I never before thought of myself as Outraged of Ealing, but that's what I am after the planning committee's decision to go ahead with the Dickens Yard development.

It allows St George to develop the space for high rise flats and more retail area in the face of opposition not just from the locals and their councillors but from CABE, English Heritage and local and national policy and guidelines.

At first I wondered just what it takes for the planning committee to take heed of the many objections to the scheme: civil disobedience?

Now I confess I've turned the question around and am wondering just what's in it for them to ignore the wishes of the objectors. Is there something sinister that perhaps we don't understand about just what it takes for developers to get planning permission through the council?

Maybe it's something less sinister, more understandable - perhaps they want the extra revenue for extra services, to pave their streets with, say, granite, and thus hope to be favoured by re-election? What's going on and would someone please explain it?

I am not alone in finding their lack of transparency, not to mention judgement, unacceptable in this sensitive local situation. Also, it augurs ill for the future of downtown Ealing in what look like difficult times ahead.

TINA BERRY

Ealing