I am addressing the attempt by the Chairman of the Ballater and Crathie Community Council, Robin Blythe, to justify the impending visit to Ballater by the Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment (PFBE) as reported in the Deeside Piper ( September 25) - "Residents Urged to Air Their Views".

For Mr Blythe's information, the "small group of activists" which he refers to is larger than the community council itself and is seeking to advance the aims of a petition signed by over half of Ballater's population whom the community council has doggedly ignored. Six members of this group, as registered objector to the Local Plan, attended the Ballater Hearing Session in May and each has the same standing as the community council, as do other objectors who submitted written-only objections.

It is inappropriate for the Prince's Foundation to revisit the Ballater debate before the Reporters have concluded their findings from the Local Plan Inquiry, not least because nobody yet knows what form the plan, if adopted at all, will take.

People don't have time to attend redundant meetings and it is improper that a badly timed meeting sponsored by Scotia Homes - the prospective developer - is being given the status of official consultation of the people.

If, as Mr Blythe states, the PFBE's services are in high demand, perhaps they should attend to other more pressing priorities?

Mr Blythe's suggestion that Government requirements for housing justify the proposed plans for Ballater is completely inaccurate – he should read SPP15 for guidance on Government policy on this point.

As well as transgressing SPP15, the CNPA proposals are in breach of the first and primary aim of National Parks, widely quoted by the CNPA: "To conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area".

Yours etc
Phil Swan
Ballater