The proposed extension of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the shorelines of Manningtree and Mistley is to be greatly welcomed (Gazette, Mar 26).

With increasingly heavy pressure from councillors along the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding National Beauty and Tendring Council, our beautiful greensward and quaysides will be coming under bylaws to protect them.

Until this happens, there are no laws to protect the area from individuals who use the shorelines without fear of legal action to further a hobby or install a safety barrier on our river edges.

It is to be hoped Natural England and Tendring Council will come swiftly to the aid of Mistley village, which has been seeking to protect its ancient shores and quay for some nine years.

Much damage to the natural beauty is horribly obvious, both on the greensward and the quayside. Tendring Council will surely need to have many meetings to decide which particular bylaws to use and bring control upon the situations which need immediate attention.

This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is very late in coming, but as we all know it is better late than never.

Angela Kilmartin
High Street
Mistley