It comes as no surprise that Mr Jeremy Zeid (‘It is time to end nightmare’, Your Views, February 12) felt the need to respond to my original letter, in which I sought to draw readers’ attention to the removal of certain roads from the West Drive conservation area.
Unfortunately, Mr Zeid has demonstrated that he knows very little about conservation areas and the widely-recognised and respected strategies as set out in English Heritage’s guidances.
Mr Zeid is wrong that being in a conservation area automatically means that there are specifications on the materials used on replacement windows and in fact, the extension to the Tookes Green Conservation Area (Metroland) has no article directions placed on them.
It is true that certain conservation areas do have such directions.
However, Mr Zeid again fails to understand that these directions are definitely not ‘blanket’ — as he puts it — and are only applied where there is a consistent pattern of development and where the various shapes and styles of replacement windows, and the materials thereof, could do harm to the particular character and appearance of the said area.
As for his nasty little remark regarding my ‘neck of the woods’, once again Mr Zeid has failed to do his research, since I can assure you that being located in the green belt, quite rightly, places restrictions on development.
In fact, there is a presumption against it where even the erection of a simple gate can pose difficulties for residents.
As many of us in Harrow have come to realise, Mr Zeid rather likes the sound of his own voice.
He is in the habit of sounding off on various subjects without pausing to think of the implications of his remarks and doing enough research first.
It is a shame that his energies are not spent more productively.
Councillor Marilyn Ashton
Con/Stanmore Park
Harrow Borough Council
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here