YOUR article Ancient woodland is under threat highlights the problems with opposing unwelcome developments.

Doreen Hewitt is quite right when she says that the wildlife of the woodland of Claybury Park will be irreparably damaged by the building of flats on site 6 of the old Claybury Hospital.

Both agenda 21, the N.E. London group of the CPRE (Council for the Protection of Rural England) and others have protested against the development of this site to no avail.

Ordinarily, the CPRE would have approved of development on a site which has footprint of previous building, but site 6 is special in that it is in the middle of a protected wood and the proposed development will affect the surroundings far more than the original isolation ward.

The greed of Crest Homes appears to be limitless. Having gained permission for the main development, which was also strenuously contested by nearly all local groups and individuals, it is now about to despoil yet another part of the park.

For Michael Walker to say that the development is a good thing for the borough is cynical in the extreme. It brings no affordable housing, increased traffic and damage to the ecology of the area.

A further point. When is Crest Homes going to start improving the park as in the original agreement? Has the council any teeth to ensure that these agreements are honoured?

KEN BRAY, Chairman of the NE London District, CPRE.