I FIND it sickening that Basildon ’s Conservative administration vehemently defends any piece of green belt land, no matter its actual quality, yet continues to sell off huge chunks of our children’s parks and recreation grounds for housing development.

Mrs Hillier (July 17) wasn’t so struck by how many hundreds of local people opposed, in a variety of ways, the developments and proposed developments of Gloucester Park, Kent View Recreation Ground, Markhams Chase and Northlands Park, among others.

The infrastructure issues raised by residents for Kent View were totally ignored by the Conservative councillors on the panel.

Then we had councillor Buckley saying the proposals for a new village on the Little Chalvedon Hall site would add nothing to the area and would not be any benefit to the community (July 16).

Pray tell what benefit to the community selling off huge chunks of our children’s parks had?

The only thing they will add is the creation of housing warrens with a small green space.

We then move on to the proposed Dry Street development, no opposition here from Basildon’s Conservative administration.

Wasn’t this once green belt land? What we seem to have here is criticism for Nottingham County Council for investing in land for housing when there appears nothing in it for Basildon Council and where Basildon’s administration preferred to spend £38million on a Sporting Village instead of council housing.

PHIL JACOBS

Grapnells

Vange