In reference to your many articles on building new housing estates and hospitals on greenfield sites may I point out that Britain possesses 85 per cent of the world’s chalk downland, and a good portion of that is in Hampshire. 

These new building sites require great swathes of land as well as land for supporting infrastructure such as new surgeries, schools, water treatment plants, sewage works, power supplies and the connections. 

In Hampshire this often means building on chalk downland which also has a detrimental effect on chalk rivers/streams, an aspect in which Hampshire is pre-eminent.

A month does not go by without someone proposing to build on greenfield chalk downland for the benefit of all; of course the owners of said land would never think of profit! 

While I applaud those that wish to buy chalk downland, I do question whether this is for profit or preserving the world’s ecological future. 

Peter Lamb,
Northington,
Alresford

Send letters by email to newsdesk@hampshirechronicle.co.uk or by post to Editor, Hampshire Chronicle, 5 Upper Brook Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 8AL.

All letters and e-mails must include full names and addresses (anonymous letters will not be published), although these details may be withheld from publication, on request.

Letters of 300 words or less will be given priority, although all are subject to editing for reasons of clarity, space, or legal requirements. We reserve the right to edit letters.