SIR, - The appeal by Fairview Homes against the refusal of planning permission for the development of the Oaklands College City Campus site in St Albans will be heard at the end of February. At the initial planning meeting held last week, the planning ins

SIR, - The appeal by Fairview Homes against the refusal of planning permission for the development of the Oaklands College City Campus site in St Albans will be heard at the end of February. At the initial planning meeting held last week, the planning inspector who will hear the appeal made it clear that he would very much encourage participation by local residents and interested parties. This is your chance to make your comments known on the development proposals and these should be sent to The Planning Inspector, Mr John Gray, Room 404 Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN, by January 31 at the latest. Some points to consider are: Alterations and change of use to Listed Buildings (purpose-built college buildings); demolition of numerous locally-listed buildings (many of them Victorian/Edwardian houses); layout/design of proposed modern blocks of flats; character of surrounding area/street scenes and the loss and potential loss of some of the finest trees in St Albans. The appeal will be held in the main St Albans District Council chamber in the Civic Centre and commences on February 28 at 10am. It is expected to last approximately three weeks. A programme officer co-ordinating the proceedings for the district council has been appointed and it is Mrs L. Young (l.young@stalbans.gov.uk) The planning inspector has stated that he will set aside one day when he would like to give the opportunity for interested groups/members of the public to raise relevant issues relating to the development plans. He will announce which day that is to be on the first day of the appeal. I urge residents across the district to write to the address above, attend the appeal hearing and make their views known before its too late. Having battled for over five years, we need to continue to show that St Albans and its residents will not be an easy touch for totally-unsuitable plans which would demolish large parts of our Conservation Area. DAVID KALOCZI, Chairman, Oaklands Action Campaign and Vice Chairman, St Albans Civic Society.