Madam, With no less than five applications for outline planning permission filed with Herefordshire Council, the long-suffering villagers of Lea face the prospect of a staggering 119 new houses being constructed if all of these developments are permitted. Given that there are only 218 existing dwellings in the village this means Lea will expand by upwards of 50%. When one considers the inability of the surface water drains to cope with the pressure imposed by the current housing stock, and the dilapidated state of much of Lea's sewage system, one shudders to think of the consequences. If allowed, such a massive expansion will irrevocably alter Lea's character and turn it into a souless commuter village given the paucity of jobs in the immediate vicinity. Is that really what villagers want? I suspect not, so I suggest everybody makes their views known to the county council's planning department and to ward councillor, Harry Bramer; and that they do so right now. It'll be too late when the concrete is being poured and the bricks laid.

Steve Banner, Lea