I WAS born in Huntingdon, as were my father and grandfather, and my great-great grandfather was the Toll Bar keeper. Although I live in St Ives, I love my home town of Huntingdon and am finding it very painful to see how it is slowly losing its character

I WAS born in Huntingdon, as were my father and grandfather, and my great-great grandfather was the Toll Bar keeper.

Although I live in St Ives, I love my home town of Huntingdon and am finding it very painful to see how it is slowly losing its character and having its identity taken away.

I see beautiful old buildings allowed to be pulled down - and there are more to follow - and green spaces built on. Now they are to build again by pulling down 40-year-old bungalows to cram yet more buildings into an area that is already overcrowded.

I really feel for the residents of Thongsley and The Whaddons, because just looking at the new build they have put up makes me feel claustrophobic.

Luminus has been very unkind and shown no respect for the people already living there and none for the people they hope to move there. It is hardly building community spirit by just putting up buildings the residents who already live there don't want. I also find it unbelievable that planning permission is granted for this.

The planning department gives no weight to the possible devaluation of these homes, as it is not a material planning consideration. They must start to consider the people who have fought for years to stop the infilling of the estate's open spaces - good men and women who care that people have green areas.

The late June Cruise fought for 12 years to try to stop the Spring Common development, the green lung of Huntingdon, because as each green area is built on we can never get it back.

I know the Government has asked councils to provide more houses, but I don't think they mean at the expense of losing valuable green areas, where the standard of life is spoiled for those living there.

Luminus seems happy to pull down old buildings with so much history seeped into their walls. By pulling down old buildings they take away another little piece of the identity of Huntingdon.

Links to the past must be kept for another reason, too. A different generation needs to have that link to the past, so that, when the next generation comes, they can see a beautiful town, not a concrete jungle.

MARGARET EASTON

Edinburgh Drive

St Ives