lights at junctions with Worcester Road in the Link! What of the playing field traffic? A recent count on Saturday morning revealed that the Carpenter's Arms' (now demolished) car park was full, plus some 50 cars parked along Lower Howsell.

It would seem that cost is not a major factor in the management of Trustee property when weighted against the possible gain from obtaining building rights. I refer to the buying up and demolishing of properties and what, by now, must be vast sums of money invested in efforts to secure these rights. Why should the community of Malvern Link have to be reduced to making 'deals?'

Who knows what the situation may be in 20 years time. If the area to the north of the Link is opened up of course things may change. Until then and on pain of sounding repetitious, the vast majority of residents believe that the land is not suitable for building purposes but is needed and is suitable for amenity use.

CHRIS & LIZ BURGER, Lower Howsell Road, Malvern Link.