I AM in a state of mourning for a wonderful place.

It has amazing picturesque views and was voted the third favourite place to live in the UK. The High Street has retained the original historical look, thanks to the sensitive way planning proposals have been sensitively treated by our previously elected councillors.

All this is under threat, due in part to the attitude of government when attempting to tackle the housing shortage.

The number of houses planned for beleaguered Thornbury has tripled from a manageable 500 Barratt Homes on Park Farm to a whopping 1,444 homes not including the new development adjacent to Alexandra Workwear on Morton Way.

Many Thornbury residents prophesied what would happen if new housing estates breached the boundary formed by Morton Way ring road. Now the planners are queueing up to build in an area which can guarantee a lucrative profit.

In future, when you are stuck in a traffic jams on Morton Way, Butt Lane and Grovesend Road or you cannot find anywhere to park when visiting Thornbury shops or there are no available appointments at the doctors and the local farms have all but disappeared, it will be too late.

Welbeck are the latest developers to promise improvements based around their monstrous 350 home estate.

Their leaflet is so carefully worded to make you believe they want Thornbury residents to assist in the planning of their estate.

They are using “the assumptive close” and the “alternative choice” sales technique.

Don’t fall for their clever tactics. If you love Thornbury, preserve it.

I hope I am wrong but I fear I am right.

Chris Tippetts

Thornbury