Sir – Alton Town Partnership are to be congratulated on their recent attempt to obtain the opinion of the people of Alton on the District Council Core Strategy.

I would estimate that one per cent of the town visited the presentation.

We were asked to choose between three choices as to the building of up to 1,800 dwellings in 2011 of which 700 had already been planned.

I could not put my tick against any of the choices on offer as my belief is that since the initial planning was undertaken, the basic parameters upon which it was based no longer exist.

The plan was based on a continued increase in economic performance within an equitable climate and a steady influx of newcomers to the district as the older ones died off.

This, together with HM Government largesse would help to pay for the increase in bureaucracy and infrastructure necessary.

None of this has happened and it is now highly unlikely unless the scientists and engineers can come up with the solution to stop the natural warming of our global environment in the near future.

Then there is the self-wound. Sticking plaster has been applied but I believe the gangrene is still active and the financial markets know it is a very serious wound. So no money available for anything.

For this reason, I think we should have been asked to forget about HM Government guidelines and to ask has anyone any idea how Alton should prepare itself to cope with a very uncertain and possibly painful future?

Most people do not want to know and hope it will go away. So do I.

Bob Pearson, Arlebury Park Barns, Alresford