We should be marching to save green and pleasant land

PLANS are to be imposed upon Leeds and other cities that threaten the surrounding countryside with the building of multiple housing estates.

These would asset strip the landscape and require the raising of massive amounts of public money in order to provide new infrastructure – roads, water supplies, sewers, schools, hospitals etc.

This is a subject that needs serious public consideration – the intention to destroy the landscape in order to turn it into cash is always short-term, land is a diminishing asset, and it always ends up being worth more tomorrow. And the price for such a programme, the lack of means to pay for it, will be a burden passed on to future generations in nearly every respect.

The proposal seems to lack certain logical elements. We are now the most densely populated country in Europe and the third most densely populated on the planet earth.

For every square of space this country possesses we now have two people to every one in Germany and four times as many as in France. It is unlikely that the politicians in either of those countries would have allowed such a serious situation to occur. They consider their open spaces as national treasures, and the delight of an open and healthy countryside a right for their children to inherit.

With the density of these islands being added to by around about a thousand people every day, an amount that will increase and grow, then it would seem unwise to take any further risks with resources such as food security. The sensible approach would appear to be to leave the land alone. We are already net importers of food and should remind ourselves of what happens, both currently and in a historical context, to countries which become over-populated and reliant on other countries to feed them.

Upon this planet 36,000 people now die of starvation every day. Six million children die under the age of five every year.

If there is anyone who feels that something should be done about this and has organisational ability and wishes to arrange a march and protest, then could they advise us of their intention through this newspaper so that we can make arrangements to join them? Within this side of the city there are neighbourhoods who would be sure to come. They share a common feeling that something must be done.

The sense of purpose seems to stem from the need for another Countryside March.

But this time, as opposed to the intentions of the first one, with the objective of us all being prepared to take on the long term roles of protectors and custodians of our country with a wish to leave it fit for children to live and breathe in, rather than turning it into cash for short term measures.

This is about Britain and a right to a happy life. Much of this land is attractive and full of wildlife; a joy and reassurance for everyone. Much of it agricultural. It should be prized and not be readily surrendered.