WE were born and educated in Barking, and married there. We find it criminally perverse that Barking Council are prepared, in organising an almost secretly arranged competition among designers who know little or nothing about the town, to produce a sche

WE were born and educated in Barking, and married there.

We find it criminally perverse that Barking Council are prepared, in organising an almost secretly arranged competition among designers who know little or nothing about the town, to produce a scheme that includes appalling changes to the wonderful historically-formed site of Barking Abbey. So much for over 1,300 years of history.

Just who are these people who have so cunningly contrived to give away a major part of our heritage and much of what this town attributes to its existence?

One wonders just what was the remit given to competitors in this appalling assault on a perfectly beautiful laid out site and all the enthralling archaeological work that contributes to it.

In view of the execrable submission pictured in the Post (November 4, 'Burial sites and all'), can this really be allowed to happen?

Are councillors and officers to be permitted to get away with this uncivilised act?

It should be stopped in its tracks now and the abbey site taken entirely out of this ghastly affair.

Marion Wood

South Park Drive

Ilford