SIR — I see from your report last week that planning permission was likely to be given yesterday (Thursday) for the proposed housing development south of Hopcott Road despite a large number of objections. We are told that all developments these days must be sustainable. These houses will place extra strain on the energy supply infrastructure and drainage systems and intrude on the unspoiled landscape backdrop to Minehead. Buyers will largely be elderly incomers who look to supermarkets and to Taunton for shopping. They will place extra wear and congestion on our roads, produce more waste for disposal and make demands on our already overstretched medical and other services; but their contribution to the economy and culture of the town will be negligible. There will therefore be no benefit to the area. Reference to the provision of social housing is a cynical red herring when there is so much existing empty property that could cater for that need. This country needs more housing but it should be built where it is really needed; not way down the line in terms of communications, transport, services and supply. The council officer recommending the granting of planning permission should tell us exactly what the term 'sustainable' means to them. JA S Dixon, Periton Road, Minehead.