Sir – I too congratulate Alex Postan on his election, with 395 votes, to represent the Brize Norton and Shilton ward on the district council.

I also applaud his comments regarding the expansion of Carterton into the rural parishes of Brize Norton, Shilton or Alvescot as inappropriate and highly damaging.

Shane Rae stood as an independent candidate on the single issue of opposing 700 or more houses being built on the ill-named Carterton East development. Shane received 323 votes and the turnout of 45.41 per cent was the highest of all wards.

Surely this must demonstrate to West Oxfordshire District Council the strength of local feeling towards unsustainable housing developments in areas where there are no local jobs and already congested roads, to say nothing of blighting the landscape.

Putting UKIP to one side – if that’s possible – unacceptable planning decisions in rural areas will be a major issue in the General Election next May. I ask Barry Norton and David Cameron to take note.

Keith Beckingham, Manor Road, Brize Norton