The Government's proposed planning guidance for East Anglia has just been published There is a 12-week consultation period before the final judgment is confirmed. This is not just an obscure academic exercise for planning boffins. Its consequences could have a dramatic effect on our County, District and Parishes.

Let me explain: First of all Cambs. seems to be destined to accept the building of at least 4000 houses per year until 2016 (80.000 in all). This compares with an average of 3.350 actually built in the County since 1991.

The advice will be to build in locations where the least amount of greenfield land will be used. Previously used land (known as "brownfield") will be first choice. The County target will be half brown half green field land although in areas like our own there is very little brownfield land available.

It is foreseen that from 2006 seven out of ten new houses will be built in the Cambridge Sub-Region (roughly within a circle round Cambridge reaching out to Ely, Haverhill, St. Ives, Huntingdon.)

Once sites within Cambridge have been developed, the edge of the Green belt will obviously be in line. A review of the Green Belt is under way. Those of us living in Bottisham, Lode and Swaffham Bulbeck need to be aware and awake.

Further building will be likely in market towns and larger villages, e.g. Burwell. The already foreseen development of the DS Smith site in south Burwell will obviously influence Reach and Swaffham Prior.

Over the next 6-9 months studies relating to the future of the Cambridge Sub-Region will take place. They will include studies on appropriate infrastructure , particularly transport and also health, education, leisure and recreation. Already we see improvements to the A14 are badly needed and the above future prospects will give rise to even more traffic on feeder roads to the A14 such as the B1102.