IN his ill-informed and unwarranted attack on the conservatory of Peter and Joy Plaskitt (May 27) Jonathon C Bonner demonstrates he is no expert in urban design. Virtually everything he says is fundamentally wrong.

Mr Bonner claims the extension is incongruous, but where else would you expect to find a Victorian Gothic style conservatory but behind a Victorian building in a predominantly Victorian street? Mr Bonner claims the extension dominates Penleys Grove Street but it is a lightweight single-storey structure in the middle of a solid brick building rising to two and three storeys.

Mr Bonner claims the extension is too close to other residents, but it replaced a previous unsightly lavatory block and is no nearer to neighbours than countless other extensions throughout the city.

No, the truth of the matter is that this is a well-designed scheme of the highest quality which has breathed new life into a dowdy old shop.