Sir, – Almost any local estate agent will confirm that house prices in Farnham are considerably higher than those of equivalent properties in the neighbouring towns of Farnborough and Aldershot. Clearly, Farnham residents are prepared to pay a premium for the privilege of living in Farnham.

Why ? It is unlikely to be our excellent train service or our plentiful provision of theatre and cinema facilities. Nor is it likely to be the low cost of

living or our freedom from traffic congestion.

The most likely reason is the attractiveness of our town

centre. This is why the

redevelopment of East Street is so important. If we get it wrong, not only will we

diminish the enjoyment that Farnham residents derive from their town, but we will also affect their pockets through the value of their property.

I have always thought that the purpose of planning

permission was to prevent the selfish from redeveloping their land in a manner detrimental to the legitimate interests of others. However, there is an inherent conflict of interest when the ownership of a redevelopment site is in the hands of the same body as is responsible for planning permissions.

With the above considerations, particularly in the light of your front page story that three of the unsuccessful

developers are virtually crying "foul", I find B Davey's

suggestion, (October 25), of a judicial review truly delightful – if only as a threat to keep the planning people "honest".

However the real problem is systemic. To avoid further "East Streets" local authorities need to be truly local and

prevented from owning any land, other than land for

recreational purposes.

If Michael Langdon, (October 11), is right, (and on such matters he usually is), in his claim that most of "Waverley's" land in East Street was in fact bought by Farnham before Waverley existed and using money raised from Farnham's tax payers, then natural justice would suggest that any benefits should accrue to Farnham alone and not be spent on sports centres for Godalming as alleged by Eric Boyle, October 25.

Michael Boon

Morley Road, Farnham