Your call for reform of the planning system (editorial, 6 December) is short-sighted and potentially damaging.

At a time when current laws have proved inadequate to protect a major site of special scientific interest from the Trump housing development, or to save listed buildings from demolition threatened by Caltongate, or to avoid endangering Edinburgh's world heritage status, the worst possible response would be to weaken further the few constraints that exist.

We are fortunate to have escaped the ravages of unbridled development from the 1960s and 70s. As a result, Edinburgh is widely acclaimed as offering some of the best quality of life in the UK and our countryside is comparatively unspoilt. These are important keys to our economic success as they are reasons people want to live and work here.

Developments need careful control. The current planning protections should be enforced not undermined.

ROBIN HODGE High Street Edinburgh

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