• YOUR report (Tower block lined up for ‘low rise’ estate near Queen’s Crescent, October 31), again highlights the chaos of Camden Council’s community investment programme, CIP.

The council spokesperson (why is not this the elected council cabinet member?) provides the usual platitudes.

No mention that the Bacton Low Rise site has been derelict for years.

No mention that the original residents were promised a speedy return.

No mention of building issues with nearby Cherry Court, or that 10 families who moved into new flats in nearby Maitland Park had to be immediately moved because of faulty bathrooms.

The response of one of our local councillors is that we need new homes. But we need proper planning for such community facilities as schools, transport, doctors and community centres.

The five large development sites in the immediate area, Wendling, West Kentish Town, Regis Road, Murphys Yard and Bacton Low Rise, will add over an estimated 10,000 more residents to the area.

A small example of the consequences of the CIP fiasco was a new house in Kiln Place, part of this project, sold for £1million now advertised for rent at £950 per week, almost £50,000 a year. This is way above the average family salary in the borough.

It is time that councillors, especially those in the cabinet, took control of the CIP project rather than it being delegated to officers and developers, the latter more concerned about their profits than local people.

It is to be hoped that the Bacton Low Rise developers, Mount Anvil, will be an improvement on their predecessors in the area.

MICK FARRANT, NW5