Sir – According to my dictionary ‘plonk’ means ‘to set down hurriedly or clumsily’.

Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron used it last year in an interview with John Craven on BBC1’s Countryfile recorded at Cogges in Witney.

He said: “What the fear people have in villages is the great big housing estate being plonked down from above that they don’t want.”

If it goes through, the proposed, but mis-named, development of Carterton East will result in an estate of 700-plus houses being plonked in the parish of Brize Norton, whose history goes back to the Domesday Book.

This major encroachment would destroy the character of the village that has developed organically over a thousand years.

It would triple its size and threaten this ancient village with coalescence with its overgrown neighbour, Carterton.

In the same interview, Mr Cameron said: “I care deeply about our countryside and our environment and our vision is one where we give communities much more say, much more control.” We in Brize Norton say a resounding “no” to having these houses plonked down on us.

I do not believe that the councillors and planning officers of West Oxfordshire District Council want to be remembered as the people who plonked 700-plus houses on Brize Norton.

I respectfully suggest it is time for them to reflect on Mr Cameron’s words and to drop the Carterton East proposals.

Selwyn Shorrock, Carterton Road, Brize Norton