A 16th-Century proverb says: "A fool and his money are soon parted". Five centuries later, the writer would probably ask: "What kind of citizen are we breeding to pay more than £2million for a flat with a view over the mudflats and, on a clear day, sight of the industrial buildings on the opposite river bank?"

No one can dispute the right of the owner to pay what he likes, but it has some important implications.

The estate agent, the builder and the borough council are, of course, laughing all the way to the bank.

But what of the ordinary citizen trying to get somewhere to live?

No doubt the owner of the £2 million flat is no fool, but his action tells the estate agent and the others they can keep pushing up prices, because they can always find someone willing to be parted from their money.

Ordinary citizens have no defences and are not yet organised to challenge a don't care, dormant Government to regulate a market out of control. The real test would be if the estate agent, the builder and anyone else involved were to volunteer (or be required by law) to declare their respective profits out of the £2million.

Surely, citizens being squeezed unmercifully by the property marketeers are entitled to know by whom and by how much.

Albany Harvey
Southchurch Boulevard
Southend