THE following is extracted from the Braintree District Council planning website: “The Community Infrastructure Levy is a new levy, brought into force in 2010, which local authorities in England and Wales can choose to charge on new developments in their area.

“The money can be used to fund a wide range of infrastructure that is needed as a result of development, including transport schemes, schools, and green spaces.

“Charging authorities must produce a document called a charging schedule.

“Supported by evidence such as the economic viability of new development and the area’s infrastructure needs, the charging schedule sets out the rate for their levy.

“CIL will be levied in pounds per square metre of floorspace arising from any chargeable development.

“Braintree District Council will be considering the Community Infrastructure Levy in the latter part of 2017.”

Over the past months and years there have been plenty of letters to this newspaper expressing concerns about the scale of the development which is taking place within our towns and villages.

So am I wrong in wondering why this levy has not been introduced by the council?

It also occurs to me that most of the larger developments may have already been approved before the council even considered the introduction of this levy.

The levy was designed to provide the funds for the hospitals, surgeries, police, ambulance and fire service that any area would require as the population increases.

Concerns regarding these matters are also regularly expressed in these pages so why are we being let down by our planning authority?

The more sceptical among us might wonder if there is some other agenda in place.

Steve Nichols

Braintree Road

 Gosfield