I have just read an article in the Packet (June 22) on the proposed development at Packsaddle ( Penryn) and nearly spat my wine gum out!

How much more land and development do the University require? This is a monster that is consuming not only Penryn but Falmouth too! It is getting far too big!

I would be the first to celebrate the vibrancy that the students and Uni add to our towns but surely enough is enough, I wholeheartedly agree with the comments made by local resident Andy "Colin" Elder, where are the needs being met for local people?

There are many reasons why this is worrying, mainly parking issues. Nearly every student I know will acquire a car at some stage as it gives them the freedom to come and go as they wish, as is their right, but there is a major problem that the parking is either awkward or expensive or in this case not allowed. So these students will probably secrete their cars amongst the residences on the very narrow roads around that area. What a damn cheek to get those very residents, some of whom are very elderly, to police it themselves at their expense and inconvenience.

I have a business in town and every year I see many, many, many families of students studying here and brilliant for Falmouth and Cornwall as a whole they love it!

I also see many parents clutching estate agents details as they also fall in love with Falmouth and figure out ......."Why should we pay all this money on rent for little Johnny, as it is so expensive to rent here?

"Surely the most sensible thing would be to buy a small house for him as an investment and then he can rent rooms out to his mates and 'boo-oom' we have an investment, income and a retirement home.

"Hang on, as it's so cheap in Falmouth compared to the rest of the country maybe we ought to buy another for when we visit and then we have two for the price of what it would cost up country."

There is no way that locals can keep up with the ever increasing rents let alone trying to find a one bedroom flat to rent and certainly no chance of them ever being able to buy or save a deposit and pay rent at the same time, when the average salary is £12 to £15,000 (if you're lucky I know many people who are on lower salaries).

I love our uni and think that it has done a lot for the area in many different ways and the interaction between residents and students is wonderful but I also love the fact that Falmouth and Penryn are two small towns built before cars were invented, with their own identities and local goings on and annual festivities that bring everyone together but these are two towns that swell so much through out the year with visitors and students alike and can not cope with anymore development or traffic. We are in danger of losing what gives these two towns their charm and character forever.

For every positive that these developers and uni spokespeople have, people like Andy and many other residents will have the reality of the situation.