Governments at national and local level rarely make decisions based on current circumstances and by the time some policies are implemented the needs of the people have been significantly altered by more immediate matters, such as credit crunches, oil prices, housing slumps or job losses.

And sadly, just like global warming, many Government policies are irreversible.

So some way back in time a policy was created that called for a massive house building programme to feed the expected employment boom and the greedy aspirations of the financial sector.

A buoyant housing market exudes confidence within the people, which in turn feeds economic growth and vice versa, as we all know too well.

This housing policy is still very much alive and with Calderdale developing its Local Development Framework process, that will define for the next generation and beyond those areas of Calderdale that will no longer be classed as greenbelt.

Maybe it is time you re-examined your castle's moat, before someone comes along and fills it in!

Once land is taken out of greenbelt there will be no use complaining – the future will only bring forward development, the scale and nature of which will be determined by profit-led economics.

Were you aware, for example, that your local council has recently invited speculators to declare an interest in any potential greenbelt sites they might wish to develop for housing.

You don't even have to own the land to participate – so which juicy bits would you choose, if asked?

Most of the prime sites, considered as such by our esteemed council experts, are located in the east area of Calderdale where geography and motorway access makes it far more interesting and profitable.

So if you live in the belt between Halifax and the M62, watch out!

This is all rather ironic since Calderdale currently has a huge surplus of empty homes, with hundreds of flats lying idle and To Let signs going up all over the place, and has long since met all the Government targets for house building.

But Calderdale is led by a toothless bunch, perfect for greedy developers who will want them ready and armed with plenty of potential building land for when the good times return.

If you are concerned, worried about what this might do to your castle's already plummeting value, or one of those who often castigate nimbys for supposedly not helping so-called progress, then have a good look outside your home – because you might just need to join the clan.

Dig deeper into Calderdale's website, contact your local politicians and make your views known.

You only have until January 2, 2009, to state your case. Beyond that – tough luck!

Steve Balmforth