THERE are many strong points against the development of Middlewick for housing – the growth of urban sprawl removing opportunities for all to enjoy sanctuary of a unique green space, the inevitable rise in traffic congestion and pollution on the town’s narrow arterial roads, the rising demand placed on stretched public services are just three.

The council has told us to accept this development especially given that the MoD by selling the land will raise funds, with the seemingly large sum of £35m quoted.

However, if this sum is expressed as a percentage of the MoD’s annual budget it becomes apparent that this is not such a large number.

For the fiscal year ending in March 2022, UK Defence spending is budgeted to be £54.5billion, £35million as percentage of the budget is then 0.064 per cent, a minute drop in this vast ocean of spending on warfare; if this drop is urgently needed to keep us safe, there are larger problems afoot.

Once the bigger picture is looked at and it is concluded that the amount in percentage terms is in fact minuscule, there is an argument that the MoD should write the value of this land off their balance sheet.

The War Office purchased this land in 1857 and effectively land banked it as they used the site for their own purposes.

Now its usefulness to them has ended, it is my view that they should gift the land back to the people of Colchester to use as a country park which would undoubtedly bring great benefits to our town, rather sell it to raise 0.064 per cent of their annual budget!

As well as a country park, and I am not a fan of the game, how about repurposing the actual firing range as an eco-friendly golf driving range?

Richard Goff

Barrington Road, Colchester