Sir, Last week you published a story about a Coniston couple, who are facing a £20,000 bill to rip out and replace their plastic windows after losing a planning appeal a decision of the Lake District National Park Authority.

I would like you to imagine the scene. It's the year 4005 and Tony Robinson is introducing Time Team from the Lake District. There we have Tony et al jumping from trench to trench looking at stone walls, some more stone walls, some pieces of slate roof, and even some more slate roof, all of which are proven to have been used as the basic housing design and stock of the National Park, for the last 3,000 years.

As the camera pans around, it turns out that the Lake District houses in 4005 are the same as those used in the 21st Century. At the end of the programme, Phil decides that this is a community that has not moved on in 3,000 years, which is a pity, as the rest of the world is now living in state-of-the-art eco pods, using 23rd century materials all of which last longer, do not require maintenance and are cheap to install.

Reading through various statements from the LDNPA of recent years, it is apparent that they wish to preserve things as they always have been and to hold on to a tradition. What tradition is this? From what era are they basing their dictates on?

Think about it, if the LDNPA had been around at the dawn of time when we were living in caves, then is this the style they would like to preserve as the "tradition". What effect would this have when you came to sell your property? Original- featured cave, real mud floors, open fire, bright airy rooms and fantastic views. Frostbite guaranteed in winter.

The LDNPA planners have got to come to their collective senses, stop being so power crazed and move on. Modern materials and design for a modern age. Why can't modern glass & steel structures blend in? Well-designed uPVC windows can and do blend in and certainly do not distract from the surrounds.

Stone, wood and thatched roofs were used because those materials were readily available in days gone by, and have been since overtaken by more modern forms of construction that fit with the age we live in.

The LDNPA are not the people who have the job of maintaining these old costly forms of construction. I am quite sure that within their organisation they have "approved suppliers" who can supply goods and services that do not detract from the perception of "traditional". If they were to publish such a list or policy document then many a heartache, argument, etc could be avoided and the planners possibly accepted as people you can work with rather than confront every time you have to ask a question.

In closing do we really want Tony and Time Team to visit here in 2,000 years time and see just how backward thinking the LDNPA has been in blocking progressive design, build and refurbishment projects?

P. Want, Windermere