In response to your reader’s letters (Problem of development, Cllr Iain Sharpe, May 29) regarding overdevelopment in Watford, it would seem Watford has been hit more so than other towns.

This is in part because of the pressure imposed by Whitehall on the satellite towns in the suburbs like Watford to build more housing stock to reach their targets.

But there is another issue: the local development company formed by the Lib Dems is a double edged sword: whilst it ensures at least the proceeds from development are enjoyed and presumably kept ‘in-house’, it means there is always a tacit motive to build.

It means the council has vested interests to fuel the development fire when really it should be an independent voice in the planning decision.

Dave Degen, Whippendell Road, Watford