I don't think Mr Hockings’ letter (Times, January 10), as the owner of the Gimsons site, was intended to be comic but it made me laugh.

The assumptions he makes are breathtaking.

For example, he claims most people living on the new development “are not likely to use their cars” due to the proximity to shops, schools etc, ignoring that many people tend to do large shops which make car use essential to carry their purchases and that local schools are often full so children need to be driven to schools further away.

He also says that detailed surveys have been taken of the wildlife present on the site.

Anyone who has read the objection letter of the RSPB will realise that the bird surveys are completely worthless, having been done at completely the wrong time of year and even the wrong time of day. Such incompetence is unacceptable.

This cavalier attitude to the important wildlife value of the site can also be seen in the habitat survey which claims that no water voles have been seen locally since 2002, which observant local people know is nonsense.

Also, I have advised Braintree Council the developers Bellway plan to attempt to capture and relocate protected species of reptiles in a clear breach of Natural England and Government guidelines.

Mr Hockings chooses to ignore the impact of the construction and subsequent occupation of the development on the elderly residents of Helen Court, whose cul-de-sac will be turned into a through road.

But then why should any of these and many other problems with this reckless scheme worry the site owner, as he is apparently now living in the Isle of Man?

Barry Fleet

The Avenue, Witham