SIR — Re the proposed demolition of Beechfield House in Minehead (Free Press October 19), there is much discussion as to the interpretation of "sustainable development" which successive British governments have committed to.

It cannot be either acceptable or "sustainable" to demolish a well-built, architecturally interesting Edwardian house such as Beechfield which is an asset to the Parks area in which it stands.

The site is opposite to a row of listed buildings and the scale of the proposed building development does not respect its neighbours in any way, and the only planning gain per se will be a few feet of pathway leading nowhere.

It is 25 years now since English Heritage carried out a re-survey of built heritage and sadly, if we do not start preserving our flamboyant between-the-wars houses for which Minehead is renowned, many will have been mindlessly swept away.

If McCarthy and Stone do not want to pay the correct sum towards affordable housing then they should down-size the development and retain the existing house as the central element of a smaller complex.

Paula and Doug Brain-Smith,

Burgundy Road,

Minehead.