Madam, As the deadline for objections passes I would like, through your pages, to issue a heartfelt plea to Herefordshire Council to reject an application to build houses on a completely-unsuitable site on the edge of the village of Lea.

Constructing more housing will place yet more strain on an already-inadequate drainage system and expose long-suffering villagers to an increased risk of surface water flooding. Several properties have already been inundated this year causing considerable misery, stress and expense to their residents. To that can be added the extra pressure that will be placed on the village's already over-burdened, and at times, leaking sewers.

Access to the site for the level of vehicular traffic that will be generated by more homes is inadequate and construction is likely to do considerable harm to vulnerable wildlife.

The best gift for 2013 to the village of Lea would be for the county council to place this application in the shredder.

Steve Banner, Lea