Madam, I write in response to the recent correspondence in your paper about the problems which will arise if the proposed National Planning Policy Framework is put into effect.

Whilst the Herefordshire Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is glad to learn that Wye Valley and the Malvern Hills Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) will be protected, we are very concerned about the potential slackening of planning controls on inappropriate large developments in the open countryside outside these designated areas.

The new policy will weaken protection for the wider countryside and the best and most versatile agricultural land. Development on such land for short-term economic gain removes that land, in perpetuity, from agricultural use and, in the context of global threats to food security and productive land shortages, this could be something we come to regret.

Herefordshire has been renowned for its fertile agricultural land and beautiful, rolling landscape. CPRE Herefordshire aims to protect this heritage.

Bob Widdowson, Chairman

CPRE Herefordshire

• Editor's note – What do you think, will changing the planning controls make things better or worse?