I AM writing to express our disgust at the prospect of more valuable open ground being lost to housing construction such as in Ashton Gardens, St Annes.

When will we learn we cannot get open land such as this back? Once it is developed no-one will ever return it to its present state as it does not raise money.

This is just yet another example of developers exploiting weak local authorities by offering the prospect of a quick profit when all authorities are desperate to secure funds of any kind.

This land was given to the people in the 1914 charter. What gives any authority the right to sell our land? The authority may claim they were democratically elected and therefore represent the majority, but none of them would dare to campaign on a ticket of selling the people's assets!

It is pitiful to think someone has given this the go-ahead just to fill coffers. No-one would claim do this for aesthetic or philanthropic reasons, so self advancment or even possibly personal gain can be the only reason.

Myself and my partner decided to live in St Annes for its charm and even mix of open land, parks etc and its facilities including shops and amenities.

But plans like this keep slipping by and the majority of the populace shake their heads and admit it is progress. It is not!

Progress would be developing existing buildings. If Ashton Institute is no longer fit to use it may be developed into accommodation that is sympatheitic to its surroundings, not turned into a huge block of flats.

St Annes has its share of follies. Take a look around -- the job centre, the NCP car park and probably the new design frontage of the Square. We must not dismiss SAG as a group of oldies stuck in the past. I am 34 and my fiancee is 28, but we will mourn such a loss as the gardens. It is ours and someone is selling it against our will.

I suppose it will all go ahead though. After all, we hold no power but our voices and it is quite clear that the authorities and indeed Newfield Jones are deaf beyond reasoning.

Ivan Leivers and Victoria Hudson,

Highbury Road East, St Annes.